Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)
Distance: 4.65 miles
Elevation: 1,198 feet
Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes
Elevation: 1,198 feet
Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits; Blue Hills Grid
The Hike
It had been 10 days since my last hike, which is longer than I would have liked. The start of the school year is always exhausting, and the weather for the past 10+ days had been a brutal combination of 90-degrees with 100% humidity and pouring rain. It was FINALLY nice out again - sunny and 80-degrees with a cool breeze, and I was very happy to be back at the Blue Hills! I decided against continuing my 125-mile challenge for this hike, as I just wanted a nice, familiar, scenic fitness hike for the afternoon.
The trailhead leaving the parking area was filled with "White Wood Aster" flowers, which were appropraitely white. The trail was a bit wet which made sense, but I was pleasantly surprised how not-terrible it was. I also couldn't help but notice how not-drenched in sweat I was! Obviously I was sweaty, but it was delightful to not be soaked in the first five minutes.
I noticed there were new reflective numbered signs around the summit. I first noticed #36 at the junction of the auto road and the Eliot Circle, and then I noticed all the buildings at the summit were also numbered (the observatory was appropriately labeled as #1). Curious what this is for, maybe DCR is working on a new map? In my wondering, I also took a Pokemon GO break up top to reclaim my spot in the gym.
I admired the wild assortment of chairs located at the view off the south side of Great Blue Hill and continued on my loop. The Skyline Trail North coming down from the summit was a literal stream, and I began to wonder why DCR doesn't take precautions to keep people on the trails (and keep them from widening the already wide and eroded trails). Naturally some sections are worse than others, but it's interesting to me.
Continuing on, I noticed that humidity was still present and dense in the cols between the hills, but I did get to use the boardwalk before Wolcott for its intended use for the first time! Every time I've hiked this it's been dry or snowy, but this day the ground was actually wet and muddy!
Slugging up Wolcott, my lungs reminded me that my coughing fit yesterday does not go unpunished. I also killed a mosquito on my shoulder and I guess bent its nose into my shirt so it wouldn't come off? A lot was happening in a short amount of time for me. I was distracted by my personal woes while admiring the charred areas of Wolcott, which is continuing to regrow nicely.
I couldn't help but notice how horribly my pack smelled going up Hemenway... ew. I need to get that washed. There was an amazing breeze from the view off Hemenway and many chirping bugs in the grasses.
Now onto Hancock Hill, I noticed the trees along the circle path are getting ready to be beautiful in their fall colors. I really need to make an active effort to hike in the Blue Hills more this fall during foliage season - I keep missing it due to one reason or another. Up on Hancock, the sun felt strong but nice, people were not being friendly, and I had to slowly descend due to the wet, slippery rocks, which eventually led to what I believe is some drainage reconstruction on the Wolcott Path.
I walked alongside the impressively long, stopped line of cars on Hillside St. before reentering the woods on the Skyline Trail South, which was also lined in beautiful white White Wood Aster flowers. I took a moment to reflect (and hurt my own feelings) on the time I was hiking on the AT in NJ and let a downhill hiker pass, and then got lectured about how the uphill hiker has the right of way. I think this should be modified to the uphill hiker has the right of way, but if they pull over, they FIRMLY deny that right and uphill MUST pass. Anyway, that rage powered me up Houghton Hill, and I noticed I was not feeling as horrible as I ususally do when I go up this hill - progress!
Now continuing along past Houghton Hill, I admired how there were actually running streams, as opposed to dried, mosquito-filled streambeds with occasional puddles. The headstream of the Blue Hills River was exceptionally lovely, with gentle cascades along the trail.
I mentally prepared for the final push, which I also handled better than usual (yay). I noticed I kept passing people for a second time, implying that many people do the loop that I'm doing in the opposite direction. I wonder which direction is more popular? Even before I added on the Eliot Path, I've always gone in this direction.
My legs were beat and I made it up to Big Blue for the second time, and I was truly just happy to be back there. I'm so lucky to live near such a great reservation, even if it takes forever to drive there after work with traffic. My grand finale was twisting my ankle and slipping on a slab going down the Eliot Path, which I powered through like an adult. Up next is my Mt. Monadnock finale - if the hurricane misses us!
Step-By-Step
- Park at Ski Area parking area and hike up Eliot Path (red dots).
- Summit Great Blue Hill, then go to North Skyline Trail.
- Descend via North Skyline Trail, and follow N. Skyline Trail to Hillside St.
- Turn right to follow Hillside St. to South Skyline Trail on right.
- Turn right onto South Skyline Trail to 1066.
- Summit Great Blue Hill.
- Follow Eliot Circle to Eliot Path, descend to car.
No comments:
Post a Comment