I have found the local library to be a great resource for maps. I ask them for books about hiking, day hikes, mountain bike trails, etc. These books typically contain maps for each hike and they tell you the length of the hike and features of it - what the views will be, elevation guides, difficulty, etc.

Below are some good ones you might like to ask them for if you go. I included links to Amazon because some of them let you have sneak peeks at the book right online so you can see if you like it:

AMC Massachusetts Trail Guide
http://www.amazon.com/AMC-Massachusetts-Trail-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/1934028258/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

AMC's Best Day Hikes near Boston
http://www.amazon.com/AMCs-Best-Hikes-Near-Boston/dp/1929173660/ref=pd_sim_b_5

AMC's Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires
http://www.amazon.com/AMCs-Best-Hikes-Berkshires-Massachusetts/dp/1934028215/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1321449692&sr=8-7

Hiking Massachusetts
http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Massachusetts-Guide-Benjamin-Ames/dp/B0046LUNVA/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes in Massachusetts
http://www.amazon.com/Explorers-Guide-Hikes-Massachusetts-Year-Round/dp/0881507008/ref=pd_sim_b_4

Nature Walks In Central & Western Massachusetts
http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Walks-Central-Western-Massachusetts/dp/1878239953/ref=pd_sim_b_3

Moon Spotlight Massachusetts Hiking
http://www.amazon.com/Spotlight-Massachusetts-Hiking-Jacqueline-Tourville/dp/1598805657/ref=pd_sim_b_12

I love this conversation, I'm ALWAYS looking for new maps!

Hey you're not exactly slacking off up there in Maine either....

Hey you're not exactly slacking off up there in Maine either....

With mudflinginfools retiring, someone's got to pick up the slack or Maine will have a severe trade deficit.

[._.]

Only Ryan can say for certain, but I'm betting traditional plants decline during the colder months.

This sounds like a job for Statistics Man!

It would be interesting to have statistics graphs of letterboxes (also broken down by type) by month from the beginning of AQ.

I know my problem for planting is that I was never an outside person before letterboxing so I don't know where the trails are that don't already have boxes on them.

If you want even more outside experience, go geocaching. I can hear the boos now. It does give you more places to go for "hiking with a goal."

Before the snow flew in the mountains here, letterboxing got me to an area that I know about (around Snow Basin ski resort, where some of the 2002 Olympic events were) but I hadn't been. I'd been meaning to go there for a while, but hadn't. Letterboxing finally got me there. Geocaching got me further from the road and onto some trails in that area without letterboxes (yet).

There are more of both types around there I have yet to get. They will have to wait until spring. I'll get more on the west side of the mountain until we get too much snow, then the foothill ones will have to wait for spring. I can get urban ones then.

traditional plants decline during the colder months

Unless you are in the SW where letterboxing actually picks up. So for a national figure that is likely true, but there may be states that defy the trend.

As to LTCs there are several very prominent LTC traders who were very active in 08 and have since retired or at least slowed down from the trade activity and moved on to other activities.

GBS,

Thanks to contributions from nosox, Mim, Jynx, MMACJ, Yumgirl, Arf!, Teeker, Red Paisley Quilter, and HarmonyMA, I'll be planting two winter-accessible series soon, but you'll have to come out to central MA to get 'em! :^)

Rocklun

Unless you are in the SW where letterboxing actually picks up.

So true here in Texas where is is FINALLY below 100 degrees outside! I am just now getting to the point where I will venture out and start planting boxes for all the stuff I have been carving all summer while looking out the window at the grass dying in the heat and lack of rain. You know it's bad when you walk across the lawn and it crunches!

One easy solution is to take up geocaching. Geocaches are everywhere, including on every trail in existence. So, when hunting a geocache brings you to an interesting trail, check to see if there's a letterbox on the trail. If not, plant one -- not too close to the geocache.

The only problem with this plan is that there are geocaches everywhere. Not just along trails, but along roads, behind dumpsters, at people's houses, inside businesses, you name it. In contrast to letterboxing, when geocaching you have to learn how to ignore 90% of the cache listings and select only the ones that sound interesting to hunt. Otherwise you'll get burnt out on hunting boring and worthless caches very quickly indeed.

You might wanna break that down by state. Colder months don't make much difference here in FL, we plant year 'round, wouldn't want that to mess up an otherwise lovely correlation.

The only problem with this plan is that there are geocaches everywhere. Not just along trails, but along roads, behind dumpsters, at people's houses, inside businesses, you name it. In contrast to letterboxing, when geocaching you have to learn how to ignore 90% of the cache listings and select only the ones that sound interesting to hunt. Otherwise you'll get burnt out on hunting boring and worthless caches very quickly indeed.

Amen! I just did a geocache search for all caches within 20 miles of my zipcode (Austin, Tx) and came up with 2,924 cache listings. Just as with letterboxing, with a little experience you get so you know which geocachers place caches in interesting locations and which to, if not avoid, then to place lower down on your bucket list

It's good to see that my LTC work is being appreciated. :D

It's good to see that my LTC work is being appreciated. :D

You're not quite in my top 5 yet, but since you've been signing up for everything available, we'll have to have a trade and fix that!

Most Common Planters You Found
1. BfloAnonChick (44)
2. Memere (28)
3. dancingpecan (26)
4. mojo612 (23)
5. nosox (21)

[._.]

It would be interesting to have statistics graphs of letterboxes (also broken down by type) by month from the beginning of AQ.

You haven't noticed that little link under the 'Home' page menubar option called 'AQ Statistics,' have you? =)

-- Ryan

but since you've been signing up for everything available, we'll have to have a trade and fix that!

Don't be silly I skipped a few. LOL Gotta keep busy at night now that I have given up on Facebook games. ;)

I meant to get over to see you in Maine on Saturday, to see if you wanted to trade, but got to caught up and couldn't make it a couple tables over. Hopefully next time or there is always trading through the mail. *gasp*

Looks like we need to do a new trade with each other so I can out-do my mom (Memere) !

Looks like we need to do a new trade with each other so I can out-do my mom (Memere) !

I was hoping to head down for some soup and trades, but I don't think that I'll be able to take the weekend off. Too much work to do!

[._.]

I have almost 50 LTC's available to trade.

You started a month ago! How??

[o_o]

Come on down for some soup and trades!!! Work will always be there--take a break and join us!!

Come on down for some soup and trades!!! Work will always be there--take a break and join us!!

It's so tempting!

Plus, I'd be able to see for myself if nosox has 8 arms! I think that she must.

[._.]

I'll never tell, so you'll have to come see for yourself!!!

Here, let me twist your arm....

We posted these for the event today, one is even a night box series:

http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?gBoxId=185586
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?gBoxId=185583
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?gBoxId=185582
http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gBoxId=185581
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?gBoxId=185580
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?gBoxId=185579

PS: it's not extra hands, it's a stable of little elves that quit their jobs at the shoemaker. They're usually very sociable though, you can come and try to meet them...

The ones I've seen a beauties too!

Well it has been a little longer than a month ;)

OK, a month and five days. Still, you guys are crazy! It took me almost a week just to make my cards for the Mystery LTC Challenge, and I only made 14 of them.

[._.]

We posted these for the event today, one is even a night box series:

Someone has been busy, I'm kinda bummed that I have plans with 2 other sets of friends that day.

coooooooome doooooown Aiphid!!!!!! cooooooooooommmmeee dooooooooownn!!!

coooooooommmmee dooooooowwwnnn AAAAAAiipphiiiiiidddd!!!

wwwweeeeee neeeeeeeeeeeddd yoooooooouuuuuuu!!!

(is it working? is he hypnotized yet?)

~hopeful tigs

and bring your wife

Must... drive... to... Mass....
Must... not... do... work....
Must.... letterbox....

[*_*]

You haven't noticed that little link under the 'Home' page menubar option called 'AQ Statistics,' have you?

Not until you pointed it out. That looks like what I was suggesting. Thanks.

yes. . . you. . . must .. . .

drive. . . to Mass. . .

Must. . .drive. . .to . . . letterbox. . .

Must. . .drive. . .to. . .letterbox. . .

Coooome tooo uuusss, Aiiiphiiidd and AaaadveentuureCraafter!!!!

Brriiiiiiingg sooooupp!!! Brriiiing iiiink. . .. . .

Cooome tooo uuuusss!!! (myyy pressscioooussss)))

*cough, cough** *ahem*

um, ignore that last bit. i have no idea where it came from. nope, not one single bit.

~tigs. really. it's tigs. nobody creepy and white and slimy here. nope. . . .