Monday, September 06, 2004
Disclaimer:
The placers, contributors, or any participants of this series assume no responsibility or liability related to this letterbox series. It is assumed that common sense and good judgement will be exercised by those who search out these letterboxes. These boxes are along generally well-blazed trails but on some rugged territory. It is advised to wear Blaze Orange during hunting season whether in hunting permitted areas or not. Parents should consider the abilities of younger children.
It is highly recommended that you search these letterboxes by having 2 vehicles; one at the start, and one parked at the end of the trail. There are NO loop trails. All clues have a "Second Car Parking" instruction. Going out and back adds considerable time to the hike.
Directions:
From points North: The trail head lies on Route 7 in Cornwall Bridge, CT. Follow Route 7 South along the Housatonic River. Just before the intersection of Route 7 and Route 4 is a pull off on the right. A trail head marker notes Breadloaf Mountain Trail. Park here.
From points South: Go through Kent, CT and continue along Route 7 North with the Housatonic River on your left. Route 7 intersects with Route 4 in Cornwall Bridge, CT and crosses the Housatonic River. Just after crossing the Housatonic, stay on Route 7 and you will see a pull off on your left. A nursery is across the street from this pull off. Park as above.
From points East; Take Exit 44 off of Route 8 North or South into Torrington. Follow signs for Route 4. Route 4 goes through downtown Torrington heading west. Follow Route 4 through Goshen and continue West to the intersection with Route 7. Follow to pull off as noted above.
The placers, contributors, or any participants of this series assume no responsibility or liability related to this letterbox series. It is assumed that common sense and good judgement will be exercised by those who search out these letterboxes. These boxes are along generally well-blazed trails but on some rugged territory. It is advised to wear Blaze Orange during hunting season whether in hunting permitted areas or not. Parents should consider the abilities of younger children.
It is highly recommended that you search these letterboxes by having 2 vehicles; one at the start, and one parked at the end of the trail. There are NO loop trails. All clues have a "Second Car Parking" instruction. Going out and back adds considerable time to the hike.
Second Car Parking: At the intersection of Route 4 and Route 7, continue on Route 4 east. Take the first right onto Old Sharon Road #2. Heading up the dirt road, you will go by a striking wood panel fence after which there is a tiny, one car pull off on the left hand side of the dirt road. The edge of the road falls away to Furnace Brook below. Up ahead from here is a large boulder on the uphill side of the dirt road. Nearly attached to the boulder is a neat set of field stone steps. There is a A.T. marker near here where you will end your hike from the start down at the bottom of Breadloaf Mountain.
Directions:
From points North: The trail head lies on Route 7 in Cornwall Bridge, CT. Follow Route 7 South along the Housatonic River. Just before the intersection of Route 7 and Route 4 is a pull off on the right. A trail head marker notes Breadloaf Mountain Trail. Park here.
From points South: Go through Kent, CT and continue along Route 7 North with the Housatonic River on your left. Route 7 intersects with Route 4 in Cornwall Bridge, CT and crosses the Housatonic River. Just after crossing the Housatonic, stay on Route 7 and you will see a pull off on your left. A nursery is across the street from this pull off. Park as above.
From points East; Take Exit 44 off of Route 8 North or South into Torrington. Follow signs for Route 4. Route 4 goes through downtown Torrington heading west. Follow Route 4 through Goshen and continue West to the intersection with Route 7. Follow to pull off as noted above.
West Direction Clues:
Time: 1 1/2 hours one way. 2+ hours out and back
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous climb up, but rest at times
Note: Some of the stamps contributed are large and will require a paper to hold a stamp 5-6 inches in diameter.
PLEASE READ LOG BOOKS CAREFULLY FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Some of the stamps contributed are large and will require a paper to hold a stamp 5-6 inches in diameter.
PLEASE READ LOG BOOKS CAREFULLY FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
From the intersections of Route 7 and Route 4 on the west bank of the Housatonic River in Sharon CT, head north on Route 7 for just about 50 feet or so and look for a parking area on the left side of the road. A greenhouse/nursery is on the right. Pull into the dirt pull off and look for a trail head sign for Breadloaf Mountain at about 300 degrees. Head onto the blue blazed trail heading northwest at the sign for Breadloaf Mountain (Keep a look out for some interesting foundation remains on the left at a streambed crossing.) You will start to ascend and cross over a stone wall. You then will cross over some erosion control rocks as the trail becomes steeper now. As you move along, you will come to a cluster of large boulders snug against the left side of the trail. At this point look to the right for another large boulder. Look under the northeast side of this boulder to find the Salish tribal box.
Head back on the trail over some more erosion control features with a rock wall on the left. You will cross over a wall and the forest opens to pine needle covering on the forest floor. The trail levels out here for a brief reprieve. You then head back into mixed hardwoods. Pass a gnarly four-fingered pine. After a humongous grape vine, look for the large crack on the south side of a boulder for the Umatilla tribal box.
Going down hill already? Not quite! Take a deep breath; it gets steep! A rock wall is noted on your left. Follow along and pass between opening of two corners of the wall. The rock wall continues far to the right as you ascend. You will pass through tall Hemlocks and come to a place where it levels off, with a slight dip, before another rocky ascent. Turn left at a cut-through log just before the dip. At 260 degrees, sight a 5 sister (used to be 6) hemlock 14 paces away. Look inside a hollow of the kind of needleless tree for the Lakota Sioux tribal box.
You thought it was steep before? Continue up to see your first overlook at 220 degrees - rest a bit. Continue on up and around a switchback to the left - you are almost there! Crest the summit through stunted gnarled oaks. Look for the U.S. boundary A.T. boundary sign (White.) From here sight 240 degrees to a split rock at 5 paces. You will find the Hopi tribal box here.
Continue over the level summit to the great overlook with the large rock "couch and coffee table." Now take the trail from the rock at approx. 300 degrees. (DO NOT take the trail for the sign that says view 0.1 miles!) Approx. 30 paces from the rabbit eared stump on the left, look left at 160 degrees. Go around right side of rock mound/outcropping about 8 paces away and look for the vertically split rock "fingers." Look below in crevice for the Navajo tribal box.
Heading back on the trail, still blue blazed, continue downhill until you reach a junction with the A.T. Turn left onto the A.T. Take care here as you head down, the trail is steep and rocky. You will pass between some large rocks and boulders. Stop at the last huge boulder on the right. Look behind it on the northwest for a smaller, flatter rock with an overhang. The Blackfoot tribal box lies hidden beneath.
If you came with just a single car. Head back to the start the way you came. If you have a second car, continue down the trail to the dirt road (Old Sharon Road #2) to your car.
Head back on the trail over some more erosion control features with a rock wall on the left. You will cross over a wall and the forest opens to pine needle covering on the forest floor. The trail levels out here for a brief reprieve. You then head back into mixed hardwoods. Pass a gnarly four-fingered pine. After a humongous grape vine, look for the large crack on the south side of a boulder for the Umatilla tribal box.
Going down hill already? Not quite! Take a deep breath; it gets steep! A rock wall is noted on your left. Follow along and pass between opening of two corners of the wall. The rock wall continues far to the right as you ascend. You will pass through tall Hemlocks and come to a place where it levels off, with a slight dip, before another rocky ascent. Turn left at a cut-through log just before the dip. At 260 degrees, sight a 5 sister (used to be 6) hemlock 14 paces away. Look inside a hollow of the kind of needleless tree for the Lakota Sioux tribal box.
You thought it was steep before? Continue up to see your first overlook at 220 degrees - rest a bit. Continue on up and around a switchback to the left - you are almost there! Crest the summit through stunted gnarled oaks. Look for the U.S. boundary A.T. boundary sign (White.) From here sight 240 degrees to a split rock at 5 paces. You will find the Hopi tribal box here.
Continue over the level summit to the great overlook with the large rock "couch and coffee table." Now take the trail from the rock at approx. 300 degrees. (DO NOT take the trail for the sign that says view 0.1 miles!) Approx. 30 paces from the rabbit eared stump on the left, look left at 160 degrees. Go around right side of rock mound/outcropping about 8 paces away and look for the vertically split rock "fingers." Look below in crevice for the Navajo tribal box.
Heading back on the trail, still blue blazed, continue downhill until you reach a junction with the A.T. Turn left onto the A.T. Take care here as you head down, the trail is steep and rocky. You will pass between some large rocks and boulders. Stop at the last huge boulder on the right. Look behind it on the northwest for a smaller, flatter rock with an overhang. The Blackfoot tribal box lies hidden beneath.
If you came with just a single car. Head back to the start the way you came. If you have a second car, continue down the trail to the dirt road (Old Sharon Road #2) to your car.
# posted by Mark and Sue @ 8:16 PM 
