Quincy Hills Loop via St. Moritz Ponds (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: oo-O Loop
Distance: 5.13 miles
Elevation: 600 feet
Time: 1 hour, 52 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
The Hike
Although I still wanted to be skiing, the ridiculous cold up north and impending snow storm kept me local. It was a balmy 10 degrees and I forced myself out the door to explore some of the Quincy area of the Blue Hills for my second winter map. The storm was slated to start around noon, so I figured a 9:00am start would be good!
I started with spikes on after walking the sidewalk past the Shea Memorial Rink and the plan was roughly a wide loop hitting all the hills on this side of the park, Skyline Trail to Fox Hill to Sawcut Notch. Even with it being 10 degrees, the Nano Puff came off soon into the hike. I followed the Firepit Path around the totally frozen St. Moritz Pond and I was still feeling warm with two pairs of leggings on under my pants.
I crossed Wampatuck Road and took my fleece off at the Quarry before hitting Rattlesnake Hill (which had one persons' footprints) and The Crags before a rough descent down with not enough snow for spikes, but I had already committed.
After working my way up Wampatuck Hill, I giggled at seeing the mall, since I had just stopped there to grab a few things from Target before the storm. There was a bit of a breeze near Chickatawbut Road so I began to pick up the pace to stay warm as I climbed up Fox Hill, and I was rewarded with a lovely tree view to Boston as I descended. I put my fleece back on once at the bottom and continued on!
I wiggled my way over to Sawcut Notch Path and took a quick bushwhack to Little Dome, which only had deer tracks. I continued on to Great Dome, which similarly only had deer tracks (but also some orange flagging tape?). I love these two little trail-less hills - they both have humble views and feel very remote for being in the Blue Hills. I also felt wildly satisfied hitting all five hills in this stretch of the park in one hike!
After descending Great Dome, I began to hear the pitter-patter of falling snow, and then it increased! Seemed like the storm was starting a couple of hours early! I passed my first and only person near Wampatuck Road, and I made it back to my car in time to see all of the salt trucks congregating in the Shea Memorial Rink parking lot. The drive home was a little slippery, but I made it back in time to hunker down and do some Legos!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Shea Memorial Rink.
- Turn left onto Willard Street.
- Turn left onto path.
- At jct., turn left onto Skyline Trail.
- At jct., turn right onto Winter Carnival Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Minichiello Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Firepit Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Skyline Trail.
- Cross Wampatuck Road, follow Skyline Trail to 4134.
- At 4134, turn right onto path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Water Pipe Line.
- At terminus, turn right onto Fox Hill Path.
- At 4102, turn left onto Indian camp Path.
- Before 4091, turn left onto path.
- At 4083, turn right onto Sawcut Notch path.
- Hike unmapped spur to Little Dome, then continue on Sawcut Notch Path.
- Hike unmapped spur to Great Dome, turn conitnue on Sawcut Notch Path.
- Merge with Skyline Trail.
- Follow Skyline Trail back to car.
Photo Album
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