NV Letterbox, Desert Song
Placed by Birkie Bob on 23 March, 2002
ironman_bb@yahoo.com

Difficulty:
Clues-Moderate
Trail-Moderate (3 on a scale of 1 to 5)

The Desert Song Letter Box can be found in a state park about an
hour's drive north-east of "The Meadow." Drive to the north-east
from that meadow on the interstate highway. After about 30 miles take
the exit to the right on a highway whose digits sum to 16. Head east
along that highway for 15 miles to the park entrance where you will be
required to pay a modest entrance fee. The sites of the park are well
worth the cost. Pick up a park brochure there. Continue onward for
another 3 miles marveling at the wonders on either side of the road.
You'll pass an area of bee hives where you won't find honey and trees
that won't burn. Take a left turn toward the visitors' center, but
don't go there. Rather proceed uphill through extra-terrestrial
looking terrain. You'll pass the turn-out for the water tank of a
rodent and continue onward until you arrive at the end of the road.
Park in the lot there, then read and heed the signs and advisories
near the public conveniences.

Your quest continues on foot along the marked hiking trail.

The trail should be no trouble for experienced hikers, but it is more
difficult than a walk in a city park. There are boulders to climb over
and gullies to walk up. There will be tricky footing in places. Make
sure that you are prepared for a two hour round trip hike in the
desert. The desert temperatures can be higher than 100 degrees F in
the summer. Make sure to take sufficient water and to use sun block.
Take precautions against the heat. Read and heed the warnings and
advisories on the park brochures and the trail head signs. The desert
environment is fragile. Please take care not to disturb vegetation.
Watch out for the animal inhabitants. Some of them can be
disagreeable. Take a compass and know how to use it. Exercise proper
precautions to avoid getting lost.

Continue your search on the marked 1.2 mile hiking loop that leaves
the parking lot. You'll start out traveling down a gully and then past
a structure erected as a prop for the 1965 movie "The Professionals."
The area has been used in the filming of many movie scenes. See if you
recognize parts of it from any of your favorite movies (not "Gone with
the Wind" though). Continue on the hiking trail to a narrow corridor
between two high rock faces. Follow the trail through the corridor
enjoying the cool relief from the dessert heat.

Upon exiting the corridor the hiking path turns to the right, but
don't follow it. Rather leave the hiking path and proceed due west
along a drainage gully also known as a wash. The wash will take you to
another corridor between two rock faces about six feet high. At the
exit of that corridor turn left heading due south and continue
following the wash keeping near the rock face on your left.

After a short distance, the main drainage path will turn to the
right; don't follow it. Continue in a southerly direction parallel
with the rock face on your left. While following that left hand rock
face, you'll soon be able to observe your next landmark. That will be
a very large rock shaped like the head of an eagle with beak pointing
to the left and perched on a very high peak ahead at a bearing of 165
degrees. Continue toward that noble bird.

When you get near the base of the eagle's lookout the wash will pass
to its left. Stay in that wash still keeping the same rock face on
your left and now the eagle's head on your right. You'll be traveling
up a gully on a bearing of 130 degrees. The footing becomes more
difficult in this area, so be extra careful.

The gully will take you to a drop-off looking down upon a large flat
sandy area. Stop on that overlook, your prize is near. Turn to your
left looking in a north-east direction. You'll see the end of the high
rock face that has been on your left and a low hill continuing forward
like a shoulder from the base of that wall. Climb onto that shoulder
being careful not to fall off, and proceed to the junction of the
shoulder and the sheer rock face above it. If you look around the end
of that face, you'll see the road that brought you to the parking lot;
but don't go in that direction. Your prize is already within you
grasp.

Notice the overhang formed at the bottom of the high rock face. A very
short distance back from the end of the face you'll see a pile of
rocks that have fallen from that overhang. Your Desert Song is
crooning sweetly within. After stamping in, make sure to replace it
carefully protected and covered by those rocks so that other visitors
may also enjoy its sweet notes.

With a careful eye on your compass reverse your course to return to
the hiking trail from which you deviated earlier. You can retrace your
steps all the way back to the parking lot or continue around the
remaining hiking loop to get there. The distances are roughly the same
in either direction.

The park has some truly amazing works of nature and of man. If you
have the time you would be well advised to enjoy them while the notes
of your Desert Song still ring in your ears.

Thank you for your visit. This letterbox will be checked very
infrequently. An email report on its condition would be very much
appreciated.