Winter Hike in the Wilds of Wellesley - January 24, 2018

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 24 January 2018, Winter Hike in the Wilds of Wellesley
Hike Leader:  Susan Sabin
~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Grove Street, Wellesley, MA

Hikers (16):  Susan, Annemarie Altman, Chris George, Chuck McWilliams, David Wean, Dmitry Gorenburg, Don Mannes, Elsa Lawrence, Gerry Sheetoo, Margie Lee, Marie Keutmann, Patrick Ward, Ron Beland, Tom Allen, Tony Lee, and first-timer Lisa Najavits.

It was a lovely day for a walk in the woods . . . . .  The trails were frozen enough to not be too muddy and, after days of rain, not icy enough for the donning of microspikes.  The group easily stuck together, mixing and matching in multiple conversations.

About a dozen of us lunched at Amarin, capping a lovely outing.

Report by Susan Sabin.

Winter Hike at Callahan State Park - January 18, 2018

HIKE REPORT

Thursday, 18 January 2018, Winter Hike at Callahan State Park
Hike Leaders: Tony & Margie Lee
5.6 miles, 10:00 am start from Callahan SP parking lot, Framingham MA

Hikers:  Tony, Margie, Elsa Lawrence, Gerry Sheetoo, Janet Miller, Judith McMichael, Marie Keutmann, Patrick Ward, and Richard Vignoni.

Sunny, blue skies welcomed us on the snowy trails at Callahan.  Everyone had traction devices and, other than an occasional clod on the bottom, we moved along well.  We enjoyed a couple of trails on the southside and then crossed over Edmands Road and headed up “Billy Goat Hill,” descended around the meadow, and wound our way to and around Beebe Pond.  Climbing the hill past the large stone fireplace, we made our way over to “Six Pack Hill,” which everyone ascended without faltering (the legend is that anyone not making it must buy a 6-pack for the others).  Between the near perfect winter weather, beauty of the woods, and great camaraderie, it was a wonderful hike.

Most of us headed over to British Beer Company for libations and good pub food, including irresistible truffle fries.

Report by Margie Lee

Winter Hikes in Estabrook Woods - January 3, 2018

Wednesday, 3 January 2018, Winter Hikes in Estabrook Woods

Hike Leaders:  Jack Mroczkowski & Mike Hanauer

Guest Hike Leader:  Susan Broome

5.5 miles, 10:30 am start from 2 Redcoat Lane, Concord, MA

4.3 miles, 11:00 am start from 2 Redcoat Lane, Concord, MA

Hikers – 5.5 mi (15):  Jack, Susan, Allan Fierce, Barbara Jacobs, Bob Anderson, Carol Anderson, Elsa Lawrence, Gerry Sheetoo, Judith McMichael, Marie Keutmann, Richard Fortier, Robyn Maislin, Roy Westerberg, Susan Sabin, and Ted Nyder.

Hikers – 4.3 mi (6):  Mike, David Wean, Joan Laxson, Joanne Samuels, Tom Allen, and William Feiring.

Present at lunch (2):  Helen Greitzer and Patrick Ward.

Two separate hiking groups were blessed with a welcome, “warm” break in the weather. 
The longer route was led by Susan Broome who “shot out of the gate” to lead at a spirited and steady pace.  She did a great job - only an occasional nudge from the organizer was needed to keep her on track at the many trail intersections.

After a short walk off-trail in Carlisle, we entered the Carr reservation off Bellows Hill road for the return path.  This stretch of the trek was particularly enjoyable - between the landscapes and no sounds of people, it felt like we were in real wilderness.  The path meandered through a mix of tall pines, stream crossings, and small hills.  There were lots of sparkling snow decorations on branches.  At one point we came across a deer lick or nest where the deer had bedded down for the night.

The private lunch arrangement at Trails End worked well.  I hope that we can repeat this in the future.

Report by Jack Mroczkowski.

Six of us left at 11:04 am for what I thought was an entertaining, enlightening, and invigorating tour of Thoreau Country.  Much of this was a team effort on what proved to be, perhaps, a day of the best hiking weather in many moons!

The only steep climb was at the very start (and end), which seemed to provide some comfort.  Along Estabrook "Road" we admired the beauty of the snowy stillness, wondered about the car tracks, questioned the animal tracks on Mink Pond, pondered the impact of the Lime Kiln, and observed the old cellar hole known as Estabrook Place.  Tom took a number of evidence photos of these places of yore, as well as of our stimulating and humorous conversations.  We then turned west onto the Tanager Trail at the teepee, and south onto the East Hubbard Trail where the conversation turned to the nature and source of the scat we found on the trail.  Joan proved to be the most knowledgeable here, a reputation she may regret.

Approaching the Hutchins Pond Trail, we saw the beaver dam and the gear meant to thwart them.  We then encountered a woman and man traveling with a number of dogs.  The woman was on a balloon-tired bike which resulted in much conversation about snow riding and the needed associated tires and gearing. 

Opposite Hutchins Pond, we turned west onto the Spruce Trail which was very scenic -- but that is all I recall of that section.  As we came into the home stretch, we went south on the Esker trail, observed the corrals (and wondered where might be the horses), crossed the stream, and found our cars where we left them.

My thanks to all who participated and, especially, to Tom for his photos, his GPS guidance, and his observations of the sinking rocks.

Report by Mike Hanauer.