[BACKLOG] Buck Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Buck Hill Summit Trail & Unnamed Trail

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 751feet
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike

This was one of my favorite hikes in the Blue Hills to date. Beautiful day, warm weather, and views. Started at the pull-over across from Forest Street in Milton and jumped right into the woods at the Forest Path granite marker (I recently learned these trailhead markers were installed around 1985-1986) and turned left onto the Headquarters Path (which was apparently closed due to what I guess is construction on the old school house on 28, but two mountain bikers were blocking the sign so I didn't realize this until my return trip - oops!). After bouncing back from the old school house, I turned left at the fork and stayed on a windy trail that went all the way to the top of Buck Hill. This trail crosses the Forest Path (2194) and the Buck Hill Path (2182) on the way up, and it additionally crosses two unmapped trails towards the summit - one blazed with a plastic white triangle, and one with a plastic white square. I haven't found any details on these trails, but they are listed on AllTrails. 

The top of Buck Hill is always amazing. It's a small taste of the world above treeline. I didn't spend too much time up top since I knew I'd be back - so I pulled a wide U-Turn and went down the north side of the Buck Hill Summit Trail, which was another fun winding footpath. Turned left at 2153, and continued onto the Doe Hollow Path at 2151. From here I had a few trails to hit before I climbed Buck Hill again, which eventually brougth me to the Pig Rock Path, which I have many questions about and no answers (there were a few boulders - was one of them Pig Rock??). Back at 2154, I started climbing back up Buck Hill on a much less used trail. I hit a section that has previously been burned in a fire, but not sure when. The climb up the South Side of Buck Hill is just as fun as the other sides! It really does feel like I'm back in the whites, just... smaller and easer. 

Once back on top of Buck Hill I realized there were a few mountains in the distance. I booted up PeakVisor and found that they were Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, and Pack Monadnock, which was very cool to see. From there I followed the Skyline Trail eastbound to descend, hit a few more random trails I needed, and then followed the Buck Hill Path back to the car. Great day!

Photo Album

Originally written March of 2022.

[BACKLOG] Fowl Meadow - Burma Road East (Blue Hills Reservation)

Fowl Meadow - Burma Road East (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation: 194 feet
Time: 1 hour, 11 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike

I was equally anxious and excited to cross this bunch of trails off of my list. I made a weak attempt to hike them when I hiked Burma Road and the trail along the Neponset River, but the Swamp Trail was flooded out so I went home. I parked at the end of Royall Street, which didn't seem the most legal but it's where I parked for a Skyline Trail traverse two falls ago so I risked it again to no issue!

There's an unmarked access trail to the Skyline Trail, and the Skyline Trail leads to abandoned pavement that was laid when I-95 was intended to go straight through Boston. The Skyline Trail over here is a bit messy with a lot of garbage, and the old pavement gives post-apocolyptic vibes. The pavement leads to an old rusted gate, and that's where this network of trails begins. 

I went straight at 6102 onto the Green Hill Path which was quite loveley. At 6103 I turned onto the Field Path which was anything but a field. The footpath was vauge but follow-able with baby thorns sticking out of the ground. The second half of the trail was dreadful. Someone on Facebook said if they ever returned he'd bring a machete and I firmly agree. I ended up getting spat back out at 6101, which does not line up with the trail on the map, but I'm pretty confident there was literally no other way to go as there were piles of thorns on all sides.

Anyway, once I survived I turked back onto the Green Hill Path and went back to the Swamp Trail, which was actually really cool. I hit the flooded section and did my best to rock-log-stick-mud hop to the other side, and I'll say I was definiteyl close enough! I then meandered to 6106 and hit up both spur trails. The sput that is an extension of the Green Hill Path was wide and easy and continued onto an unmarked network of trails (I believe it links up with extension of the Fowl Meadow Path that continues after the Swamp Trail, but not sure). I tured around at the border of the Blue Hills Reservation. It was hard to tell when the other spur trail stopped, but once I could clearly see into strangers' back yard I turned around, followed the Orchard Trail back, and made it back to the car!

Overall it was a nice afternoon. No desire to ever go back to the Field Path, but definitely curious about those other unmarked trails. 

Photo Album

Posted April 5th, 2022 at 6:35am.

[BACKLOG] Fowl Meadow - Burma Road and Neponset River (Blue Hills Reservation)

Fowl Meadow - Burma Road and Neponset River 

Hike Type: Lollipop
Distance: 5.1 miles
Elevation: 26 feet
Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike
This was a hike that I was wrongfully dreading. I've heard stories about how overgrown the trail along the Neponset River gets and how wet it always is. I put on my big boy shorts and went at it and was happily surprised! Burma Road was really a loveley walk. Always something to look at while walking on this wide path. There was a really cute bridge over a drainage that was something out of a children's book. At 6005 I turned right onto the Fowl Meadow Path that headed towards the Neponset River. I noticed a bunch of elevated sewers - I guess they were put in as infastructure when they planned to send I-95 through Boston? Not sure though. There was a very short spur path that went into the woods, formerly labaled 6009 as recently as the 2014 map, and the 1996 map shows a former trail that I assume is overgrown/flooded out. I followed the 6009 path until it became overgrown and then turned around.

From the 1996 map.

Then I landed at the Neponset River at a nice viewpoint. Across the river are the train tracks which reminded me that even though there was nobody around me, I was never alone. I was nervous starting this trek from everything that I've heard, and finding the trail took a second, and the first water crossing took a few more, but after that truly it was fine! Reports on Facebook say that I got it on a very dry day which I cannot be happier about. There were a few sections that were sketchy and I hit a few prickers, but truly it was fine. At the end of the path I even stumbled upon my first snake of the season!

Once getting back on Burma Road, I finished out that last portion towards I-95 and turned back around. I loved this section, even though it began to feel long. Lots of still water on the sides of the trail with plenty of ducks living their best lives. I had a good amount of energy left when I made it back to 6005, so I decided I would see how the trails on the Eastern side of Burma Road are. I followed the Fowl Meadow Path to the Swamp Trail, dodging some wet spots, and untimately turned around at the Swamp Trail beause it was flooded over. There were a few wide unmapped trails that stemmed out of this area but I decided not to explore as my after school hunger hit. I turned back and headed back to the car. I would definitely come back, but not in the summer and not in a wet season. 

Photo Album

Posted on April 8th, 2022 at 10:19 AM.