Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya)

Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya) (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 4.21 miles

Elevation: 1,171 feet

Time: 1 hours, 42 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike 

After a few days of getting caught up on sleep after my Californian bender, I was finally feeling back to normal. I made it to the Trailside Museum parking area after work in 82 degree, humid-but-breezy weather. The drive was slow, but I was excited to get some hiking in! I cruised up the Eliot Path, passing a couple sharing a joint on the way (I would see them later near the tower and one of them was NOT having fun). 

I continued from Great Blue Hill over to Hancock Hill on tired-feeling legs. I'm unsure if my legs have been feeling more tired becuase I have just been more tired, if the humidity is just taking its toll, or the third water bottle I added to my pack is just enough extra weight that I really feel it... Who knows!

I descended Hancock and climbed Houghton in one tank of gas, but it did NOT feel good! I also noticed an absurd amount of LARGE spiders on this hike (quarter-sized), and they were all the same type of spider but like a mile away from each other, hmmm. I noticed some dried out lady slippers as I hiked from Houghton to Great Blue Hill, where I also noticed the baby blueberries beginning to transition to blue! There was a wind after Shadow Cliff that I think saved my life since I was SOAKED. 

I noticed some daisies near the summit as I descended down to the ski area, which was surprisingly hazy. I played some pokemon as I descended and saw a red-tailed hawk fly away from a tree and let out its trademark "CAAAAAAWHHHHHHHH," which was pretty sweet.

Near the end of my descent, I noticed some foam-like substance on some of the grass at my feet. According to Seek, it was caused by a type of spittlebug. According to Wikipedia:

"The larvae are well known for the self-generated foam nests which can be observed during spring in meadows (especially on cuckoo flowers, Cardamine pratensis, and broom, Genista, species). The larvae in the foam nests are largely protected from predators and also get the necessary moisture for the appropriate development and temperature, so their mortaility remains low even in bad weather. The larval stage lasts about 50 days. The adults leave the foam nest only when it is completely dried. This takes about ten days. The females mate soon after.

Step-by-Step

- Start hike from Trailside Museum parking on Eliot Path (red dots).

- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle. 

- At next jct., turn left onto Summit Road.

- At next jct., turn right onto spur trail to Summit.

- Descend summit towards Skyline Trail South.

- Turn left onto Skyline Trail, and then right onto Skyline Trail North.

- At Hillside St., turn right onto Hillside St.

- After stables, turn right onto Skyline Trail South.

- Follow Skyline Trail South to Eliot Circle.

- At jct., turn right to summit Great Blue Hill.

- From summit, descend to ski area.

- Follow Patriots and Sonya down.

- Near bottom turn on Sonya, turn right back onto Eliot Path.

- Retrace steps to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album