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.