Noanet Woodlands - January 12, 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 12 January 2022, Noanet Woodlands

Hike Leader:  Dmitry Gorenburg

5.3 miles (~3 hr), 10:00 am start from Dover, MA

Hikers (14 human +3 canine):  Dmitry, Barbara Martin, Elsa Lawrence, Everett Briggs, Frank Hubbard, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Richard Vignoni, Robin Frain, Susan Broome, Tod Cochran, and Tom Lawrence. 

After the previous day's freeze, the weather was glorious - mostly sunny and in the 30s.  The group donned traction devices and set off for the woods. Along the way, we saw the site of the Dover Union Iron Mill (http://archive.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2003/12/21/old_mill_gets_new_attention_from_author/) and its attendant ponds, which on this day had a lovely ice fall.  Despite some efforts at persuasion, Robin declined to demonstrate her ice climbing technique on site.  The rest of the hike proceeded to the sawmill pond, then to Strawberry Hill in Hale Reservation, before returning to the ponds and climbing up to Noanet Peak for views of the Boston skyline (hidden behind all the people in the group photo) and Robin's delicious oreo treats.  By popular request, here's the route we hiked:  https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-12-2022-2-15-pm-87ae6fb .

Everett asked about the meaning of the name Noanet.  Although I could not answer the question at the time, a little googling provides the following:  "Noanet was likely the name of a leader of a group of Indigenous Peoples probably affiliated with the Nipmuc and Wampanoag, who camped on this land, fished the Charles River, and hunted along Noanet Brook."  More information on the reservation can be found here:  https://thetrustees.org/content/noanet-history/ .

Report by Dmitry Gorenburg.

Photos by Everett Briggs.