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Pace Yourself: Treasure Hunting Through Letterboxing

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July 18, 2006

About This Editor: Mary Smith has 5 years of technical and FAQ writing experience in addition to a year of web content authoring. She specializes in technical and financial writing and is especially fond of e-books.

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Pace Yourself: Treasure Hunting Through Letterboxing

“X” marks the spot, this much you know.
But how will you know which way to go?
Follow the clues to the hidden letterbox.
Will the stamp be a letter, a tree or a fox?

Letterboxing is a fun new way to adventure, find new areas and put your mark on the world – quite literally! It’s one of the few free entertainment experiences that offer endless possibilities for kids and adults alike.

So, what is letterboxing?
Letterboxing combines navigation and rubber stamping in this new twist on the old “treasure hunt.” You will quest to find a container, hidden by a fellow letterboxer, and exchange stamp marks. You don’t need fancy devices, just a rubber stamp that expresses something about you, a stamp pad, a log book and a thirst for adventure.

Getting Started
Before you set out looking for treasure, you’ll need to know where to go and how to get there. Perform an online search for “Letterboxing”, follow the link to the main site. Click on the Clues link. Choose your state, then area. Click on letterbox descriptions that sound interesting and print out the clues.

Choose a stamp, be it store bought or homemade, that tells other visitors something about you or your group. Does everyone’s name in your family start with the same letter? Do you love soccer or butterflies? Select a stamp all about you.

Pick up a stamp pad. It could be colored, scented, sparkly or the standby black pad. You’ll also need a logbook. It could be a fancy leather bound book, a spiral notebook or scrap paper.

Head out to the letterbox location, and don’t forget water, sunscreen, snacks, your stamp, log book and stamp pad. Consider taking a camera to illustrate your trip as well.

Your letterbox will likely be hidden under rocks, brush or hidden in a nook somewhere. Often off-trail, letterboxes are usually hidden so passersby won’t see it, so be prepared to look for a while. Once you find it, you’ll stamp the letterbox logbook with your stamp and stamp your logbook with the stamp in the letterbox. Don’t forget to reseal the box properly and hide it where it was.

Hiding Your Own
Hiding your letterbox is almost as easy as finding one. Choose a location you think is out of the way but accessible (not on historic, fragile or private property). Find a logbook to include and a stamp that either likens you or the hiding spot. Next, get a container that the logbook and stamp will fit into. Hide the letterbox, come up with clues to lead letterboxers to your spot and submit your clues at the website.