On a 3 mile (5 km) letterboxing hike, how many letterboxes would you like to find? (use 'comments' to elaborate on your choice):

8 Comments

  • Silva Foot Family - 15 years ago

    Since I hike with a 5 year old, if there is too much space in between boxes, he gets bored. I think that 1 every 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile is good.

  • Kirbert - 15 years ago

    One is plenty. I am not a fan of having lots of boxes and having to stop all the time and stamp in. If there are reasons to stop -- a nice overlook or some such -- then yeah, put a box at each one to encourage people to pause. But don't just add a box per x distance just to be adding boxes.

  • Hufflepuff Lost - 15 years ago

    Doesn't really matter to me... I can be happy if it's only one or if there are several, but I don't think more than about 4-5. In general, I letterbox to for the exercise and joy of hiking trails - a lot of boxes can sometimes detract since you need to watch for some obsure item mentioned by the planter and stopping to log in - especially when you also need to log in hitchhikers... I'd say the more the boxes, the more simple the clues should be, to allow max time to also just enjoy the hike. On trails with lots of boxes, I often collect only a few each time I'm there and make several trips, especially if boxes are planted by different boxers.

  • The Wolf Family - 15 years ago

    If it's a beautiful hike I'd prefer one with minimal clues. I like to take a friend and we talk the whole time and enjoy the scenery. At the end, there's the fun experience of the box.

    If the scenery is just some paved, uninteresting greenway then I'd like to break up the tediousness with a box every mile.

    I prefer boxes that take you to some place new and interesting. Only one box is needed to do that. However, if there are multiple interesting spots on the trail to take a person to, then that may determine the number of letterboxes.

  • Fiddleheads - 15 years ago

    It probably depends on the hike and the boxes. In a series where they're pretty close together, I like it better if there's only a logbook at the end. If there's a 20 minute walk between boxes, then it's better to have each one with a logbook.

    I thought your Hansel and Gretel series was perfect.

    If it's not a loop, I prefer all the boxes on the way out so I can really enjoy the hike on the way back without looking for landmarks.

  • Mama Stork - 15 years ago

    I'm a lazy hiker and need lots of motivation--one every 1/2 mile or so is ideal, but I will do fewer.

    I agree with the one logbook for a longer series!

  • deniserows - 15 years ago

    i like to stop and reflect on what, where, and who. i feel that 1 every km MAKES you do that. That being said, finding a hidey hole every km is a bit of a challenge. i also think that 1 logbook at the very end of a 5 part series is SO much better. If thats a feasible process

  • Lone R - 15 years ago

    I like one per kilometer. It keeps things interesting and it's motivating. Plus if anyone of the boxes are missing at least it's likely that I'll find a couple.

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