XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center - February 12, 2025

 XC SKI REPORT

 

Wednesday, 12 February 2025, XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center

XC Ski Leaders:  Margie & Tony Lee

9:30 am start from Carlisle, MA

Skiers (4): Margie, Tony, Annemarie Altman, and Renee Rees.

Great Brook Ski Touring Center had been posting very positive ski condition reports, but none appeared on Tuesday.  We hoped for the best and were rewarded with conditions that exceeded our expectations.  We found well-groomed packed powder with virtually no exposed roots or rocks.

Temperatures stayed just below freezing and, though the sun tried to break through, it remained overcast.  We skied most of the groomed trails in about two hours.

We intended to go to lunch at Fern's Country Store in Carlisle, but it was teeming with school kids (apparently they get out early on Wednesdays) and we decided not to stay.

We all agreed that it was a fun outing.

Report by Margie Lee.

October Farm Riverfront/Brewster’s Woods winter hike - February 19, 2025

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 February 2025, October Farm Riverfront/Brewster’s Woods winter hike

Hike Leader:  Janet Miller

10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Hikers (15):  Janet, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Don Mannes, Elsa Lawrence, Jack Mroczkowski, Judy Perrin, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Tom Lawrence, Zach Woods, and first-timers Eileen Maloney and Phil Euling.

Fourteen hikers joined me on a cold, but sunny, day at October Farm Riverfront in Concord.  The parking lot there is small, but there is a second lot a short way back on Balls Hill Road (a single-track road).  Three or four cars arrived at once, after the lower lot was filled, causing a bit of chaos, but they all managed to either turn around or reverse to find parking in the second lot.

We started on a flat trail toward the Concord River, but it was hard work as we were breaking through the crusty snow.  The river was mostly frozen over and a few people joked that they wanted to check out the ice, but, I am glad to say, nobody did.

Then we walked south along the river and looped around to return to the river and head north.  Tom and Elsa decided they wanted to drop out and Zach and Judy returned with them because their car was blocking the Lawrence’s car.

The rest of us continued and passed by the foundation of William Brewster’s riverside cottage, together with a well and a canoe storage shelter.  Brewster, who was a renowned ornithologist and the first President of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, had purchased the October Farm in the 1890s.

From there we left the October Farm Riverfront conservation land and entered Brewster’s Woods, now owned by the Mass Audubon Society, continuing to follow the river before going inland and crossing a causeway.  We then walked back to the start along the Fisher Trail.  As we were the first to walk that trail since the last snowfall, it was definitely an energetic way to finish our hike.  Zach and Judy found their way back to the start to meet up with the rest of us after trying unsuccessfully to catch up with us.

After the hike, fourteen of us gathered for lunch at the Concord Market.  This venue was Jack’s suggestion – he had learned recently that the mezzanine there now has tables, making it the perfect place for a large group.

Report by Janet Miller.

 

Whipple Hill and Arlington Great Meadows winter hike - February 5, 2025

 HIKE REPORT 

Wednesday, 5 February 2025, Whipple Hill and Arlington Great Meadows winter hike
Hike Leader:  Tom Allen

5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lexington, MA

Hikers (9):  Tom, Barbara Jacobs, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Marc Baskin, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Ted Nyder, and William Feiring.

 

Nine of us met at the bright, but chilly, parking area in Lexington with traction spikes at the ready.  I advised that folks wouldn't need them until further along, as we had some paved walking to do.  However, the combination of snow, thaw, and freeze in the prior couple of days made all path walking pretty much just ice.

 

We started down a small hidden path to the Arlington Reservoir (aka "the Rez"), proceeding very gingerly.  Upon reaching the Rez path we encountered a very conveniently located bench where we all sat and installed our various traction aids.

 

Proceeding around the reservoir and along a couple of short street blocks, we arrived at the Whipple Hill trailhead.  One of our participants decided that her spikes were not up to the icy conditions and opted to return to the start, taking a street route that could give her a good walk without footing challenges.  The rest of us proceeded along the trail despite the dodgy surface conditions.  It was quiet and serene with only a couple of dog walkers encountered.  Quiet except for the crunching of spikes on ice.  

At one point the leader lost the intended track and we took a steeper. but shorter, route to the summit of Whipple Hill.  We could see Mt. Wachusett and some unidentified water towers in the distance.

 

Descending via a different trail, we left the Whipple Hill Conservation Area and proceeded along streets to the entrance to Arlington Great Meadows to enjoy more icy trails, but with less climbing.  The Great Meadows trails took us to the Minuteman Bikeway, not far from our starting point.  The bikeway was plowed, so with the aid of another conveniently placed bench, we were finally able to shed our traction devices.

 

Eight hikers convened for soup, salad and sandwiches at the Great Harvest Bread Company.

 

Report by Tom Allen.

Wellesley to Newton Upper Falls winter hike - January 29, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 29 January 2025, Wellesley to Newton Upper Falls winter hike
Hike Leader:  Susan Sabin

6 miles, 10:30 am start from Wellesley, MA

Hikers (12):  Susan, Aiko Pinkoski, Ann Northup, Frank Calabrese, Jeffrey Whalen, Jim Whinfield, Lisa O’Connor, Mike Hanauer, Molly Schaeffer, Susan Broome, Todd Palmer, and first-timer Debra Mello.

Seventeen WWs registered for this walk, but only twelve met at the start.  Two cancelled and one had a GPS that led them to Oak Street, not Oakland, leaving us with two phantom registrees.  The leader hopes that the other two are not still looking for the group.

As leader, I regret that I didn’t take the time for welcomes, because many of these folks were new or newish to the walking groups.  My excuse was the weather forecast which called for mild temps and sun in the morning, followed by winds of up to 40 mph after 12:00 pm, along with showers.  The morning forecasts were accurate, the ones for the afternoon were not and I needn’t have rushed.  It remained mild and completely benign and turned out to be a great day for a walk.

Most of the walk followed the Sudbury Aqueduct trail to Newton Upper Falls which, because of the water power provided by the Charles, was a major industrial site in colonial times.  Although signs of early industry can still be found in the village, the twentieth century saw a change in character, when Hemlock Gorge was developed as a recreational area with meandering trails, an amphitheater and a large dance pavilion.  We walked on the paths laid out in the area, but neither the dance hall nor the amusement park features remain visible.

  
But we did walk on a tiny length of Rte 9, an early turnpike road which, having existed as a dirt road in colonial days, has since been paved, widened, and become a public way.  Everyone stopped halfway for lunch after which we retraced our route, this time heading back west on the famous Echo Bridge, over the aqueduct trails, and eventually to our cars - a six mile route in all.

In March, my hike will start in the same location, then head in the opposite direction, to the industrial area which grew up around Newton Lower Falls.  This hike will cross Rte 9 and be mainly along wooded trails within hearing distance of Rte 128 (I-95), now an undeveloped area!!  How times change!

 

Report by Susan Sabin.

XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center - January 22, 2025

 XC SKI REPORT

Wednesday, 22 January 2025, XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center
Leaders:  Margie & Tony Lee
Skiers (6):  Margie, Tony, Barbara Martin, Betty Salzberg, Susan Broome, and Susan Sabin.

We purchased tickets and met by the pot-bellied stove in the barn.  The day was clear and bright with a starting temperature of 13, but no wind.  Tuesday's Great Brook xc ski report was that conditions were "generally good", but we soon discovered a lot of bare spots, with exposed rocks and roots.  There were a couple of hard falls, but, fortunately, no real injuries.  [One person quit after an initial assessment of the trails.] 

We made steady, but slow, progress, especially compared to the Harvard xc ski team that breezed right past us.  There were a few areas of powder snow reminiscent of Monday's conditions, but we all agreed that Great Brook was not great today.  Thanks to the participants for their patience and perseverance.  Most of us enjoyed being out on this beautiful winter day.

Four of us went for apres-ski lunch at Fern's Country Store in Carlisle.

 

Report by Margie Lee.

Wayland - Hike the Eskers - January15, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 15 January 2025, Wayland - Hike the Eskers
Hike Leader:  Betty Salzberg
4 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA

Hikers (11): Betty, Barry Kaditz, Frank Calabrese, Jim Whinfield, Jonathan Kannair, Marc Baskin, Margie Lee, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Susan Broome, and William Feiring.

We started our hike at the access road near 30 Grove Street in Wayland which leads to the hosta farm and then along the Sudbury River.  The access road intersects Old Oxbow Road which is a town road that is not
paved, and continues along the river until it meets Oxbow Road which
is paved.

From Oxbow Road we went into Trout Brook Conservation area and walked
along the esker, looking down at the marshes along Trout Brook and a
few large kettleholes.  Then we crossed Sherman’s Bridge Road and went
along Alpine Road to Alpine Field and the entrance to Castle Hill
Conservation area.  After crossing Hazel Brook which flows out of
Schoolhouse Pond at a large beaver dam, we continued walking on more
eskers looking down at the pond.  We then retraced our steps, making a
detour along the old horse track used by the Minuteman to get to
Concord and the North Bridge in the start of the Revolutionary War.
Back at Trout Brook, the leader made a wrong turn and we got down into
the marshes, but not where there was any trail.  Climbing back out, we
made it back to our cars and about eight of us had lunch at Verrill Farm
in Concord.

Report by Betty Salzberg.

Adams & Wright Woods winter hike - January 8 , 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 8 January 2025, Adams & Wright Woods winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Marie Keutmann & Barbara Jacobs

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

Hikers(16):  Marie and Barbara, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Martin, Betty Salzberg, Clyde Kessel, Greg Stathis, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Jim Whinfield, John Trotter, Marc Baskin, Phyllis Evan, Steve Hoffenberg, Ted Nyder, and first-timer Rena Sokolow.

Sixteen hikers met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln in sunny, but cold and blustery, conditions.   The hikers set out through the woods along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.  We walked around a bicycle race track, or velodrome, that is the sole visible remains of a mid to late 1800’s fairground which people reached by steam locomotive on the Fitchburg line.  At the velodrome, I gave a brief talk about the history of the fairgrounds (see link below) before we walked around the perimeter of the track.  We climbed a steep trail to the top of Fairhaven Hill, where Jack gave a brief talk about the large estate with Buddha statues and an ice rink at the summit.  We then worked our way over to a route along the Sudbury River with great views of the river and Fairhaven Bay.  From there it was back into the woods and back to our cars.  The crisp temps and bright skies made for a great day of hiking.

Thanks to Barbara Jacobs for helping me navigate the route and to Betty Salzberg for sweeping.

Approximately twelve people had post-ride lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm.

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Additional Information on Racetrack and Fairgrounds

The bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800's.  The track is about 500 ft in circumference and has a pronounced bank on 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.

Click on the link below and view Exhibition Images 5 to 8 which show the entrance gate to “Walden,” the picnic grounds and the amusement park buildings:

Online Exhibition of Walden Pond images

Information on Wright woods where we hiked