If anyone has the GPS coordinates that the DEEP gave out for the locations and can confirm which Treetops sign is the correct one,

I used the DEEP GPS coordinates in the Google Map I did. You can zoom in, copy the coordinates, use the satellite imagery. Having said that, I'm sure they really don't care. As long as you take a picture at the beginning somewhere that is recognizable to prove what park you were at, and then one photo at the overlook, that's fine. They are simply trying to motivate people to go to their parks. Last year for Griswald, I didn't get the park before they closed for the season. I asked if they had any plans to open the tower back up for any special events, and they told me not to worry about it, just go take the photo anywhere and they would count it. And they did :)

There is a widget you can add to your page that counts the boxes per state each year, for this annual event. You don't have to "sign up" anywhere, just follow the guidelines for planting and listing, and type of box, and your plants will be automatically included in the count.
It was a fun event for several years, but the growing competition between states got out of hand in 2014, questions arose about the numbers, people cried 'foul', and many were left with bad feelings about PAL. As a result, 2015 numbers were WAY DOWN from previous years, as planters looked to other ways to inspire more plants in their states.

no worries about June. :) I don't have anything definite. Go for it!

Yes. I recommend getting a fine grit foam sanding block. It makes that job quick 'n easy.

It's also helpful to wash your boxes before painting, even if they're brand new. Plastic normally has a residue of a release agent that helps pop it out of the mold. Paint won't stick to that release agent, but a simple washing will get rid of it.

You need to try your built-in supply of warm liquid.

Cool, that might be better. Before I list it, I want to make sure I can get the stamps carved.

That historical summary is accurate, but needs to go back a year. If you read the stats from the widget, 2013 was the really big year filled with drama, and 2014 dropped to the lowest numbers since it began in 2006. With wind out of the sails, stats for 2015 were never even archived.

Of course, I've always been vocal about my opinion that the focus should be more on quality, not quantity, and PAL promotes the latter.

K

I agree. I almost picked Debbie, but I'm glad I changed my mind. As for Caleb, after seeing him on Big Brother, I thought he'd either be paranoid or let some sweet young thing wrap him around her little finger (or both). So far he's doing great, but there's still plenty of time for the BB Caleb to return!

Sad to hear, but also very helpful for understanding. I will check out the widget.

In bad years and good, it seems the PAL day's count should still be archived. Many "bad" days in history have benefited from documentation. I have observed various negative aspects/ attitudes/ opinions from the first on AtlasQuest, but as a newbie it is all part of the letterboxing experience!

They certainly are outweighed by the simple enjoyment I've had such as a just week ago, finding a LB beautifully carved but somewhat too close to a dumpster perfume and then the same day a huff'n puff hike to find clever store-bought LBs and a beautiful mountain view! I am so grateful for both. =)

Any additional comments will help my LB education! I won't get anticipatory about PAL day now but I do intend to plant at least a couple in honor of the day. I'll bring another LB "pal" and create my own tradition I guess.
Thanks so much for the comments.

And no, he did not “admire the flora” where we left the box.

As my great-grandmother used to say, a man and a dog can go anywhere!

Just read your profile. A member since 2015 and no finds. Why is that?

Wanda has been letterboxing since 2000 and only has 100 finds.

In bad years and good, it seems the PAL day's count should still be archived.

It's great to see a kindred history spirit amongst us.
History isn't erased--last year's PAL survives, tho in different form:
http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=3475

Anyone from Lakeland?

Hi! You'd prob have better luck posting to the Florida board, SE doesn't get much traffic. I know there are a few folks around Orlando and some more near Tampa. I'm down south near West Palm. :)

NotMyCircus is.

Also check out the Florida Letter boxing Facebook page, please.

I live in Palm Harbor/Clearwater, which it takes me over an hour to drive to Lakeland. Probably 1.25 hours.

Publix is.

::smirk::

I agree, hop on the Florida board and Florida Facebook group. We're friendly people, and can sometimes be chatty on those mediums. And I'm pretty sure most of us have had our rabies shots. ;-)

I'm down in South Florida, though. So, no where near Lakeland, if you were curious.

NotMyCircus is.

Is or is not?

And we've enjoyed boxing with you! Safe travels, and thanks for all you have planted in our area!

I was able to spend Leap Day in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Found four boxes, including one by Pioneer Spirit and another by Safari Man. Great day!

With wind out of the sails, stats for 2015 were never even archived.

I just never updated the page. I was hiking the AT then and didn't get home until five months later and never gave PAL Day a second thought at that point. There was no rush for me to jump onto that task.

-- Ryan

Yep, we second Ph's sentiments!

DoubleSaj and Old Blue

There was no rush for me to jump onto that task.

Is it much of a task or have you got it set up to pretty much automatically produce the page? If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see the results for 2015. I, too, thought its non-appearance was meant as a sign that the powers-that-be wished the whole thing would just go away. I like the out hiking reason much more.

Tituba was the 1st arrested and after this witch hunt turned from mass hysteria into mass guilt; and everyone else who had been imprisoned was released… but poor Tituba remained in prison. She was the perfect scapegoat: black, ignorant, penniless (aka a slave) and superstitious.

Here's how the punishment went. If the prosecution was sure someone was a witch and they denied it, they were executed. If they confessed, they were imprisoned.

Old Blue
who's 8th great grandfather was arrested at Salem

Is it much of a task or have you got it set up to pretty much automatically produce the page?

It's a task I do manually each year. I don't really have a good way to automate the process. Maybe I'll get it included in the Next Big Update, though. It doesn't really take long--it's just something that's not very interesting or exciting to do and is even more of a hassle when I'm not working on my full-sized computer. =)

-- Ryan

We all know about the legendary Wanda & Pete, 50,000 and counting.
But zero.
At least record one on AQ.

That's why the custom mapping function is so awesome!

Yup, I have about 3000 and growing nearly every day. Not many boxes to find up here so I map them out for places I may vacation instead.

Not everyone is into logging finds online. I have friends and family who don't log their finds. It just isn't important to them.

Would this year-2016- be the 10th Anniversary of PAL Day?

Hmmm...

Msg: 921209 from this thread tigs says

how should I record a find where I KNOW THE TRAIL NAME and location, but not the box name or the owner's name?

and Msg: 921250 from this thread says

Unfortunately the trail is in an UN-NAMED TRAIL SYSTEM created by the locals, so no park name, no trial name.

These are different threads, but...

Also I have no issue with those who don't record finds, but I am just wondering why anyone who DOES NOT LOG IN FINDS asks

HOW SHOULD I RECORD A FIND WHEN...?