2013-14 Winter Hike #1 - Blue Hills

TRIP DATE: December 7, 2013 (Winter Series Hike #1)                                           

TRIP LOCATION:  Blue Hills – Skyline South-North Loop then Buck Hill and back                

MEETING TIME: 8:45 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 22       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  app. 5.5 hours

LENGTH IN MILES: app. 6 hours

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):  ???

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

LEADER NAME(S): Paul Miller, Maureen Kelly, Christine Pellegrini, Bill Pellegrini, Eva Borosody das

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    parked at main lot at Houghton’s Pond

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No                

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: low- to mid 30s with partly sunny skies with temps

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) – Especially nice views from top of Buck Hill. 

 

Skyline End-to-End Hike (RLBH)

TRIP DATE:  11-16- 2013                                            

TRIP LOCATION: Blue Hills Skyline End-to-End Hike (RLBH)            

MEETING TIME:  8:45 am 
                 
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 28       

 

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       6.5 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      8.7 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    2,145 feet

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

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

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Met at Shea Rink, then carpooled to end of Royal St. in Canton

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      Yes                  TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: app. 20 mins.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Cloudy in AM, turning to mostly sunny afternoon with unseasonably warm temperatures in the low 60s.  Excellent hiking weather!

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  Final RLBH Series hike of the year. Nice views from top of Big Blue, Buck Hill, and several other hills on the Skyline Trail.  Had to bypass one section of the Skyline Trail on the Pipeline Trail due to firefighting activities on Wampatuck Hill.

Blue Hills Fowl Meadow Hike

TRIP DATE: 11/3/2013

TRIP LOCATION: Blue Hills Reservation, Fowl Meadow Hike

MEETING TIME: 9:45 AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS1):6

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 4.5

LENGTH IN MILES: 7.27

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 340

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

LEADER NAME(S): Joe Keogh, Michael swartz

COLEADER NAME(S): Kathy MacCurtain

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Royal St., Canton

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?: Yes.  Parked at end of Royal St, and then car pooled to parking area on Brush Hill Rd.

 

TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: partly Cloudy

 

Blue HILLS – Wolcot and Border Path and Hemenway Hill

TRIP DATE 11/7/13    

TRIP LOCATION:  Blue HILLS – Wolcot and Border Path and Hemenway Hill

MEETING TIME:          10:00 a.m.                              

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):             23

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       2 hour and 45 minutes

LENGTH IN MILES:      4.5 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    N/A

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Cathy MacCurtain
CO-LEADER NAME(S):  

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:  Trailside Museum (north parking lot) 

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:       No                   TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:  N/A
WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?    No    
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 

Overcast and warm at the beginning of the hike, light rain for the 45 minutes.

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

All 23 that attended enjoyed the trails and had a great time.

Green Mountains, Vermont

TRIP DATE       October 11^th – 14^th, 2013

TRIP LOCATION: Vermont – Green Mtns.                 

MEETING TIME:  Friday 10/11 at Gifford Woods State Park campgrounds, Killington, VT              

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 6 (1 person Sat.-Sun. only)     

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 5 hrs. Sat., 8 hrs. Sun.      

LENGTH IN MILES:      7.2 Mt. Killington, 11.6 Monroe Skyline/Long Trail

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    2700+

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Ken Carson

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Bucklin Trail; Appalachian Gap – Lincoln Gap

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    Yes                      TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 1 hr.

DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
Sat. 10/12 – Left the campground and drove to Bucklin trailhead, about 20 min. Met Amanda at 10 a.m. and hiked the Bucklin trail to the summit of Mt. Killington. Beautiful fall weather, temps. in the low 60’s, dry conditions, trail was very well marked and not too difficult, very moderate slope. At the open ledge summit, the views were great, 360 degrees. Only negative was that there were many people at the top who had come up by the Killington chair lift. We found a somewhat secluded ledge and had lunch. A wonderful day!

Sun. 10/13 – Drove four cars to Lincoln Gap, dropped off two and drove the other two to Appalachian Gap. Started hiking around 9:30 up the Long Trail (Monroe Skyline) and summitted General Stark Mtn., Mt. Ellen, Castle Rock Peak, Nancy Hanks Peak, Lincoln Peak, and Mt. Abraham. We had lunch at the Sugarbush chair lift platform near Mt. Ellen overlooking the ski trails. Another gorgeous fall day with temps. in the 60’s. Superb views along the way and at the summits. After lunch, Amanda left the group and went ahead so she could drive home to Boston without getting home too late. She left us a note stating she got to her car at 4:00. We finally reached Mt. Abraham summit around 4:00 or so which is open ledge. Views in all directions. We could see Camel’s Hump and Mt. Mansfield to the north, Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the west and the White Mtns. to our east. Returned to our car at 5:30, retrieved the other cars and went out to dinner on our way back to the campsite.  The next day we packed up and went into Woodstock for shopping and lunch before heading home. All in all, an excellent weekend! Lots of fun!

 

Baxter State Park

TRIP DATE:      August 19-25, 2013                            

TRIP LOCATION:          Baxter State Park, ME           

MEETING TIME:          5:00 am          

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):            4

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       36 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      31 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    12,600 feet

DIFFICULTY:            B3B                     (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Ken Jones

CO-LEADER NAME(S):   Maureen Kelly

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Roaring Brook Campground in BSP

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No               

WAS TRIP WITHING WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  No

DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
Mt. Katahdin - Pamola, Knife Edge, Cathedral, Dudley, Trails
Mt. Hamlin -  Saddle, NW Basin, and Hamlin Ridge

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Perfect – Sunny, dry, 60-70 degrees

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)
Wonderful trip with moose, porcupine, and rabbit sightings.  Also canoed and fished.

Galehead Hut in White Mountains

TRIP DATE:      9/13/13 – 9/14/13                

TRIP LOCATION:          Galehead Hut – White Mountains                 

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  N (Rescheduled from Memorial Day Weekend 5/25 – 5/27/13)

MEETING TIME: 9:00 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 6         

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 12 hours   

LENGTH IN MILES:      12.1 mi.

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    3678 ft.

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie  Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S):             Maureen Kelly

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    North Twin Trailhead off Haystack Rd. Twin Mtn., NH

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    Yes, Gale River Trailhead    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 20 min.

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes     

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

Hiked up North Twin Trail, fairly wet and muddy. Had a significant river crossing – 4 people went across the river by scooting along a log and two others took off boots and waded across the river. Foggy with no views at North Twin summit, but it was “Flags over 48” day in the Whites so several people were at the summit with the US flag. We celebrated Karen Singleton’s completion of her 48^th 4K footer with cheers, pictures and champagne. We continued to hike on North Twin Spur to South Twin mtn. (no views) then down Twinway trail to Galehead hut. Had a lovely turkey dinner at the hut with many other people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Karen’s birthday was on Sunday.

On Sunday after breakfast, we hiked up to Galehead mtn. and had gorgeous views. It was a beautiful sunny, bright day with lots of visibility. A perfect fall day although it technically wasn’t fall yet. We could see for miles. Hiked back to the hut, grabbed our gear and had a lovely hike down the Gale River trail to the cars.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Saturday was overcast, drizzly. Sunday was sunny and beautiful.

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

This hike was rescheduled from Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, not all the participants who signed up in May were able to participate in this hike. They were refunded their money. Secondly, the original hike was for 3 days, two nights at Galehead hut, self-service, with group meals. The original plan included hiking North and South Twin, Galehead and the Bonds. We were given a credit from AMC and had to use it before the end of the calendar year. I was disappointed that we were unable to reschedule during a self-service season without getting too late in the season and the cost for one night with full service at the hut was, in my opinion, very expensive ($124). I believe the cost was prohibitive for some people. I do not plan to lead overnight hikes to the huts when in full service on a weekend in the future.