NEFF Geo-Challenge - Sortwell Forest Traditional Cache
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NEFF Geo-Challenge - Sortwell Forest
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The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) is hosting a Summer Geo-Challenge in 12 NEFF-owned Community Forests throughout New England. NEFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation and sustainable management of New England forestlands. It is our pleasure to share these forests with fellow outdoor enthusiasts! This cache is a hybrid!
9/15/06
The Grand Prize Winner of the 2006 Geo-challenge is Laurie Maldari of Massachusetts. Congratulations to Laurie and thanks to everyone who participated. We look forward to next year's event!
Parking: At the intersection of Routes 1 and 27 in Wiscasset take Route 27 north about 4/10 mile. Turn left, left again and right onto Willow Lane. Property is about 1/2 mile on right. There is parking for 5 or so vehicles.
About the forest: Mr. Daniel R. Sortwell gave the Sortwell property to NEFF in 1955. The forest has been managed by NEFF for many years and is heavily stocked with mature white pine. In 1973 and 1975, Mrs. Marion S. Warland of Wiscasset, a sister of the late Daniel Sortwell, gave two small parcels of land to even out boundaries and bring the area of the magnificent Sortwell Memorial Forest to a total of 90 acres.
Letterboxing description:
1. There are two entrances to this forest, you will travel to the west entrance bearing the memorial Forest sign.
2. Park and travel North to the metal jump rope help be two Hemlock trees.
3. Fork 1: From here you will ask which way as the two roads diverge, turn left and travel west.
4. Fork 2: The road will diverge yet again at a straight white pine, veer right traveling east. Notice that you are in a forest stand of red oak, maple, pine, beech, fir and young spruce. Can you identify these trees?
5. Fork 3: Yet another turn, stay left; see an old bone in the woods on the left about 20 feet from the trail. The indigenous people of Maine called rocks the “bones of the earth”. (If you travel right here you will find that the trail ends in 40 feet.)
6. The trail descends and narrows to a walking path. Notice the moss bryophyte layer in the understory indicating moist soils.
7. Cross a small stream bed, it will be wet or dry depending on the time of year.
8. Fork 4: There is yet another old pine between two paths, travel left and immediately you will pass a large spruce and beech stand. Look to the ground in the spring to find beechnuts, an important source of nutrition for many of Maine’s wild mammals.
9. The bottom of this hill brings you to the brook. Sit and listen to the gurgling wisdom.
10. At the edge of this old moss covered broken bridge turn 180 degrees and face the way you came, your bearing will be 110 degrees south east on your compass.
11. Take 21 steps (at 3 feet each) and turn 90 degrees to your left. Take 10 steps towards the moss-covered stump. Turn 180 degrees and find the letterbox hidden beneath a large fallen hemlock branch.
NEFF is grateful to all the wonderful volunteers throughout New England who placed these caches and made the Summer Geo-Challenge possible. Thank you “Team Teebow” for care taking this cache in our Sortwell Memorial Forest!!!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)