Letterboxing Lingo (Vocabulary)

Letterboxing Lingo
letterbox: A hidden stash whose location is found only by following clues. A traditional letterbox contains, at
minimum, a rubber stamp and logbook. Other items that may be included are a page describing letterboxing for
anyone who accidentally finds the box, stamped, pre-addressed postcards to be mailed to the box owner to let
them know the box has been found or needs maintenance, a First Finder's certificate, an ink pad and a pencil or
pen. A letterbox's contents are usually packed in two sturdy zip lock plastic bags, and then placed in a
waterproof container to protect from the elements.
clue: The key to finding a letterbox. A clue can be created in many different formats: in rhyme, as a riddle, as a
story, with pictures or cartoons, or as directions with paces or compass headings. The only limit is your
imagination! You can find clues to most U.S. letterboxes listed on the Letterboxing North America web site,
though you may occasionally find them elsewhere.
cluesheet: A printed copy of clues to one or more letterboxes.
step: A single footfall - approximately 30 inches. Some clues incorrectly use the word pace is used to mean a
single step, although a pace should only be used to mean "two footfalls."
pace: Traditionally, a pace is two steps - approximately 5 feet, and most letterboxers use that definition. (After
all, if you mean to measure one footstep, that's a step!) However, to be clear, letterboxers should indicate their
definition of a pace if they choose to use the term in their clues... unless they want to keep us guessing!
compass: A device used to determine geographic direction, with a needle that points to Magnetic North. Your
compass will get a good workout, so invest in a high-quality, durable compass, avoiding cheap compasses
without liquid-filled dial (these rarely provide accurate readings). To find a certain bearing, turn the dial of a
compass until your desired degree is aligned with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing ahead, and turn the
entire compass until the needle matches the orienting arrow underneath. Find a landmark and follow the
direction-of-travel arrow to it, and repeat.
letterbox series: Two or more letterboxes planted as a group. A series can be set up so that they can all be
found on a single hike, or as separate quests that are linked together thematically. Sometimes, the individual
stamps for each letterbox in the series make up a single larger image.
unpublished letterbox: A letterbox with a clue that is not publicly available, but is distributed by word of
mouth. You might create an unpublished letterbox in your own backyard for the enjoyment of houseguests, or
provide clues to an unpublished letterbox only to other trusted letterboxers.
hitchhiker: A letterbox with no permanent home. A hitchhiker is carried by a letterboxer from one box to
another, where it is left for the next visitor to find. Hitchhikers are recorded as finds in a letterboxer's PFX
count. Hitchhikers sometimes have their own plastic boxes and are hidden on top of or next to an existing
letterbox, while others travel in a plastic zip lock bag and are meant to be stowed inside the host letterbox.
parasite: A hitchhiker that travels with other hitchhikers. Parasites are very small (since they need to
accompany a hitchhiker, and are stamped in as hitchhikers into both the host hitchhikers and letterboxes that
they visit.
cootie: A small letterbox that is passed surreptitiously from letterboxer to letterboxer. Cooties originally began
as an activity for kids at letterboxing gatherings, in which kids recorded their thumbprints in a cootie and
secretly passed it along to another child or adult. Cooties have evolved into a very small letterbox that can be
hidden in a pocket or backpack of another letterboxer, and thus travel from individual to individual.

flea: A small letterbox, that can travel in any manner: being passed from letterboxer to letterboxer (like a
cootie), being dropped off in a letterbox (like a hitchhiker), or traveling in a hitchhiker (like a parasite).
microbox: A very small letterbox, sometimes in a container as small as a film canister.
litterbox: A letterbox that has been abandoned by its owner, and now nothing more than trash in the woods.
bonus box: A letterbox with a clue that is not published, but rather hidden inside another letterbox. Usually a
bonus box will be hidden near the host letterbox. See also cuckoo clue.
cuckoo clue: A clue to a letterbox that travels from letterbox to letterbox, usually within a small area near the
location of the cuckoo clue letterbox. When you find a cuckoo clue, you should take it with you and deposit it in
another nearby letterbox (or copy it down and leave it in the original letterbox). Cuckoo clues are not published
on the Web, and should not be publicly discussed.
spoiler: Any information posted to a letterboxing discussion group (or any other public location) that interprets
clues, provides extra hints or otherwise helps give away the location of a letterbox, thereby spoiling the
enjoyment of the search for others. This breach of etiquette is particularly bad for mystery letterboxes and
hitchhikers.
trail name: Most letterboxers adopt a "trail name" which they use to sign letterbox logs. These sobriquets
reflect some aspect of the letterboxer's personality, and can be humorous, light-hearted or straightforward.
Personal stamps usually reflect this name, as well.
rubber stamp: Rubber stamps are used in letterboxing in two ways. Letterboxers have their own personal
stamps, usually hand carved or custom created for that particular letterboxer. Each letterbox also has its own
stamp, which letterboxers record in their personal journals.
hand carved: A rubber stamp that has been created from scratch with a knife or other carving tool. While you
can use store-bought commercially created stamp for your personal stamp or planted letterboxes, a hand carved
stamp is generally more highly regarded by letterboxers. It's not hard to create a simple stamp by hand, even if
you're not artistic!
store-bought stamp: Most letterboxers find a store-bought rubber stamp to be less desirable than a hand carved
stamp, no matter how crude or basic the handmade variety may be. However, if you find the perfect commercial
stamp for a particular letterbox, you shouldn't hesitate to use it. Many beginning letterboxers use a store-bought
stamp for their personal stamp when they just get started, and then switch to their own hand carved stamp after
they've mastered the simple process of stamp carving.
signature stamp or personal stamp: A letterboxer's private rubber stamp, usually hand carved or created
expressly for that individual. When you find a letterbox, you use this stamp to record your visit in the box's log.
You can also exchange an impression of your personal stamp with other letterboxers you meet on the trail, and
record the exchange in your PFX count.
personal journal: A letterboxer's private book used to record the rubber stamp impressions of letterboxes he or
she has found. A letterboxer's journal might also include personal stamps exchanged with other letterboxers, as
well as and hitchhikers and event stamps. Journals should have thick unlined pages (so that ink doesn't bleed
through), and a hard cover (to make it easier to get a good stamp impression when you're out in the woods).

logbook: Also known simply as a "log." A book included in a letterbox to record visitors to that box. A logbook
can be a simple notepad or a handmade book, but it should be made of paper that is thick enough so that
stamped images don't bleed through to the other side.
stamp up or stamp in: The process where a letterboxer puts their stamp image in the letterbox log and puts the
letterbox stamp image in their personal journal.
PFX count: A record of boxes that a letterboxer has planted, found, or exchanged, indicated in this fashion:
P38 F109 X22.
planted: A letterbox that has been hidden, and recorded with the letter "P" in your PFX count. Sometimes
"placed" is used (erroneously), but "planted" is the traditionally correct term.
first finder: The first letterboxer to find a new find. Some individuals leave a First Finder's Certificate in their
newly-planted letterboxes to reward the first person to find the box. Some letterboxers keep track of their First
Finds by adding the letters "FF" to their PFX count.
rehiding: The process of putting the letterbox back in its hiding spot so that it's not accidentally found by a
non-boxer. When you are rehiding the letterbox, allow time to back up and check the location from all angles.
Be absolutely sure the box can't be seen accidentally. Remember to rehide it better than when you found it with
the baggies and letterbox securely closed.
non-boxer or muggle: Anyone that is not a letterboxer. In busy parks, you may have to create a diversion or try
later if there are too many non-boxers in the area. Stealth is required in the presence of non-boxers to avoid
having the letterbox discovered and, perhaps, damaged.
muggled: The term used to describe a letterbox that has been damaged by non-boxers. Derived from the term
"muggle" in Harry Potter stories that describes ordinary non-magical people. The term was first used in
geocaching.
joggle: A jogger "muggle" encountered while letterboxing.
doggle: A dog you encounter while letterboxing, usually followed by muggles.
bikle: A bicycler "muggle" encountered while letterboxing.
social trail: An unofficial trail that develops off the main trail or path to/from a letterbox hiding spot after
several people have accessed the box using the same route. Social trails are generally considered undesirable as
they not only give away the location of the letterbox, but also are contrary to leave-no-trace practices. To avoid
the development of social trails, try to take a roundabout route to the letterbox hiding spot and avoid the path of
least resistance.
repair kit: Many letterboxers carry a small stock of supplies when seeking new boxes, in order to make repairs
to a letterbox that may be in need of care. This repair kit might include pencils, a spare log, sturdy zip lock bags
or even a waterproof container to replace an original that has cracked. Making minor repairs to a letterbox when
you're out on the trail can help prolong the life of the box and ensure that others can enjoy the letterbox, too.
Before making dramatic repairs, however, always consult the letterbox's owner.
BYOI: An acronym for Bring Your Own Ink. Many letterboxes don't include an ink pad even when the clues
don't include a BYOI note.

geocaching: An adventure game for GPS users. Individuals and organizations hide caches in various locations
all over the world and share the coordinates of these caches on the internet. With a handheld GPS unit,
geocachers seek out the cache, and record their find in the cache's logs. Often, small prize items are included in
the cache, which may be exchanged with an item brought by the geocacher. See Geocaching.com
cache boxing: When a letterboxer finds a geocache they can stamp their personal stamp in the log, find a
suitable trinket in the cache to ink up and stamp in their personal journal then carefully cleaning the ink from
the trinket before returning it to the cache.
box in, bag out: A principle of letterboxing aimed at helping to maintain the natural environment in which
letterboxing takes place. It's a good habit to carry a trash bag with you as you letterbox, in order to pick up any
trash you find along the way. If all letterboxes would practice "Box in, bag out," it would have a significant
impact on the outdoors. Leave No Trace.