Western Greenway - Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont - April 16, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 16 April 2025, Western Greenway - Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont

Hike Leaders:  Barbara Jacobs & Ted Nyder

5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Waltham, MA

Hikers (10):  Barbara, Ted, Kristina Leclaire, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Patrick Ward, Renee Rees, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, and William Feiring.

It was a cool day, but quite pleasant.  We began our 5.5 mile walk at the old Metropolitan State Hospital property on the Waltham/Lexington Line.  Our hike took us on the trails and carriage roads of the old hospital grounds and into Belmont's Rock Meadows and Lone Tree Hill.  We hiked the trails to Habitat and had a quick break, checked out the goats and turkeys, and then continued back to our cars by way of the MetFern Cemetery where approximately 317 residents of the Fernald School and Met State Hospital were buried between 1947 and 1979.

Seven of us had post-hike lunch at Bánh Mì Ơi  (a Vietnamese restaurant).

Report by Barbara Jacobs.

Weston Wonder(ful) Walk - April 9, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 9 April 2025, Weston Wonder(ful) Walk

Hike Leader:  Jim Whinfield

~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Weston, MA

 Hikers (13):  Jim, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Don Mannes, Judy Perrin, Karen Brody, Marie Keutmann, Phyllis Evan, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, Zach Woods, and first-timer Dana Christensen.

The weather was sunny and brisk as we left from outside the Weston Community Center.  Thegroup walked through the Case Estates Conservation Area, where we saw an old stone incinerator, then crossed Chestnut Street into the Highland Town Forest.  The route skirted the edge of the Regis College campus and the channel connected to the Weston Reservoir before turning back to complete the 4-mile loop.

After the hike, eight members of the group had lunch at the Craft Food Halls in Waltham.

Report by Jim Whinfield.

Farrar Pond early spring hike - April 2, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 2 April 2025, Farrar Pond early spring hike

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann

~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA

 

Hikers (18):  Marie, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Betty Salzberg, Don Mannes, Eileen Maloney, Judy Gertler, Judy Perrin, Karen Brody, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, Phyllis Evan, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, and Zach Woods.

 

Description: The weather was sunny and cool and, while we started in Wayland, almost all of the hike was in Lincoln.  We walked along Farrar Pond with lots of ups and downs and great views of the pond, including a view of a swan nesting on a small island with her male partner guarding against intruders.  We crossed a boardwalk over a lovely swamp caused by beavers.

 

After the hike, about half of the group had lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm in Concord.

 

Report by Marie Keutmann.