The Kings

I was asked to contribute to the Musician Series in Oregon. I decided to send the two kings...pop and rock. I like how Elvis turned out, but wasn't quite as happy with Michael Jackson. I'll probably carve him again, but a different portrait. Both carved with a razor knife and needle on the rubbery "Mystery C" material.

Mexican Spotted Owl

Special request stamp, heading to Tennessee! Carved with a razor knife and gouge.

Phoenix Dragon

Special request, sent to Michigan. Carved with a razor knife.

Sock Monkey

Special request, sent to Tennessee. I really loved carving this cute little guy! Carved with a razor knife and a gouge.

Harriet Tubman

Special request stamp, headed to Michigan. Carved with a razor knife.

Roman Coliseum

Sent to Nevada. Special request stamp. Carved with a razor knife.

The Corpse Bride

Sending this set of characters (Victor, Emily aka The Corpse Bride, Bone Jangles, and Scraps) to Idaho to be planted. These were fun to carve! Victor and Scraps carved with a razor knife, Bone Jangles and Emily carved with a razor knife and gouge.

Ozymandias

Date Placed: October 16, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: The Wolf Family
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Little Egypt Geologic Site, Garfield, Utah
Status: Active

I met a sentinel from an antique land
Who said: Hidden treasure I protect
Here in the desert. Behind me, in the rock,
A cleft, black and grey rocks conceal.
Eyes, raise up to see
When standing to my right, 200 degrees
When standing to my left, 170 degrees
When in front of me you stand
At 190 degrees, vision is obscured by my presence.
Tall and regal, I am quietly guarding
In the midst of others, waiting.
Seek me out, from the sign
Head 240 degrees, and I will be found in
The lone sand and rocks that stretch far away.

Notes: This letterbox involves a short, easy hike and a small amount of rock scrambling. Above photos are essential to finding the box.

Moki Ruins

Date Placed: October 17, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Aldrich, Wayne, Utah
Status: Active


When white settlers began moving into the area now known as Capitol Reef National Park, they took notice of old Fremont Native American ruins high in the cliffs above the valley floor. These were small, rocked-in structures in coves up the cliffside, sealed airtight with mud.

Expanding on what little they knew of the cliff-dwelling Anasazi to the south, settlers mistakenly assumed that these must also be cliff homes. But, to fit inside of these "homes", the Natives must have only been 2-3 feet tall! They nicknamed this imagined race of pint-sized Native Americans as "Moki" Indians.

Today, we know these structures to be food storage granaries of the Fremont people.There is an easily accessible and visible granary close to the east entrance of Capitol Reef National Park.

Directions: Driving along Highway 24, there is a pull-off exactly at milepost 90 on the south side of the road. After parking, head back out towards the main road. Up on the rock face to your left will be the granary.

In the area over to the left of where the granary is, there is a pile of boulders. Find the very large flat/layered grey rock to the right of the boulders. Under that rock, near the black boulder, hides the letterbox.

Please poke around with a stick first to dislodge any unwanted creatures from the area and rehide well. Enjoy your visit to Capitol Reef National Park!

The Wild Bunch

Date Placed: October 16, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Hanksville Cemetery, Hanksville, Wayne, Utah
Status: Active

"Alright, men... the Wild Bunch was here in Hanksville yesterday stocking up on supplies at the General Store. Now I know y'all are familiar with these outlaws-- Butch Cassidy, News Carver, the Tall Texan, Kid Curry, and the Sundance Kid. They're wanted for robbery, and all other manner of unlawful acts. Those of you who wish to join the posse to search for these men in Robber's Roost, meet up at the cemetery at high noon, where you will be sworn in.

"Deputy, I will be needing a small box I have stashed at the cemetery. If you would retrieve it for me just down from the southwest corner of the fence, I would be most grateful.

"Let's go get 'em, boys!

Goblin Valley

Date Placed: October 16, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Emery, Utah
Duration:  Allow 1 hour round trip to where the box is hidden
Status: Active

Goblin Valley State Park is one of Utah's best kept secrets. When you step into the Valley, it is like taking a step into an alien world. The rock formations are some of the strangest you will ever encounter. Early explorers called it "Mushroom Valley" because of the typical shape of the rocks. It is a photographer's paradise, with both sunrise and sunset being excellent times of the day to get amazing photographs. Plan to spend a few hours wandering among the goblins, enjoying their beauty. For those who wish to spend longer in the area, there is a developed campground with water at Goblin Valley.

Directions: From I-70, head to State Route 24 and turn south. Travel on SR24 for 30 miles until you see a sign for Goblin Valley State Park; turn right. Follow this paved road for 6 miles and turn left when you see another sign pointing the way to Goblin Valley. After about another 6 miles, you will arrive at the entrance station to Goblin Valley State Park where you will pay a $7.00 entrance fee. If you'd like, stop at the Visitors Center for some information on the area. Follow the road up to the T intersection; turn left. Continue on the road until you reach the parking area.

From the pavilion with the picnic tables: go to the corner of the railing, closest to the parking area, that looks out over the valley. From there, off in the distance, sight the small greenish dome at 120 degrees. Hike down into the valley to the dome, heading around the left side of it. To the north of the dome, not far away, is the entrance to a cave. Hike on over, and climb in. Use your flashlight and stay to the left as you go deeper into the cave. At the very end, you will reach a soft, sandy floor, with a small opening in the top of the cave.

After exploring the cave, exit it and immediately turn left. Walk a few steps and spot a second cave up 15 feet on your left. Continue walking and straight ahead scramble up the boulders (to your left) spilling out of the large crack. You end up above the first cave and at the back door of the second cave. Find the lower cave's vents and look on the ledge 3 feet above them. Box is behind a rock, out of sight.

Notes: Some rock scrambling is REQUIRED to find this box! If you bring children with you, they will need help to safely traverse the entrance and inside the first two-thirds of the cave. For your safety, bring a flashlight and wear proper footwear (hiking shoes or boots highly recommended!). Please exercise caution and do not take unnecessary risks.

This is desert country! This hike can get extremely hot during the summer months, and very cold during the winter months. Bring adequate water, sunscreen, and wearing a hat is highly recommended in sunny conditions. Don't forget your camera!

Many thanks to Boxer Lover47 for rescuing the box and adding a replacement stamp!

Little Wild Horse

Date Placed: October 15, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Little Wild Horse Canyon Trailhead, Emery, Utah
Duration:  Allow 2-3 hours round trip to see the best parts of Little Wild Horse
Status: Active

Little Wild Horse Canyon is an amazing slot canyon, arguably one of the best in the world. Located in the San Rafael Swell in south-central Utah, it provides fantastic views and an experience you won't ever forget. If you have the time, you can do the entire 8 mile loop and come back out Bell Canyon (another wonderful slot canyon).

Directions: From I-70, head to State Route 24 and turn south. Travel on SR24 for 30 miles until you see a sign for Goblin Valley State Park; turn right. Follow this paved road for 6 miles and turn left when you see another sign pointing the way to Goblin Valley. After 6 miles, just before you get to the entrance station to Goblin Valley State Park, there is a dirt road to your right with a sign directing you to Wild Horse Mesa and Muddy Creek. Turn right on this dirt road and follow it for 5.3 miles. This road is passable for passenger cars, just be on the lookout for a few large bumps and an occasional patch of sand. There is a parking area for Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons on the right hand side of the road.

Find the visitor registration box. Standing in front of it, facing the road, notice the amazing tree at 115 degrees. Then, walk to where the parking lot and main road meet. To the right are many large boulders. Look for the largest boulder next to the road. Behind it are two large rocks-- one with red splotches, and one made of layers. What you seek is under the layered rock. Please rehide well with smaller rocks so that it cannot be seen from the road.

Notes: This is desert country! This hike can get extremely hot during the summer months, and very cold during the winter months. Be watchful of the weather-- slot canyons are deadly in flash flood conditions. Bring adequate water, sunscreen, and wearing a hat is highly recommended in sunny conditions. Don't forget your camera!

Swamp Monster

Request for a "nautical themed" stamp from Maine... I took a very liberal interpretation of said theme. It was used for Halloween instead. :) Carved with a needle and gouge on the very rubbery "Mystery C" material.

Anyone See The Sasquatch That Just Walked Through?

This was a fun carve! A gentleman in Virginia is doing a Bigfoot series, and needed a footprint. I found a photo on the internet of plaster casts of Bigfoot prints, and carved those. It was a challenge to make them look non-human. Carved with a razor knife and gouge.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Sent off two stamps to Ohio. I chose to carve Gordon Jump (actor on the tv show "WKRP in Cincinnati") and President William Howard Taft (who was born in Cincinnati). Both carved with a razor knife and needle.

Robert Frost

Heading to Washington. I tried a portrait that wasn't "silhouette" style, and think I prefer the silhouette way. He does look old, though, which was the intent. Carved with a razor knife and a gouge.

St. Louis Zoo

I carved two mini-stamps for a series to be planted in the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri. Both of these stamps are just shy of an inch square. Fun! Both carved with a razor knife and needle.

Jack's Return

Date Placed: October 7, 2009
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Salt Lake, Utah
Status: Active


After the fateful bulldozing of Jack Attack, it would only seem fitting for Jack to return to his previous hauntings.

You seek the haunted ruins just down the road from where swine soak (and maybe get a bit tipsy?). Stand between the two yellow poles, facing away from the ruins. Just ahead and to your left is a very large orange-ish boulder. Jack is hiding behind the boulder.

The Master of Suspense

I sent off a stamp to Nebraska today, to be planted at Hitchcock Park. It seemed such a fitting place for him to hang out.

I also sent a second stamp for an event that's being held there in Nebraska. The theme was "Holiday Horrors", and Trespassing Bunny was my contribution.

Yes, I have a warped sense of humor. Why do you ask? :)

Hitchcock was carved with a razor knife, bunny with a needle.