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!

I was at Kettletown SP recently, which had unbelievable damage from the same storm. The 3-mile Pomperaug-Crest Trail loop had hundreds of blowdowns, all of which had been cleared off of the trails. I mean the full length of the trail was blowdowns, not just patches. The Miller Trail loop to the north fared better, but one section also had severe damage. The good news is that despite the massive tree carnage, I was able to find all seven boxes I was looking for. One I had to crawl into the crown of a fallen tree, but it wasn't that bad. Another I had to step over some limbs. I hope most of the boxes at Sleeping Giant fare as well as the ones at Kettletown. Here's a photo at Kettletown: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DaUw29R4qKP7yiBb6

Hello! I just joined AtlasQuest to list a box in honor of my father, my main hiking buddy for my whole life. He actually had an AQ account, papabear24. He passed away in 2017, and this letterbox is full of love and pictures of him hiking with his favorite people.

The box is called Cows on the Regicide, and is near Three Judges Cave at West Rock State Park in New Haven!

For anyone who does find it, it would mean a lot to me to let me know how you enjoyed it as it was his favorite hike and some of his favorite views!

I was told that Wharton Brook is now open. My sister went hiking there and reported that tree hangers, etc were addressed but minimally. She did not think trying to box there yet would be a good idea.

Does anyone have any recollection where these stamps are? I fear they are all together in my abyss called the POD which is currently in a storage facility. I can't remember who picked up the puppies and Pongo and Perdita for me, or even IF they were picked up.

I believe I remember who picked up Evil Queen, Snow White stamps, and Horace and Jasper from 101 Dalmations were picked up, but I can't find them.

Help!
Thanks!
BB

Trying to figured out which series we picked up for you.........

Is anyone from Middlesex County interested in going to this but not wanting to travel alone? Suddenly realized there were no CT events on the calendar...

Any word on when Sky will be announced this year?

at the first day hike we were told Feb 14thish

I recently created a hybrid which I placed off of the green trail in Cockaponset in Haddam/Higganum. I posted it here, and then attempted to post it on geocaching.com. Oops. Got a message that because it was in a state park, I needed to get a permit from DEEP. (Haven't we had this discussion before? I guess the geocaching folks decided to get strict...) Anyway, after going around in circles for a bit, I figured out that they only wanted things planted on marked trails, with no bushwhacking required--so I moved it. Hopefully they'll approve my new location!! One of these days I'll probably go and plant something else in the original location ;-) . Anyway, if you were planning to go check out my Year of the Dog: Athena hybrid, please be sure you have the updated clues! https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=301947

≥KitKat≤

Return areas this year:

2019 Sky’s the Limit Locations:

1. State Park or Forest: Mohawk State Forest, Sharon
Trail Name: Blue Trail
Map: Mohawk State Forest Trail Map
Parking Area: Choose one to create a hike of your liking
Photo Locations: Entrance and Cunningham Tower
Degree of Difficulty: Various, Depending on where you pick up the blue trail
Approximate Length: Various

2.State Park or Forest: Kettletown State Park, Southbury
Trail Name: Miller Trail
Map: Kettletown State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: Beach area or road
Photo Locations: Ticket Booth just beyond entrance and Charcoal Hearth site/lookout
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: 1.5 miles

3. State Park or Forest: Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
Trail Name: Red Trail to Blue Trail to Yellow Trail (Tony’s Nose Overlook)
Map: Rocky Neck State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: Lot on north side of Beach Access Road, the second entrance to the large parking lot on the right
Photo Locations: Marsh area, just beyond parking lot and Tony’s Nose Overlook
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Approximate Length: 2 miles

4. State Park or Forest: Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington
Trail Name: Unnamed
Map: Map is available at kiosk north of boat launch and at display area
Parking Area: Roadside, north of Barn Island Boat Launch
Photo Locations: Sarah Ann Martin Stone Monument (41º20’36”N, 71º52’15”W) & Impoundment #2
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Approximate Length: 3 miles

5. State Park or Forest: James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton
Trail Name: Blue/Yellow to Blue/White to Red and back
Map: James L. Goodwin State Forest Trail Map
Parking Area: Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road Hampton
Photo Locations: Conservation Center Building & Governor’s Island
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: 3 miles

6. State Park or Forest: Pachaug State Forest -- Green Falls Area, Voluntown
Trail Name: Blue/Orange
Map: Pachaug State Forest Trail Map
Parking Area: Off Season -- Forest Road, Seasonally Parking Lot near beach
Photo Locations: Bridge at Base of Campground (start of Blue/Orange Trail) and view of Island from trail
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: depends on the season, approximately 5 miles in the off season, 3 miles trail only
Please note: The Forest Road is gated in the off season and opens based on mud season. You may need to hike the road in to reach the trail head.

7. State Park or Forest: Salt Rock State Campground, Sprague
Trail Name: Old Rail Line Footpath
Map: Salt Rock Trail Map
Parking Area: Fishing lots at Salt Rock Campground, behind pool
Photo Locations: River view from bench or picnic tables, railroad tracks where trail crosses
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Approximate Length: 2 miles

8. State Park or Forest: Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
Trail Name: Yellow Trail (Tower Trail)
Map: Mount Tom State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: Beach Lot
Photo Locations: Kiosk at Beach and View from the Tower
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: 1.2 miles
Please note: There is a logging operation at Mount Tom State Park. Check the park website for updates. The tower trail will be accessible on or after March 15.

9. State Park or Forest: Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford
Trail Name: Paths around the park
Map: Harkness Memorial State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: Main Lot off Great Neck Road
Photo Locations: Amphitheatre, Beach Viewing Platform, View of Water from the Mansion, Carriage House, Greenhouse, Farmhouse, and Orchard
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Approximate Length: 1 mile
Things to do in the area: Seaside State Park, on Seaside Drive, is just down the street and is a great spot for a picnic

10. State Park or Forest: Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middletown
Trail Name: Orange and small amount of Blue to access Little Falls
Map: Wadsworth Falls State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: Main Lot near beach
Photo Locations: Big Falls and Little Falls (may be dry in the summer)
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: 3 miles

11. State Park or Forest: American Legion and Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted
Trail Name: Elliott Bronson to Walt Landgraf (Red Trails)
Map: American Legion and Peoples State Forest Trail Map
Parking Area: Lot near Matthies Grove
Photo Locations: Shelter at Walt Landgraf and Kiosk for Elliott Bronson Trail
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Approximate Length: 3.2 miles

12. State Park or Forest: Macedonia State Park, Kent
Trail Name: White to Blue and Return Blue
Map: Macedonia State Park Trail Map
Parking Area: By Pavillion
Photo Locations: Kiosk by Camp Office and Scenic View from Cobble Mountain
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult, not suitable for pets or young children
Approximate Length: 2 miles

13. State Park or Forest: Dennis Hill, Norfolk
Trail Name: Gazebo Loop Trail (Yellow)
Map: Dennis Hill Trail Map
Parking Area: At entrance
Photo Locations: View from Gazebo and shield sign
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Approximate Length: 1.3 miles

14. State Park or Forest: Horse Guard, Avon
Trail Name: White Trail
Map: Horse Guard Scenic Reserve Trail Map
Parking Area: At entrance
Photo Locations: Shield sign and scenic view
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!

I think about half of the parks are repeats :(. And there are so many state parks and forests that haven't been done yet.

Yes, the number of repeats is interesting. But if people are interested in planting more, I’ll set up a tracker sometime in the next few days...

I'm working on the Google Map:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TflmPksBbq6WIAoJ-9q3KpOdGNN4yEpb&usp=sharing

I'm very excited with the list.

Thank goodness for your map skills every year!

Ok, looks like Harkness SP requires 7 photos, that’s quite different.

I gave up last year due to the heat and, frankly, the sites weren't very pretty.

With so many of these being repeats, does anyone have an opinion as to whether they're pretty / worthwhile spots?

Also, the hikes seem shorter overall this year.

thanks for the heads up

Since the hike is so short, I'm guessing they want to make sure people do the whole thing.

I'm trying to think of a creative spin to do on them.....

Using the term "average" loosely, looks like aprroximately 5 are ~3 mile hikes, 5 are ~1 mile hikes, and the remaining 4 fall in between.....*ISH*

I don't think the repeat locations are repeat hikes/trails though.

I've got the map done. Where possible, I added exact locations for parking and photo locations. In some cases, you know how vague DEEP can be about the photo locations. In other cases, like the gazebo at Dennis Hill or the seven photo locations at Harkness, I can see the structures on the Google Map aerial and was able to add them directly.

Having done that, I think I'm sadly out for 2019. Only a couple locations look at all interesting. Several are EXACT hikes from earlier years, including the ones for Macedonia, Goodwin, Dennis Hill, and I think Mt. Tom. Several other locations I've already been to and boxed the exact route and location they want you to go to.

Maybe you can put your bonus box at a place that you wish had been on the list.