The Flight Path Letterboxes (6)

Planted 11/13/02
By Amanda from Seattle

These boxes are at Des Moines Creek Park/Trail
Sea Tac, Washington.
King County

NOTES:
This park is directly underneath the flight path for SeaTac airport.
The planes are landing or taking off every few minutes and they can
be very very loud. Being exposed to loud noises like this for any
extended period of time can DAMAGE YOUR HEARING! This is a 2 mile
hike roundtrip. Bring earplugs (or even earmuffs or stereo
headphones will do if you don't have earplugs) to protect your ears.
If you have small children who are frightened of loud noises, this
might not be a good hike to take them on. IT WILL BE LOUD!!

On the other hand, you get a relatively close look at the
underbellies of the planes as they takeoff and/or land. Can you tell
the difference between the different airlines from this angle?

You'll walk one mile on this paved path and then return. If you want
to make a "loop" out of it, you can get 3 boxes as you walk in and
the other 3 boxes as you walk out! :-) I highly recommend going all
the way to the Alaska Airlines box, it is the best stamp of the
bunch!!


Driving Directions:
On International Blvd. (Hwy 99) go to S. 200th St. Head west on S.
200th St. Go approximately 1/2 mile to the bottom of the hill.
Trailhead parking is available to the left.

CLUES:

If you were on USAirways Flight #180 to Philadelphia, when you took
off out of Seattle, you could look down and see a Golf Course and
then a park. You would see me (Amanda from Seattle) walking along
the paved trail until I took a right on a dirt path then an immediate
left to a big tree not the evergreen, but the deciduous one and you
would see me kneeling there behind the Big deciduous tree. Opps you
are goneTo the city of Brotherly Love.

If you were on Delta Fight #706 to Atlanta, you would look down and
see me return to the paved trail go past a bench (Blackberries are
all along this portion of the trail BRING a BUCKET during
Blackberry season) and past the first 1/4 mile signpost. On the right
is a clearing with a small tree cluster and a large tree cluster. In
front of the large tree cluster is a large log. You would see me
reaching under the western side of the log. Opps you are goneTo find
some Southern letterboxes.

If you were on Northwest Flight #7 to Tokyo, you would be looking
down and see me go on past a couple of sewer man-holes then taking a
right on a dirt path up a slight hill. You would see me stay to the
left when I reached an open grassy field and reentering the woods on
the SW corner of the field to a multi-trunked tree with a holly bush
beside it. You would see me carefully reaching into the southern side
of the tree between it and the holly bush. Opps you are gonewinging
your way to the Orient.

If you were on American Airlines Flight #1408 to Dallas, you would be
looking down at the park and see me looking over the "cliff" at the
pavement below! (DO NOT return to the paved trail this way ---
although it is evident that people have been doing just that!!) You
would see me continue around toward the left until I could rejoin
the paved trail by taking a gradual incline down. From down here, I
can now see the Creek (and even hear it, between airplanes blasting
by overhead). You could see me passing another 1/4 mile post and
another bench. You can see me walk toward a huge rock that has
graffiti on it. Next to the huge rock (on the left) is a smaller rock
and some branches. You would see me reaching between these tree limbs
and the smaller rock. Opps you are gonegetting some of those new
Texas letterboxes I guess.

If you were on United Airlines Flight #1590 to Chicago, you would
look down into the park and see me pass another 1/4 mile signpost.
You would see me come to a bridge and walk over it and up some
stairs. You would see me come to a section of fence with a tree on
the left and the right, both covered with ivy. You would see me walk
over to the tree on the right and reach around the left side of this
tree. Opps you are gone...flying the friendly skies.

If you were on Alaska Airlines Flight #95 to Anchorage, you would
look down and see me returning over the bridge to the paved trail.
You would see me continue past another 1/4 mile post and past some
stairs on my right. You see me stop at a large log that is close to
the path. I am reaching under the northern end of the log away from
the path. Opps you are goneenjoying that Alaska Spirit!

Please be DISCREET and read the waiver of responsibilty and liability!
Thanks
Amanda from Seattle