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Going after I'm Late I'm late... We didn't research it befor hand so when we arrived at around 3:30 we expected it to be a easy hike up.... .................... Well 3.2 miles later we got to the top and found the box and started to head down in the dark... I thank the lord that there was a full moon tonight otherwise I would be bruised by tripping all over the roots that were sticking out.

stories like this are perfect examples of why i think it's important...or why I like seeing...
hike distances listed on the letterbox listings or clues.

again...not saying it should only be done one way but I do feel like it benefits the most for the distances to be known.

dixie

Was this added in after the fact, because I show it listed as:
Hike Length: 6.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet
Was there confusion that I missed?
ervetchick

(For any NC newbies a bit of advice--hard won and earned through experience)

Whenever I look at a box that has been listed by noydb, I *never* expect an easy hike. ;-) An interesting journey to a great spot, but not usually short and not usually easy. (Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised that the hike isn't too rough though.)

And this is not a bad thing. His stamps are always worth the work it takes to get them.

I'm not yet capable of getting the family out for a 6.4 mile hike; the kids are still too small and I'm not that comfortable hiking that far alone since I'm the world's greatest klutz. If there's a root sticking up in the woods, I'll trip on it!

To echo Dixie's sentiments, I like seeing the distances listed and I pay close attention when they are.

Knit Wit

No, the distance has always been there. I tagged this one when he planted it and I remember noting the distance, etc.

I love that area and would love to get this box one day.

Knit Wit

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I'm not yet capable of getting the family out for a 6.4 mile hike; the kids are still too small and I'm not that comfortable hiking that far alone since I'm the world's greatest klutz. If there's a root sticking up in the woods, I'll trip on it!

To echo Dixie's sentiments, I like seeing the distances listed and I pay close attention when they are.

I'm echoing your echo then... I like knowing the distance. The farthest I've hiked is 3 miles, and even then it takes me twice as long as it does a "normal" person... i'm slow, but i'm determined!!

I have to tell you though, even noydb's shortest "hike" is pretty nice.. 3Rs... (it's all flat too!!) if you can call swamplands flat..... just kidding.. only part of the hike is swamp"ish"! ;-) had lots of fun getting a three year old through that heehee.. ok.. it's funny now.. but at the time.... :\ not so much.

:-)

This brings up an interesting subject....

When any of you put your mileages to a box, do you do it "one way" or "round trip?" I know that one set of PA boxers do it "one way," while I and some others in CT do it "round trip." I went boxing once with the owners of the box and they said it was 1.25 miles. I said... sure I can do that (after a long day of hiking)! 2.5 miles later....... I was quite sore!

Just wondering what y'all do...

Music Woman

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When any of you put your mileages to a box, do you do it "one way" or "round trip?" I know that one set of PA boxers do it "one way," while I and some others in CT do it "round trip."

good point...
and I have thought of asking GT if we could have something that suggests it as "roundtrip" or a way to choose...like a little drop down menu choice.

I do mine roundtrip... but when I first started here at AQ I did it one way. I changed when most folks I would write to asking the same question you asked gave me the answer roundtrip. Now, I try to write people and ask is it roundtrip or one way before heading out...but sometimes you do not get an answer in time or you decide to go boxing on the spur of the moment.

dixie

We do round trip. Since we have a small child and sometimes take one of our mothers boxing with, we understand some of their limits. But yes, maybe the "milage" box should state round trip or one way.

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When any of you put your mileages to a box, do you do it "one way" or "round trip?" I know that one set of PA boxers do it "one way," while I and some others in CT do it "round trip."

I umm'd and arr'd about this too, but looked on GT's Help page - which says this about Hike Length:-

"The total distance, in miles or kilometers depending on how your preferences are set, required to nab the letterbox. This should be the round-trip distance, but please be aware that some people may mistakenly include only the one-way distance to the box rather than the round-trip distance. If you find such a mistake, please inform the owner of the letterbox so they can correct it."

So it seems, on AQ at least, that it should be the round trip length.

YT

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When any of you put your mileages to a box, do you do it "one way" or "round trip?"

It's supposed to be round-trip. Even says so on the help page. =)

-- Ryan

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Aww, geez. I've planted plenty of drive-bys as well.

I was certainly not complaining about your hike lengths and you don't get more "drive-by" than "West End OBCZ". I love hiking around this part of the state as well. I am still hoping to figure out some way to get myself out to Ellicott's Deliverance. It's become a sort of "Holy Grail" for me, I think. :-) I just may have to go after it alone one day.

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And the final 3 miles are all downhill.

And you know, sometimes such a long downhill run is rougher than the uphills.

Knit Wit

ahhh yes... and i love the drivebys! cant tell you how much i enjoyed sitting down with songbird after a long and frustrating walk in the woods to a late lunch, just as a nice afternoon mountain shower was starting up at a certain noydb box located in a place that had four of my favorite things in the world.... potato soup, books, coffee and good company!

Sometimes it might not be so cut and dried. My boxes in Burns park for example, if you make the hike from one to the next it just about takes you back to the beginning. There is however a way to get to each from a road so that each one could be found *indivdully*. I'm not sure that the total walking would be less but you could rest while driving.

Shiloh

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not saying it should only be done one way but I do feel like it benefits the most for the distances to be known.

dixie

worrying about being able to list the distance and elevation gain I used this to give my self the ok to purchase a GPS unit. Now when I do a hike I can track how far I have walked and the elevation gain.

My kids can do a 3 mile round trip (usually with the 3 yr old finishing on my back) but I have been able to have my hubby stay home with the kids so I could head out for a 7 mile round trip.

But I do agree that the milage and elevation gain is very important to know. Can I do this one with the kids or do I need to wait and do it alone.

Basically I agree we should all do our best to put down the correct info for our fellow boxers out there.
Mystic Dreamer

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When any of you put your mileages to a box, do you do it "one way" or "round trip?"

I have a problem with someone saying it is a 90-minute hike. For them. For me, it might be a five-hour hike!

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I have a problem with someone saying it is a 90-minute hike. For them. For me, it might be a five-hour hike!

I probably would not use times to measure a hike. I have been told that I walk very fast (by people I was letterboxing with), so times would probably not be very accurate.

TG