Hi all --

I've been doing this for a few months now, but just recently joined the
mailing list and started making my own boxes. :) I'm Eliza/moderngypsy
from Seattle, WA (most recently), and I'm kind of a letterboxing
evangelist lately....

I placed TWO boxes today in the metro Seattle area. I'll post them
separately for simplicity's sake.

FIRST is the CARKEEK BOX
Carkeek park is a fabulous gem on the Sound that I'd never been to until
today. It's a salmon spawning ground with miles and miles of trails and
a model airplane strip....great fun.

To get there from I-5 heading North from downtown:
Exit at #173. At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto 1st Ave. NE,
then another left on Northgate Way. Go west on Northgate, cross Aurora,
and take a right on Greenwood Ave. Turn left on 110th Street (it's at a
stoplight and the way left is kind of hidden. If you miss it, you can
just go around the block to get back to it.) After 110th crosses 3rd
Ave, it becomes Carkeek Park Rd, and winds down into a lush green canopy
until it hits the bottom. Turn left to get into the park and stay
straight unless you want to go visit the Environmental Learning Center.

Just past the Carkeek Trail sign, park in the lot on the left, near the
kiosk. On the end closest to the Emerald outhouse and facing the exit,
take the small trail to your left (north). You'll know you're on the
right one if there is a small sign to your left saying "Bicycle Use
Prohibited on this Trail" next to the trailhead.

Plunge into the gurgling wilderness with the stream and waterfalls to
your right. Continue up, past the gnarled dragon-head stump, and around
the first switchback. The trail goes for a bit after the switchback
with few identifying features and only a slight incline. Pretend you're
a dinosaur traversing the ancient wilderness, and continue onward.

The next switchback is small but steep. Go over the log to your
right(-ish). You're on the right path if you go over another log in
about five steps, just past a tree on your right.

All of a sudden, it's a -very- steep trail. About half way up the steep
is a green post on the right and a clearing. Keep going past it.

Go around the corner that looks like a small landslide, (to your left is
a 2-in-1 tree).

Near the end, the path goes through a cut log. (if you hit the road,
you've gone too far...) On the left is half the log that is
perpendicular to the path; on the right is the other half, parallel to
the road. Under the end of that log, closest to the road, is a second
log piece. The letterbox is there, under the second log, covered with
leaves.


Happy hunting! I'm planning on popping another two boxes here when time
permits.