| A century old hobby combining history, puzzle-solving, | | | | hiker must locate him. There are dozens of |
| navigating, scavenger hunting, natural scenery, | | | | letterboxes camouflaged and well hidden in Tyler |
| musicians and TV journalists is all part of the fun. | | | | State park which is located in Bucks County, PA, a |
| When the term letterboxing was first brought to my | | | | suburb north of Philadelphia. So I gathered my |
| attention I thought it was a sport involving jabs, gloves, | | | | equipment and clues and headed South on I-95 to |
| a referee, and a boxing ring. To my surprise I found out | | | | Newtown, PA. |
| that letterboxing is a fast growing and intriguing hobby | | | | My hike began at the Boat House parking lot which is |
| among hikers and nature enthusiasts. It started over | | | | a few minutes from the Newtown Rd entrance. I |
| one hundred and fifty years ago in Dartmoor, England | | | | crossed the bridge and found the narrow dirt path |
| and was introduced in North America by a 1998 article | | | | titled Nature Trail Start. This quiet path is not far from |
| published in Smithsonian Magazine. The article sparked | | | | the crowded paved trail and offers some of |
| an interest and a group called Letterboxing North | | | | nature’s finest landscape. |
| America (LBNA) was created. It is an activity passed | | | | I followed the third clue through the crunching and |
| on by word of mouth and growing in popularity. | | | | crackling leaves and branches. The peaceful sound of |
| To play the game someone hides a waterproof | | | | the birds whistling blended in with the trickling of water |
| container in a natural setting. It could be a park, | | | | over the rocks in the small creek. After passing by a |
| recreation area, historic area or anyplace accessible to | | | | few big boulders and many fallen trees, I found the |
| the public. Inside the container is a log book and rubber | | | | wooden bridge which offered picture perfect views of |
| stamp with an ink pad, a letter explaining what | | | | the creek. |
| letterboxing is about, and other goodies. They then | | | | Once across the bridge, the log steps were in place |
| write clues or riddles to the location of the box and | | | | and helped with the steep upward incline. The large |
| post them on the LBNA web site at The hider can | | | | downed tree was easily noticeable but not as easy to |
| write the clues in cryptic or clear-cut and may put in | | | | get to. Good hiking shoes and a steady balance is a |
| compass points and landmarks. | | | | necessity to reach the tree that was laying on a |
| Letterboxers, or ‘boxers’ as they refer to | | | | downward slant. |
| themselves, set out to find the hidden boxes with the | | | | The tree was huge and with a stick I poked around |
| clues in hand. Also in their possession should be a | | | | the roots only to find nothing. On the side facing the log |
| compass, maps, pen or pencil, logbook, and a personal | | | | steps, there was an open cavity and there lying inside |
| rubber stamp with an inkpad. Once the letterbox is | | | | was the plastic bag filled with a waterproof container, |
| found, they then stamp the logbook inside the box with | | | | not well camouflaged but hidden from public view. |
| their personal stamp and then stamps their personal | | | | Inside I found several items one of which was the log |
| logbook with the stamp found within the box. This | | | | book with an Anderson Cooper photo. |
| keeps a record of anyone who found the box. The | | | | Letterboxing is an exciting and enjoyable activity. The |
| hider will occasionally go back to the box to replace | | | | letterboxer should have an understanding of the areas |
| the logbook when it fills up or just to check on it and | | | | terrain, plant life and hazards before setting out for the |
| make sure it’s still there. The rules are simple: | | | | hunt. Being able to identify poison ivy and other |
| Rewrap the log and the box exactly the way you | | | | poisonous plants along with a good insect repellent will |
| found it or better and replace it in the same hiding spot. | | | | save you from scratching later on. Always respect the |
| Sound like fun? Most letterboxers will tell you it’s | | | | wildlife and never disturb nature is the rule of thumb. |
| addictive. The LBNA web site shows clues to box | | | | Letterboxing is evolving and a high-tech variation called |
| locations all over the world. During a one week | | | | Geocaching is rapidly emerging. Geocaching utilizes a |
| vacation in August I had a planned trip to Philadelphia. I | | | | portable Global Positioning System (GPS) to seek out |
| found myself browsing the list of clues from the LBNA | | | | containers filled with inexpensive trinkets and a |
| site for Tyler State Park. Some clues told stories and | | | | logbook. In addition to clues, Geocachers use GPS |
| others had themes. This just adds to the fun. There | | | | coordinates to find containers. When found they will |
| was the battle of the bands featuring The Beatles and | | | | take a trinket out of the box and put another trinket of |
| other bands, Elvis themed clues, clues depicting | | | | equal value inside before re-wrapping and replacing the |
| landmarks and history and one that I found of interest: | | | | box. Portable GPS’s can be pricey and for |
| Anderson Cooper is hidden in Tyler State Park. The | | | | those on a budget, letterboxing is a fun and educational |
| clue located at [ depicts a story of CNN’s | | | | hobby for individuals, couples and families. |
| famous anchorman losing his way in the park and the | | | | |