Letterboxing USA - Yahoo Groups Archive

New Letterbox/Geocache: Etowah Chief, Canton GA USA

1 messages in this thread | Started on 2002-06-27

New Letterbox/Geocache: Etowah Chief, Canton GA USA

From: James D. Satterfield (jsatt@gsu.edu) | Date: 2002-06-27 11:51:53 UTC-04:00


We have made up our first letterbox/geocache hybrid with the following directions and clues:


ETOWAH CHIEF LETTERBOX/GEOCACHE

This geocache and letterbox will proved you with a nice walk along the Etowah River in Canton GA, about 40 miles north of
Atlanta. Roundtrip distance is about three miles with some off trail walking to get to the cache/letterbox. For geocaching
information, go to http://www.geocaching.com.

Clues:

1. In Canton, go to the bridge over the Etowah River, which has GA HwyS 5 and 140 crossing it. If driving north, at the north
end of the bridge turn left into Boling Park. If you were to
turn right, you would Sparkle!

2. Drive about 0.7 miles to the area of the walking track. Depending on the time of year, you may see many soccer games in
progress as you drive by the fields. Our future World Cup champions are growing up and learning the sport.

3. Park near the picnic shelter and look for the wooden sign which shows the Etowah Trail, a white blazed trail that will go
down along the River. The white blazes are not consistent on the first part of the trail, but get your items together and head
out.

4. You will cross Puckett Creek using a bridge that was made by the BSA Troop that also laid out the trail. Do not follow a trail
up Puckett Creek. The bridge is just a few yards from the River. Record the number of the BSA Troop that built the bridge,
because you'll need the number later.

5. Follow the trail along the river. Nice easy walk! In a short distance you will see a rock outcropping on the right with the
names "J.M. Williams L.C. Carner" chiseled into the rock. There are two dates to the left of the names, one date above the
other. Record the lower (bottom) date, which is the number of a year. Yep, you'll use this number later too.

6. Continue your walk observing the beauty of the River and forests. Reflect on the Cherokee Indians who once hunted these
woods, fished in the river, and farmed the bottom lands. Soon you will walk around a rock outcropping that is higher than your
head. After passing the rock outcropping, the trail gradually leaves the River.

7. Continuing on the trail you will come to a place where the white blazed trail crosses over a small foot bridge, but before the
bridge an orange blazed trail and goes away on a heading of about 350 degrees.

8. Proceed on the orange trail about 65 paces to a large beech tree with an orange blaze. Now, for the first time, you will go
off trail.

9. From the beech tree, walk up hill about 50 paces on a heading of 115 degrees. You should now be near an oak tree with a
cavity in its base. A small container is in the cavity, and inside the container is a sheet with a clue to be followed. Please
replace the clue sheet and container when you finish deciphering the clue.

10. If you followed the clue properly, you should now be near a fallen tree. A white quartz stone, about 2 feet in diameter, rests
three paces beyond the fallen tree. Now, recall the BSA troop number and subtract 226 from it. This results in an azimuth,
which, if walked for about 40 paces, will place you in the vicinity of the cache/letterbox.

11. Celebrate by singing the following song (To be sung to the tune of " 'Neath the Crust of an Old Apple Pie")

Near the base of an old fallen tree,
There is something for you that's from me.
It could be a pen that I just dropped in,
But it's really a box with things to see.

So take out your stamp, take a look,
As you post your own stamp in the book.
Then press the box stamp to your page elegant
As you rest near the old fallen tree.

12. Exchange stamp impressions, record any comments you wish to make, then carefully replace the box.

Jimmus and SpikesMom are happy to have shared these lovely locations with you. Best wishes for your future quests.

*************
Note: Customary disclaimers apply. Be careful. You must be responsible for your own safety. Be aware of poison ivy, stinging
nettle, possible snakes, etc. when out in the woods anywhere. It's a good idea to wear bright colors in the woods, especially
during hunting season.