It was a scene out of a spy novel: I was waiting in a local coffee shop to meet with a guy who went by the name "Jackbear." I knew nothing else, except that Jackbear was willing to introduce me to the seemingly murky, yet somehow simple and good-natured world of letterboxing, in which there are apparently boxes planted in plain sight across the Rochester region that pseudo-treasure-hunters search for on an almost daily basis.

Since it's part treasure hunt, part arts and crafts, much of letterboxing's appeal lies in its ability to be an everyman's "Da Vinci Code." Decipher the clues and discover a "letterbox" - a package hidden someplace that contains a hand-crafted stamp and log book, with pages filled with the markings of people who have been there before you.

As Jackbear would point out, the secrecy lays in the desire to keep the boxes hidden and undiscovered for the next armchair adventurer. And as I quickly found out, letterboxing can take you on a journey to the unknown areas of your hometown, or as far away as Antarctica (should you happen to know a scientist stationed at the South Pole).

Soon John Ballou, an unassuming man with slightly ink-stained fingertips, entered and sat down beside me. The man that went by "Jackbear" had arrived, and brought with him some interesting conversation pieces: a log book filled with the markings from stamps he's found on the trails - as well as some he's carved himself - and a host of different-sized and -colored ink pads.

Ballou was drawn into letterboxing five years ago, after being attracted by the combination of the art and adventure aspects. Letterboxing has a long, illustrious history, and the hobby's roots can be traced back to mid-19th Century England. According to legend, in 1854 James Perrott placed a calling card (similar to a business card today) in a bottle in a wooded area of Dartmoor, England. Anyone that found the bottle - and his card - could contact him and leave their own calling cards in its place.

According to leading letterboxing website atlasquest.com, by 1888 this practice had morphed into people leaving self-addressed post cards in a tin box that would be mailed back to them when someone found them. By 1905, the first log book was placed in the box, and now visitors could finally see a list of signatures (and small notes) from all the visitors to a particular box.

The activity made the leap across the Atlantic in a big way in 1998, thanks in part to an article printed in Smithsonian Magazine. The article spurred several early pioneers of letterboxing in North America to start planting boxes for one another to find. And with the help of the internet - just gaining popularity at the time - the idea spread rapidly, so that today there are boxes planted not just in each of the 50 states, but also on every continent, including Antarctica.

The North American letterboxers began using stamps to mark the log books they had found. Most of the stamps have a folk-art vibe to them, says Ballou. And that, he adds, is what makes it not just an adventure, but a craft project too.

While there aren't official rules for letterboxing, there are a few standard guidelines that most hobbyists adhere to. Perhaps the most important - and most strictly followed - is the "Leave No Trace" principle. This piece of outdoor etiquette simply asks letterboxers to not destroy the natural setting around them while on the hunt for a box. And, as Ballou points out, don't hide boxes near bridges or monuments, or you may find your letterbox on the nightly news as a "suspicious package."

But since letterboxing is a secretive activity, perhaps the biggest rule is don't act like you're letterboxing. Ballou even has ready-made excuses in case someone is curious about his activities: he'll check his phone to look busy, drop something, or even tell people he's on a scavenger hunt.

To get started, grab a notebook (any style will do). This will be your log book, where you'll collect the stamp images from boxes you've found. Next you'll need a stamp. While most people in letterboxing carve their own stamp, a store-bought one is acceptable for beginners just getting their feet wet in the hobby. And to have a way of transferring the images carved into the stamps to the log books, you'll need an ink pad.

Most letterbox clues are posted on one of two websites: letterboxing.org or atlasquest.com. Clues can range from the simple "go here, go there" style, to very complex riddles that can take years to decipher. They can take you to places around the area, like Cobbs Hill Park, Spot Coffee, or even the Seneca Park Zoo.

There are clues, like the ones at the zoo, that can take someone to the historic sites around town and to the local landmarks, like Mt. Hope Cemetery, Durand Eastman Park, and even the Eastman Theatre. About a year ago, while serving as marketing director for the zoo, T.C. Pellett planted several boxes that he hopes will draw more visitors each year.

After printing out a clue and navigating though the riddle-like wording, you'll find the box, which will contain a log book and stamp. Stamp its book with your stamp, and use the stamp in the letterbox to mark your own log book. Some people add descriptions, interesting things seen on the journey, or other notes about the day in their book, making it a record of discovery. Replace the box where you found it, grab another clue, and repeat.

While there are no prizes for finding a box, or trophies to win in a tournament, letterboxing is a great excuse for getting outside and exploring new areas, or to visit familiar stomping grounds with a new purpose.  Fill up your log book with stamps, and start another.  Ballou, for instance, has already found around 500 boxes that fill several log books. Despite its solitary nature, letterboxers occasionally have informal gatherings to show off their recent finds, meet one another, and even do some group treasure hunting.

Get letterboxing

To get you started, City Newspaper has planted a beginner's letterbox. Decipher the clues below and discover a localized treasure hunt with a twist of art mixed in.

1. Find the place the paper is made (hint: it's near a "village gate" and a "good man" or two).

2. Inside the main entrance (but not through the second) you'll find a few stacks from the past.

3. Below it on the floor is what you'll be looking for.