Hancock Hill and Houghton Hill from Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hancock Hill and Houghton Hill from Trailside Museum

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 7 miles
Elevation: 1020 feet
Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge

The Hike

Really nice hike on a very moody afternoon (weather-wise). Been recovering from strep throat and then my first cold since pre-pandemic, but my nose was open for long enough to convince me to get out into the woods. It was cool and spooky to watch and hear the trees flailing in the wind. This hike also served as a "clean up" hike for some of the random trails I've missed. I treated it as a choose your own adventure and it was a lovely afternoon.

Started at the trailside museum and started up the auto road to hit the trails around there. The Bartol path was nice, landed on a private farm. Saw a DCR "Dead End" sign which I haven't come across before. Contineud on the Border Path until I hit Unquity Road. There was some cool old foundation towards the road. From there, I decided to head up the trail that ascends the ridge of Hancock Hill beucase I remember the view being incredible, so I hopped on Chestnut Run and did my best to find the trail at 1201, but failed and ultimately ended up climbing wet boulders. Didn't die, and got those amazing views! The moody weather really added to it too.

From there I was officially on my return trip. Hopped on Skyline North, hit a few trails that I needed around Houghton's Hill, Circled the swamp around Walcott Hill, and made my way back to the car. The weather cooperated mostly, and I got a nice workout in. That view from Hancock Hill is absolutely amazing. 

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Starting Somewhere

I have been hiking on and off for years now, with my most serious "phases" during early college and now. I always struggle with journaling my hikes, but I am always so happy when I do and have something to look back on. I have had a great start journaling my hikes on paper this year and now I want to make the jump back into writing them into a blog. 

In a previous life I wrote on https://thehikingmusician.blogspot.com/p/home.html, and I am incredibly proud of my work there. I'm hoping this second iteration of a hiking blog will succeed in maintaining my memories as they happen and will serve as something for me to look back upon. Even better would be some stranger stumbling upon this page and using it to their liking, but only time will tell there. 

I am writing this first post on Monday, March 23rd, 2022 sitting in my classroom with the world's stuffiest nose itching to get back outside. I have had some foot problems as of recent that I am trying to help heal, and aiming to get out at least once a week (but even better if more!). Any posts from hereon out will be current, and I will try and add to a backlog going back to January 1st, 2022. Maybe I will want to dive even further back in the future? Maybe I chill change the title from "hiking, falling, and everything in between?" Only time will tell and I am excited for the journey. 

[BACKLOG] Great Island (Cape Cod National Seashore)

Great Island Trail Extended Loop, excluding the sand spit to Jeremy Point.

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 7.4 miles
Elevation: 387 feet
Time: 3 hours, 4 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Cape Cod National Seashore Trails; 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike
Gen and I had one more hike to do on the cape to finish out self-made challenge of hiking all the trails on the national seashore to earn our made up patch (we ended up finding a couple on EBay)! We ususally start hiking around sunrise but I had read on AllTrails that this trail can be submerged at high tide, which was convienently just after sunrise. We made it to the trailhead at 9:18am with no clouds in the sky but chilly wind.

From the parking lot we descended to sea level where we circumnavigated the marshland behind the dunes. There was a narrow footpath paralleling uphill, likely caused by hikers hiking at high tide. The trail was still wet from the rain and the high tide, but was navigable. We did get a little "lost" at the further end of the dunes - the path we were following turned into marsh so we "bushwacked" back to the dry sand. 

This brought us to what I'm calling the first island. The main trail goes around the island halfway then climbs into the forest, and another shortcut trail goes right into the forest. We took the shortcut trail into the forest to give the tide time to lower some more. The open pine forest was beautiful and the path was wide. When we reached the trail junction, we turned left instead of going straight to loop us back to the beginning of the first island. The forest trail was really beautiful, and we found a side path to a beautiful overlook on a STEEP sandy cliff. We followed another unmarked trail from there and eventually bushwhacked our way back to the main path. We eventually descended back to the original trail junction along the marshland where we were greeted with the land of dead seagulls and a larger dead creature with it's bones scattered about. Eerie, but very cool! Went back into the woods, following the same trail as before, and continued straight where we had turned left the first time. 

After some more woods walking we descending back into the second area of marshland. Very similar to the first, but this time the trail kept us on the dunes for longer. The weather was finally starting to warm up but I had realized I lost my sunglasses - sad. I bought them becuase they were specifially made for "pumpkin sized heads," but they were still tight. I guess it's okay...

We eventually climbed up island number two, kept left at the fork, and worked our way though beautiful pine forests, stopping at a monument honoring a former resident, and reached the island's end! We turned to head towards the beach. A lot of this path was flooded, but we were able to "marsh-hop" (I guess that's a term now?) to the dunes. Now on the beach, we could have turned left and went towards Jeffrey's Point, but that would remain submerged for a few more hours, so we turned right and started the lovely walk back to the car.

The dunes were amazing from the beach side. There were tons of rocks and shells and very few people. We made our way back across the dunese at the end, back to the car, and started our journey home. 

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Originally written March of 2022.

[BACKLOG] Buck Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Buck Hill Summit Trail & Unnamed Trail

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 751feet
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike

This was one of my favorite hikes in the Blue Hills to date. Beautiful day, warm weather, and views. Started at the pull-over across from Forest Street in Milton and jumped right into the woods at the Forest Path granite marker (I recently learned these trailhead markers were installed around 1985-1986) and turned left onto the Headquarters Path (which was apparently closed due to what I guess is construction on the old school house on 28, but two mountain bikers were blocking the sign so I didn't realize this until my return trip - oops!). After bouncing back from the old school house, I turned left at the fork and stayed on a windy trail that went all the way to the top of Buck Hill. This trail crosses the Forest Path (2194) and the Buck Hill Path (2182) on the way up, and it additionally crosses two unmapped trails towards the summit - one blazed with a plastic white triangle, and one with a plastic white square. I haven't found any details on these trails, but they are listed on AllTrails. 

The top of Buck Hill is always amazing. It's a small taste of the world above treeline. I didn't spend too much time up top since I knew I'd be back - so I pulled a wide U-Turn and went down the north side of the Buck Hill Summit Trail, which was another fun winding footpath. Turned left at 2153, and continued onto the Doe Hollow Path at 2151. From here I had a few trails to hit before I climbed Buck Hill again, which eventually brougth me to the Pig Rock Path, which I have many questions about and no answers (there were a few boulders - was one of them Pig Rock??). Back at 2154, I started climbing back up Buck Hill on a much less used trail. I hit a section that has previously been burned in a fire, but not sure when. The climb up the South Side of Buck Hill is just as fun as the other sides! It really does feel like I'm back in the whites, just... smaller and easer. 

Once back on top of Buck Hill I realized there were a few mountains in the distance. I booted up PeakVisor and found that they were Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, and Pack Monadnock, which was very cool to see. From there I followed the Skyline Trail eastbound to descend, hit a few more random trails I needed, and then followed the Buck Hill Path back to the car. Great day!

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Originally written March of 2022.

[BACKLOG] Fowl Meadow - Burma Road East (Blue Hills Reservation)

Fowl Meadow - Burma Road East (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation: 194 feet
Time: 1 hour, 11 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike

I was equally anxious and excited to cross this bunch of trails off of my list. I made a weak attempt to hike them when I hiked Burma Road and the trail along the Neponset River, but the Swamp Trail was flooded out so I went home. I parked at the end of Royall Street, which didn't seem the most legal but it's where I parked for a Skyline Trail traverse two falls ago so I risked it again to no issue!

There's an unmarked access trail to the Skyline Trail, and the Skyline Trail leads to abandoned pavement that was laid when I-95 was intended to go straight through Boston. The Skyline Trail over here is a bit messy with a lot of garbage, and the old pavement gives post-apocolyptic vibes. The pavement leads to an old rusted gate, and that's where this network of trails begins. 

I went straight at 6102 onto the Green Hill Path which was quite loveley. At 6103 I turned onto the Field Path which was anything but a field. The footpath was vauge but follow-able with baby thorns sticking out of the ground. The second half of the trail was dreadful. Someone on Facebook said if they ever returned he'd bring a machete and I firmly agree. I ended up getting spat back out at 6101, which does not line up with the trail on the map, but I'm pretty confident there was literally no other way to go as there were piles of thorns on all sides.

Anyway, once I survived I turked back onto the Green Hill Path and went back to the Swamp Trail, which was actually really cool. I hit the flooded section and did my best to rock-log-stick-mud hop to the other side, and I'll say I was definiteyl close enough! I then meandered to 6106 and hit up both spur trails. The sput that is an extension of the Green Hill Path was wide and easy and continued onto an unmarked network of trails (I believe it links up with extension of the Fowl Meadow Path that continues after the Swamp Trail, but not sure). I tured around at the border of the Blue Hills Reservation. It was hard to tell when the other spur trail stopped, but once I could clearly see into strangers' back yard I turned around, followed the Orchard Trail back, and made it back to the car!

Overall it was a nice afternoon. No desire to ever go back to the Field Path, but definitely curious about those other unmarked trails. 

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Posted April 5th, 2022 at 6:35am.

[BACKLOG] Fox Hill, CCC Camp, Headquarters Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Fox Hill, CCC Camp, Headquarters Path

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 8.3 miles
Elevation: 810 feet
Time: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike

This was a long one that felt like it took much longer than it did due to the speghetti-ness of this trail network, but as always there were fun surprises all around! I parked across the street from the Blue Hills Reservoir where there is a short, unmapped access trail that connects to the Pine Tree Brook Path. Right away I was greeted by my favorite sounds - frogs! It has finally been warm enough for the frogs to thaw and let out their silly calls again. A lot of this hike was hitting side trails, so I'm not going to include every twist and turn for my own sanity.

At 4084 I turned to go up Fox Hill. There was a footpath a little before the intersection that looked like it could be correct, but I tired to stick to the map and follow a less-defined path. I think the first path was the more correct one, but we survived! I really like the quietness and sneaky beauty of Fox Hill. Great partial views of Boston heading north on 4096, where a lot of the small trees had old insect galls on them which was really cool. 

From the bottom of Fox Hill, I followed the greet dot trail to Sawcut Notch Path. The random trail right before 4042 was interested. Wide path that terminated seemingly in the middle of nowhere. There were some open woods up the hill from the termination, but I chose not to explore simply becuase I had a lot more trail to cover. I really enjyoed the trails around the CCC Camp - lots of cool history!

I began to work my way towards the Headquarters Path at Chickatawbut Road while hitting lots of trails in between. My favorite part was passing this group of two hikers - one of which was clearly dragging their friend along for the ridd. We said hello and I passed them. About 5 minutes later, I was back on a different trail but I could hear the non-hiker friend screaming at her friend during one of the steeper climbs and I couldn't help but chuckle becuase I have definitely been there many, many times before. 

The Headquarters Path was my least favorite section of the hike, especially past 4012. The path was either thorny, overgrown, or flooded, and usually all three. Regardless, we made it and got to do it all again on the return! I missed the small spur path at 4012 to the neighborhood that I'll need to hit during my future "clean up day." Officially started my journey back to the car at 4030 - Pasture Run - and found a really neat section of trail between 4053 and 4072. At 4052 there is also a trail marker for the Great Dome Trail, which hasn't been listed on any maps since the 1980 printing - super cool! On Facebook I was told those stone trail markers were likely installed in the mid 80's which makes sense. 

Overall a nice long hike (minus that darn Headquarters Path... but we survived nonetheless)!

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Posted April 8th at 7:15am.

[BACKLOG] Fowl Meadow - Burma Road and Neponset River (Blue Hills Reservation)

Fowl Meadow - Burma Road and Neponset River 

Hike Type: Lollipop
Distance: 5.1 miles
Elevation: 26 feet
Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike
This was a hike that I was wrongfully dreading. I've heard stories about how overgrown the trail along the Neponset River gets and how wet it always is. I put on my big boy shorts and went at it and was happily surprised! Burma Road was really a loveley walk. Always something to look at while walking on this wide path. There was a really cute bridge over a drainage that was something out of a children's book. At 6005 I turned right onto the Fowl Meadow Path that headed towards the Neponset River. I noticed a bunch of elevated sewers - I guess they were put in as infastructure when they planned to send I-95 through Boston? Not sure though. There was a very short spur path that went into the woods, formerly labaled 6009 as recently as the 2014 map, and the 1996 map shows a former trail that I assume is overgrown/flooded out. I followed the 6009 path until it became overgrown and then turned around.

From the 1996 map.

Then I landed at the Neponset River at a nice viewpoint. Across the river are the train tracks which reminded me that even though there was nobody around me, I was never alone. I was nervous starting this trek from everything that I've heard, and finding the trail took a second, and the first water crossing took a few more, but after that truly it was fine! Reports on Facebook say that I got it on a very dry day which I cannot be happier about. There were a few sections that were sketchy and I hit a few prickers, but truly it was fine. At the end of the path I even stumbled upon my first snake of the season!

Once getting back on Burma Road, I finished out that last portion towards I-95 and turned back around. I loved this section, even though it began to feel long. Lots of still water on the sides of the trail with plenty of ducks living their best lives. I had a good amount of energy left when I made it back to 6005, so I decided I would see how the trails on the Eastern side of Burma Road are. I followed the Fowl Meadow Path to the Swamp Trail, dodging some wet spots, and untimately turned around at the Swamp Trail beause it was flooded over. There were a few wide unmapped trails that stemmed out of this area but I decided not to explore as my after school hunger hit. I turned back and headed back to the car. I would definitely come back, but not in the summer and not in a wet season. 

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Posted on April 8th, 2022 at 10:19 AM. 

[BACKLOG] Border Path & Hillside Pond (Blue Hills Reservation)

Border Path & Hillside Pond

Hike Type: Speghetti Out-and-Back
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation: 374 feet
Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike

This was a hike that I had low hopes for - saw it more as a chore - and as per usual I was pleasantly surprised! Nothing incredible remarkable about this hike, but it was just a lovely afternoon in the woods. Started at the Hillside Pond, followed an unmapped trail and ran into someone sunbaithing(?!), so I crossed the road and headed towards the Border Path. The Border Path followed a nice stream downhill until the junction at 1224 where I out-and-backed the Valley Path. Back at the Border Path, I followed the nice trail along private property and continued onward at 1215. This part of the path heads to the dam Unquity Road, something that I've driven past countless times, which was cool. From there it was easy going on the return trip back to Hillside Pond.

Back at Hillside Pond, I followed what appears to be a continuation of the Border Path towards Chickatawbut Road and the trail network there - all of which was scenic woods with wide trails. Afterwards I made my way to Hillside Pond which I was excited for, but very claustaphobic by the trail around the perimeter. Thin, sketchy, littered, and thorny, but we made it!

Photo Album

Posted on April 8th, 2022 at 7:44 PM.

[BACKLOG] Tucker and Boyce Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Tucker and Boyce Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Speghetti Loop
Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation: 603 feet
Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge

The Hike

Another wiggly-squiggly day in the blue hills! Started at the park headquarters along the Headquarters Path and then crossed the road to hit the trails between Uniquity, Hillside, and Chickatawbut Streets. Nothing to write home about here, but they're done! Once back on the mainland I cleaned up a few more trails and eventually headed up the Athol Path up Tucker Hill, hit a few more needed trails, and then traversed over Tucker Hill via Skyline. From there, I followed the White-Triangle trail in reverse as it skirts around North and South Boyce before making a return trip.

A rather uneventful hike, but pretty nonetheless! A very small bit of leftover show, a few short and steep climbs (mostly around Tucker Hill), and one semi-view from Tucker as well. Another nice afternoon in the woods. 

Photo Album

Posted on April 12th, 2022 at 1:18 PM. 

[BACKLOG] Houghton's Pond Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Houghton's Pond Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation: 86 feet
Time: 32 minutes

Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio Winter

The Hike

A super short, super sweet loop around Houghton's Pond. Been here many times before. I didn't want to dive too deep into real "exercise" this day, so instead I went in for a classic. Sadly, I went too casual and heavily regretted not bringing spikes. I went counterclockwise around the pond, and halfway through I jumped to the old route 128 to hopefully find less icy conditions. I was not successful, but I never fell! I only took this one photo for this hike. I'm very grateful to have this as a reliable option when I want to be outside but need to relax as well. 

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Posted April 12th, 2022 at 1:31 PM.

[BACKLOG] Wampatuck and Rattlesnake Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Wampatuck and Rattlesnake Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation: 367 feet
Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio Winter

The Hike

A beautiful, slushy day in the Blue Hills. The snow was melting, so most steps I took resulted in sinking and sliding, which was my biggest complaint. There were two main sketchy sections - coming down from the Crags on the Skyline Trail, and coming down the North-East side of Fox Hill. I really loved Fox Hill and the seasonal views of Boston. Not much else to write on this hike. I am grateful for the snowy scenery, but I was delighted to see it go away. 

Step-By-Step

• Park on Wampatuck Road near Rattlesnake Hill
• Hike in, turn left at first junction.
• At next junction, turn right onto Skyline Trail.
• At next junction (4147), turn left onto Crags Foot Path (Green Dot).
• At next junction, turn left.
• At next junction, turn right onto Skyline Trial. 
• Follow skyline trail, at 4155, turn right onto Indian Camp Path (Green Dot). 
• At next junction (4135), turn left onto Pipe Line. 
• Hike trails around 4131 and 4134, landing where the Pipe Line ends at Chicktawbut Rd.
• Turn right onto Fox Hill Path. 
• At summit, turn right onto poorly defined trail towards 4120. 
• Shortly turn right onto Indian Camp Path (Green Dot).
• Turn left to hike unnamed trail to 4142.
• Turn right at 4142 onto Crags Foot Path (Green Dot).
• Turn left at 4145 and hike Old Furnace Brook Path as an out-and-back.
• Back at 4145, follow trail to 4155.
• At 4155, turn around and turn right back onto Crags Foot Path (Green Dot).
• Follow Crags Foot Path until just before Wampatuck Road.
• Turn right onto unnamed trail that leads to parking. 

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Originally written April of 2022.