Two Parks in Boston - A Winter Walk - January 26, 2022

 WALK REPORT

Wednesday, 26 January 2022, Two Parks in Boston - A Winter Walk

Walk Leader:  David Wean

6+ miles (3 hrs), 10:00 am start from Mattapan, MA

Walkers (7):  David, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Marie Keutmann, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and Tod Cochran.

On a cold but sunny morning, we started from Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center (gathering indoors, with restrooms!), walking about a mile along the BNC Fox Trail.  We stopped to view the dried cattails from the wetlands viewing point and circled back, following Canterbury Brook.  Crossing through Boston's yard waste compost facility, we walked a half mile along American Legion Parkway’s new protected bike lanes to Franklin Park.

Circumnavigating the park, we saw the William Devine golf course, Schoolmaster Hill (Emerson lived near there in the 1820's), the zoo (though all the animals had the good sense to remain indoors), and finally reached the abandoned-in-the-1950s bear cages (which somehow ended up in the film Mystic River, though we were much closer to the Neponset).  On our return, we passed the White Schoolboy Stadium (not Jim Crow, but instead built with the help of the George Robert White Fund, as was the Nature Center's building), visited the Overlook Shelter Ruin (of one of the few structures built by Olmsted), and headed through the Wilderness, down the "99 Steps" (but who's counting), past Shattuck Hospital and the new "cottage community" which provides secure housing for thirty of the former tent-dwellers from "Mass and Cass."  We looped around Scarboro Pond and returned to the Nature Center for a quick visit to their future solar field and what's billed as the largest community garden in the Commonwealth, returning through the Food Forest to the parking lot.

Folks enjoyed seeing some unfamilar places, and everyone seemed to stay warm, or at least warm enough.

Report by David Wean.

Winter Hike from Nobscot Scout Reservation - January 19, 2022

 Wednesday, 19 January 2022, Winter Hike from Nobscot Scout Reservation

Hike Leaders:  Tony & Margie Lee

6.3 miles (~3.5 hr), 10:00 am start from Sudbury, MA

Hikers (13):  Tony, Margie, Alan Cantor, Betsy Harper, Butch Pemstein, David Wean, Everett Briggs, Jack Mroczkowski, Julie Dodd, Marie Keutmann, Patty Grasso, Richard Vignoni, and Tod Cochran.

Thirteen of us met at the Nobscot parking lot where many of us donned microspikes and grabbed hiking poles.  We experienced clear winter weather, hampered only by icy trails.  We followed Thirty Rod Trail to Tipling Rock Trail, and scrambled up Tipling Rock, taking in views of Boston, the Blue Hills (including ski runs for those with super vision), and the Needham towers.  

 

We forged on to Ford’s Folly, carefully negotiating our way on the icy trail.  Our return to the parking lot was revised to avoid steep, icy downhills. 

 

People were happy to escape winter cabin fever and Covid social isolation, appreciating the woods and conversing over a wide range of topics.  I think we even identified a ubiquitous plant - club moss. 

 

With thanks to Everett Briggs, you can check out our Epic adventure on Relive!  https://www.relive.

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.

Walk the Wilds of Wellesley I - December 29, 2021

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 29 December 2021, Walk the Wilds of Wellesley I

Hike Leaders: Susan Sabin & Don Mannes

~5 or ~3 miles, 10:30 am start from Wellesley, MA

Hikers (22):  Susan, Don, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Dan Nelson, Don Buchholtz, Elsa Lawrence, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheet, Janet Miller, Marie Keutmann, Mike Hanauer, Patrick Ward, Patty Grasso, Romaine Randall, Susan Broome, Ted Nydick, Tom Lawrence, Tony Lee, and first-timers Joey Castro and Nancy Olt.

The day turned out to be a surprise for many.  For one thing, the weather was gray and cool - one said “ brisk,” but it was perfect walking weather.  For a second, many were very pleasantly surprised by the extensive and interesting trails in Wellesley, which explains the title of the hike:  Wilds of Wellesley I.  (Stay tuned for #s II & III.)  Finally, this was Don’s first time as a co-leader and he was surprised that people actually followed him! 

 

One thing was not a surprise:  as always, the WWs who showed up were very congenial and very pleasant to be with.  The group stayed together all the way, giving sweep, Joey Castro, little to sweep.  

Report by Susan Sabin.

Photo courtesy of Gene Ho.

Adams & Wright Woods Hike - December 23, 2021

 HIKE REPORT

Thursday, 23 December 2021, Adams & Wright Woods Hike

Hike Co-leaders: Marie Keutmann & Richard Vignoni

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

Hikers (17):Marie, Richard, Adena Schutzberg, Betty Salzberg, Bill Widnall, Chris & Curt Dudley-Marling, Dmitry Gorenburg, Greg Stathis, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Janet Westerhoff, Joel Bauman, Judith McMichael, Susan Sabin, Zach Woods, and first-timer Debby Sabin.

Seventeen hikers and three canines met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln.  The mention of a bicycle race track in the ride announcement caught the attention of Larry Finison, a bicycle historian, who showed up at the ride start for a brief chat.

The hikers set out through the woods along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.  At the Velodrome we gave a brief talk about the history of the fairgrounds (see below), before we walked around the perimeter of the track.  We then worked our way over to a route along the Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay which offered great views of the water, as well as a large stone chimney and stone boathouse.  From there it was back into the woods towards Walden Pond, then back to our cars.

The crisp temps and bright skies made for a great day of hiking, and we set a new WW record for dogs, both in numbers and in decibels.

Additional Information

Information on the racetrack fairgrounds:

The bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800s. The track is about 500 feet in circumference and has a pronounced bank on one end. In its heyday, the fairground included a dance hall, restaurant, 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 1900s 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.

Sixth annual Walden Pond Hike - December 15, 2021

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 15 December 2021, Sixth annual Walden Pond Hike

Hike Co-leaders:  Judith McMichael & Janet Miller

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

Hikers (20):  Judith, Janet, Barbara Jacobs, Bill Widnall, Curt Dudley-Marling, Greg Stathis, Joanne Samuels, Julie Dodd, Kathy Halmi, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Richard Fortier, Richard Vignoni, Robin Frain, Rochelle Holman, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Zach Woods, and first-timer Chris Dudley-Marling.

The sixth annual Walden Pond Hike was well-attended, with twenty hikers.  We had a comfortably cool day with some sun and little wind.  The beaver pond at Heywood’s Meadow didn’t disappoint.  We observed lots of recent beaver activity and two impressive lodges.  When we came out of the woods for our first glimpse of Walden Pond, it was a glimmer-glass, reflecting the tree-lined bank for 360°.  It was beautiful.   We visited Thoreau’s cabin site, and then proceeded to an area where Thoreau farmed beans and where his cabin was moved after he no longer lived in it.  The cellar hole is still visible.     

 

After a brief stop at the Walden Pond Visitor Center, where many of us got a souvenir tree “cookie:, three people decided to take a short cut to their cars.  The rest of us made our way to the top of Pine Hill and admired the distant view of Mt. Wachusett, which was visible through a gap in the trees.  We made it safely back to the parking lot and Janet delighted everyone with her homemade mince pies and Robin gave out German chocolates.  Fueled by those delicious treats, fifteen of us made our way to Verrill Farm for a loverly, long lunch in the greenhouse.

Report by Janet Miller & Judith McMichael.

Hike along Farrar Pond - December 8, 2021

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 8 December 2021, Hike along Farrar Pond

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann, assisted by Zoe

~4 miles, 10:30 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (18 humans, 1 dog):  Marie, Zoe, Barbara Jacobs, Betsy Harper, Butch Pemstein, Dan Nelson, David Wean, Gene Ho, Janet Miller, Joanne Samuels, John Nilsson, Marlene Heroux, Patrick Ward, Richard Fortier, Richard Vignoni, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and first-timer Zach Woods.

Present at end of lunch:  Helen Greitzer.

In a normal year, pre-COVID, we would have had a ride, a hike, and then a Hanukkah Party afterward at our house, with typically fifty people coming to the party.  This year, we decided to forgo the party, have lunch at Verrill Farm after the hike, and not risk having fifty people in close quarters in the house.

   

The hikers and Zoe (labrador retriever) set out from Marie and Richard's house to hike along Farrar Pond.  We had some very nice views of the pond and took the boardwalk, created by beavers, over the marsh at the far end of the pond.  We looped back through a large open field and back into the woods to return to the start.  There was a lot of socializing on the trail, since it is easier to talk on a hike than on bikes.  Lunch after the hike at Verrill Farm was a delight, since we had the tables in the greenhouse to ourselves and there was plenty of room for fourteen of us.  Helen joined us late at Verrill while there were still a handful of us there.

Report by Marie Keutmann.