Former Letterboxes at Ft. Worden, WA

Published 13 April 09 | By Aisling

before visiting any Washington State Park,
it’s a good idea to review their regulations

I used to visit Fort Worden every year, to teach at an annual arts event when it was in its “Golden Age.” After 2004, things changed… as all things do. I stopped teaching there, and I was unable to maintain these letterboxes.

STATUS: ALL OF THESE BOXES HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING

The following information is from years ago, when most of the boxes were still there. I keep this online for those who did find the box, and want to remember where the stamp came from.

fort worden trails

Fort Worden Trails

This one was easy to find, but the stamp is missing now. It was at the main desk at the office at Fort Worden State Park. They kept it in the box directly behind the counter, with the Junior Ranger stamps, and so on.

Even though this stamp is missing, get a trail map and visitor’s info before hiking to look for other stamps. The Fort Worden staff is very helpful, and they’re easy to work with if you’re planting any letterboxes. (Get their okay before planting any.)

wa-ptwilsonlighthouse

Point Wilson Letterbox

At Fort Worden State Park, find Battery Stoddard. It’s an easy walk from the office. Take the trail uphill, just west of Battery Stoddard. Continue straight up the trail, past the wooden step-like rails. Continue past the first bench.

first bench

Pause and sit at the second stone bench, and enjoy the view.

second bench

view from bench

point wilson

Stand, and turn to your right. Take about 38 paces uphill on the trail. You’ll go past two “waterbars” in the ground. They look like railroad ties, with Xs across them.

waterbar

Continue up the trail. About 19 paces from the second waterbar, on your left you’ll see a large evergreen tree with a burrow started in the base of it.

burrow started in tree
burrow in tree

The letterbox was tucked just in back of that tree.

“Artfest Was Here” Letterbox (with a nod to “Kilroy Was Here”)

REPORTED MISSING.

Continue up the trail. You may be glad that you picked up a trail map at the Fort Worden office, so you can find Memory’s Vault easily. That’s where this letterbox is hidden. (For info about Memory’s Vault, see this website.)

At the vault, find the sheltered chair.

From the chair, turn to 140 degrees (SSE) and look at the split trees. They’re about 14 paces from the chair (and no more than three or four paces off the trail.)

The letterbox was in a green-lidded Rubbermaid container, hidden in the ivy in the elbow of the trees.

letterbox in the ivy