Winter Finale @ Houghton Pond (Blue Hills Reservation)

Winter Finale @ Houghton Pond (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spurs

Distance: 10.36 miles

Elevation: 532 feet

Time: 3 hours, 23 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Blue Hills Winter Trace

The Hike

Still legally testing positive, but I'm back to work so therefore the COVID chronicles are over! Still minding my business and trying to stick to lesser-used trails (or in today's case, nasty windy Mondays on more popular trails - it worked)!

I needed the random trails by the circle at Houghton's Pond, which I could have finished in 10 minutes, it even with the awkwardly intense wind, it was still nice to be outside, so I added a loop around the pond and Breeze Hill to my docket. Temperatures were in the upper 40s, I accidentally wore flood pants (the same Walmart pants I bought forever ago that I'm hoping rip soon so I can trash them - I only rememebred they were flood pants becuase I wore my shorter socks today), and I was off!

I suffered through the loopty-loops and enjoyed the occasional ray of sunshine, and then I was happy to be hiking the actual loop around the pond as a reward. I hadn't hiked this loop in a while, and I really enjoyed going around with a deeper apprecaition and knowledge of the area - notably being able to point out Great Blue, Houghton, and Hancock Hills from the far side of the pond. The woods back here are also lovely.

I continued along the choppy waters of Houghton Pond, enjoying the sights, when I decided I'd make my way up to Breeze Hill, and I did say to myself that I would shift my focus from the Winter Trace to the Grid once this was over - here we are!

The hike up and down Breeze was no problem, and I appreciate the easily accessible off-trail "summit." I headed down the paved Bugbee Path, and soon enough was back to use the Porta Potties and drive home with a new challenge under my belt! I emailed AMC-SEM, and they immediately got back with a notice of congratulations and asking for my address for the free (!) patch! 

Step-By-Step

- Start hike at Houghton's Pond Lot A. 

- Hike the mess of small paths/trails by the snack stand. 

- Once complete, follow yellow-dots around Houghton's Pond counter-clockwise. 

- At Northeast corner of pond, follow trail branching away from pond.

- At 2053, turn left to follow red-dots.

- Summit Breeze Hill just off-trail, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

- At junction, turn left onto Paddock Trail.

- At junction, continue right on gravel/dirt road.

- Hike back to Visitor Center.

- Return to parking lot.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album