Burfoot Park Letterboxes
Boston Harbor (7 miles North of Olympia)
Thurston County
Washington

Level of difficulty: Level to steep dirt/gravel trail (portions are
mucky in rainy season) with stairs, boardwalks and sand along some
stretches. Clues easy.

Setting: Burfoot Park covers 50 acres with 1,000 feet of saltwater
beach frontage on Budd Inlet. Nature trails and beach access with
beautiful views of State Capitol and Olympic Mountains.

Highlights: A couple of hiking trails, a rhododendron trail and an
excellently marked nature trail are found in this unique park which
also offers playgrounds, picnic pavilions, beach access & a
driftwood-filled lagoon.

Facilities: Bathrooms, picnic tables & water fountains. Open from
9am-dusk.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect for pets.

Length of trek: approx. 1-1/2 mile roundtrip (for both letterboxes)

Directions: Take I-5 Exit 109 (Martin Way) and continue West for a
couple of miles. As you approach the downtown area, look for a
small brown sign to Priest Point Park telling you to turn right.
This will be East Bay Dr. NE. Continue North on East Bay Dr. NE for
6-1/2 miles (the road will turn into Boston Harbor Rd NE after
awhile). Turn left into Burfoot County Park and park near the
playgrounds.

Big Foot, Bare Foot in Burfoot Letterbox:

Rumor has it that Big Foot wasn't just a figment of one man's
imagination (who recently died). He was actually seen spotted in
this park. From the playground's kitchen, head 40 degrees to the
Butterfly Garden. Follow the stepping stones, perhaps Big Foot is
behind the bushes? At the last stepping stone, turn right and cross
the road. Oh, I think I see him! Follow the trail toward the
beach. Faster, he's getting away! Go straight, past 3 benches on
the left, stay right at the `Y' with a bench. Head right and up 3
steps. Right again. I think we're on his tail. He's headed down
the steps. There he is across the bridge! Oh, I'm tired. Take a
rest at the bench. Oh, but you don't have time to rest. You need
to catch Big Foot! Down more steps! Bend left then continue down
to another bridge. Oh, noyou can't see him anymore. He must've
gotten away. All that's left is a gravel trail and another
boardwalk. Oopstoo far! I think I see something in the log to the
right just before the boardwalk. Look in the far end of the 1st
large (3' diameter/10' long) old growth log in the right up the
hill. Ohthere it is! Evidence!!! Big Foot, Bare Foot in Burfoot
resides within!!! Continue to the beach. Beach comb for a bit and
return to the trail. After the boardwalk, cross another boardwalk
and turn right at the `T'. Take the trail uphill, across 2 bridges,
a large set of stairs, past a bench to the right, past the `To
Beach' sign and turn left to the parking lot. Don't leave though
before you find the pileated woodpecker!

Placed 18 Dec 2002

Pileated Woodpecker Letterbox:

Start at the Horizon Trail Nature Loop Trailhead (south of the
playground). Look for these indicators: red huckleberry, grand
fir, Indian plum, licorice ferns, Douglas fir, LEFT, Western Red
Cedar, red alder, BENCH, Western hemlock, springboard, nurse stump &
BENCH, woodpecker hole, wedged in springboards, broadleaf
maple, `Y', BENCH, LEFT, Douglas fir nurse stump, hemlock & cedar,
pileated woodpecker, BENCH WITH A BACK, sit down, look right, see
Cedar 2' stump behindthe real pileated woodpecker is within,
hazelnut bush, big leaf maples

One of these cute little woodpeckers put on a grand show for us
about 3' away as we were placing this box. He was a tiny little
fellow (quite young, I presume) but completely unafraid of us.

Placed 18 Dec 2002

DVN2R CKR