California or Bust

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Well, the NH Hiker has made it to California after a bit of a rest. With this rest, he cmae to thinking. There is nothing like home. Since he is all the way across the country from New Hampshire, he is going to end the race and concentrate on heading home. This race has been long and was he hadn't planned on it taking as long as he had thought. So with that he set up a tent in beautiful California and looked at the map to figure out his route home.

Make your way to Los Jilguerros Preserve, just off of Mission Road in Fallbrook. Start off on the loop trail at the first kiosk. (Note the rattlesnake warning sign) Follow the trail past five or so benches until you reach the second kiosk. Backtrack 35 steps and veer right to cut across to the other side of the trail. (Toward Mission Rd) If you're going the right way, there will be a birdhouse to your left. Look to the large shady tree on the other side of the trail. Approximately 10 feet behind and to the right of the tree is a stack of branches. The hiker is tucked in and behind the branches with a couple more on top. Be alert for joggers and rattlesnakes!

SC Hiker arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana

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The SC hiker made his way to Indianapolis & stopped for a rest on the southwest side of town. To be exact---5106 S High School Road.....Find the old log cabin on the campus grounds & park behind it.Go thru the gate & start following the trail. A little ways in on the left will be a pile of dead brush. On the backside about 3-4 feet up you will find a hollow with the SC Hiker resting inside.

Welcome to Washington State!

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The Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver was a surprising place: it was a headquarters and primary supply depot for fur trading operations, but employed more people at agriculture than any other activity. It was a large corporate monopoly that kept order and stability by employing many different ethnic groups. It was a British establishment, but the primary languages were Canadian French and Chinook Jargon. It represented British territorial interests, yet made American settlement in the Pacific Northwest possible. Even those who wished it gone praised the hospitality and assistance they found there.

The subsequent U.S. Army post at the site - known as Columbia Barracks, Fort Vancouver, or Vancouver Barracks depending on the era - was equally surprising. Its goal was to provide for peaceful American settlement of the Oregon Country, yet it did so, in part, by battling and dispossessing the native American Indian inhabitants. For more than 150 years it housed and supported thousands of soldiers and their families, yet it also incarcerated American Indian families and Italian prisoners of war.

Helping visitors make personal connections to the people, places, stories and collections represented at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a major goal of National Park staff and volunteers. Click on the picture above and it will link you to a site so you can learn more about this historic location.

Clues to the box:

Locate the gazebo on the grounds of the General's Quarters. Look under the steps for the box.

Oh Hi, Ohio!

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The SC Hiker stopped at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Kingston Ohio. To find the cemetery, take Rte 159 S from Kingston, Oh. The MT. Pleasant Cemetery is on Blackwater Rd and can be spotted from Rt 159. Enter the main gate and go left to the signboard. Look for the 4 points and walk to the southside of the most northern point for some eye level observance.

SC Hiker is on the Move!

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When traveling I-75 N or S, take exit 112 (Emory Road Exit).... When you get off the exit be looking for the Krystal restaurant... There is a BIG Krystal Sign that can be seen from the Interstate... Go to the parking spot as close to the dumpster as you can...There is a rock bank there, the SC Hiker is at the base of a Mimosa tree, in a crevice covered with smaller stones...

NH Hiker is Where? Oregon?

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Well, the NH Hiker had taken a long trip from his cozy little hole in Connecticut, all the way over the the left coast for a visit to Oregon. I think he could live and breathe the fresh air for a long time. But not to long of course! He has a race to win!

Heading toward Cannon Beach, OR from Portland on Route 26 (West), look for MUSIC STREET on your right. (Also called Salmonberry on GPS). The sign for Music Street is just before the sign for Clatsop State Forest. Pull into Music Street and you will see a place to pull over and park on the right shoulder. The Hiker is waiting for his next ride under an arched log under some moss on the left side of the arch.

The SC Hiker is back!!

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He's near Baileyton, TN. I-81 South just past Exit 44 between Jearoldstown and Baileyton TN (if you are coming from Knoxville take this exit to turn around) Rest stop after mile marker 41. Go to the parking area for cars.

Park in first spot to your right, Get out of your car and follow the brick path to the right toward the light pole. You will see a small wooded area just across the grass. There is one row of trees in the grass at the edge of the woods. Most of those are evergreens, but you want to find the oak.

It is located near the fallen bird house. Stand at the oak and face the opening into the woods. Sixteen steps from the small oak into the woods will bring you to a larger oak. Just to the right of the oak (about three feet) lies a large fallen tree with the root end toward you. Look under the leaves near the center of the root end of this fallen tree. There are other small trees forming a cove-like area to help prevent the Hiker from being accidentally stumbled upon. The SC Hiker is waiting here for his next ride.