To anyone who assumes that their fellow letterboxers are willfully violating rules and acting against the best interests of the letterboxing community and natural areas, please give people the benefit of the doubt until you find out the rest of the story.

Can't we all just get along?

It can be hard to remain ethical when others are doing wrong.

Disagree. Wrong is wrong. If the park supervisors find out about the illegal boxes it makes it harder for those of us trying to get them legally accepted.

By emailing the planter and letting them know it's not allowed, you're not accusing them of anything. You're just letting them know. I say when in doubt, email the planter, but then, if they don't respond correctly, take whatever steps you feel appropriate.

And in response to knowing, I feel like anything that says National on it is out. I just avoid it like the plague.

At one time, apparently most NPS properties did discourage letterboxing. As evidenced here, that is no longer a blanket NPS policy.

https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/letterboxing.htm

So in the absence of a stated policy on the park's site, there's no way for a letterboxer to know that planting boxes is prohibited in a particular park.

if they don't respond correctly, take whatever steps you feel appropriate.

So ANYBODY can determine if ANYONE ELSE'S response is "correct"? And they can do whatever they want with the box, if the response didn't meet what they wanted it to be?

Sure, I can understand if something is dangerous or poses a threat. Common sense is a wonderful thing. But if someone plants a box, just because you don't agree with the placement does not give you Letterboxing Police Authority.

So ANYBODY can determine if ANYONE ELSE'S response is "correct"?

Woohoo!! RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!

Has there been a more alias spinning thread than this? Also dibs on the "alias spinning thread" meme.

Has there been a more alias spinning thread than this?

Hmmmm... let me think...

Who? Me?

You have been made aware of the issue by the local planter. Can we agree that it wasn't with ill intent? Based on those assumptions do you have any problem with a local moving the box off NPS property and communicating with you on clue changes?

Based on those assumptions do you have any problem with a local moving the box off NPS property and communicating with you on clue changes?

Why? Where is there an indication that LBs are not allowed? As has been pointed out (WITH A LINK), NPS no longer explicitly prohibits them, and it is up to each park to make their own determination. Why remove someone else's box based on "well, maybe someone somewhere has an unwritten and unposted prohibition for this specific park, based on word of mouth"? How does it "look bad" or generate "ill-will", if the rules aren't posted and published?

You have been made aware of the issue by the local planter.

And therein lies the conundrum.

The local boxer is "certain" of this policy prohibiting letterboxes yet there is not "official" mention of the policy on any park related listing of policies related to the prohibition of which they speak.

To me, if it isn't in verifiable format, it isn't actually a policy.
::shrug::

Not the point i'm making Wassa. It was an attempt at resolving with no ill will. Should know better than to attempt resolution on the message board. Suggestion is for local boxer and planter to discuss with an amicable resolution. Apparently wiser privately at this point. I personally welcome plants to our scenic state. But would suggest avoiding the NPS in these parts.

It took a little digging, but here is the New River Gorge's guidelines for geocaches. I would assume that they would like letterboxes to be handled in the same way.

https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/permit-guidelines-for-gps-based-activities.htm

I hope this helps.

dp

Thank you, dancing pecan. We had followed a link on the site for GPS based activities but it was a dead link that led to a 404 error page. Good detective work!

We will contact the park superintendent and notify him or her that we placed a box there without knowledge of this rule and determine with the superintendent how to proceed.

Thanks again!

You're quite welcome. I'm glad I was able to help. :)

dp

What was the Disney decree? (Just curious)

Oh, I was lucky to read the Burgemeister poem just in time for it to be deleted. Very funny with the link--but it-just-disappeared. I'd love a copy AQ'd to me if possible, can't remember who wrote it.

What was the Disney decree? (Just curious)

I'm guessing this is the Disney Decree

Just to be clear, I have no intention of outing the boxes or pulling them. Live and let live. I was mostly curious about the feelings of people in the area about the subject.

I've tried several times to get the Super of the park to allow LB's and geocaches in the park but to no avail. Mostly due to their staff and not their personal feelings. One was quite receptive to the idea. They control a large portion of the county and practically all the trails so the temptation for me to plant in the park is real.

If you expressed an opinion here, thank you! The discussion has been lively and spirited for sure! If you planted in the park for any reason, it wasn't about you it was a general question. Don't worry, your boxes are safe from me.

Interesting Thread...

I plant when I want, Where I want, and when I want to.

Carry on,
Mtn Girl

Merry Christmas to all you boxing Mountaineers!

May you find all your boxes and your ink pad never go dry!

Definitely a great thought. Hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2019. And of course: "It is a great day to be a Mountaineer wherever you may be!"

If traveling through the Charleston, WV area check out the Box of the Month 2019 series. This will be one location that will have a new stamp planted each month. The first one is my carving of the new Doctor Who. Eleven others from various carvers will also be available. Check out the following tracker in case you will be going through. Also feel free to contact me for an exchange. It is located just west of Charleston along I-64.

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=300992

Happy New Year and letterboxing,

IrishRef

HI friends!
We are planning a tip out to Harpers Ferry (among other places) and are wanting to know of great places to stay: hotels, cabins, airbnb, etc. We are on a budget. But, we are hoping to maybe have a kitchen??

Also any can't miss boxes because I am thinking all our time will be taken up by the Park. I think we are going to try to make time to visit the shops downtown.

Thanks!!

There is a nice KOA next to the park entrance/main parking lot.

I was looking at that one, and it seemed a bit pricey.
Have you stayed there?

I visited there several times and enjoyed staying at the Youth Hostel. You have kitchen privilege and choice of inside bunks or tenting if you are geared for outdoor camping. Bonus is meeting interesting people.

Calling all West Virginia boxers! Come enjoy an event in a scenic part of Virginia that you've probably never boxed in before. It will be an overnight camping event, since the event location is in the abject middle of nowhere. The park has camping and cabins.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/fairy-stone#general_information

The event is the weekend of May 19th.

Don't miss your chance for a tie dye sue stamp. available for two weeks in cross lanes WV.