|
|
Letterboxing Northeast Border Boxes III
(Special thanks to TNT -Tod n' Taylor- who have rebuilt this wonderful pair and added another of their own! Be sure to also check out The Fox!) A pleasant walk on woods roads in an area with an irresistible name. This hike is an easy 2.5 miles over about 2 hours, and is great for children, "seasoned" citizens, and beginner mountain bikers. There are two letterboxes on this hike. From RI Rte. 102 in West Greenwich, just north of I-95 exit 5, follow Plain Meetinghouse Rd west for about 3 miles. Park at the Wickaboxet Management Area on your right hand side. Wear a blaze orange vest or hat in hunting season, October-February. Pass through the gate and along an old tote road north-northeast, and soon bear left (northwest) at a fork for a clockwise loop through forest that is recovering nicely from a huge fire in the 1960s. At one time, Wickaboxet was a premier attraction, but since the fire it has been virtually abandoned by the hiking community. The extensive reforestation may indicate it's time to come back, and although there are no blazed trails, the park roads are perfect for personable walking. After about 0.3 miles, go sharply right, south, at an intersection before turning quickly left, southeast, along another park road. Begin passing some low ledge in the trees to the north, with scattered boulders under the cliffs. Fork left (north) and climb with the road briefly to the site of an old fire tower. From the concrete footings, follow an unmarked path at 300 degrees to pass a blocky waist high boulder on the left. You'll shortly come to a nicely balanced glacial erratic on the ledge. The ridge line path peters out some, but continue bushwacking along the edge in this direction to find a second perched erratic. The Firetower Ledge Letterbox is tucked under the southern overhang of this cliff side boulder. Stamp in and enjoy the moderate view, then head back to the fire tower footings and down the road, to fork left (southeast) at the intersection you came in on. Head along this pleasant forest road, passing up a road to the right, and watch for the looming rocks of Rattlesnake Ledge through the trees on the right. Turn in at the path between rocks and hike north to the base of the ledge. Passing along to the left, hike up the back side of the ledge and enjoy the space up there. Here are TNT's new clues: follow the path to the rear of the ledge and proceed to the far eastern point. Once there, enjoy the view and notice the silence. Take a bearing of 260° and follow the ridge to the far western point. Take a bearing of 055°. Look for a medium sized pine growing out of the rocks. You will find the Rattlesnake hiding under a small ledge under one of the branches of the medium sized pine. Returning down the lee side of this escarpment to the park road, turn right (southwest) and continue a short way to your car.
Canonchet was a 17th Century native leader whose descendants still people this area. Because of its great natural beauty, this is a busy trail, and evidence that it is still held sacred exists in the fact that it is a registered natural landmark. There are two letterboxes here. In Ashaway RI, take exit 2 from I-95, and head briefly north to connect with RI Rte. 3. Turn left, south, for half a mile, then turn right on Canonchet Rd. Heading north for 2 miles, pass an exquisite church, an old mill site that is still in use, and Ashville Pond, before parking in the hiker's lot on your left hand side. This hike will follow the yellow blazed Narragansett Trail, and can be done two ways. As a "Y" shaped hike, you'll follow two out-and-back forks connected in the middle by a short stem to the parking area. Or, if you prefer, you can add quiet country road walking to each segment and call it a figure eight. Either way, this is quite a strenuous hike over steep up and down trails, covering 5-6 miles in 2-3 hours. Bring a picnic, a camera for the great views, and your stronger children. Walk in south from the parking area past an old root cellar to the fork in the trail. We'll start by heading left, southwest, through a long tunnel of mountain laurel towards Ashville Pond. After about a mile, begin descending a hill through a series of stone walls. Come to an open area of slickrock gneiss formation, strewn randomly with chest high boulders. The trail will turn sharply right (west): continue straight on a course of 130 for about 25 steps to the southeastern edge of this slickrock clearing. The Ashville Pond Letterbox is hidden on the left behind the northeast corner of a knee high rock. Stamp in, and invest a couple of minutes to continue down the Narragansett Trail to Ashville Pond, and a charmingly defunct picnic area with a sandy beach. Now, you can double back to retrace your steps to the parking area fork. Or, you can continue up a few steps to the road, turn left down the road, and then left again at a very old house, to pass an old canal to Ashville Pond, the fishing area, and continue back to the trail head. Now for the spectacular leg. Turn right at the fork and follow the Narragansett Trail westerly along the cliffs overlooking Long Pond. There will be rugged up and down climbing on waterside ledges with rewarding views the whole way, as well as a variety of splendid rock formations. Near the end of the pond, cross north over the boggy area and then climb up well placed steps in an extraordinary cleft in the stone. At the top you'll find a trail junction: from the sign go generally east along the ridge on an unmarked trail. There are a couple of overlooks facing easterly across the water to the cliffs you just traversed. On the second, sandy one, is the Long Pond Letterbox. Standing on the promontory's edge with Long Pond to your left and a communications antenna bearing 220 degrees, the box is tucked into the southern face of an overhanging rock to your right (west), just off the trail. This is a good spot to linger after stamping in. (Reported missing in Spring '02). Finally, you can traipse back the way you came, enjoying the views (and the climbs) from a different perspective in a different light. Or, returning to the sign board, turn right with the yellow blazes, crossing some more interesting rock arrangements, to a second parking lot. Turn right on the dirt road, which in half a mile becomes paved, and then right again at an intersection. You'll find your car a stretch later, after a picturesque farm. The road piece is pleasantly longer, but much less taxing, than the return hike. Both are in the footsteps of the great native leader Canonchet.
|
