The Sycamore Canyon Letterbox
Diamond Bar, Los Angeles County, CA

At the nexus of the 57 and 60 freeways, you will find a relatively
newtown near the eastern end of Los Angeles County. Formerly part of
the Spadra Ranch, it now boasts over 56,000 residents and has the
dubious distinction of being the home of the smog-czars: the South
Coast AQMD.

Exit the 57/60 Freeway at Grand Avenue and go up the hill to Golden
Springs Blvd. Turn left and go about mile until you see a
Little
League Field on the right. Turn in there. Park in the upper lot and
walk down the steps to the lower area to a path that will take you
over a wooden footbridge. Stay on the concrete path, passing another
footbridge and an enormous Oak tree with four trunks. 125 paces
(142,
if you are 12 years old) past the Oak, you'll find a map-sign donated
by the local Boy Scouts that is, well, rather useless except for
these
directions. Follow the nearby dirt trail with the wooden fence on
your left. 25 paces past the end of the fence is a bench for
resting,
and then another wooden fence. Go to the end of that fence and take
the left fork in the trail, passing the boulder that looks like a
scared turtle in a cage. At this point, you should stop and thank
Kate for not making you walk up the trail to the right which is where
we were originally going to put the box, until she decided it was
just
too hot and unshaded up there!

Continue into the Live Oak grove left of the turtle-rock to a small
stream, which you should cross. You will see one, and then about 50
feet farther up stream, another fallen tree (both bridging the stream
somewhat precariously) as you head up the ravine created by the
stream. About 100 feet beyond the second fallen tree, is a huge tree
with a V (or maybe a Y) trunk. As you stand at its base and look
farther into the canyon, you will see another very large tree (the
biggest one there) on the opposite side of the stream with two holes
at its base. Inside, on the left side of the western hole, is your
prize!

Your reward should be a bucket of balls at the golf course near the
freeway. If you are hungry, go to Sam Woo's at the 60 freeway and
Nogales Road (2 miles west) for some of the best Dim Sum you can find
anywhere. If you prefer Italian, check out D'Antonio's on the north
end of town.

Zeek & Kate: zeek34@pacbell.net
Placed 6 July 2002
Approx. 1 mile round-trip, mild elevation; some climbing over and
under trees and rocks
Time: (30 minutes) once at park

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responsibility of the letterbox searcher to become thoroughly
familiar
with the conditions in the area to be searched, to adequately prepare
for those conditions, and to conduct oneself safely and responsibly
with respect to those conditions and with respect to his or her
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which
may occur related directly or indirectly to one's searching for a
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