I think Kimberly has a great point and I hope that some more people
will read this post. I have taken some ribbing from some fellow
letterboxers (who will remain nameless :-)... When I have not found
some boxes that they found easily. But I don't dig around or turn
over every rock in the place. It is not a big deal if I don't find
that particular letterbox. There are 100 more being hid every week!
Enjoy the journey you guys! Don't forget that it is all about being
outside and enjoying the hike too!


--Amanda from Seattle

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., "Kimberly" wrote:
> With an influx of new people, I'm getting a little disturbed by
some posts. It seems everyone has forgotton a very important
principle of letterboxing - Leave No Trace. This means more than not
throwing trash on the ground. More importantly, you should leave no
trace that you were there. When people post that they did not find a
box, they did an exhaustive search or turned over every rock. This
is just plain wrong. An area should not be completely trampled
because we couldn't find a box. I know it can be frustrating, but
turn around and try another box, or come back another day. When I
first started boxing, there was only one box in NJ, and for the life
of me, I couldn't find it. I came back again ( a few times :) ) and
eventually got it. But if you're confused, please maintain respect
for the land. Don't trample everything within a twenty foot radius
of where you suspect the box was. Also, for hiders, don't hide it
under a rock in the middle of an immense rock field, it's only asking
for someone to destroy it. Just remember, it's a
game/hobby/pasttime, and it's ok if you don't find every one that you
hunt for.
>
> Kimberly
> aka MartianMaggot
> in NJ

As someone living in a town surrounded by a beautiful National Park (Acadia)
I have to second these thoughts. Our beautiful parks, the very thing that
we all enjoy in letterboxing, are being destroyed a little bit every day by
the thousands of people who come to visit but do not respect them. I don't
think letterboxers want to be included in that group. I am a newbie, so I
hope that no one will be offended by my suggestion, but here it is. For
those of you who are hiding boxes I would suggest that you make the hunt and
clues as challenging as possible during the hike to the location. But once
someone is within a few yards of the box, it would be better for the
environment if the box's hiding place were pretty easy to find at that
point. I don't mean out in the open for everyone to find, but put it near
obvious landmarks with clues that make it very obvious when you see the
spot. I find Legerdemaine's clues to be this way. It has taken me ages to
figure out some of the clues when approaching the box, but his final
riddles, when you are standing in the right place, make a light bulb go
off. I have also found that when I could not find a box and came home and
emailed the person who placed it, they were most willing to tell me if I
had, indeed, been in the right area. I would rather check in with the
box's owner and go back another day than damage the area by tramping around
where the box isn't. Just my thoughts, wanting to preserve our beautiful
outdoors as much as possible.
~ Memlili
(P.S. This note may have a bit to do with watching thousands of people
visiting our island who have NO respect for the park whatsoever!)


To:
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 4:00 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Re: A note for newies and old timers alike


> I think Kimberly has a great point and I hope that some more people
> will read this post. I have taken some ribbing from some fellow
> letterboxers (who will remain nameless :-)... When I have not found
> some boxes that they found easily. But I don't dig around or turn
> over every rock in the place. It is not a big deal if I don't find
> that particular letterbox. There are 100 more being hid every week!
> Enjoy the journey you guys! Don't forget that it is all about being
> outside and enjoying the hike too!
>
>
> --Amanda from Seattle