Blue Hills - Ponkapoag Pond Hike

TRIP DATE:  12/6/14  

TRIP LOCATION:  Blue Hills – Ponkapoag Pond                     

MEETING TIME:          8:30 a.m.                    

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):             5

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       2 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      4.0 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    N/A

DIFFICULTY:       D                            (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Cathy MacCurtain

CO-LEADER NAME(S):   Kathy Fagan

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:  Ponkapoag Golf Course Parking Lot

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:       No                   TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:  N/A

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?    No    

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 

Rainy and cool

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

Unfortunately, the weather kept many participants away from the intro. hike.  However, those in attendance had a great time.

Intro. to AMC Hiking - Foxboro State Forest

TRIP DATE: 11/22/2014

TRIP LOCATION Foxboro State Forest Intro. to AMC Hiking

MEETING TIME: 9:30 AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 17

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): app. 3.5 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES: 5.8 mi.

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): Negligible.

DIFFICULTY: D (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Paul Miller

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Barry Young

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Parked in overflow lot across from Forest headquarters since gates were not open.  Several participants also had to park in lot at Chapel Meeting House, just up the road.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED? N TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:  No

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST? No

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Partly sunny with temps in the 40’s

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) The terrain was leaf covered trails. The group hiked portions of the Acorn Trail, Warner Trail, and fire roads. Part of the hike went into the Harold B. Clark Town Forest around the Upper Dam Pond.

Freetown State Forest Hike

TRIP DATE:      11-5-2014         
                 

TRIP LOCATION:          Freetown State Forest, Assonet, MA 

MEETING TIME:      10:00 am    

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 16 
      

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       4

LENGTH IN MILES:      6

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    300

DIFFICULTY:       C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Rick McNally

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Forst Headquarter, 3 Labbridge Rd., Assonet

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   No                  TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHING WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  No    

PLEASE BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Massasoit and Breakneck Trails and others to Profile Rock to Gasline to Old Stoney Acres Camp to Swim Hole, Gasline to parking

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  50 degree drizzly and showers

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  Crossed four unbridged wet areas.  Blowdowns on trail to Stoney Acres Cam.  No Incidents.

RLBH, Fowl Meadow, November 15, 2014

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         November 15, 2014   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     9:30 AM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    17

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    3.5 Hours

LENGTH IN MILES:     7.27

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     450

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Len Ulbricht, Joe Keogh,

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Cathy Garry

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    End of Royal st. Canton

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      yes                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:15 min

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Last hike of the 2014 RLBH season, Sunny day in the 30’s

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org

FALL FOLIAGE HIKING SERIES #3 - MT. CHOCORUA

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: October 25, 2014

TRIP LOCATION: Mt. Chocorua, NH

MEETING TIME:  9:15 AM, Sat. 10/25

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 9

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 7 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES: 7.4 miles RT

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 2750 ft.

DIFFICULTY:    B (strenuous)                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Leslie Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Anne Duggan

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Paugus Rd. parking area

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   No                      TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

We all arrived at the Paugus Rd. parking area where the Brook and Liberty trailheads are located and began the hike on time. We ascended the Liberty trail which was a moderate trail heading up to the summit. We stopped briefly at the Jim Liberty cabin and took a look around. There were great views along the way. We encountered some steep ledges near the summit, but we had fantastic 360 degree views on top of Chocorua. Since it was such a nice day, several people were out on the trails and summit. Foliage was past peak, but there was still some color. After eating lunch on the top, we descended via the Brook trail. Although the day we hiked was dry, it had rained several days before and we encountered wet, steep ledge for part of the way on the Brook trail, necessitating holding onto trees and bushwhacking. All in all, it was a fabulous fall day hike.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 

The weather was perfect for the hike.  Sunny and dry with some clouds; temps in the 60’s. 

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

No problems. 

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Fall Foliage Hiking Series - Morgan-Percival Loop

TRIP DATE:      October 11, 2014                               

TRIP LOCATION:    Mounts Morgan and Percival, Holderness, NH              

MEETING TIME:   8:45 am                 

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 8         

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  5  

LENGTH IN MILES:      app. 5.5 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):   app. 1,575       

DIFFICULTY:   C (moderate)              (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Paul Miller, Len Ulbricht, Anne Duggan

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Mt. Morgan trailhead parking area off Rte. 113.   Note: Good thing that we arrived early, since this was prime “leaf-peeping” season and two local police officers were on hand to make sure any cars that might overflow from the small Mt. Morgan parking area and the slightly larger Rattlesnake Mountain parking area across the road did not park on the road.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:     No            TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHING WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?   No   

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:   Hiked Mt. Morgan Trail up to Crawford-Ridgepole to the summit of Mt. Morgan and then across to summit of Mt. Percival.  Then down the Mt. Percival Trail to the connecting trail that took us back to the Mt. Morgan Trail just above the trailhead.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Partly cloudy with temps in the high 50s to low 60s with a light breeze.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) – We appeared to have timed this “Fall Foliage Hike” just right, since the foliage conditions were near peak in central NH at this date.  Wonderful views over nearby Squam Lake from both summits, with some views into the Pemi Wilderness from the summit of Percival.

Skyline Trail End to End, Oct 4, 2014

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         October 4, 2014   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     9:00 AM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    22

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    6 Hr.

LENGTH IN MILES:     8.03

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     2,500 feet

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Cathy MacCurtain, Joe Keogh, Maureen Kelly, Michael Swartz

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Bill Doherty

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Royal St. Cul de Sac

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:     yes                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 15m

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Foggy to start, light drizzle occasionally, overcast all day temps in the 60's.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

The ledges were extremely slippery, a couple of people slipped and fell. One woman had to be helped out with a dislocated elbow. Medical report will be filed.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org

Mt. Pierce via Mizpah Hut - a Chapter Hut Weekend Hike

TRIP DATE:      September 20, 2014            
             

TRIP LOCATION:  Mt. Pierce in Crawford Notch, NH
            

MEETING TIME:  8:45 am
                  

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 13
        

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): app. 6 hours
          

LENGTH IN MILES: app. 8.2 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):  app. 2,500 ft.

DIFFICULTY:  moderately strenious     (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):  Paul Miller, Leslie Carson
          

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Parked at the Highland Center as part of annual Chapter Hut Weekend and crossed Rte. 302 to Crawford Path trailhead. (Typically, we would park at the large hikers parking lot off Mt. Clinton Rd. and use the Crawford Connector to get to the Crawford Path...)
. 

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:       No                TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes
      

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Hiked Crawford Path from its true trailhead (opposite Highland Center) up to Mizpah Connector to Mizpah Hut, then took Webster Cliff Trail up to summit of Pierce and then back down to Highland Center via Crawford Path.  All trails were in fine condition.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Breezy and cloudy with temps in the 50s and 60s

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.):  No views on that particular day.  “In the clouds” on higher summits, including Mt. Pierce

RLBH, September 25, Ponkapoag Pond

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         September 25, 2014   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     3:30 PM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    6

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    1Hr 45 Min

LENGTH IN MILES:     4.76

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     105

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Bill Doherty

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Donovan School Parking

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      No                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  No rain although it was quite cloudy & threatening. This was the pre-dinner hike for the end of the regular season dinner.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org

RLBH September 18, 2014, West St. Triangle

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         September 18, 2014   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     5:45 PM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    18

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    49 Min

LENGTH IN MILES:     1.86

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     95

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Cathy MacCurtain, Joe Keogh,

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    West. St. Triangle, Braintree

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      No                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Nice evening hike, Last evening hike for this season. Swamp area easily crossed for the first time!!

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org

White Mountains Presidential's Hut Hike

TRIP DATE:      August 25 - 27, 2014                          

TRIP LOCATION: White Mountains - Presidentials Hut Hike             

MEETING TIME: 8:45 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 13       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  ~18 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES:      16.5 mi.

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    ~4344 ft.

DIFFICULTY:    A/B                               (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie Carson, Maureen Kelly

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Cog Railway lower parking lot

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   Y                     TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 1 hr. Sunday pm

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?              Y

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

We hiked up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Lakes of the Clouds hut. We got our gear squared away then hike up Mt. Monroe. The next day, we left after breakfast and hiked the Crawford Path to Mt. Washington summit then hiked the Gulfside Trail to Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams. From there we hiked to Madison hut. On day three, after breakfast and packing up, we hiked Mt. Madison then hiked out the Airline Trail to the Appalachia parking lot where we had spotted two vehicles. The trails were dry.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: The weather couldn’t have been better! Beautiful sunny days with fabulous views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

Great trip! Everyone seemed to enjoy the trip and many summited several 4K footers for the first time.

RLBH Sept 11 Old Rt 128

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         September 11, 2014   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     5:45 PM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    25

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    1hr 35 min

LENGTH IN MILES:     3.88

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     1629

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Cathy MacCurtain, Joe Keogh, Cheryl Lathrop

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Nancy Coote

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Athletic Fields off Blue Hill River Rd.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      No                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Nice evening hike, Cloudy & overcast skies and a bit muggy, light breeze, no bugs.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org