Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya) (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: o-o Loop
Distance: 4.67 miles
Elevation: 1,204 feet
Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Book Time: 2 hours, 56 minutes
Parking: Ample parking at Trailside Museum South, and even more in the north lot.
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits
The Hike
I had a sleepy, hungry drive down to the Trailside Museum for what is somehow my first after-school Skyline Loop of the school year. The trailhead was busy, but I think it was because the museum was open. It was a STUNNING sunny, breezy day with temperatures in the mid-60s. Hiking up Eliot Path, I saw somebody doing maintenance on the Magic Carpet of the ski area! I was going to pull over at what I affectionately call the "pissin' rock," but a woman ahead of me turned around and started hiking towards me the second I pulled over, and then she turned around again when I continued hiking? Strange.
Up on Eliot Circle, I heard a ton of voices at the tower - no thank you. I felt the familiar need to cut my toe nails and in my final push to the top, I noticed the weather observatory has these new AI-Generated signs that have a fake Boston skyline? There were three Prudential buildings? That's super disappointing for 1) a state park and 2) a weather observatory. A sign also said complementary parking with reservation - maybe they're allowing normal folks to drive up now?
At the top, a minivan was leaking a sweet-smelling green fluid. I hiked down the gravel path back to Eliot Circle and noticed an absurd amount of crickets. Both the grey and red squirrels were out in abundance getting ready for winter.
Near the beach area, there was a fence blocking the trail, but no signs saying it was closed. I will NOT let this AI construction get in my way, so I went right around the fence and stomped along the newly-graded gravel(?) path. It was a fine dusty path with a very unique smell - so strange.
The other end of the path was blocked where the bridge meets the tower, so I took this as an opportunity to go under the bridge for the first time - how fun! I also noticed on AllTrails there's a viewpoint if you follow the drainage out under the bridge? I doubt it, but I'll have to investigate.
I worked my way down Great Blue Hill, passing the lady that disrupted my rock moment. She really likes turning around over and over again. Later on between the two high points of Wolcott Hill a guy mysteriously dressed all in black asked "any good shots?" The burned areas of Wolcott Hill were still looking quite burnt, and the trees were starting to fall as storms blow through.
I was admiring the beatiful angle of the sun - so much lower than in August! I nearly went blind getting a photo of the viewpoint from Hemenway. I also noticed my legs were not overly sore from leg day - a good sign that my "getting my shit together" phase is slowing working.
I took a very short detour on the Circle Path after hiking up Hancock Hill to get a view over to Buck Hill, which is looking super autumnal. There was a wooden cross just off-trail that I hadn't noticed before. The fall colors were pretty muted, which I feel is always the case in the Blue Hills. I wonder if that's perpetual drought, acidic soil, the mix of trees, or a combination of all of it? I thought I heard the stoat again as I came down Hancock Hill, but it was just a lady.
I really need a new map, but I never have the cash to get one from headquarters - and someone was working RIGHT in the window next to the iron ranger! The stables had a "no restroom" sign and a little history of the horses:
"Mounted Unit: History and Introduction
Estrablished in January 1997, the Mounted Unit Park Rangers serve as a link between the public and the Massachusetts state park system which is managed by the Massachusetts Department of COnservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The unmistakable presence of a horse acts as a magnet that prompts visitors to interact with the Mountain Park Ranger, thus, creating the role of the "Mounties" as "Goodwill Ambassadors" of the DCR.
In addition to their role as the Mountain Park Rangers serve as park stewards, educating the public about the agency's various recreational opportunities as well as protecting the natural resources by enforcing the state park's Code of Massachusetts (CMR) rules and regulations. The Massachusetts Mounted Park Rangers not only patrol in areas such as Middlesex Fells Reservation in Medford, Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, and the expansive Blue Hills Reservation - that stretches across Milton, Canton, Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, and Westwood city and town lines - but also patrol across Massachusetts from the bays of Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
The Mounted Rangers can be seen participating in public celebrations and ceremonial events, conducting educatiodal programs, and even assisting emergency response units with mountain support and expertise, such as search and rescue.
DCR's Massachusetts Park Ranger Mounted Unit Headquarters and Stable are located in the Blue Hills Reservation, near Houghton's Pond, Milton.
The DCR Ranger stable, established in 1899, was the facility erected in the Blue Hills Reservation. The Stable is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest stable in US built to house park patrol and work horses for the park system, and surrounding areas.
Hillside Street was super backed up, but to my delight, each of the three horses has a profile sign now! I do suspect they are partially AI-generated, though...:
"Cowboy Joe, aka "Cowboy"
My name is Cowboy Joe. Some people call me Cowboy others call me Joe. I am a Clydesdale and Saddlebred cross gelding. I am 16.2 hands high and 1500 pounds and my coat is Bay which means brown. On my legs I have four white socks and a big white blaze on my forehead. I was born in Canada in 2006 and have lived with the Park Rangers since I was 3 years old! If you look closely, my eyes are a little uneven. It might look silly, but it doesn't affect me and I love being a Park Patrol Horse!
Sergeant Sullival, aka "Mike"
My name is Sergeant Mike Sullivan. Some people call me Mike. I am a Clydesdale and Trakehner cross gelding. I am 17.2 hands high and 1800 pounds and my coat is Bay which means brown. On my legs I have three white socks and a big white blaze on my forehead. I was born in Canada in 2006 and have lived with the Park Rangers since I was 3 years old! You might hear me whinnying to my friends to say hello while I work, I love being a Park Patrol Horse!
Officer Kilduff, aka "Duffy
My name is Officer Kilduff. Some people call me Duffy. I am a Percheron and Thoroughbred cross gelding. I am 18.1 hands high and 1900 pounds and my coat is shiny black. On my legs I have three white socks and a little white star on my forehead. I was born in Canada in 2006 and have lived with the Park Rangers since I was 3 years old! Snuggles and pats are my favorite and love to say hello when my Rangers says we can, I love being a Park Patrol Horse!"
I passed a hunting warning sign as I turned back into the woods and followed a herd path a big blowdown at the sharp turn. The woods were looking so different without their summer leaves, and there were squirrels EVERYWHERE. I don't know if I was moving slowly or what but I was not as humbled as usual climbing up Houghton Hill (Update from Strava: slow).
I went down Houghton, crossed the tiniest trickle of a stream and then meandered to cross the second one, which was a trickle+. The fall colors were beautiful on the interior, and I noticed there was literally no indication of Eliot Circle being closed at the bottom of the final climb. I made my way up slowly and feeling good, and lo behold the top was fenced off! It's CRAZY to expect someone to hike up that mess and then go all the way back down, around, and up again? No way, I scooted around the fence and did my stoming again all the way back to the top. Maybe they just wanted to deter crowds, not prevent them?
From the top, I hiked down to the ski area which had a breathtakingly clear view of the foliage with Wachusetts, the Wapack Range, and Monadncok off in the distance. The flat lands between were orange, red, and brown, all with a slightly golden hue to them from the setting sun. Really stunning! I followed Patriots to Sonya right on back to the car. I was HUNGRY afterwards!
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.
- Hike around observatory building clockwise.
- Follow gravel path to Skyline Trail.
- At terminus, turn left onto Skyline Trail.
- 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 Eliot Circle, turn left.
- At gravel path (same as before), 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 parking lot.
Photo Album
No comments:
Post a Comment