We have been working on the idea of this series for a while and
placed them yesterday. Also wanted to pick an area that has little or no
current letterboxes. I think these are the first in Somers.
My Favorite Things series - 4 letterboxes
Planted: January 5, 2002
By: Mamoosha & Toots
Difficulty: moderate hike 45-60 mins.
Located on Shenipsit Trail on Bald Mountain, Somers, CT
Directions: From the intersection where Route 83 meets Route 190 in
Somers follow 190 2.4 miles toward Stafford. Turn left onto Calbraith Road
and drive two-tenths of a mile to the Shenipsit State Forest parking area in
front of the gate.
My Favorite Things letterbox series is based on the song of the same
name from one of my favorite movies - The Sound of Music. The series
includes favorite things of both of us. We know two of your favorite things
are represented....hiking and letterboxing.
Here goes....follow the blue blaze trail along the dirt road for a
short time before the trail turns left into the woods. Careful stepping is
required along the trail, as is common throughout Connecticut's woods, as
roots and rocks are waiting to trip up. Continue on the trail through a
small pine grove, a crumbled stonewall on the left, and up a small incline.
Soon you will view dead trees playing pick up sticks along another
stonewall, again on the left. To find the first of My Favorite Things,
before passing the wall step off 20 paces (counting as each foot is placed
upon the earth). Stamp secretly and re-hide carefully before continuing on
the journey.
Return to the blue blazed trail and continue up to a tabletop
covered with a pine needle tablecloth. Here the trail continues by trickling
downhill. Pass through a tree trunk that was once part of the trail but
because we don't have giant redwoods we can't make tunnels through tree
trunks. Another method has been used to clear the trail. The felled tree
trunk affords a good resting area and a view of many white birches. After
resting, continue on the trail, stepping over the erosion control trunk and
down the steadily steepening incline to Lievre Brook. Go over the crude,
hastily built bridge. Be sure to turn right to follow the trail along the
brook. The trail seems to have once gone straight after crossing the bridge
but appears to have been re-routed, perhaps during the logging that was done
and of which remnants are still strewn about. Climb up along the rock
embedded trail. As the trail flattens out you will notice some fallen
sentinels atop a rock ledge. At these sentinels, from the middle of the
trail, take a compass reading of 180 degrees. You should see a cluster of
small beech trees just beyond the rock outcroppings. The second of My
Favorite Things is at the base of the beech trees. After stamping and
re-hiding, return to the trail and turn back to begin retracing your steps.
At the bottom of the hill, at Lievre Brook, there is a perfect
tabletop rock that can provide a pleasant viewing area if anyone in your
party wishes to explore up and down the brook. Unfortunately, it was a
little too cold to sit on any rocks this day but we did explore along the
frozen brook. After your breather resume your return trip up the hill. At
the cut-away tree, follow the trunk to the right. The tree limbs are
pointing to the cavern-like location of the third of My Favorite Things.
This particular hiding place requires careful attention when re-hiding so
the box cannot be seen from the main trail.
Back to the trail and up again. Take a breather at the tabletop
covered with a pine needle tablecloth. Look toward the mountain laurel
grove. Snoop around the large rock seen in the center of your view for the
fourth and final of My Favorite Things. After stamping, finish up your hike
reminiscing about some of your favorite things as you return to your car.



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