Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity and
frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems with
placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place. About
how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
Mick
New in California
8 messages in this thread |
Started on 1999-09-29
[LbNA] New in California
From: (mplace_@excite.com) |
Date: 1999-09-29 07:15:53 UTC-07:00
[LbNA] Re: New in California
From: Thom Cheney (tcgrafx@imagina.com) |
Date: 1999-09-29 07:51:59 UTC-07:00
mplace_@excite.com wrote:
>
> Hi, I just found out about this hobby.
Welcome Mick!!
> Does anybody know if there are problems with
> placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
> more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
> hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
We were discussing this very subject yesterday at some length. The
general consensus seems to be the familiar don't ask/don't tell policy.
We don't ask... they don't tell us we can't!! Seriously, if you use
good judgement in placing your letterboxes (hiding them in locations
that are not hazardous to the Park environment), there is really nothing
to complain about. Most of these boxes will never be found other than
by those who are looking for them via the clues anyway!
> About
> how long does it take to get a stamp made?
It depends on the carver! At least one of our group takes the naked
eraser or carving medium right on-site and carves "plenn aire." Your
own individual style and ability will dictate how long it takes. For a
first effort, figure it will take you an easy evening to assemble a box,
carving included (...again, this is my estimate... your mileage may
vary). The ultimate time saver would be to go to the craft store and
buy a premade stamp.
We will expect a full report from your hike and first box!
--
Thom Cheney
tcgrafx... among other things
>
> Hi, I just found out about this hobby.
Welcome Mick!!
> Does anybody know if there are problems with
> placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
> more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
> hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
We were discussing this very subject yesterday at some length. The
general consensus seems to be the familiar don't ask/don't tell policy.
We don't ask... they don't tell us we can't!! Seriously, if you use
good judgement in placing your letterboxes (hiding them in locations
that are not hazardous to the Park environment), there is really nothing
to complain about. Most of these boxes will never be found other than
by those who are looking for them via the clues anyway!
> About
> how long does it take to get a stamp made?
It depends on the carver! At least one of our group takes the naked
eraser or carving medium right on-site and carves "plenn aire." Your
own individual style and ability will dictate how long it takes. For a
first effort, figure it will take you an easy evening to assemble a box,
carving included (...again, this is my estimate... your mileage may
vary). The ultimate time saver would be to go to the craft store and
buy a premade stamp.
We will expect a full report from your hike and first box!
--
Thom Cheney
tcgrafx... among other things
[LbNA] Re: [LBNA] New in California
From: Mark Sheehan (sheehan@montana.campuscwix.net) |
Date: 1999-09-29 10:02:55 UTC-06:00
Mick,
About putting boxes in U.S. national parks: You might want to take the precaution of not leaving any information in the box that would identify you. I'd expect national park authorities to be more strict than those in national forests. And I'd expect trouble if your box were found by the rangers. The ethic in national parks is pretty rigidly preservationist; the orientation is toward control. (My wife does microbial research in Yellowstone, so we've run into some of this -- just yesterday in fact when, despite having all the proper permits, the research crew was confronted and its work was mildly disrupted by a too-careful ranger.) Anyway, while this takes some of the fun out of letterboxing, a letterbox placed in a national park would be no place for self-promotion. My 'umble opinion.
One alternative would be to stash the box in a particularly attractive, but overlooked area of national forest outside the park. Most national parks have a buffer of other public land around them. Probably no less illegal, but less likely to provoke an investigation.
About getting stamps made: If you're not an artsy-craftsy person you can get a custom rubber stamp made up at an upscale stamp shop (computer-equipped) for around $10-15. It takes a day or two for them to scan the artwork you provide and then cut and mount the stamp -- maybe a little longer if it's a busy shop; maybe a lot longer if they're not service oriented.
I gather the aesthetic among most of the active participants on this list leans toward hand-carved stamps. I'm leaning that way myself, but in order to jump-start letterboxing in Montana I asked a friend to create some designs on paper (computer, really) and then had five stamps made up commercially.
I did a lot of modestly successful linoleum block carving back in the early '70s, so I have the tools and the skills (both rusty) to carve stamps, but I have been frustrated by my first couple botched attempts at carving erasers. (I know, I know; "just keep trying." I will!)
If you're in a hurry to get into letterboxing, I'd suggest there's little or no shame in having at least your first few stamps made up commercially.
-Mark
At 07:51 AM 9/29/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>mplace_@excite.com wrote:
>>
>> Hi, I just found out about this hobby.
>
>Welcome Mick!!
>
>
>> Does anybody know if there are problems with
>> placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>> more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>> hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
>
>We were discussing this very subject yesterday at some length. The
>general consensus seems to be the familiar don't ask/don't tell policy.
>We don't ask... they don't tell us we can't!! Seriously, if you use
>good judgement in placing your letterboxes (hiding them in locations
>that are not hazardous to the Park environment), there is really nothing
>to complain about. Most of these boxes will never be found other than
>by those who are looking for them via the clues anyway!
>
>> About
>> how long does it take to get a stamp made?
>
>It depends on the carver! At least one of our group takes the naked
>eraser or carving medium right on-site and carves "plenn aire." Your
>own individual style and ability will dictate how long it takes. For a
>first effort, figure it will take you an easy evening to assemble a box,
>carving included (...again, this is my estimate... your mileage may
>vary). The ultimate time saver would be to go to the craft store and
>buy a premade stamp.
>
>We will expect a full report from your hike and first box!
>
>--
>Thom Cheney
>tcgrafx... among other things
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
About putting boxes in U.S. national parks: You might want to take the precaution of not leaving any information in the box that would identify you. I'd expect national park authorities to be more strict than those in national forests. And I'd expect trouble if your box were found by the rangers. The ethic in national parks is pretty rigidly preservationist; the orientation is toward control. (My wife does microbial research in Yellowstone, so we've run into some of this -- just yesterday in fact when, despite having all the proper permits, the research crew was confronted and its work was mildly disrupted by a too-careful ranger.) Anyway, while this takes some of the fun out of letterboxing, a letterbox placed in a national park would be no place for self-promotion. My 'umble opinion.
One alternative would be to stash the box in a particularly attractive, but overlooked area of national forest outside the park. Most national parks have a buffer of other public land around them. Probably no less illegal, but less likely to provoke an investigation.
About getting stamps made: If you're not an artsy-craftsy person you can get a custom rubber stamp made up at an upscale stamp shop (computer-equipped) for around $10-15. It takes a day or two for them to scan the artwork you provide and then cut and mount the stamp -- maybe a little longer if it's a busy shop; maybe a lot longer if they're not service oriented.
I gather the aesthetic among most of the active participants on this list leans toward hand-carved stamps. I'm leaning that way myself, but in order to jump-start letterboxing in Montana I asked a friend to create some designs on paper (computer, really) and then had five stamps made up commercially.
I did a lot of modestly successful linoleum block carving back in the early '70s, so I have the tools and the skills (both rusty) to carve stamps, but I have been frustrated by my first couple botched attempts at carving erasers. (I know, I know; "just keep trying." I will!)
If you're in a hurry to get into letterboxing, I'd suggest there's little or no shame in having at least your first few stamps made up commercially.
-Mark
At 07:51 AM 9/29/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>mplace_@excite.com wrote:
>>
>> Hi, I just found out about this hobby.
>
>Welcome Mick!!
>
>
>> Does anybody know if there are problems with
>> placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>> more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>> hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
>
>We were discussing this very subject yesterday at some length. The
>general consensus seems to be the familiar don't ask/don't tell policy.
>We don't ask... they don't tell us we can't!! Seriously, if you use
>good judgement in placing your letterboxes (hiding them in locations
>that are not hazardous to the Park environment), there is really nothing
>to complain about. Most of these boxes will never be found other than
>by those who are looking for them via the clues anyway!
>
>> About
>> how long does it take to get a stamp made?
>
>It depends on the carver! At least one of our group takes the naked
>eraser or carving medium right on-site and carves "plenn aire." Your
>own individual style and ability will dictate how long it takes. For a
>first effort, figure it will take you an easy evening to assemble a box,
>carving included (...again, this is my estimate... your mileage may
>vary). The ultimate time saver would be to go to the craft store and
>buy a premade stamp.
>
>We will expect a full report from your hike and first box!
>
>--
>Thom Cheney
>tcgrafx... among other things
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
[LbNA] Re: New in California
From: Linda Aplin (linda@auc.com) |
Date: 1999-09-29 09:30:01 UTC-07:00
Reply to: RE: [LbNA] New in California
Hi Mick,
How exciting! Letterboxes in Yosemite! It's my all-time favorite place to be so you can count on me to visit your boxes!
I'm in the Bay Area where there are a few boxes hidden. It'll be great to have more activity in our state.
Linda
mplace_ wrote:
>Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
>looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity and
>frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems with
>placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place. About
>how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
>Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
>Mick
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
>
>RFC822 header
>-----------------------------------
>
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> Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 07:15:53 -0700
> From: mplace_@excite.com
> To: letterbox-usa@eGroups.com
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Hi Mick,
How exciting! Letterboxes in Yosemite! It's my all-time favorite place to be so you can count on me to visit your boxes!
I'm in the Bay Area where there are a few boxes hidden. It'll be great to have more activity in our state.
Linda
mplace_ wrote:
>Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
>looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity and
>frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems with
>placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place. About
>how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
>Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
>Mick
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
>
>RFC822 header
>-----------------------------------
>
> RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1273532568 ; 29 SEP 99 07:25:28 UT
> Received: from MU.EGROUPS.COM by mail.auc.com
> with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.1.1r1); 29 SEP 99 07:25:16 UT
> X-eGroups-Return: letterbox-usa-return-2260-linda=auc.com@returns.egroups.com
> Received: from [10.1.2.42] by mu.egroups.com with NNFMP; 29 Sep 1999 >15:21:32 -0000
> Mailing-List: contact letterbox-usa-owner@egroups.com
> X-Mailing-List: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
> X-URL: http://www.egroups.com/list/letterbox-usa/
> Received: (listserv 1.262); by a2; 29 Sep 1999 14:21:31 -0000
> Reply-To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
> Delivered-To: listsaver-egroups-letterbox-usa@eGroups.com
> Received: (qmail 28558 invoked from network); 29 Sep 1999 14:16:04 -0000
> Received: from md.egroups.com (207.138.41.139) by qh.egroups.com with >SMTP; 29 Sep 1999 14:16:04 -0000
> X-eGroups-Return: mplace_@excite.com
> Received: from [10.1.2.5] by md.egroups.com with NNFMP; 29 Sep 1999 >15:16:04 -0000
> Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 07:15:53 -0700
> From: mplace_@excite.com
> To: letterbox-usa@eGroups.com
> Message-ID: <7st6up$3avh@eGroups.com>
> User-Agent: eGroups-EW/0.76
> X-Mailer: eGroups Message Poster
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[LbNA] Re: New in California
From: (mplace_@excite.com) |
Date: 1999-09-29 10:19:32 UTC-07:00
Hi Linda,
I'm going to try and get everything togather to place one Saturday
somewhere on Glacer Point. I'll post it Sunday.
Mick
linda aplin wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa/?start=2310
> Reply to: RE: [LbNA] New in California
> Hi Mick,
>
> How exciting! Letterboxes in Yosemite! It's my all-time favorite
place to be so you can count on me to visit your boxes!
>
> I'm in the Bay Area where there are a few boxes hidden. It'll be
great to have more activity in our state.
>
> Linda
>
>
> mplace_ wrote:
> >Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
> >looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity
and
> >frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems
with
> >placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
> >more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
> >hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
About
> >how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
> >Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
> >Mick
> >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> >
> >eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
> >http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >RFC822 header
I'm going to try and get everything togather to place one Saturday
somewhere on Glacer Point. I'll post it Sunday.
Mick
linda aplin
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa/?start=2310
> Reply to: RE: [LbNA] New in California
> Hi Mick,
>
> How exciting! Letterboxes in Yosemite! It's my all-time favorite
place to be so you can count on me to visit your boxes!
>
> I'm in the Bay Area where there are a few boxes hidden. It'll be
great to have more activity in our state.
>
> Linda
>
>
> mplace_ wrote:
> >Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
> >looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity
and
> >frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems
with
> >placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
> >more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
> >hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place.
About
> >how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
> >Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
> >Mick
> >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> >
> >eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
> >http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >RFC822 header
[LbNA] Re: New in California
From: Wendy Gault (wendygault@earthlink.net) |
Date: 1999-09-29 14:49:08 UTC-07:00
YEA!!! Another Californian!!
I love Yosemite and hope to be up that way sometime in October (A friend of
mine has a cabin up in North Fork). Depending on the difficulty of the hike
(I am VERY out of shape) I'll be hunting any boxes that you might leave in
the area.
If you make it down to the Southern part of the state let me know. I have a
few boxes hinden down here (South Bay, that is Santa Monica Bay).
Welcome to some really cool fun!!
----------
>From: mplace_@excite.com
>To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
>Subject: [LbNA] New in California
>Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 7:15 AM
>
>Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
>looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity and
>frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems with
>placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place. About
>how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
>Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
>Mick
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
I love Yosemite and hope to be up that way sometime in October (A friend of
mine has a cabin up in North Fork). Depending on the difficulty of the hike
(I am VERY out of shape) I'll be hunting any boxes that you might leave in
the area.
If you make it down to the Southern part of the state let me know. I have a
few boxes hinden down here (South Bay, that is Santa Monica Bay).
Welcome to some really cool fun!!
----------
>From: mplace_@excite.com
>To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
>Subject: [LbNA] New in California
>Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 7:15 AM
>
>Hi, I just found out about this hobby. I am a die hard hiker so this
>looks like a fun thing to do. I live about 2.5 hours from Yosemity and
>frequently hike the area. Does anybody know if there are problems with
>placing boxes in a National Park? I don't see where it would be any
>more of a liablity to the park than a normal hike and if it's well
>hidden it wouldn't detract from the natural beauty of the place. About
>how long does it take to get a stamp made? I'm hiking Glacer Point
>Saturday and it seems like a natural place to hide one.
>Mick
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/letterbox-usa
>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>
>
>
[LbNA] Re: New in California
From: erik/susan davis (davisarc@wcvt.com) |
Date: 1999-09-29 16:10:08 UTC-07:00
Mick
Welcome aboard!
There is a section on the 'letterboxing.org' entitled "Getting Started"
- it answers many of the questions you might have. Also, the "FAQ's"
section is very informative. If you still have questions, someone will
come forward with answers.
Good Luck
Erik
Viking of VT
Welcome aboard!
There is a section on the 'letterboxing.org' entitled "Getting Started"
- it answers many of the questions you might have. Also, the "FAQ's"
section is very informative. If you still have questions, someone will
come forward with answers.
Good Luck
Erik
Viking of VT
New in California
From: (drewclan@aol.com) |
Date: 2001-05-01 16:36:04 UTC
Sorry I've been behind in thanking the many people who have visited,
maintained, restocked, and even saved our letterboxes from floods!
It's been wonderful following the growth of letterboxing and the
spring season energy everyone has. So many creative new letterboxes
to look for!
We had a chance to visit my beloved home in northern California and
have a couple of letterboxes called "Wine Country" for your enjoyment
in Sonoma County:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/drewclan/sonoma.htm
Finally, congratulations to Der Mad Stamper for placing his 50th
(!!!) letterbox, and to the wonderful folks in the pacific northwest
who have done so much to promote the sport with their
recent "gathering."
Jay in lovely spring cycling weather CT
maintained, restocked, and even saved our letterboxes from floods!
It's been wonderful following the growth of letterboxing and the
spring season energy everyone has. So many creative new letterboxes
to look for!
We had a chance to visit my beloved home in northern California and
have a couple of letterboxes called "Wine Country" for your enjoyment
in Sonoma County:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/drewclan/sonoma.htm
Finally, congratulations to Der Mad Stamper for placing his 50th
(!!!) letterbox, and to the wonderful folks in the pacific northwest
who have done so much to promote the sport with their
recent "gathering."
Jay in lovely spring cycling weather CT