Hello From The United States!

Starting in the month of June, I will be planting a series of boxes across the Wasatch Front, featuring carvers from all over the United States. Each state box will have a carved stamp from someone who lives in that state (and sometimes they sent handmade logbooks, too!). The idea is to bring many different carving styles to Utah, to inspire letterboxers to create their own stamps and plant them. :)

I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have getting everything prepared and ready for you to go find them!

Hello From Alabama!
Hello From Alaska!
Hello From Arizona!
Hello From Arkansas!
Hello From California!
Hello From Colorado!
Hello From Connecticut!
Hello From Delaware!
Hello From Florida!
Hello From Georgia!
Hello From Hawaii!
Hello From Idaho!
Hello From Illinois!
Hello From Indiana!
Hello From Iowa!
Hello From Kansas!
Hello From Kentucky!
Hello From Louisiana!
Hello From Maine!
Hello From Maryland!
Hello From Massachusetts!
Hello From Michigan!
Hello From Minnesota!
Hello From Mississippi!
Hello From Missouri!
Hello From Montana!
Hello From Nebraska!
Hello From Nevada!
Hello From New Hampshire!
Hello From New Jersey!
Hello From New Mexico!
Hello From New York!
Hello From North Carolina!
Hello From North Dakota!
Hello From Ohio!
Hello From Oklahoma!
Hello From Oregon!
Hello From Pennsylvania!
Hello From Rhode Island!
Hello From South Carolina!
Hello From South Dakota!
Hello From Tennessee!
Hello From Texas!
Hello From Utah!
Hello From Vermont!
Hello From Virginia!
Hello From Washington!
Hello From West Virginia!
Hello From Wisconsin!
Hello From Wyoming!

Bonus Stamps:

Hello From New Zealand!

Superman

Date Placed: May 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Ophir, Tooele, Utah
Status: Active


If Clark Kent needed to change into his supersuit while in Ophir, where would he go to do it?

Horse Hitchhiker #3

Date Placed: May 29, 2010
Letterbox: Hitchhiker
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello

This proud steed is traveling between letterboxes. Maybe he'll grant yours a visit!

Known Stops:
1. Moab, Utah (started)
2. Jonesboro, Georgia

Horse Hitchhiker #2

Date Placed: May 28, 2010
Letterbox: Hitchhiker
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello

Flaming soon to a letterbox near you!

Known Stops:
1. Federal Way, Washington (started)
2. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
3. Halifax, Pennsylvania
4. Grantville, Pennsylvania
5. Campbelltown, Pennsylvania

Horse Hitchhiker #1

Date Placed: May 27, 2010
Letterbox: Hitchhiker
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: Force of Five

Maybe he'll gallop your way someday.

Known Stops:
1. Leesburg, Virginia (started)
2. Lansdowne, Virginia
3. Ellicott City, Maryland
4. Gardner, Massachusetts
5. North Andover, Massachusetts
6. Nashua, New Hampshire
7. Boulder, Colorado
8. Denver, Colorado
9. Milan, Michigan

Chesler Park

This is a stamp carving of Chesler Park, in Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Sent to New Hampshire. Carved with a razor knife and a gouge.

Bees

Date Placed: May 23, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: 77 West 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Status: Active


Looking for local baseball fun? Head over to the ballpark and watch the Salt Lake Bees, Utah's Minor League Baseball team.

Directions: 

From North of Downtown
Take I-15 South to Exit 305C (1300 South). At the end of the ramp, take a left onto 1300 South. At the intersection with West Temple, the ballpark will be on the right; parking will be on the left.
From South of Downtown
Take I-15 North to Exit 305C (1300 South). At the end of the ramp, take a right onto 1300 South. At the intersection with West Temple, the ballpark will be on the right; parking will be on the left.
From West of Downtown
Take Utah SR 201 East to I-15 North, following signs to the 1300 South exit. At the end of the ramp, take a right onto 1300 South. At the intersection with West Temple, the ballpark will be on the right; parking will be on the left.
From East of Downtown
Take I-80 East until it merges with I-15. Take I-15 North to Exit 305C (1300 South). At the end of the ramp, take a right onto 1300 South. At the intersection with West Temple, the ballpark will be on the right; parking will be on the left.

On the northwest corner of the ballpark, find the fire hydrant. Standing in front of it, facing the ballpark, take 15 steps east. Turn and take 14 steps south. To your left is a rock duo. Check underneath the smaller rock for ground bees.

Feeding the Ducks

Date Placed: May 23, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: 5800 S. Canal Road, Taylorsville, Salt Lake, Utah
Status: Active


Have some old bread you need to get rid of? I know the perfect place where plenty of ducks, geese and other birds would love to take it off your hands for you.

Directions: From I-15, take the 5300 South exit and head west. Turn left on Canal Road (1300 West). Just after you pass 5770 South, park on either side of the road. The duck feeding area is to the east. (If you go under the underpass, you've gone too far!)

When your bread supply is exhausted, walk to approximately the center of the duck feeding parking. To the west, across the street, is a utility pole. Look under the piece of asphalt.

Notes: Canal Road can be very busy! If you have small children or dogs boxing with you, you may want to park on the west side of the road to grab the letterbox.

Emmett's & Ethel's

Date Placed: May 23, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: 90 East Main Street, Lehi, Utah, Utah
Status: Active


Looking for a great "mom and pop" style burger and ice cream joint? Then come to Lehi! Emmett's and Ethel's is a locally owned and operated restaurant, with fantastic burgers.... and even better ice cream! The ice cream is made on location, from quality ingredients. You won't be disappointed!

Directions: From I-15, take the Lehi Main Street exit (#279). Head west. You will see Emmett's & Ethel's on your left, a block before you reach Center Street.

You will find what you're looking for on the east side of the building, underneath and up inside the Ethel side of the main sign.

Central Utah Gardens

Date Placed: May 22, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: 355 West University Parkway, Orem, Utah, Utah
Status: Active


Central Utah Gardens have been created to demonstrate and encourage the wise use of water in Utah landscapes. The average home owner uses 60% of their water to irrigate lawns and gardens. The good news is, this water use can be greatly reduced without sacrificing the beauty of your landscape. In fact, water-efficient landscapes often turn out to be more colorful, more interesting, and more diverse than traditional landscapes.

Central Utah Water Conservancy District has created the Gardens to support its commitment to conservation, and to encourage an ethic that promotes responsible management of our water resources within the community.

At the gardens and in our series of classes you will learn the steps of water-efficient Utah landscaping, also known as waterwise landscaping. Often, when people think of saving water in a landscape, they picture a yard full of rock, cactus, and yucca plants. This simply isn’t true! Water-efficient landscapes can be anything from an English cottage garden style to a formal garden to a southwest garden style. The key is to follow the seven water-efficient landscaping steps that help you use water wisely in your Utah landscape.

Directions: From I-15, take the University Parkway exit (#269). Head east. When you see the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, turn right at the light. Park either in the Gardens parking, or in Krispy Kreme (cannot park on the street in that area). Be sure to enjoy the lovely gardens, but when you're ready to stamp in, head to the sidewalk outside the gardens. Find the main Central Utah Gardens sign facing University Parkway. In front of it is a whole bunch of rocks. Directly behind the pole, under a rock, is the letterbox.

The Miracle Of Hands

Date Placed: May 16, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: 55 Steps
Logbook: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Distance:  1/4 mile round trip
Status: Active


Most of us have two hands, with four fingers and an opposable thumb on each. We use them every day, rarely thinking about the miracle that they are. A touch used to soothe, cooking a fine meal, carving rubber stamps...

And for a select few of our population, the hands are used to convey thoughts and emotions. When you are Deaf, your hands become your communication tools with the world.

Many years ago as a small child, I learned some rudimentary sign language. It was my ABCs, but instead of written, they were made with my hands. When I went to college, one of the classes I enrolled in was American Sign Language. I fell in love with the beautiful and intricate language of the Deaf. Never again would I look at hands the same way. The miracle of hands brought me into a new world, one that would leave an indelible print on my heart.

Directions: Look for the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind in Ogden. Once there, head to 9th Street and travel east until it ends at a gate. Go ahead and park, but not after dark! Go east past the gate and follow the paved path. At the T, go right. Left at the next intersection. Continue on up. Oh, look-- Teancum seems to have found something!

Notes: Many thanks to 55 Steps from New Zealand for sending this lovely stamp to Utah to be planted!

Go Fish!

Date Placed: May 15, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planter: GreenJello
Location: Highland Glen Park, Utah, Utah
Distance: 1/4 mile or so, round trip (depending on where you park)
Status: Active


Load up the fishing poles! It's time to head to one of the best fishing ponds in Utah County. Highland Glen Park is a lovely oasis of nature in the middle of the city. Not only is it a great place to come and fish, but it has lots of trails in and around the park. Bring a picnic lunch, and plan to spend some time enjoying this fun park. (Besides fishing, we love to bring the kayaks out on this pond.) Young fisherman will enjoy the fact that they will most likely catch something, should they make the effort!

Directions: From I-15, take the Highland/Alpine exit (287). Head east on SR 92 approximately 6 miles to 4800 West. Turn right and travel down to Knight Avenue (there is a sign for Highland Glen Park). Turn right and follow the road all the way down into the park. (If you go past the high school or Walmart on the main road, you've missed the turnoff at Knight Avenue. Turn around!) Find a place to park anywhere you'd like, though you may find it easier to park in the gravel parking area at the end of the road.

Walk past the bathrooms, and the sand volleyball area. Just past the pavilion, there is a paved trail to the left. Pass between two benches. Follow the path around and count two more benches that will be on your right. Before the third bench on the right, take the rocked path to your left. At the top of the rocky stairs, between the water and the path, there are some trees. Between the trees, under leaves and rocks, you will find a fish that got away!

Please rehide carefully with both the rocks and leaves. This is a high traffic area!


Notes: Rainbow Powerbait or worms seem to be favorites of the local aquatic inhabitants, or Velveeta cheese. And don't forget to bring old bread to feed the many ducks in the area!