Destination: Hidden Pond - (water snakes and spiders - no fish)

Location: Minnewaska State Park - NY
Shawangunk trail map #9 (2F grid)

Closest Town: ACCORD County: ULSTER

Letterbox hidden on 6-24-02 at 2pm by J&G with nephew Stevie

Stamp Design: Spider Web (B-947 Petaluma ,CA)

Distance one way: 2.78 miles

Terrain Difficulty: Moderate and Tricky - 3/4's of the way follows the
Sander's Kill stream passing several pools of water and slippery rocks.

No drinkable water along the way without filtration.

Optional Equipment: Step Counter, GPS

Bug Repellent may be needed!

Directions /Clues:

1) We parked our Caravan in first loop on the Long Path at Jenny Lane on
44/55

There are two ways to do this from here: Either follow the stream all
the way down to the falls or the easier way - on a path through the
woods.

Path through woods:

2) Walk for one mile 40 degrees True North first passing the last parking
loop and two little fields followed by a high grass covered path for a
total number of 2465 steps. If you see a posted sign at about 1900 steps
[41 45 04N , 74 14 24W on a GPS] this trail leads to the next point ,
about 300 yards around this land. { in the past we have bushwhacked here
to the stream with our dog "BUD" , it is a more difficult way to go, but
keeps you off private land}
3) The path on private land is for about 300 yards and there is a grassy
clearing at this point where a sharp right turn for one tenth of a mile
in a southerly direction brings you back to the stream.
4) At this spot is a hunters cabin.
5) The path continues around the back of the cabin and heads downstream
for a half of a mile.
6) At that point , within the next hundred feet or so, cross over the
stream. ( total steps now about 3826)
7)Walking down the right side of the steam for another 1/2 mile you will
pass posted land on the other side.
8) At about 5181 steps or about 2.1 miles make a sharp right up tributary
stream up to falls. ( approx. 150 yards)
9) At the top of the falls - go across the brook - the trail goes right
and left - go left (over a small log) and continue a few hundred feet
across a marshy area to another fork.
10) Do not take the left path, down into the woods! Take the right path
to the flat rock area .
Go to the left edge of the flat rock field , There is a path here
through the mountain laurel heading uphill in a southerly direction.
11) Here is where it gets tricky! Head to the top of the mountain (SE
140 degrees) and keep to the middle path. Watch out for false side paths.
At about 6185 steps you will go over a small 2 foot rock wedged on trail
being used as a bridge over a small crevice. About another 300 yards to
Hidden Pond!
12)Letterbox is 75 feet uphill (190 degrees South) from the flat rocks
on waters edge where its a good place to have a snack. There are two
yellow paint splashes on the two rocks there, one big ,one small ,about
10 feet or so apart from each other, under the big rock is the box which
has another small rock covering it.

Good Luck and have fun finding it!

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