923. Star Wars Snowflakes (6) - limited time
Charlestown, RI

Part of a mini flurry of snowflakes carved by connecticut croaker and chicktiechick, now sent over to spend a little time in southern RI before the snows really begin to fly! Please pay special attention to replacing as found each of these graciously loaned snowflakes to make sure that we can get them all back safely to CT in time for Christmas!

These snowflakes have fallen into one of our town's newer preserves, an "otherworldly" place of eskers, kettle holes, fields and old trees. It is located in the northeastern quadrant of Charlestown just past the high-speed Acela track off Carolina Back Road on the north side of Railroad Avenue. Once parked there at the kiosk, head directly into the forest and almost immediately stop at the ancient mossy green-based fungus-covered two-trunk tree on the right to find "Yoda" around back in a black pouch under a well-lichened sage-green branch. Recover well!

Continue following blue blazes to the top of the rise to find another dead blue-blazed tree on the right beside a short stone wall segment leading into some larger rocks. Tucked on the back right side of this tree next to the wall under a piece of lichen bark is where we left "Kylo".

Carefully cross the next larger stone wall and continue with the blue blazes, curving right with a double blue blaze, then bearing right at the fork about about 30 steps to the first blue-blazed pine on the right. Behind and under a small stone find, stamp and carefully replace "Akbar".

Now follow the trail to a ridge top with a very short side trail right to a view over the swamp below. From the fireplace there, look between the lichen tree and log just a couple of feet left for "Maz Kanata".

Continue with the blue blazes as the trail narrows, curves along the top of an esker, dips, then ascends to just before an open field with young pines. There on the right between two rocks under an extraterrestrial-looking clump of lichen, find "Nien Nunb".

Now head out into the field, bearing left along the southern edge, then turning back left into the forest. Pass through a small overgrown field, noting boundary warning signs on the right, and continue until you are almost back to the lollipop loop junction near "Akbar". Just before that junction, before turning right back to your car, look on the left side of the mossy-based two-tree on your left for "Jabba"!. Hope you had fun with these Star Wars snowflakes!

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