....
> So - I'm guessing that if I want local boxes I guess I should
> get busy and hope it catches on here, right?

Yep, that's a good way to start.

> A few questions about placing boxes that I haven't seen covered:
> (I did check the archives - honest!)

I gotta give you credit, seeing the volume of mail this list
produces. It took me over two weeks to skim though the archives when
I joined, and that was a lot of posts ago.

> If you're going to place a box in a local/state/nat'l park - should
> you talk to to someone in the parks office to make sure they don't
> have a problem with letterboxing or should you just sneak it in
> and hope for the best? (or am I misinterpreting "public"?)

It depends on the attitudes of the people in charge. In CT, the
Forest & Park Association supports letterboxing because they feel
that it brings more people out to enjoy their trails. More people
enjoying trails means more people to sympathize with conservation
efforts, which is what they're about bottom line. I've read that some
Nat'l Parks see us as habitat-damaging litterbugs though. Generally,
I think boxes are "sneaked" and we hope for the best.

> The best walking trails in the area are all in parks some of which
> ask for an entry fee. Will people look for a particular box if
> there's a park fee involved or will they most likely skip it?

It doesn't discourage me. I feel that entrance fees support the
parks, even if money doesn't end up theirs directly.
You may want to mention that there is a fee in your clues, however,
so that Lb hunters can be prepared.

> I don't really have a hiking buddy at the moment and
> I'm not going to head out in the woods alone to place
> OR find boxes - so any suggestions about where to start
> finding someone to hike/walk/place/find with?

Try the Rec departments of your town and neighboring towns for
walking/hiking/orienteering groups, or just start talking about
letterboxing in any social situation. You never know who will also
find it interesting and want to accompany you. I discovered 'boxing
at a Girl Scout meeting (Thanks Annie!).

Good luck,
Aili

From:



> I gotta give you credit, seeing the volume of mail this list
> produces. It took me over two weeks to skim though the archives when
> I joined, and that was a lot of posts ago.

I admit - I cheated and used the search function took a few days
but I think I got all the topics pertaining.


> It depends on the attitudes of the people in charge. In CT, the
> Forest & Park Association supports letterboxing because they feel
> that it brings more people out to enjoy their trails. More people
> enjoying trails means more people to sympathize with conservation
> efforts, which is what they're about bottom line. I've read that some
> Nat'l Parks see us as habitat-damaging litterbugs though. Generally,
> I think boxes are "sneaked" and we hope for the best.

Ah, that's what I thought - thanks!

> It doesn't discourage me. I feel that entrance fees support the
> parks, even if money doesn't end up theirs directly.
> You may want to mention that there is a fee in your clues, however,
> so that Lb hunters can be prepared.

I will certainly do that -

> Try the Rec departments of your town and neighboring towns for
> walking/hiking/orienteering groups, or just start talking about
> letterboxing in any social situation. You never know who will also
> find it interesting and want to accompany you. I discovered 'boxing
> at a Girl Scout meeting (Thanks Annie!).

I'm looking into the local volksmarching organization - but
I'll also try the local rec and see what happens.

thanks to everyone who replied on and off list - you've
all been a big help

jai