Thursday Morning Hike 3-23-17

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE:     3-23-17     

                             

TRIP LOCATION:         Oldham Trail and Clark Forest, Foxboro, MA   

  

MEETING TIME: 10:00 am    

           

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         18  

     

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    3 ½  hours

LENGTH IN MILES:     5 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):

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

LEADER NAME(S):      Muriel Guenthner

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Walt Granda

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Parking lot off Route 140, Foxboro

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      N                   TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  N   

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Some hills and snowy ice

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: sunny and cold

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

Good hike

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

Cape Hike 3-23-2017 - Four Ponds and Bourne Town Forest

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 3/23/2017  
                                            

TRIP LOCATION: Four Ponds and Bourne Town Forest, Bourne, MA        
       

MEETING TIME: 9:45 am 
                  

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         17   
    

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 2

LENGTH IN MILES: 4.8    
      

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 

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

LEADER NAME(S): Deborah Hayden and Robin McIntyre   
       

CO-LEADER NAME(S):    
       

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Parking lot of Weary Traveler's Club   
    

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

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST? no   

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: We hiked mountain bike trails and fire roads in the Bourne Town Forest and wooded pathways in the Four Ponds Bourne Conservation Area.  The trails were clear of snow/ice but many roots were encountered. There were several short bridges which were clear and no one had problems negotiating them. Debbie and Robin traded leader/sweep role during the hike.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Mid 20s to start with 34 degrees to finish, brisk NW wind 20 mph, sunny and blue skis.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) Due to the wind chill, hikers walked along briskly and stayed together.  The wind was less problematic in the woods. We had beautiful views of the ponds with swans and ducks and emerging vegetation.  We shared some of the local history of the area.  No problems were encountered. 

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents. None

Thursday Morning Hike 3-09-2017 - Striar Conservancy and Taunton River WMA

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-09-2017

TRIP LOCATION: STRIAR CONSERVANCY, HALIFAX & TAUNTON RIVER WMA,
MIDDLEBORO, MA

MEETING TIME: 10:00 AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 19

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 4

LENGTH IN MILES: 6.5

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): N/A

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

LEADER NAME(S): RICHARD CARNES
CO-LEADER NAME(S): N/A

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Striar Conservancy Trail Head
parking off of Thompson Street (Rte 105) Halifax and Taunton R. WMA trailhead parking along
River Street in Middleboro. Group met at Oak Point Club House 200 Oak Point Drive in
Middleboro to car pool out to trail heads due to limited parking at both sites. (Less than 6
vehicles at each)

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?: YES TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 20 minutes

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST? NO

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS
ENCOUNTERED:
Hiked trails in the Striar Conservancy in Halifax, which are out & back thru mostly dry areas
with several boardwalks near the Winnetuxet River. Side trails through Holly, Cedar, Pine and
Oak forests with many smaller ponds. Car pooled to River Street and hiked dry, out and back
trails in the Taunton R. WMA in Middleboro, next to the Taunton R. Again with several small
bridges to cross side brooks and creeks.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Sunny with temps in the 50's, 30 - 40 MPH winds.
Group was sheltered from the wind by the trees as most of the trails were wooded in both areas.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) Lunch stop taken in cars at Striar
Conservancy due to high winds before driving to Middleboro. This hike crossed a recently
removed dam site to allow water to flow out of a bog reservoir no longer in use. Five hikers
opted out of the second area due to their own time restraints. Views of the Winnetuxet River and
water shed as well as along the Taunton River .

Thursday Morning Hike - 3-02-2017 - Burrage Pond WMA

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-02-2017

TRIP LOCATION: BURRAGE POND WILD LIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
HANSON/HALIFAX, MA

MEETING TIME: 10:00 AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 13

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 3.5

LENGTH IN MILES: 6.1

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): N/A

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

LEADER NAME(S): RICHARD CARNES
CO-LEADER NAME(S): N/A

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: 15 Hawks Ave. Hanson, Ma off of
Pleasant Street. Rough dirt road to trail head kiosk. Parking for 30 plus vehicles.

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

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST? NO

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS
ENCOUNTERED:
Hiked trails in the Burrage Pond WMA which are primarily dry, flat, sandy bog roads around
abandoned cranberry bogs. Side trails through Holly, Cedar, Pine and Oak forests with many
smaller ponds.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Sunny with temps in the upper 40's, 40 - 45 MPH
winds. Return hike to cars was extremely harsh due to strong head wind. (This is typically an
open windy area)

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) Lunch stop in sheltered area near Burrage
Pond. Many large Holly trees in bloom with red berries glowing in the mid-day winter sun.
Many migratory water fowl spotted in surrounding ponds. This was a large group of well
behaved adults enjoying a fine winter hike. Three hikers exited the group early and safely via
dirt roads to parking area due to extremely windy conditions.