My new monthly column about letterboxing is out and in the process of writing it, my family decided to hide some of our own letterboxes.

"Library Books"
(The box is also listed on Atlasquest.com, another letterboxing site)

And then after some research and a query for advice on geocachingmaine.org, we also hid some geocache letterbox "Hybrids," something I hadn't realized was an option in that game until recently.

Hybrids don't have the usual trinkets to trade like other hidden caches. Instead there's a stamp and logbook inside like a letterbox. I was pleased to find a way to combine the parts of each game that we liked -- easy to follow directions (GPS coordinates - I love that gadget) with the kids' desire to collect stamp impressions for our letterboxing logbook. We're hoping hybrids catch on in Maine (there are only a few right now) because the kids really want to find some that we didn't hide.

"Ski Away" is listed on both games' websites.
Hybrid: Ski Away
Letterbox: Ski Away
(Also listed on Atlasquest.com)

Hybrid: Baxter's Treasure
(I'm working out the clue for the letterboxing site today...)

The hybrid/box creations were a group effort. The kids carved most of the stamps, Fino made the "boxes" and I found places to hide them. And I'm sure it comes as no surprise that Fino was in his glory in the Clubhouse (i.e., the shed) with his power tools making these crafty little (and one not so little) boxes.

What I have always enjoyed about geocaching is that the players are plugged-in. They log visits to our caches and upload photos to the website. I LOVE that. [Acutally within a few HOURS of our "Ski Away" hybrid going live on geocaching.com, someone had already found it, logged it and uploaded a couple of photos they took with it. Thanks TeamTrout!]

The letterboxing websites aren't designed with the same features (public logs or photo uploads) and although I've received two emails from letterboxers about our boxes, it seems the game's players aren't as keen on tracking their visits online - or emailing box owners.

So it works out that the geocachers keep us informed with their log entries between routine maintenance visits - which we do periodically with all our geocaches.

And when we do check on our boxes, the kids' anticipation of seeing a new stamp (or drawing like a creative geocacher added last week) is kinda like a birthday present waiting to be unwrapped each time.

Happy hunting!