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Leaf Motif Series aka MLR, Otis and Black Swan Bait

This is a series of 6 letterboxes that are planted along the route from the Hamburg Reservoir, up the mountain using the Blue Trail and then eastward on the AT to the Pinnacle. Of the ascents, it is probably the longest distance wise, being about 4.5 miles one way. This can be combined with a return trip on the AT (Valley Rim Trail to Pulpit Rock) for a boxtravaganza including elusive boxes by Otis Friends (no spoilers, they are public boxes) and others (those you will need to research). We hope to get back to box up the Furnace Creek trails and the AT up to Pulpit Rock as we saw many a place of possible boxes there. A great place for trail maps is: http://www.harpweb.com/thepinnacle/hamburg.html GPS coordinates and directions are at this great site. However, email me to get a link to a map should this site ever disappear. One can get to the Pinnacle by lunchtime if you start around 9 am. The Hike - Many thanks to Pink Panther for capturing some landmarks in the photos Begin at the parking lot at the end of Reservoir Road (accessible from old 22 a few miles east of Hamburg or west of Lenhartsville). Pass through the metal gate and head north on the gravel roadway. Take note that the trail blazes are light blue. Once you reach the open area at the Windsor Furnace sign, take the Blue trail going uphill at 345, passing through the gate. The A. T. will head toward Port Clinton if you would happen to take a left here. Pass a no parking sign on the right. The trail will curve left and level off as you get to the reservoir. Stop. Box 1 Maple Leaf Red (luring Anne from Joisey to come visit?) From the edge of the boulder outcrop on the left of the trail (just before the reservoir fence and dam sign), go 9 steps at 294 to a seat rock. From the seat rock, go up the outcrop 13 steps at 240 to a stacked rock and then finally 10 steps at 290 to a rock tent with SPOR inside. This is probably the most difficult box to retrieve, btw. Continue northward on the Blue trail, keeping the reservoir (and fenced area) to your right. 1/3 of the way along the reservoir, take the Blue trail up into the woods at 310 (basically a soft left). Up-Up-Up you go through the Rhododendrons (hope the bloom for you). As you reach the top of this incline, the trail will noticeably level off and curve left. Box 2 Sassafras in Autumn On the left hand side, look for the fallen log perpendicular to the trail and to the tree that it has fallen up alongside (the angles may not exactly measure 90, but we did leave our protractors at home). Turn around and walk back in the downhillward direction for 12 steps to come to an actual holey Sassafras tree on your right. Go 5 steps at 340 to an uneven Y tree that is not a Sassafras tree. SPOR. The curve continues leftward and so does your climb. The trail will level off and soon you will come to this sign for Stephanie Spring on the left hand side. You could head down the trail to Stephanie Spring as it heads to the actual headwaters of Rattling Run. We followed it in about mile or so it is a neat trail, but is rather narrow. Box 3 Ash Look in the opposite side of the trail from the sign and back behind you and you will see a drainage control swale carved by a bulldozerette. Take this trail of sorts 55 steps at 125 to the larger of 2 dirt mounds. From the larger mound, go 5 steps at 10 to an odd Y tree. SPOR.

Continue onward and you will come to a four way intersection. If you go straight, youll end up in Eckville (though you may wish to make a short side trip, if you know what I mean). If you go left, you will end up in a camping area for through hikers. Turn right onto the Appalachian Trail. You may or may not pass a tree of the genus Ceratotherium, which is entirely up to you to decide. This trail will be basically be flat, but then become slightly downhill and curvy. Soon you will come to a wooded clearing and this multitrunk tree (sans backpack and stuff) on the south side indicating that you are close to the Gold Spring (best water these parts). Box 4 Buckeye From the multitrunk tree, look northward and follow the trail at 20 for 55 steps to a campfire ring. From the ring, go 30 steps at 50 to a distinctive tree and finally 18 steps along and beyond a fallen log to a decaying root ball. SPOR.

Return to the eastbound A. T. Pass the Heliport on the left (bug spoiler alert) and the Furnace Creek trail going down to the right. On a Riversolian note, this is a very beautiful trail which may someday get boxed up. The A. T. will go slightly uphill and then begin to level off. Keep a jaded eye open to the right hand side of the trail for this interesting Rock n Root Combo. Box 5 Elm From the Rock n Root, Roll on over 12 steps at 185. SPOR on Baby!

Continue Eastward on the A. T. Pass some vernal ponds and some boggy areas in the trail. You will also pass a marker on the tree that is a diamond with a 6 on it. We suspect it was at one time a Tree ID course. The woods road you have been on will transition to an actual somewhat rocky trail (this is the AT in PA, after all) at a clearing. Box 6 American Basswood Shortly after the woods road to trail transition, you will come to a V tree on the edge of the right hand side of the trail. From this V tree, go 12 steps at 55 to another V tree with a smaller tree growing out of the V parts. Then from the psi (look it up), go 13 steps at 85 to a small rock cave between 2 dissimilar trees. SPOR within.

You are now less than mile from the Pinnacle Lookout one of the best views in eastern PA. There are many unusual things to explore here and it is a great place to have lunch and chat with other hikers. Contribute a Rock to the SPOR, hide a box in the SPOR. If you want solitude, come during the cooler months as this is a popular spot on any nicer day.

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