Valley Quests are treasure hunts with sets of clues that lead people to different locations in the Upper Valley. They’re a great way to learn about the history, culture and environment of the region. Below is a Valley Quest that explores a piece of land conserved by the Upper Valley Land Trust.
According to Vital Communities, “Follow the clues to the treasure box. Inside the treasure box, you will discover more information about the site, a rubber stamp, stamp pad, a sign-in field journal and a pencil.
“Sign your name in the book, adding a few notes or a sketch from your walk, and collect an impression of the stamp as a memento of your journey. Then, carefully re-hide the box exactly where you found it.”
The quest is described as moderate and should take about two hours to complete.
Bring binoculars and a field guide.
Take Route 10 north out of Lyme. Just after you pass Post Pond (on the left), turn right on Pinnacle Hill Road. After 1 mile turn right on Cutting Hill Lane and then bear right at the fork in the road.
You can park in the turn-around, where Cutting Hill Lane is blocked, just past the gray cape on the left.
Start your hike by following the old road uphill.
Keep the meadow on your left.
Soon you will be joined by a stone wall on the right.
Think how much work it was for the farmers to build this stone wall!
As you climb the hill, the road passes between large three-trunked oak trees.
Further along, watch for evidence of the windstorm of April 2007.
Soon after the stone wall becomes close at hand, on the right, you reach the place where you will leave old Cutting Hill Lane.
On the right is a row of five large boulders and a gate with wooden posts.
Turn right, passing between the boulders.
Look to the right. Can you find the spot where Mrs. Cutting used to live in her house?
The house is gone, but if you look carefully you can find the old cellar hole.
Look to the left. Can you find a path through the line of trees and into the big meadow?
That’s the way to go!
Walk uphill across the meadow.
Can you see the footsteps of other visitors?
When you reach the stone wall on the other side of the meadow you have to find a way through — search at the left end!
Keep climbing through the next meadow with the forest (or what used to be a forest!) on your left.
Wow!
Look at the views of Vermont is out across the meadow.
At the far left corner of this meadow you turn left, and climb steeply uphill.
Follow this trail upward as it bends to the right.
You encounter an old apple orchard just before the summit.
Can you find any tasty apples? The deer love to eat them.
On the summit is a stone chimney — all that is left of what was once a hilltop house.
Find the three chains that once held down the cabin; what were they for?
Can you see Smarts Mountain and Dartmouth Skiway to the east?
Can you see Post Pond and the Connecticut River valley to the west?
To find the box, stand at the fireplace and face Post Pond.
Turning slowly to your left, look for a cluster of birch trees at the edge of the clearing.
Search there for the box, floating high in the air.
Vital Communities has quests for various age groups and ability levels throughout the Upper Valley and beyond.
For more information, visit http://vitalcommunities.org/valleyquest.