Saturday morning found most of us gathering at 8 am for the drive up north where me met a few more folks. The beginning of our adventure was right at the Blue Hills Reservation parking lot: We walked through the Visitor Center area to find the zoo and were happy to see a river otter and breathtaking white snowy owl on display in the little zoo.
Rain was threatened but never carried out. We remarked all day how fortunate we were to have both temperature and humidity which were perfect for hiking. Only the slightest breezes were felt and enjoyed while we were hot. Overcast skies kept us from worrying about sunburns and overheating. We were treated to sun and clear skies at the trails end.
Uphill in Blue Hills Reservation
We started uphill from our cars and soon reached the tower. Here we were treated to the first mini-seminar about equipment and packing. Trip Leaders Steve Harrison and Sue Warthman both carried full-sized packs with everything needed for a serious North Country day hike. They doled out a wealth of information about what is vitally important (adequate water), what is nice to have (coffee-brewing equipment) and how to put it all together. We could all tell that the voice of experience was speaking about how to make things easier on ourselves and how to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Most laypeople would not consider bringing a sleeping bag, pad, stove and extra clothes on a day hike but we were lead to understand why this is a good idea.
The Tower
For those who have not yet visited the Blues, the Reservation is a chain of 22 hills over 7,000+ acres just west of Boston. 125 miles of trails cover the terrain. The original people living here, the Massachusetts, were the source of – well, you can guess the rest of that one. Sixteen historic structures and a weather observatory dot this landscape, one of the first parcels of land to be set aside for conservation in 1893.
Leaving the Tower
The education continued at rest stops throughout the day and more tips were passed on as we walked. Use of hiking poles, proper clothing and footwear, safety, hiking etiquette, food/hydration, first aid and especially Leave No Trace ethics were some of the most prominent categories covered. Sue and Steve kept the lectures fun and full of practical advice.
Over Stone Bridge
The landscape of the Reservation is typical Southern New England hiking with rocky ascents and bus-sized boulders to leapfrog. Leaves were just beginning to show in shades of extra-bright-new green during our visit, the color enhanced by diffusely lit skies. Only a few wildflowers were peeking out so far. Swamps, marshes and ponds also lie in wait throughout the area but we stayed in mostly dry areas. We saw a few distant birds but none of the Reservation’s more interesting residents such as coyotes and rattlesnakes.
Lunch View of Boston
We stopped for lunch at the top of Buck Hill in full glorious view of Boston, the harbor and islands. Ron and Steve entertained the rest of us with tales of hiking glory/terror. No, Steve was not wearing a black kilt today but hiking shorts with gators. He made sure we were all jacketed in the cool breezes of the open summit, another example of good hiking practices. To the same end Sue reminded us to snack and drink at every rest stop.
We were halfway around the Blue Line Trail at this point so we headed back towards the cars. A quick map demonstration showed how we would pass by some hills we had already scaled in favor of somewhat flatter ground. Several times the upcoming Map and Compass Workshop was impressed upon us as an important part of our hiking education. The group expressed a lot of interest in future Step-By-Step hikes and was also encouraged to attend June’s Wildflower hike in NH to further whet our whistles for the really hard stuff.
Rocky Trails
Our last 45-or-so minutes were spent in lovely unexpected sunshine. It felt good in combination with the cool gentle breeze and perked up the forest with new energy. Or maybe that was just our tired spirits. We all left feeling well-schooled, happy and only a little sore, looking forward to a full hiking season. For everyone who has wanted to venture outside their RI (read: mountain-free) comfort zone and get serious about hiking, the season is still very young. This program will give you the tools and confidence to start checking places off your life list. Get out there!