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ARIZONA BOXES: Kartchner Caverns and Saguaro State Park East

1 messages in this thread | Started on 2001-02-21

ARIZONA BOXES: Kartchner Caverns and Saguaro State Park East

From: Gwen & Don Jackson (foxsecurity@earthlink.net) | Date: 2001-02-21 11:39:53 UTC-08:00
Arizona Boxes:  While in the land of great sunsets and wide open spaces we knew there would be time for Letterboxing.  The boxes are emancipated but if there is a Tucson Letterboxer who could check on them occasionally we would appreciate it as we won't be able to visit them.  These boxes are located in fee areas. 
 
!.  Kartchner Caverns State Park, near Benson, Arizona,  off I 10.
Box placed 2/16/01,  Entrance to the park is $10.00 plus Cavern tickets
($ 14.00).  DO NOT ATTEMPT A VISIT TO THE SPECTACULAR CAVERNS WITHOUT TICKET RESERVATIONS.  We made reservations 2 months in advance so plan accordingly.
 
Once in the park, grab your water bottle and take the West trail of the 2 1/2 mile Foothills Loop near the picnic area.  It is a fairly easy hike over a well maintained trail.  Crossing the dry Guindani Creek bed several times as you gain elevation, you will hike behind a hill and up to a saddle.  Look for trail marker 1.5/1.0.  Note:  There are 2 trail markers with same numbers.  You want the one that has no bench nor an interpretive sign called "Hidden Treasure".  From trail marker 1.5/1.0 walk 14 paces (a 6 ft. male pace) along trail stopping in front of the second Mesquite tree, then 14 paces from tree at 310 degrees OR 23 paces due north from the trail marker sign.  Box is behind and at base of an Ocotillo under a small rock pile.  Watch for snakes, insects and cactus.  You should be able to see other hikers approaching the site so you can carefully time your stamping.  Continue along the trail to the other 1.5/1.0 mile marker and the bench awaiting you under the shade of a tree or hike back down the way you came up.  Notify letterbox site after you visit the box with your comments.    
 
2  Saguaro "Summer Storms" box at Saguaro State Park (Rincon East District) near Tucson, Arizona; box placed 2/17/01.  Note:  There are 2 areas of the Saguaro State Park; you want the EAST DISTRICT!  The box is located in a bike and child friendly area in a very accessible part of the park.  Drive or bike in the Park and park near the "Desert Ecology Trail"  and walk about 5 minutes on the paved path to the "Summer Storms" interpretive sign.  Leave the path and enter the wash and hike at 10 degrees for 22 paces.  You will see a bench through the foliage on your right.  Continue counting paces to 100.  A tree is a 300 degrees and 11 paces from the approximate center of the wash.  Box is at base of tree under rocks and wood debris on N. W. side.
                                        Don and Gwen