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Lately I have been counting paces. First establish your pace by using a benchmark of 150 paces. Then count out the paces to the place where you exit the trail. I have one box that requires you to count out 1400 paces. If I can get you to within 30 feet of the exit, I can just describe the trees right near there.

A lot of boxes in our area require counting paces. Of course different people have different lengths of pace and these change depending on the state of the ground. One of the planters must have seven-league-boots as I always have to take far more paces than he specifies. The key is to have a distinctive landmark at the end of each section.

“100 paces on 270 deg to a tree” is not good;
“100 paces on 270 deg to an oak tree” is better;
“100 paces on 270 deg to an ivy covered oak tree” is best.

I have followed a clue for some distance cross-country but was confident I was in the right place because all the intermediate clues fell into place.

Long sections are trickier, counting paces over 500 gets a bit tedious, and who wants to go back if you miscount. Where possible I would use something like "follow the track for about half a mile to a wooden footbridge, then continue for 95 paces to a beech tree"

DM

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The earth's magnetic field waxes and wanes. Today it is less than half the strength it was when Columbus set sail. In a few more years, it is expected to get so weak that compasses won't work at all. Sometime after that, it'll get stronger again, but compasses may work backwards.

Interesting. To avoid any international incidents caused by collect calls to Australia, here's what happens to compasses in the Southern hemisphere:

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/faqgeom.shtml#q5c

NOAA suggests that the global reversal will be in a "few" years, geologically speaking:

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While we now appear to be in a period of declining magnetic field strength, we cannot state for certain if or when a magnetic reversal will occur. Based on measurements of the Earth's magnetic field taken since about 1850 some paleomagnetists estimate that the dipole moment will decay in about 1,300 years. However, the present dipole moment (a measure of how strong the magnetic field is) is actually higher than it has been for most of the last 50,000 years and the current decline could reverse at any time. Even if Earth's magnetic field is beginning a reversal, it would still take several thousand years to complete a reversal. We expect Earth would still have a magnetic field during a reversal, but it would be weaker than normal with multiple magnetic poles. Radio communication would deteriorate, navigation by magnetic compass would be difficult and migratory animals might have problems.

During the past 100 million years, the reversal rates vary considerably. Recent rock records indicate reversals occurring on time scales of about 200,000 years. The last time the magnetic field reversed was about 750,000 - 780,000 years ago.

Poor migratory animals.

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Long sections are trickier, counting paces over 500 gets a bit tedious

I agree... mostly because the more steps or paces you have to take, the less likely you will end un in the correct location. If teh steps were counted by a man who is 6' tall and the clue follower is a woman who is 5'2", then they are never going to end up in the same location... especially after 500+ paces. If there are only 50 paces, or less, they are more likely to end up in the same place, or at least close enough for the clue follower to be able to identify the next part of the clue.

I try to keep these things in mind when writing clues and when following them. A recent clue even mentioned taking 20 "short woman" steps. That was helpful! =o) I ended up in the correct spot the first try!

Cheers!
Rhea

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...the more steps or paces you have to take, the less likely you will end un in the correct location.

I don't use the word "paces" in clues any more. Some people consider a pace to be one step, others consider a pace to be two steps. Easier just to use "steps". As far as I know, everybody agrees on what a step is -- although the actual length still varies somewhat.

I'm tall, but some years ago I calibrated my own walking so I could take steps at exactly 2-1/2 feet per step whenever I set my mind to it. This was long before letterboxing, I was using it to measure properties and the like. I once stepped off 450 feet (at a compass heading!) through the woods and came out within ten feet of the survey marker I was looking for.

Now I find that the same length, four steps equals ten feet, is pretty close to the average step used in letterboxing. If the placer is a small woman, they usually say so and I can compensate accordingly.

Thanks for the neat explaination of compasses.

Larva Lady/ZZ

I usually put my height in the clue if I am forced to give paces. I figure after that they could gauge the steps as best theycan.

Larva Lady /ZZ

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Here in FL, we don't dare hide anything under a fallen tree or in a dead stump. Everything rots REALLY fast

Given the likelihood of fires and flooding in coastal Florida, I've chosen either man-made structures or sturdy trees for hiding places. One's tucked underneath an amphitheater seat (weighted by rocks imported from GA), another in a ficus that's got two dozen limbs (I figure if I can barely get my arm in there, it ain't gonna get out by itself), another 8' off the ground in an oak, and another tucked inside a boardwalk support structure.

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There are no rocks in Florida.

There are now... I brought some from GA. ;-)

Actually, Lakes Park in Ft Myers was built on the site of a limestone quarry, so there are LOTS of rocks... probably more than in the rest of FL...

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I own 73 acres of woods, and I have lots of trees like that.

You ought to open your own Letterboxing Park... if I had the $$ (make that $$$$) to buy that acreage and do that up here, I'd be out clearing trails right now instead of "working".

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Here in Florida, such a pile of rocks would stand out like a neon light. "What's this pile of rocks for?"

I bet I could hide that small arrangement of rocks... the trick is to choose a tree that's bordered by other shrubbery so that a direct route to the other side is not available. Most people will follow the path of least resistance and not bother... of course... if you actually find that juxtaposition of tree and shrubbery, there's probably a high-rise condo or a golf course on the other side...

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I've also found that using pine needles or leaves is a mistake -- unless you know how to do it. If you just pile them on top of the box, they'll quickly blow off...

That sounds plausible for FL, but up here the pine needles fall in heavy blankets! And, the trees block the wind pretty well. My pine needles are often accompanied by bark, sticks, bugs, rocks (oh, yeah, you don't have those...), whatever.

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You carry ROCKS around?

Heheheh... not always... but it does help with the "exercise" part of the outings. Actually, I brought a bag full of rocks to Lakes Park, and ended up finding plenty there to use. But in most other places down there, nada.

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...hidden "Florida style." We live in Florida, didn't know what that meant -- but we do now.

Let me guess...

... you make it a microbox and tie it to an alligator's tail?

... you hollow out a coconut, stuff the box inside and velcro it to a tree?

... I GOT IT! You put it inside the pink flamingo on your front lawn!!

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...hidden "Florida style." We live in Florida, didn't know what that meant -- but we do now.

Let me guess...

... you make it a microbox and tie it to an alligator's tail?

... you hollow out a coconut, stuff the box inside and velcro it to a tree?

... I GOT IT! You put it inside the pink flamingo on your front lawn!!

LOL! I love it... hehe...

Rhea

... I GOT IT! You put it inside the pink flamingo on your front lawn!!


BAHAHAHAHAHA! That's brilliant....lol


As for the gator tail, that one *could* be used in Georgia too, if you're along the river beds or the swamps, so I guess that one doesn't really count as "Florida style".