St. Moritz, Ski Jump, Indian Camp, Sawcut Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Tracing Loop
Distance: 5.54 miles
Elevation: 384 feet
Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
The Hike
'Twas the morning after a late-night wedding, I was a bit hungover, and due to attempting to find love in this world, I was also feeling a bit anxious - definitely time for a hike! This would be my first tracing hike in a WHILE. I decided to tackle some of the Quincy sections of the Blue Hills - with the main goal finishing up the St. Moritz Ponds area and getting over to the power/gas plant (whichever it is). It was a WARM 78 degrees and I was met at the trailhead with a MASSIVE (30+ people) foraging group.
I started by hiking around the Shea Rink and past the abandoned ball fields. The St. Moritz Ponds were mostly lily pads and it smelled very much like "lake." I had to swim upstream against the foragers, which was frustrating. When I crossed the bridge on Minichiello Path I noticed the water level was about two feet below the wood, which is in stark contrast to when it was flooded last spring (or two springs ago? time is weird!).
I hiked the network of trails between the Murphy Path and Pipe Line, got SWEATING from the humidity, and eventually began to follow the green blazes across Wampatuck Road and then Indian Camp Path. There was an occasional breeze that would slightly bring me back to life, but I was not feeling my best! Once on the far side of the Quincy area, I found a least a bajillion mushrooms - the foragers were missing out!
I wiggled my way over to the power/gas plant - the usually horribly wet spot was bone dry! There were folks working at the plant, which was awkward, but we paid no mind to each other as I hiked on by. I passed by some enthusiastic golfers, who scared the life out of me, passed a few people in Sawcut Notch, and got my one and only bug bite near the Old Furnace Brook Path.
Once back in the St. Moritz area, naturally I found myself trapped behind the foragers again. I took the Firepit Path back to aovid them, and still ended up getting stuck behind them at the very end - boo!
My hike ended, I went home and showered, but I was still feeling extremely anxious about the dating game and love life and probably being 30 years old, so I had what I call "my great crashout" - I walked to Target, bought a journal and many pens, and continued to walk to the Arboretum and wrote for HOURS. It unfortunately felt very good and helped me 1) clear my head, 2) start to sort out my feelings, and 3) kind of look for insights and connections to other times I've felt this way. It's annoying when self-care works!
Step-by-Step
- Part at Shea Memorial Rink.
- Walk to other side of Rink and start hike on path.
- At jct., continue onto Winter Carnival Path.
- At terminus, continue onto Minichiello Path.
- At Pipe Line, continue onto Ski Jump Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Murphy Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- After 4205, turn right onto Obbatinewat Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Murphy Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Ski Jump Path.
- At 4205, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- At 4202, turn right onto Murphy Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Obbatinewat Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- Cross Wampatuck Road, continue on Pipe Line.
- At 4135, turn right onto Indian Camp Path.
- At 4091, turn left onto Crags Foot Path.
- At 4066, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- At terminus, turn left onto Sawcut Notch Path.
- Cross Wampatuck Road, continue onto Skyline Trail.
- At jct. after 4220, turn right onto Firepit Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Minichiello Path.
- Follow green blazes back to car.
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