The Forget-Me-Not Letterbox
Pistapaug Mt., Durham, CT

A single letterbox placed on 3-17-02 by the Gal Pals on Pistapaug
Mountain in Durham, CT. .

Difficulty: A steep hike up the mountain. Take a few breaks along the
way if you get tired. It will take
you 10-15 minutes to go up. Once up, it is an easy and
picturesque hike. Bring water and snacks
and sit a spell - the view is fantastic. Look for Oma's
messengers- red tailed hawks and turkey
vultures. We have even seen a bald eagle over the resevoir. The
road below is great for birding.
Species seen here are Worm eating warbler, Common yellow throated
warblers, Red eyed vireo,
Scarlet tanager, Barred owl, Wood duck, Mergansers, and Great blue
heron.
The trip up and back should be approximately 1-1 1/2 hours. (2
mile hike)

Directions: From Durham Center, travel south on RT17 toward Northford.
Go approximately 2 and 1/2 miles until you come to Howd Rd. on
your right. Travel on Howd Rd. for approximately 2 miles and look for a
pull off on your left by the concrete blocks . If you come to concrete
blocks on your right, turn around, you have gone too far. The entrance
to the Pistapaug Mountain Trail is right behind the
concrete blocks. Look for the blue blazed trail as you will be
following it all the way up. When the trail
forks, keep following the blue blazes. This takes you along the
ridge line. Eventually, you will see an
unblazed "path" off to your right and down the small slope to
the vistas. Be careful when going down
as the rocks are often loose and the footing questionable. We
made it just fine and so will you ! Just go slowly. ( Remember that
we are the "older" kids -some of us will never see 50 again :D )
Once you have enjoyed a snack and the views, retrace your steps
back up to the blue blazed trail.
Follow the blue blazed trail to where the path begins to head
southeast and away from the vistas. You will spot a beech tree with
initials carved into it . ( poor tree!) From the beech tree and
facing the southward trail, go 50 steps (25 paces) into the woods at 220
degrees to a 4 sister oak tree on a hillock. You will find the
Forget-Me-Not Letterbox nearby under a pile of stones.
After stamping in, retrace your hike along the blue blazed
trail the way you came. (You could follow the blue blaze trail in the
southward direction. It takes you down to RT. 17 in Durham near Stagecoach
Rd. You would then either return back up the mountain or you
could park another car there and drive back to the other end from
whence you came. There is a diagram of this trail in the Short Nature
Hikes in Connecticut book. We hope you enjoy the hike !

ps. Forget-Me-Nots were some of Oma's favorite flowers. She
planted many along the brook in West Simsbury, CT.