Sassaman Notch, Cedar Rock Path, CCC Camp (Blue Hills Reservation)
Distance: 5.44 miles
Elevation: 640 feet
Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes
Elevation: 640 feet
Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes
Hike Type: Tracing Loop
Hiking Challenges: 125-Mile Club (2x); Blue Hills Grid, 52 Hike Challenge
The Hike
It's been just over a week since my loop around the Baldfaces(+), and after a few days of Prednisone, my lungs were finally feeling (marginally) better! The Baldfaces really did a number on me - it got to the point where I had my third ever iteration of "geriatric lungs", which is what got me on an inhaler and my asthma diagnosis in the first place. I'm curious if malnourishment/dehydration played a role in the irriatation this time, or if it was just a strenuous hike? Not sure. Either way, I decided to stay local today and not push myself too hard as I still wasn't at 100% - so off to the Blue Hills I went! It was a beautiful morning with temperatures in the low 50s with a gentle breeze. I was nervous as the parking lot on Chickatawbut Rd/MA-28 was full, but I was one of three cars at the Chickatawbut Overlook parking!
My hike started on the Chickatawbut side of the park, as I foolishly missed a bit of the Slide Notch Path a few months ago (turns out I was missing no more than 50 feet... I was actively moving slower than I usually would and only carried two Nalgenes of water. My heart rate was higher than ususal going up the stair, but overall I was doing okay! I always find it fun to imagine what the view from the tower used to look like before everything grew in.
I made a loop with the Tower Path, Slide Notch Path, and Sassaman Paths, which was a lovely warm up for the day. Passed a few people, which made sense since it was a holiday Monday. I hit the trail I needed, meandered back to the tower and the overlook, and then continued on!
Next up was the Cedar Rock Path, which has a few confusing, unmapped side paths (and one sign WAAAY up in a tree saying to stay on the correct path), and a small burned area. Once at the Pipe Line I made sure to remember the little spur to Nahanton Ave (I had to go back my first time doing this), and then started the long walk to MA-28 along the Headquarters Path/Pipe Line.
The Headquarters Path/Pipe Line was shockingly delightful! Clear footbed, beautiful grasses on either side, and somehow dry! I only passed one other person, and had about 5 minutes of an annoying hip pain that went away (its almost as if I really haven't walked in a few days... because I hadn't). Once closer to MA-28 the trail does get grassier, and besides for one 20-ish foot section, was completely dry! I was delighted. I turned around at the gate, and then started the longest part of my trek, hiking the whole length of this trail.
I caught up to a couple and their toddler who waited conveniently for me to be 20 feet away to start moving again... which was annoying... but we would play leap frog a few more times during this hike and I grew to forgive them. The uphill section of the trail did NOT kill me, which was a great sign! I decided to continue on and make the Little Dome loop since the Headquarters Path was so dry, but it turns out there were people working at the gas plant and I simply did not want to socialize, which was a bummer, but overall fine - I was proud of myself for trying!
I passed the couple again while I headed toward the CCC Camp, which is always a favorite area. Such a unique spot with a cool history. It would be cool if something happened to these woods to make them less than 95% prickers.
I continued to hike the paths in the area, passed the couple two more times, and did the obligatory hike along the Minuteman Path to the park boundary, and then t urned around at the "Blue Wiggle Rock."
My return trip went quickly as I admired the fall foliage starting to set in. It is fun to be able to hike in northern NH one week where it's peak fall, and then down here a week later and seeing the early colors again! The little steep part up the Pipe Line was rough on my lungs, I smelled HORRIBLY, and the last push up the Cedar Rock Path also beat up my lungs, but soon enough I was back at my car packing up as every family with a 2 year old was taking photos at the overlook, or at least it seemed that way!
Step-By-Step
- Park at Chickatawbut Overlook
- Start hike along Tower Path.
- At Chickatawbut Tower, turn left to continue on Tower Path.
- At junction, turn right onto Slide Notch Path.
- At Skyline Trail junction, turn around.
- At 3094, turn left onto Sassaman Notch Path.
- At 3075, turn right onto Tower Path.
- At Chickatawbut Tower, turn left to continue on Tower Path and return to Overlook.
- Cross Chickatawbut Road, veer left, and continue hike on Cedar Rock Path.
- At 4012, continue straight (slight veer right) to hike spur to Nahanton Ave.
- At Nahanton Ave., turn around.
- At 4012, turn right onto Headquarters Path/Pipe Line.
- At Chickatawbut Road, turn around.
- Follow Headquarters Path/Pipe Line all the way to 4066.
- Hike the continuation to the gas plant, notice there's workers there, and turn around.
- Back at 4066, turn right onto Sawcut Notch Path.
- At 4042, turn left onto CCC Path.
- At 4010, turn left onto Nike Ajax Path.
- At 4009, turn around and hike to 4014.
- At 4014, turn left onto Sawcut Notch Path.
- At 4011, turn around.
- At next left turn, turn left to hike Minuteman Path.
- At park boundary, turn around.
- Back at Sawcut Notch Path, turn left to continue.
- At 4066, turn right onto Headquarters Path/Pipe Line.
- At 4012, turn left onto Cedar Rock Path and return to car.
No comments:
Post a Comment