Submitted by Ellen Edersheim, Lake Opechee Class of 2007This is one of my favorite hobbies, inexpensive and I have been to the most interesting places, its gets everyone outside. Websites like www.letterboxing.org and www.atlasquest.com can explain it better then I can. You don’t need any expensive equipment to do it.
First, you figure out a trail name. Mine is skier4444 (when you go to those sites you will see letterboxes that I have put out). Then, you either buy or make a stamp that goes along with trail name (yes, mine is a skier) and buy a blank book to put other stamps in (to start with can use back of index cards that come in a book). In your backpack, you also will put in a pen to write comments, either ink pens or ink pad to stamp the stamps. Then you’re ready to start your adventure...
Go to one of the listed websites above, type in a location and out comes with a list of letterboxes for that area. You will be very surprised how many you see listed in your search. Clues will say if they are close to the road or how many miles, and if located inside or outside. Print out the clue (if have an iPod, iPhone, iPad there is an application for this, so you will always have them) and off you go on an adventure.
When you find the box, it can be anything from a film canister to a Tupperware box. You open the box, and in it, will be a log book and a stamp - the stamp usually represents location of where you are. Use their stamp to stamp your book, and then take your stamp and stamp their book and write a little note, like what the date was and your trail name. Be very sure to put the box where it was found, so you won’t ruin the next person's adventure. Rather than carrying a book, some people keep their stamps on index cards and make a scrapbook when they get home and take photos of their adventure. What a fun way to document your search!
Go to one of the listed websites above, type in a location and out comes with a list of letterboxes for that area. You will be very surprised how many you see listed in your search. Clues will say if they are close to the road or how many miles, and if located inside or outside. Print out the clue (if have an iPod, iPhone, iPad there is an application for this, so you will always have them) and off you go on an adventure.
Here is an example of a box I have put out (you can click on the image below to see a larger version):
The icons to the right of the box name "Old Man viewing" each have a meaning:
- Hand = hand-carved stamp
- Car = close to road
- Dog = dog friendly
- Bike = bike friendly
- Wheelchair = handicap accessible
And to acclimate you to the letterboxing terminology:- Date Planted = The day the shadowbox was placed
- Planter = This is the person who put the box out, and it can be different then owner
When you click on "Click here for a clue", you receive your instructions! I have included them below so you can see how the clue works:
Easy –5 min
Go to the Pull-off after Boise Rock- Northbound only. park at the 3rd -10 min parking signs, stop, Face the sign, look to your right. Will see a big rock, go around right side, will see 2 more rocks with a little cave in between. Look in the cave to find the old man…. (And the stamp is a stamp I made of the old man)
Hike Length: 0.0 miles—gives length of hike, here less than ¼, so 0.0
Elevation Gain: 0 feet- no elevation gain for this box.
Other Fun Letterboxing Information
- Patches! You can get the New Hampshire patch, shown to the right.
- 50th Anniversary Preserve Letterboxing Challenge. This year the nature.org is having a 50 year anniversary of letterboxing in NH. A series of letterboxes will be “planted” at 12 preserves across the state and one on the grounds of the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. A “series” includes 3-5 letterboxes on one preserve linked by a common theme. Your challenge is to collect as many series as possible during the year 2011. Follow this link to read more about the 50th Anniversary Preserve Letterboxing Challenge.
- Local Organizations Offer Letterboxes! Visit Sugar Hill Historic Museum and buy a book, which tells you about history of the town and location of boxes. Or visit the websites for Town of Peterborough or the Northern Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce to learn more about their offerings. Also, the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce has some boxes in stores located in North Conway, they are listed on the Atlas Quest website.
- Gatherings! Letterboxes also have gatherings where can meet other letterboxes and exchange stamps. You can look on Atlas Quest to find upcoming gatherings.
- Do it with your kids! Here is a website for kids who letterbox: www.letterboxing.org/kids/
Get out and explore…it's fun….a great adventure and you get exercise….gets you and kids off the computer!!
