Walden Pond Hike - February 8 2022

 Wednesday, 8 February 2022, Walden Pond Hike

Hike Leader:  Janet Miller

~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (20):  Janet, Ann Northup, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Betty Salzberg, Dave Balaban, George Stromberg, Jack Mroczkowski, Judy Perrin, Lisa Najavits, Marie Keutmann, Mike Hanauer, Peggy Gelin, Peter Speert, Richard Vignoni, Romaine Randall, Sue Amsel, Susan Broome, Ted Nyder, and William Feiring.

Twenty enthusiastic WWs met up in the parking lot at the Food Project to enjoy a hike in pleasant, mild weather.  Thanks to the owners of the lot, who gave us permission to park there!  We walked towards Baker Bridge Road, where we crossed Rte 126 into the woods heading towards Heywoods Meadow.  There we saw lots of beaver activity, with two lodges and several trees that had been felled by the beavers.  We then headed towards Walden Pond, but took an unusual upland route before dropping down to the site of Thoreau’s cabin.  At least one or two people had not been there before.  From there, we took some hilly, less-used trails on the north side of the pond.  After crossing Rte 126, we stopped at the Walden Pond visitor center with its very nice restrooms.

From there, we continued past Goose Pond and then up to the top of Pine Hill, where we took in the view towards Mt. Wachusett.  We descended the other side of the hill and headed back towards our starting point.  We mostly stayed together as a group, but, towards the end of our hike, some people dropped back and had to phone the leader to make sure they were on the right route.  After a few minutes, the group was reunited.  As we approached our cars, someone pointed out some maple trees that had been tapped to collect sap for the Food Project.  It appears that spring may be just around the corner!

Report by Janet Miller.

Adams & Wright Woods hike - February 1, 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 1 February 2022, Adams & Wright Woods hike

Hike Leaders:  Marie Keutmann & Richard Vignoni

~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (24):  Marie, Richard, Annemarie Altman, Clyde Kessel, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Jeff Wallen, Jim Whinfield, Judy Perrin, Ken Weber, Margie Lee, Marlene Heroux, Maureen Febiger,  Melissa Norton, Molly Schaeffer, Rick Carlson, Robin Frain, Susan Sabin, Tony Lee, Zach Woods, and first-timers Faye & Peter Speert, Stephen O'Brien, and Valerie Gibson.

Twenty-four hikers met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln.  We set out through the woods, along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.  We stopped and listened to a brief talk, at a bicycle race track (velodrome), before walking around it and continuing on with our trek.  The velodrome is the sole visible remains of a late 1800’s fairground (see additional information below), reached by steam locomotive on the Fitchburg line.  We worked our way over to a trail along the Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay, pausing at three scenic overlooks which included one with a stone chimney and foundation, one with a simple bench and great views (where Robin handed out homemade treats), and one looking down at Fairhaven Bay and a stone boat house.  From there it was back into the woods and a return to our cars.  Ideal temperatures and bright blue skies made for a great day of hiking.

A number of people had lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm.

Information on the racetrack/fairgrounds:

The bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800's.  The track is about 500 feet in circumference and has a pronounced bank at one end.  In its heyday, the fairground included a dance hall, a restaurant, a baseball field, a race track, and amusements.  On weekends, people flocked by the thousands to “Lake Walden” on the Fitchburg train line to go boating, swimming, and to use the fairgrounds.  The fairgrounds were built by the owners of the railroad to encourage ridership.  There were several fires over the years, likely due to sparks from the steam locomotives, so in the early 1900's it ceased to exist.  Today, the only visible remains are the race track and cleared ground between the trees.

Information on Wright woods where we hiked 

Online Exhibition of Walden Pond images 

Report by Marie Keutmann and Richard Vignoni.

Lincoln - Hike from Twin Pond to Pigeon Hill Folly Ruin and Back - January 25, 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 25 January 2022, Lincoln - Hike from Twin Pond to Pigeon Hill Folly Ruin and Back

Hike Leaders:  Zach Woods & Judy Perrin

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

Hikers (16):  Judy, Zach, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Martin, George Stromberg, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Jeff Wallen, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Melissa Norton, Molly Schaeffer, Romaine Randall, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and William Fiering.

It was a beautiful day for a winter hike - no wind and thirty-four degrees.  The group enjoyed seeing several historical sites (Garfield cellar hole, Pigeon Hill Folly ruin, and a former site of a colonial-era rope walk, where hemp fibers were worked into lengths of rope.  We hiked up a hogback ridge that was formed by a glacier and observed a beaver lodge.  We also learned about several of the Modernist houses viewable from the trail.

Six hikers enjoyed lunch at Revolution Craft Food Hall in Lexington.

The group photos were taken at the Pigeon Hill Folly ruin.

Report by Judy Perrin.

Winter Hike from Nobscot Scout Reservation - January 18 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 18 January 2022, Winter Hike from Nobscot Scout Reservation

Hike Leaders:  Tony & Margie Lee

5.9 miles (~3 hours), 10:00 am start from Sudbury, MA

Hikers (13): Margie, Tony, Annemarie Altman, Betty Salzberg, George Stromberg, Jeff Wallen, Joanne Samuels, Marie Keutmann, Mel Prenovitz, Molly Schaeffer, Rick Carlson, Susan Broome, and first-timer Lynell Stromberg.

Present at lunch:  Rachel Carlson.

The day dawned with some rain in the forecast, but the leaders decided to go ahead with the hike. Thirteen hikers met at Nobscot under somewhat cloudy skies.  We followed Thirty Rod Trail to Tipling Rock Trail, then scrambled up Tipling Rock, taking in views of Boston, the Blue Hills, and the Needham towers.

I counted about ten raindrops on our way to Ford’s Folly, but then the skies brightened and the sun eventually appeared.  We enjoyed stretching our legs and some outdoors socializing.  Five hikers were joined by Rachel Carlson for a delicious fireside lunch at the Wayside Inn.

Report by Margie Lee.

Hike October Farm and Brewster Woods - January 11, 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 11 January 2022, Hike October Farm and Brewster Woods

Hike Leaders: Mike Hanauer (& Jack Mroczkowski)

4.2 miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Hikers (28): Mike, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Betty Salzberg, David Kaiser, Don Mannes, Ed Hill, Everett Briggs, Francie Sparks, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Margie Lee, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Mel Prenovitz, Melissa Norton, Merle Adelman, Patrick Ward, Richard Vignoni, Romaine Randall, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Tony Lee, William Feiring, first-timers Bill Cohen, Maureen Febiger, and Phyllis Evan.

Present at hike start:  Jack Mroczkowski.

I was supposed to co-lead this hike, but, since Jack had come down with a bad cold, I became the leader.

It was quite a large group (perhaps the largest since the start of Covid), but we managed, with Jack’s help, to accommodate all of the cars in the limited available space.  The air was crisp at about 25 degrees, with a light breeze, even in the woods.  The skies were totally blue - about the same color as Janet's ski parka.

Virtually all trails had water-views, either of the Concord River or of the wet areas around it which are often hard to distinguish from the river.  We first took in Brewster's Woods, now owned by Mass Audubon, a beautiful sight with an amazing estate which could be a primo party house some day.  There were fields, woods, barns, outhouses, and inspirational sculptures, as well.

Then, we continued to October Farm, owned by the Town of Concord, with still more water views, some from on low and some from on high (meaning hills).  We skipped the climb up Ball’s Hill and saw Brewster’s cabins (stone foundation remains) and an amazing canoe storage cave.  We then climbed Dakins Hill, followed by the two knolls of Holden Hill.  While a few fields had a bit of snow and ice, all areas in the woods were bare ground, often covered with leaves.  I heard of no slipping or mishaps (and no reports of slipped chains or flat tires).

At this point the leader became disoriented (as you can see from the route we took), but the lights went back on with help from Richard, Everett, and Barbara.  We did get to see, twice, one of the biggest and ugliest homes in Concord (IMHO), as we came down from Holden Hill.

Thanks to Janet for sweeping.

It was good to see Everett with apparently all faculties intact after a serious cycling accident a bit ago.

Eight lucky people had a good, post-hike lunch at "Nosh" (formerly Trails End Cafe).

Jack - get well soon and thanks for organizing/creating this winter hike and, additionally, for acting as “parking attendant.”

My RideWithGps route:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110889305 .  Note the added mileage, due to ride leader confusion, at around mile 3.

Both properties we hiked were owned by William Brewster (July 5, 1851 – July 11, 1919) who was an American ornithologist. He co-founded the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and was an early naturalist and conservationist.  Brewster served as the first president of Mass Audubon from 1896–1913.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brewster_(ornithologist) 

More on Brewster's Woods at https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/brewster-s-woods/about 

More on October Farm at https://www.concordma.gov/

Wayland - Hike the Eskers - January 4, 2022

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 4 January 2022, Wayland - Hike the Eskers

Hike Leaders: Betty Salzberg & Marie Keutmann

~4.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA

Hikers (18 + 1 canine): Betty, Marie, Zoe, Barbara Jacobs, Don Mannes, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Jim Whinfield, Judy Perrin, Lynne O'Riorden, Margie Lee, Molly Schaeffer, Sharon Ellis, Steven Venizelos, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Tony Lee, and Zach Woods.

Eighteen hikers and Marie’s dog, Zoe, visited two beautiful and under-used Wayland Conservation areas.  The hike started on an unpaved access road that led us past a large hosta farm bordering the Sudbury River (Weir Meadow Nursery).  We then continued to Oxbow Road where Trout Brook crosses the road to reach the river, and then onto paths near the impressive, large marsh in the Trout Brook conservation area.  We continued to the Trout Brook esker, past several deep kettleholes, then over to the Castle Hill conservation area esker which overlooks Schoolhouse Pond, where Hazel Brook runs through the pond and under a large beaver dam to make its own way to the river.

About a dozen hikers went to lunch at Verrill Farm after the hike (and after getting a very recalcitrant Zoe into Marie’s car).

Report by Betty Salzberg.

Photo courtesy of Margie Lee.

Lincoln - Off the Beaten Track - December 28, 2022

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 28 December 2022, Lincoln - Off the Beaten Track

Hike Leaders:  Marie Keutmann & Barbara Jacobs

~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (22 + 1 canine):  Marie, Barbara, Zoe, Annemarie Altman, Betty Salzberg, Bob Anderson, Carol Anderson, David Wean, George Stromberg, Gerry Sheetoo, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Lynne O'Riorden, Mike Hanauer, Richard Vignoni, Romaine Randall, Steven Venizelos, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, William Furman, and Zach Woods.

Twenty-two Wednesday Wheelers plus Marie's dog, Zoe, enjoyed a very scenic hike through open fields, backyards, and woods, on trails that many were not familiar with.  Highlights included horses, an American Chestnut tree farm, the Flint fields and homestead (occupied by twelve generations of Flints since the 17th century), and the Decordova Museum.

Approximately ten hikers went to lunch, after the hike, in the toasty and airy greenhouse at Verrill Farm.

Report by Marie Keutmann.