These 6 boxes are at Des Moines Creek Park/Trail
Sea Tac, Washington.
King County
NOTES:
This park is directly underneath the flight path for SeaTac airport.
The planes are landing or taking off every few minutes and they can
be very very loud. Being exposed to loud noises like this for any
extended period of time can DAMAGE YOUR HEARING! This is a 2 mile
hike roundtrip. Bring earplugs (or even earmuffs or stereo
headphones will do if you don't have earplugs) to protect your ears.
If you have small children who are frightened of loud noises, this
might not be a good hike to take them on. IT WILL BE LOUD!!
On the other hand, you get a relatively close look at the underbellies of the planes as they takeoff and/or land. Can you tell the difference between the different airlines from this angle?
You'll walk one mile on this paved path and then return. If you want to make a "loop" out of it, you can get 3 boxes as you walk in and the other 3 boxes as you walk out! :-) I highly recommend going all the way to the Alaska Airlines box, it is the best stamp of the bunch!!
Driving Directions:
On International Blvd. (Hwy 99) go to S. 200th St. Head west on S.
200th St. Go approximately 1/2 mile to the bottom of the hill.
Trailhead parking is available to the left.
CLUES:
If you were on USAirways Flight #180 to Philadelphia, when you took
off out of Seattle, you could look down and see a Golf Course and
then a park. You would see me (Amanda from Seattle) walking along
the paved trail until I took a right on a dirt path taking the right fork and then to the
left to a big tree not the evergreen, but the deciduous one and you
would see me kneeling there behind the Big deciduous tree. Opps you
are gone…To the city of Brotherly Love.
If you were on Delta Fight #706 to Atlanta... You would look down and see me return to the paved trail go past a bench (Blackberries are all along this portion of the trail – BRING a BUCKET during Blackberry season) and past the first 1/4 mile signpost. On the right is a sort of clearing with a small tree cluster and a large tree cluster. In front of the large tree cluster is a large log. You would see me reaching under the western side of the log. Opps you are gone…To find some Southern letterboxes.
If you were on Northwest Flight #7 to Tokyo, you would be looking down and see me go on past a couple of sewer man-holes then taking a right on a dirt path up a slight hill. You would see me stay to the left when I reached any and all trail junctions until I came to the edge of a cliff! (There is even red caution tape to keep you from going over the cliff) I look behind me and see a multi-trunked tree with a holly bush beside it. You would see me carefully reaching toward the southern side of the tree between it and the holly bush. Underneath the edge of a moss-covered log. Opps you are gone…winging your way to the Orient.
If you were on American Airlines Flight #1408 to Dallas, you would be looking down at the park and see me looking over the "cliff" at the pavement below! (DO NOT return to the paved trail this way --- although it is evident that people have been doing just that!!) You would see me continue around toward the left until I could rejoin the paved trail by taking a gradual incline down. From down here, I can now see the Creek (and even hear it, between airplanes blasting by overhead). You could see me passing another 1/4 mile post and another bench. You can see me walk toward a huge rock that has graffiti on it. Next to the huge rock (on the left) is a smaller rock and some branches.(Currently covered with Blackberry brambles! Be cautious!!) You would see me reaching between these tree limbs and the smaller rock. Opps you are gone…getting some of those new Texas letterboxes I guess.
If you were on United Airlines Flight #1590 to Chicago... You would look down into the park and see me pass another 1/4 mile signpost. You would see me come to a bridge and stairs and go past them as well. Finally, you would see me come to another set of stairs. I start up the stairs, when they turn to the left, I stop and I look to the right where a large log is resting. I reach down to the front of this log underneath some limbs and bark. Opps you are gone...flying the friendly skies.
If you were on Alaska Airlines Flight #95 to Anchorage, you would look down and see me returning down the stairs and along the paved path. You see me stop at a large log on the right that is close to the path. I am reaching under the far (southern) end of the log away from the path.(beware of blackberry brambles again!) Opps you are gone…enjoying that Alaska Spirit!
Please be DISCREET and read the waiver of responsibilty and liability!
Thanks
Status: Alive and Well as of 9/1/08!
To email me with comments or questions about a letterbox: samanark@yahoo.com
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