Hogdon, Madden, Duck Pond, No Name, and Prescott Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: oo-o Loop
Distance: 3.75 miles
Elevation: 308 feet
Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
The Hike
After the trail conditions on Monday's hike, I cautiously approached the Blue Hills again. I had a decent drive after work, landing at Exit 3/Ponkapoag Trail just before 4pm (Wednesdays are my late days leaving school. It was a WARM 50 degrees out with bountiful sun and some wind. I was mentally prepped for some brutal trail conditions a la Monday, and I was off!
The YMCA gate was open which was surpring, and the road section of Ponkapoag Trail was nicely plowed and melted. My spikes went on once on teh Hogdon Foot Path, and the temperature dropped once I was in the woods surrounded by snow. Overall, traction was good. It got messier/more variable once near the Redman Farm Path, and my spikes came off once back on the road grade, which in FULL mud season.
Once back in the woods on No Name/Prescott my spikes were back on, and I noticed there were more bare spots than Monday and there was also less slush, which was a delight. I even noticed an old orange blaze on the Prescott Foot Path, which is one of my favorite things to stumble upon. There were nice tree views to Ponkapoag Pond in these woods, and I continued to meander my way over to Madden Road, which was unfortunately a firm layer of slush on top of water. Also, someone left a fur-lined headband on a tree that nearly scared the life out of me.
I missed the turn for my intended route (which I have already forgotten) and continued to meander my way around Duck Pond, onto Fire Trail, and then along Swamp Path. Swamp was in great conditions for spikes, but seemed like it'll be living up to it's name once the ice melts. Back on the No Name/Prescott criss-cross, I found a couple of deer and made my way back to the car, where I was the last one to leave for the day. This was a MUCH nicer day in the woods!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Exit 3/Ponkapoag Trail parking.
- Start hike on Ponkapoag Trail
- At 5320, turn right onto Hogdon Foot Path.
- At 5218, turn left onto Redman Farm Path.
- At 5241, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5311, turn right onto No Name Path.
- At 5330, turn right onto Prescott Foot Path.
- At 5343, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5371, continue onto Madden Road.
- At 5383, turn left onto Three Pines Path.
- At 5382, turn right onto path.
- At 5381, turn right onto Fire Trail.
- At 5365, turn right onto path (green blazes).
- At 5370, continue right onto Swamp Path.
- At 5371, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5344, turn right onto No Name Path.
- At 5330, turn right onto Prescott Foot Path.
- At 5322, turn right onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- Return to car.
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