HIKE REPORT
Wednesday, 17 January 2024, Urban Wilds, Wetlands, and the Arboretum winter hike
Hike Leader: David Wean
~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Jamaica Plain, MA
Hikers (9): David, Elsa Lawrence, Gerry Sheetoo, Jim Whinfield, Judy Perrin, Renee Rees, Susan Broome, Tom Lawrence, and Zach Woods.
With plenty of fresh snow and ice the day before, only nine of us managed to clear off our cars and brave the traffic. (Appreciation from the hike leader that people who'd signed up, but were unable to come, had either cancelled online or notified him via text or email.) At the starting point, we found that the street was parked up as far as the eye could see, but we ventured a little farther than that and all found our way back to the starting point.
We toured three sections of the Arnold Arboretum, including views from Peters Hill (the second highest point in Boston), the Weld Hill research building with its experimental plots and solar farm, and the main section, where we found at least one Witch Hazel in bloom - we're told that every month of the year there's something blooming there.
Though most in the group had visited the Arboretum at some point, some of the hikers commented that they enjoyed two less-familiar urban wilds that are nearby: the Roslindale Wetlands (10-acres tucked into a residential neighborhood, recently upgraded with a loop trail, board- and bog-walks), and Allandale Woods (86 acres, just on the other side of the VFW Parkway, with many trails and the ruins of an old building, including abandoned marble ornamentation and farm equipment, as well as a historic spring house that was either a great restoration or recreation).
After the hike, five of the group made it to Sharon Korean, a recent addition to the West Roxbury dining scene, where we enjoyed some authentic Korean dishes. We also were able to see the new (and locally controversial) protected bike lanes along Centre Street.
Report by David Wean.
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