Fifth annual Walden Pond hike - February 19 , 2020

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 February 2020, Fifth annual Walden Pond hike
Hike Co-leaders:  Judith McMichael & Janet Miller

4-5 miles, 10:00 am start from The Food Project parking lot, Lincoln, MA
 
Hikers (25):  Janet, Judith, Ann Northup, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Bob Cheney, Butch Pemstein, David Fay, David Wean, Everett Briggs, Greg Stathis, Jack Mroczkowski, Margaret Coughlin, Margie Lee, Marie Keutmann, Moshe Werba, Patrick Ward, Robyn Maislin, Rochelle Holman, Roy Westerberg, Sally Chapman, Ted Nyder, Tony Lee, and first-timers, Aiko Pinkoski and John Riley.

Twenty-three WWs met their leaders in the wet and muddy Food Project parking lot ready for our hike.  We took the trail that starts at the bottom of Baker Bridge Road to walk towards Heywood's Meadow - no longer a meadow, thanks to the activity of the beavers there.  The beavers would like to make the pond even bigger, but are kept in check by a Beaver Solutions pond leveler installation, to prevent a flood and associated damage to the Fitchburg railroad tracks.  We saw no beavers, but did see a muskrat dive into the pond and under the ice.  As we walked around Heywood's Meadow, we observed lots of fresh beaver activity, with some sizable trees having been felled.

We hiked on to Walden Pond and visited the site of Thoreau’s cabin, before continuing around the pond.  Judith described how this very large kettle pond was created by the retreating glaciers.  Greg Stathis told us that the Commonwealth authorities had poisoned the pond with rotenone in 1968 and then restocked the water with “more desirable fish” for anglers.

We stopped briefly at the Visitor Center, where an enthusiastic ranger told us much more about Walden Pond.  Then we headed up Pine Hill, home to a large underground water tank and a view of Mt Wachusett.  After leaving Pine Hill, we caught sight of the building that houses the Walden Woods project, which is devoted to the legacy of Thoreau. 

After the hike most of us gathered at Verrill Farm, where we ate in the warm sunshine of the greenhouse.

Report submitted by Janet Miller and Judith McMichael.

Downhill skiing at Mt. Wachusett - February 12 , 2020

SKI REPORT

Wednesday, 12 February 2020, Downhill skiing at Mt. Wachusett
Ski Leader:  Ellen Gugel
9:00 am start from Mt. Wachusett ski lodge, Princeton, MA

Skiers (2):   Ellen & Harriet Fell.
Present at lunch:  Ellen's husband, Ski Instructor Steve.

Harriet and I did the Balance trails, our favorite, three times, as well as 37 other runs before lunch!!  Terrain park, bumps, jumps, race course.  Really!  The Balances, anyway.

Bluebird day.  Great conditions.

Report by Ellen Gugel.

A ride from Weston to Concord - February 5, 2020

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 5 February 2020, A ride from Weston to Concord
Ride Leader:  Harriet Fell (assisted by John Allen)
30 miles, 10:00 am start from Burchard Park, Weston, MA
Riders (10):  Harriet, John Allen (sweep), David Fay, Doug Hobkirk, Ellen Gugel, Elizabeth Wicks, Gerry Sheetoo, John Springfield, Ron Beland, and Selig Saltzman.

The sky was gray but the temperature hovered around 40 degrees -   decent riding weather for this time of year.  Harriet and I expected a large turnout, but only ten showed up, perhaps because the roads were
damp, with puddles here and there.  The downside of these road conditions was the post-ride need to wash one's jacket and bicycle, for those who didn't have fenders.  Harriet was nominally the leader and arrows were posted at some turns, though the group mostly stayed together and several people alternated taking the lead.  I swept, often fell behind, and caught up at regrouping points.  John Springfield, recovering from bronchitis, left the ride and returned to Burchard Park after a few miles.

Harriet organized the ride in memory of her husband, Sheldon Brown, who died twelve years ago.  She and I maintain and expand his bicycle repair and maintenance website, https://sheldonbrown.com.

At the ride start, Harriet and I told how we met Sheldon:  she - on a CRW ride, and I - when he stayed after closing time to repair a flat tire for me at the bike shop where he worked.  The ride, contributed to CRW by Barry Nelson, featured Water Row, one of Sheldon's favorites - and one of ours, too - 1.25 miles bordering, for the most part, the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.  The ride continued on (mostly) quiet roads, with a rest stop at Starbucks on Thoreau Street in Concord.  We passed Walden Pond, though we did not stop for a swim, and then deviated from Barry's route to take the new segment of rail trail from Wayland to Weston - a pleasant, early-season thirty miles.  The group dispersed, as only one participant wanted to stay for lunch after the ride.

Report by John Allen.

Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay - January 29 ,2020

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 29 January 2020, Winter hike around Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay
Hike Leader:  Jack Mroczkowski
~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Sudbury Road, Concord, MA
Hikers (23):  Jack, Ann Northup, Bob Cheney, Butch Pemstein, Cindy Chin, David Fay, David Wean, Doug Chin, Everett Briggs, Janet Miller, Larry Kornetsky, Lorraine Reihle, Marie Keutmann, Mike Hanauer, Rick Carlson, Robyn Maislin, Rochelle Holman, Ron Beland, Roy Westerberg, Sally Chapman, Susan Sabin, and first-timers Bob Pearlman and Pat Stabler.

It felt like an early spring day, with temperatures in the high 30s and clear skies.

We paused a few times in our meandering to take in some peaceful views of the river and bay.  Around the mid-point of our hike, we came across Everett who was travelling in the opposite direction - he quickly reversed direction to join us.

Some good exercise was provided by a small hill where, at the top, we marveled at how some of the .1 percenters live with such luxuries as a private, secluded outdoor ice skating rink with sound and light systems.

Most hikers went to Verrill Farm to have lunch in the greenhouse.

Report by Jack Mroczkowski.