GARDEN of the GODS

            The Garden of the Gods Recreation Area is located in southern Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest.  For map details see: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee/indexmap.htm.   Click on ‘topo map’ for overall view of national forest and road routes; click on ‘east side of forest’ for location of Garden of Gods Recreation Area.

            Located within this recreation area - maintained and open year round - are the Pharaoh Picnic Ground, the quarter-mile, interpretive Observation Trail, and the Pharaoh Campground consisting of 12 campsites, tables, fire grills, toilets, and an extensive trail system.  For further information see http://www.gorp.com/dow/eastern/shninfo.htm and/or http://www.lth6.k12.il.us/Schools/Malan/Hbggateway4.htm

            Telephone of Ranger District:  (618) 287-2201

Placed by: Griffin and Sabine*

Clues:  Easy

Terrain: Easy

Hidden: 11 April 2001

CLUES:

1. After turning into the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, a designated parking lot for backpackers will be seen at 0.9 mile.   Park here.
2. Return to park access road and turn left.
3. Enjoy the marvelous rock formations on your right as you walk the approximately 0.2 mile to the River- to-River Trailhead.
4. When you reach the River- to-River Trailhead, go west on the trail.
5. Proceed approximately 160 paces, passing a trail back to the backpackers’ parking lot on the left, until you come upon a long, 5 to 6 foot high stone escarpment on your right.
6. A bearing of 310 degrees should align you with the largest tree on the escarpment.

7.  15 paces to the escarpment will bring you to what you seek hidden in the wall near this tree.

*   Nick Bantock’s Griffin and Sabine Trilogy (see: http://www.griffinandsabine.com/), being a particular favorite of ‘Cock o’ The Trail’ and ‘St. George,’ has led to this joint venture of placing a letterbox.  Enamored with personal correspondence between lovers, and especially titillated by Bantock’s exotic & voyeuristic correspondence between Griffin and Sabine,  ‘Cock o’ The Trail’ & ‘St. George’ have temporarily assumed the modern-day identities created by Nick Bantock.  Each carved stamp in this series will represent the face of a postcard sent by us, with love, to letterboxers the world over.