Starting at the Double Tree Hotel we found Esmerelda’s Animas River box. An easy find – but very cold along the river. I took the box back to the car to stamp in. Next we headed for Fort Lewis College and the Campus in the Sky. The clues took us on a great tour of an incredibly beautiful campus. We headed back into town and found the Three Keys Letterbox right where it was supposed to be.
Now we have worked up an appetite so we have breakfast before heading up to Animas Overlook.A pleasant drive up to Animas Overlook and an enjoyable three quarter mile walk – what a great way to spend a Sunday morning. We found all the boxes there and enjoyed all the informational signs and especially the views. Making our way back into Durango we made a quick stop and found Celtic Tree. I have to say we found some unusual letterboxing things during the hunt for these boxes. One stamp was monunted on a chunk of log and one was mounted on a piece of flagstone. And we found one box in a ceramic jar. How neat to find such different things. Once we were back in Durango we made a quick stop at Animas City Park to find Denver Rio Grande – nice and easy and a nice stamp. We grabbed some lunch before heading up 550 to Silverton.
Our next stop was Haflin Creek Trail – looking for Strong Face and Feline Triskele. Not many people have visited these boxes and I don’t know why. Not that far to get to and only about a half to three quarters of a mile hike. Two incredible stamps and the views were great. Still getting the fall colors every where we go.
The drive along 550 is incredible – views all along the way. Our next goal was Engineer Mountain Box. We reached the trail head at about 4:00pm and at first we were a little uncertain about doing a 3 mile roundtrip hike so late – but the weather was great and we felt it was doable. Turned out to be a great hike, a little snow on the trail and a little muddy in places but not bad. We made it to this nice little alpine lake and enjoyed the views for a little while before continuing up to the box. As for finding the box – no problem, y-nought’s clues are fantastic. It would be worth your while to do this hike, just go a little earlier and don’t forget your camera like I did. By the time we made it back to the car it was a little after 5:30pm and we figured that we were done letterboxing for the day since it was getting late, but then we saw the sign for Andrews Lake. That box is on our list – there is still some light – and it is only a ten to fifteen minute hike. We did it! Found the box easy enough, again y-nought’s clues are great.
Now on to Silverton – oh, but there is Big Molas Lake and the Wandering Aengus Box. We pull off and attempt this box, but alas, it is too dark and Aengus is a wandering – we will try back in the morning.
We make it to Silverton and while at Engineer Mountain we had surfed the net for a hotel. We pull up at Inn of the Rockies at the Alma House at the corner of 10th and Blair. What a great surprise, a nice Victorian B&B with the most wonderful hostess – Pam. She checked us in, told us there was dessert, coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the sitting room and she also led us to a great restaurant for dinner – Handlebars. The dinner was fantastic and the room was great. Unfortunately by the time we got settled in the room I was too tired to write this blog – so I have written it during the drive today. Pictures will follow once I get home and can download them.
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