Yay for Rubaduc's purple diamond on "It's Tough Being A Head" at Day Pond: https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=94874

Thanks to all for making this happen. I love purple.

OK... so I'm planning to go for these on Monday, 12/3. I know that's weird but I'm taking the day off work anyway because we'll be out late the night before and it's also my actual birthday. Plus the weather (right now) looks good. If anyone wants to coordinate let me know! After I find the series my sister will put the clues online for everyone. :)

I’ll be off the Friday after that so that’s when I’ll plan on going

Yay! This is good to know. We live in Northford, but are unable to make the hike on Saturday, but we will definitely be going soon! We have a series in mind to plant, so maybe this will be the perfect spot.

I'm sure you will enjoy this Preserve. It has interesting features and you are bound to find good hiding places for your boxes. I think it is always an advantage to have boxes close to home so as to keep an eye on them.

Looking forward to seeing a trail map!

I'll be thinking about you while I'm sitting at my desk at work!

We'll probably head out for these the following weekend as long as the clues are published by then.

Looking forward to seeing a trail map!

Vicky Harrison drew a very good map when they were sharing the trails with their friends. I believe the NBLCT people are reproducing it. I'll check on that for you.

Nifty! I'm not sure we can make the ribbon cutting ceremony - daughter is in a dance for charity. But LOVE having something to find close by!

not sure we can make the ribbon cutting ceremony

Don't worry one bit about not making it to the ribbon cutting ceremony. It will be a zoo. What you want is to get on the trails and find my box!! You can enjoy that even better without the crowd! ;)

Monday will mot work for me or Friday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

this was a great series. lots of fun. took some time. is a real hike. many of us have done it before for other boxes. trails are blazed pretty well. I think this was the trail that Rubaduc reblazed once upon a time.

Is anyone interested in doing CFPA's Blue Trails Challenge? I'm looking for some off-season hiking motivation. They have 200 miles, 400 miles and 800 miles (!). It's not the total mileage you walk, but the miles of trails covered. So if you hike a five-mile section twice, it counts as five miles, not ten. There is no time limit. I'm wondering if anyone else is doing that and if it would be worthwhile carving stamps for the 200 or 400 miles. Maybe 600. I suppose I could carve an 800 one for Wanda and Pete. Anyone else think they're going to do 800 miles?

A lot of the "blue trails" are not actually blazed blue, they are just part of the CFPA system. Such as all the trails at Sleeping Giant (that's 27 miles right there) and Ragged Mtn. If you did the Q-series, that's 20. The T-Series is another 20 or so. Most CT letterboxers probably have logged significant mileage as a byproduct of boxing. Out of curiosity, I added up my mileage, most of it from boxing, and came to 380 miles. A lot more than I expected. I put together a spreadsheet that corresponds with the latest edition of CFPA's walkbook in case anyone wants to use it to calculate mileage. I just had to go through the Walk book page by page to figure it out.

Here's CFPA's description:

Blue Trails Challenge
Hiker on a Blue Trail
Need an excuse to check out a new trail? Looking for a new adventure? The Blue Trails Challenge invites you to discover the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System and do something good for your body and mind! Hike any of the trails in the trail system and accumulate miles and memories as you go. With three challenge categories (200, 400, or 800 miles) you can stitch together a hiking challenge on the trails that is right for you. There’s no time limit, you can complete a challenge category in a single season or across your hiking lifetime. Keep track of your mileage on this log form.

Challenge Categories:
200-miler: CFPA t-shirt

400-miler: CFPA water bottle

800-miler: CFPA fleece vest

If you're new to the trails, the Blue Trails Challenge is a chance to discover the many health benefits of hiking. And if you're already a hiker, it’s another way to keep active and explore new trails outside your immediate region or in different seasons. Hike on your own, with your dog, with family, with friends, or with your hiking/outing club. Pass the word and encourage others to take the challenge! Be inspired by meeting our current 800-Milers!

When you’ve completed a challenge, stop into our office and let us know, sign our logbook, pick up your award and let us take a photo of you with your favorite hiking boots!

Visit our interactive trails map for up-to-date trail information, driving directions to trailheads, and current trail notices.

Share your stories and photos!

Why does CT have all the cool stuff? It's so close that I could do it, but so far that I end up never going.

(Any point on the RI/CT line is an hour away, I-91 is 2 hours, the NY/CT border is 3-4 hours each way)

it sounds so tempting...
but first I would spend forever trying to figure out how many miles I've done already and I may never get out on the trail!
tunxis done
quinnipiac done
mattabassett mostly done
giant done
naugatuck done
regicides done
metecomet not all done yet
Henry Buck! done
hmmm, what else....
I'd love to use your spreadsheet!

I was literally just looking at this program again the other day. I really want to do it, but I know I'll always be distracted by non-blue trail boxes, so I just put the papers back into the folder.

Yes, I have been keeping track of this. I have a Google Sheet.

I have clue piles of paper, years old of places I’ve wanted to get to, some used in Sky challenges over the years, I’m just too lazy to keep track of mileage on trails on top of everything else.

Too much going on for me. Someday after retirement.

At this point, I have my car, I have a dry day, I have my Friday off, so what if it’s freezing! Who’s with he?

Are you really going to brave the elements today ? It's 10 degrees and gusty cold here in central NY. I don't think I'm even going to walk to my mailbox, it's so cold !

If you got out there, I would like to hear about it. :^)

brave the elements

I can remember the days when I went 'boxing in all kinds of winter weather with the saying, "there is no bad weather, just not dressing right!" Hand warmers, foot warmers!! WHAT was I THINKING?!!! I'm much wiser these days, snug and warm. With memories. LOL

Nope, trying next Friday with company, my legs are still trying to get warm after doing errands this morning.

I did some cemetery boxes in Connecticut today. Perfect for winter. In and out of the car, getting warmed up and sipping coffee between boxes. Though the coffee didn't stay hot for very long. But still......

It was a beautiful, sunny day.

Heading there tomorrow morning (Sunday) 8:30ish. Not planning on getting them all.

Just got a hold of this gem in the library. Thanks! I want to try this as soon as I can.

CT DEEP says Wharton Brook SP has reopened and they expect Sleeping Giant to open back up this spring.

So excited! Will be checking on the WB boxes ASAP!