LAKE MURRAY
San Diego, CA
Planted 11/30/02
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1/2 mile


Lake Murray is in Mission Trails Regional Park, one of the
largest urban parks in the country. This box is located at the
northeast end of the lake. Enter the park at the intersection of
Murray Lake Drive and Belle Glade Avenue. Follow the one-way
driveway to the lake. As you enter the parking lot there will be a
softball field on your right. Park as close to this field as
possible and walk along the driveway towards the lake.
As it turns into the bike path you will pass several
informational signs and a large blue-grey restroom on your right.
Continue along the paved path as it loops around the corner of the
lake. As you start travelling along the opposite shore you will see
a sign identifying Del Cerro Bay. If you bring some bread along you
can take a break here and feed the ducks.
At the second telephone pole past the sign. To find the box,
look under the rock next to the south side of the pole. This is an
easy hike for children or strollers.



DESCANSO GARDENS SERIES (3 BOXES)
Los Angeles County
Near La Canada, CA
Planted 12/1/02
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: About 1 mile for all three
General Info: #1 and #2 are easy for children and strollers, for #3
very young children might need to be in a backpack. Admission to the
garden is $5 for adults, less for others. Directions and info can be
found at www.descanso.com. The gardens can be quite busy on
weekends, so you might need to be careful in your searching.


#1: FEATHER FALLS
For all of the boxes, getting a map at the entrance will be
helpful. When entering the gardens, go to the right. Continue past
the very old clock (check the map if you're having problems finding
it) to the first trail on your left. Follow this trail. After
crossing the bridge, stop at the wishing well.
Facing the wishing well, take the trail that branches off at
an angle of 200 degrees. Just before the first of the two Feather
Falls, turn right and go behind the rocks of the waterfal. Look
straight ahead for a large clump of tall grass. The box is hidden in
the west end of the clump.


#2: CAMELLIA FOREST
Winter and very early spring are the best times to look for
this box, as the Garden's many camellias will be in bloom. Head
toward the west end of the main lawn (near the Garden's entrance)
until you find the Camellia Information Center. Facing the sign,
take the trail to the left of the Information Center. At the first
fork go right. Just past the enclosed seating area on your left,
turn left at the fork. You will immediately see a wooden bench.
Stop and sit so that you are facing the diagonal tree.
Get up and go six paces at 300 degrees to the large, angled
tree stump. Go around the stump and look at its base (near the
irrigation pipe) for the box.


#3: CHAPARRAL NATURE TRAIL
From the main entrance follow the path to your left, passing
the main lawn on your right and the Japanese Tea House and Japanese
Garden on your left. At the four-way intersection, turn right.
Just past the bridge over Fern Canyon, turn right and follow
this trail a short distance uphill until you come to the Chaparral
Nature Trail Trailhead. Follow this trail uphill. Along the way you
will see several signs identifying common California mountain flora,
and when you reach the top of the hill you will have an excellent
view of the western San Gabriel valley.
Continue along the trail, and just after sign 13 you will
enter a plateau of wild sage. Turn right as you enter the sage and
sit at the wood bench. Follow the path directly in front of you17
paces to a small circle of rocks set in the ground. Turn left and go
down a slight hill to where two pieces of lumper are lying on the
ground. The letterbox is concealed where the two pieces of wood
intersect.
After finding the box you can easily take any of the paths
down to the main paths of the Gardens.