We placed our first letterbox today (we have found four and all of our
family, except perhaps the baby, have been greatly enjoying this new
game). This is quite an easy hunt, as befits a letterbox hidden by
several small children and their parents who are far too silly to
really qualify as grownups -- but though the hunt is not too
challenging this will make for a pleasant cool and splashy hike for
a warm summer day. These clues will be mirrored at our family website
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mac47/letterbox.html but please do
put them on the letterboxing website too. Thanks! The Colvin family

TAUGHANNOCK FALLS LETTERBOX:

Taughannock Falls is located in Ulysses, NY, part of the popular
Finger Lakes Region of central New York. The falls is part of
Taughannock State Park located between the Village of Trumansburg
(part of the Ulysses Township), and the city of Ithaca.

The falls are formed by a rock bed creek entering the lake and
surrounded by a glen with walls climbing to 400 feet (120 meters). The
cataract has a drop of 215 feet (66 meters), one of the highest east
of the Rocky Mountains slightly higher even (25 ft., 8 m) than Niagara
(American side), but they cannot be compared because it has much
(MUCH) smaller volume. Taughannock is interesting year round - the
falls and gorge create a natural amphitheater with dense spray rising
from the bottom often shrouding the lower part of the cataract in
mist. The name "Taughannock" originates either from that of the
Delaware Indian chief Taughannock or as the Delaware word taghkanic
("great fall in the woods").


The Park is open all year Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; nights and
weekends during summer with camping from March to mid October. The Rim
trail closes in winter.

Directions: The park is located about 8 miles North from Ithaca or 4
miles South from Trumansburg along Route 89. From the New York State
Thruway, take Exit 41 to 318 East for 4 miles. Head South on Route 89
for 35 miles.


(This information came from a website describing the park,more details
can be found at http://www.taughannock.com/ )

There is a fee for using the parking area nearest the Gorge Trail. You
can avoid this by parking at the Falls overlook and hiking down
(consult map at the parking lot, this will add about two extra miles
to your hike) -- we do not suggest you do this with many small
children.

Come prepared to do a bit of wading. Water shoes are highly
recommended.

When you enter the park, change diapers, dole out snacks, put on water
shoes and bathing suits if you haven't already, and confine children
under two to backpacks. Start upstream along the Gorge Trail, crossing
the meadow and passing the first, smaller waterfall with the no
swimming sign at the foot of the stairs. We would tell you how many
paces this is, but we weren't sure whether to use daddy-sized,
mommy-sized, or child-sized paces, and everyone was trying to count at
once, and the baby was making noise in the backpack -- so everyone
lost track of their paces, except for the four year old. He says it
was 1002 paces, but we don't believe him.

Continue along the Gorge Trail, heading upstream with the stream on
your right. There will be a steep drop with a stone wall between the
trail and the stream. The wall ends just before trees obscure your
view of the stream. Cut through the trees and descend to the stream
bed. You will notice that some of the water is not moving, because it
is carved out of stone. (At least, this was the explanation of one
member of our expedition.)

Wade through the stone water or the running water -- whichever you
think will be easier -- until you find five in a row on the south side
of the stream. This is a good place to wade across to the opposite
bank. Continue upstream, travelling on the north side The trail will
still be obscured by trees on the opposite bank.

You are getting close when the trees end and a stone wall appears
again on the south bank, with the trail above it. Continue as far as
you can on the rock flats of the north bank, then climb the gentle
rocky slope into the trees at your right. You are in view of the trail
here, so be discreet. Remember, "a rolling stone gathers no moss."

Now that you have added your stamp, continue upstream to enjoy the
falls!