04-Feb-2007 -- Our group traveled north from Boston, planning to visit three confluences sitting on longitude 71W. This visit describes the first destination @ 43N.

We approached from the east on route 101. Our plan was to locate an industrial building located on a side road 1/2 mile to the west of the confluence. On our aerial photo, the building was the only one on the road. When we arrived, the road was lined with industrial buildings, all looking the same. Lesson: beware of maps/photos that are 10 years old!

We selected an arbitrary starting point which seemed to offer access into the woods to the east. we walked along rough trails leftover from logging or clearing operations near the industrial buildings, and soon found ourselves in a conifer forest full of animal tracks in the snow. We discovered evidence of bear scratchings on trees, and numerous moose tracks & scat; including a locale where several moose had bedded down for the night, melting depressions in the snow from the heat of their large bodies.

The forest gave way to a large open area of marsh grass, associated with a small stream further east. The wetlands were frozen and were easily crossed.

We arrived at the confluence in the open grass, and encountered a geocache box. We contributed to the box content, wrote a log entry, took our required photos of the GPS and compass point views. We all noticed that the GPS zero point "floated around" several feet as we attempted to photo the readings. Satisfied with the visit, we then retraced our path (approx 1 mile) back to the cars. The temp was about 5F and the skies clear.