Terrain: Easy, 1 minor steady climb; 1-2 hours for both letterboxes
Clue Difficulty: Easy, trail maps can be picked up at the Notch Visitor's Center
Established: August 2001
Directions: From I-91 N, take the 2nd Northampton exit (Exit 19) to Rt. 9E. Cross over the Coolidge Bridge and turn right onto Rt. 47S.  Take 47S to Bay Rd and continue on Bay Road to Route 116S. You'll see Atkins Farms on your right; turn right and proceed up the hill on Route 116 to the Notch Visitor's Center, which will be on your left.
Box Status: We received word that the chipmunk is in place as of April 2004, but recent letterboxers could not find the hide and seek cat.  Be aware that the cat might have disappeared (as cats will do!).  We'll check on it soon.

Clue:
One day my cat, Samantha and I decided to take a stroll at the Notch.  We began our walk at the main trails near the Visitor Center. We followed the arrows for the Blue (Laurel Loop) and Yellow trails (TB and BB). After a little while, we headed left onto the Trolley Bed (Yellow TB) trail. We learned about hemlocks and wild places and kept walking straight ahead on the Yellow TB trail. We cheerfully hopped over a fallen branch. "Look!" Samantha mewed, "There’s a chipmunk running ahead of us. Let’s follow and try to meet him!"  So we hurried along behind it. We followed as our striped soon-to-be friend scurried right onto a smaller trail marked only by a trail post.  Down and around, curve after curve we went in pursuit of the chipmunk on the run. At the T intersection with the yellow markers, we tried to catch up as it turned right. At the turn, I quickly counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 yellow markers, then 6 on the next bigger tree and stopped. Where did the chipmunk go?  We took 3 or 4 steps to the right off trail, almost catching up with the chipmunk. We watched as he slipped behind the fallen branches on the ground and looked closely under the spot. "You caught me! Now you know my secret hiding place!" chipped the tiny chipmunk. " We only wanted to meet you," said Samantha. "Oh, well then, I would be happy if you joined me in a snack after that vigorous run." said the little chipmunk. We shared a snack of acorns, apples, and cheese and then shook hands and parted, assuring the chipmunk on the run we would keep his hiding spot a secret.

Stamp Image for Chipmunk on the Run Letterbox