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Posted by Honar the librarian on 2006-03-15 13:30:02 +0000

I'm pulling for an early april Lynn woods/Monadnock swap myself.

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-18 03:14:05 +0000

you probably wouldn't know if any of these hikes were safe / short enough for an out of shape 30 somethinger and a certain 2 year old would you?

Posted by pchippy on 2006-03-18 11:11:02 +0000

The Emerald Necklace would be a fine trip with a small child; if she got bored or tired, one could always find public transportation of one sort or another back to one's car. The terrain would be suitable for wheeled babymobiles. Breakheart Reservation (tomorrow), Lynn Woods, and Middlesex Fells are all hikes of about 4 miles, on terrain that alternates easy woods walking with short bits of fairly steep and rocky hiking. The distance is probably a little much for a 2-year-old under her own steam, but you have a better sense of that than I do. Is she too big to carry in a backpack part of the way? The White Mountain hikes and bushwhacks are probably a bit too extreme for the 2-year-old, though the out-of-shape 30 somethinger could definitely do them.

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-18 15:34:26 +0000

May 6th, eh? I'll take it up w/ the master scheduler!

Posted by pchippy on 2006-03-28 11:55:26 +0000

Just a reminder: Monadnock, this Saturday. If you'd like to come along, let me know. I have room for a couple of people in my car. (Or you can just meet us at the Monadnock State Park trailhead at 10AM.) If you've never climbed Monadnock, here's some info: It's the highest point (3165' elevation) within a hundred miles of Boston. Because it's located in hilly but not mountainous terrain, it stands out as a visible landmark from a great distance. Conversely, from the top the views of the surrounding countryside are splendid, taking in the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, the Berkshires, and the Boston skyline on a clear day. It was a favorite excursion for the Transcendentalists; Emerson wrote a major poem entitled "Monadnoc," and there's a bog on the northeastern shoulder of the mountain that is named for Thoreau. The summit is mostly bare rock at the top, as a result of forest fires two hundred years ago. It thus gives the feeling of being on a much higher peak, above treeline. The hike is a 5 mile round trip, with a little under 2000' of elevation gain. Hike it. You know you want to.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-03 12:22:50 +0000

Lynn Woods this Saturday, weather permitting. 4 miles or so in relatively gentle terrain not far from Boston. Leave Boston 10:30, back in Boston by 3:30. Also, for anyone who missed the chance to go last weekend, I'm planning a make-up trip up Monadnock on Sunday. Leave Boston by 9AM, back in Boston by 7PM. We'll probably do one of the less-frequented trails. I'm awaiting a full trip report from the Greeneburkes regarding their soggy hike in to Carter Notch. What were the snow conditions near the height of land?

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-04-04 17:23:12 +0000

Carter Notch was soggy but pleasant this past weekend. There were patches of snow from the start of the 19 Mile Brook Trail, but serious ice started at mile 1.9, half way up. The rain made the ice even slicker, resulting in near identical ascent and descent times. Crampons would have helped a lot. I'm glad we both had ski poles, and I even busted out the ice axe on the first half of the decent. The height of land had about 12 to 15 inches of bullet-proof hard pack, making the final pitch from the Notch to ponds take considerably longer than expected. The sun broke several times, and the daytime temp never got below 40 degrees. A quiet Saturday with only 8 guests at the hut, out of a max of 40(?). The friendly hutmasters were both there, Chance McQuinn and Lola Upright. Fun times.

Posted by tommy on 2006-04-04 18:24:20 +0000

Are you familiar with Dungeon Rock? Not sure if its open for the season yet or not.

Posted by tgl on 2006-04-05 02:29:32 +0000

pchippy is well aware of Dungeon Rock. I mainly stick to Dungeon Road, haven't checked out the entrance yet. Supposedly it's only open around Halloween.

Posted by tommy on 2006-04-05 18:56:44 +0000

No, they open it on weekends in the summer. I think. Except I don't think they have real hours. You have to call the ranger's office to make sure they're really going to have it open on a particular day. We were greeted by a locked door twice, and on our third time, we forgot to bring a flashlight. So, although I've been inside, I've never *seen* the inside.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-10 12:22:35 +0000

Successful ascent of Mt. Monadnock (3165') yesterday, by pchippy, glib, honar, and cdub. Weather was splendid, parking was free, few people were on the trails, and the view from the summit included Wachusett, Greylock, seven Vermont ski mountains, and the snowcapped peaks of the Presidential and Franconia ranges eighty miles away. Only regret: the hippie bar in Peterborough is not open Sundays. Next expedition: Mt. Chocorua (3500'), on Saturday 4/22, weather permitting. Glib and I will be staying at our country estate in Madison that weekend; anyone who likes is welcome to join us. If you prefer to make a long day-excursion of it, plan on leaving Boston by 6AM and returning to the city sometime between 9 and 10PM. Tentative route: up the Brook Trail, down the Bee Line. These are steep, spectacular trails on the mountain's west side; they're not heavily traveled because most people don't know how to find the trailhead. Round trip about eight miles, with 2600' of elevation gain and loss. For anyone who doesn't know Chocorua: it's the most spectacular and difficult of the White Mountains' smaller peaks. When you're driving up from the coast on Rte. 16, Chocorua is one of the first peaks you see--and definitely the most recognizable, with its sharply-cut summit cone of bare rock. If you come, bring a camera, along with lunch, raingear, hiking boots, lots of water, hat and gloves, and a wool sweater (no cotton!). The trail may be icy or snowy in some spots, depending how the next two weeks shape up weather-wise.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-10 12:24:36 +0000

On Saturday, the door was open. We had left flashlights at home, expecting it wouldn't be unlocked yet. Though tgl did venture about a foot and a half into the tunnel, he got skeeved out by the drippy, dark dankness and declined to go down the stairs.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-17 10:32:39 +0000

Just bumping this thread back into public view. I've also commandeered the "Social Calendar for Q" page as a place to post upcoming trips. Who's up for Chocorua?

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-04-18 11:12:32 +0000

damn hippie bar. Is May 6th near the common still on?

Posted by tgl on 2006-04-21 19:25:00 +0000

I am not making it to Chocorua. Shoulda told you earlier.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-21 19:52:01 +0000

Null Prot: yes, the Emerald Necklace hike is still on, weather permitting. Stay tuned for further updates. tgl: Chocorua isn't happening tomorrow, due to C4RT. It also isn't happening Sunday, due to wet weather forecast. I've tentatively rescheduled it for NEXT weekend. (See Social Calendar.) Hoping to hike one day, help Mimi and Bert move the other day. For anyone who does want to get at least some exercise tomorrow (Saturday), I'm planning to spend a couple of hours rock-climbing in the Middlesex Fells in the afternoon. tgl, you should come.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-24 13:19:59 +0000

Chocorua Sunday. If anyone would like to drive up to Madison Saturday night after helping Mimi and Bert move, let me know. Pray for good weather.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-26 08:21:04 +0000

Madison, NH, weather forecast for Sunday: sunny, with highs around 60. Weather atop Chocorua should be sunny with highs around 50. Who's going?

Posted by Travis on 2006-04-26 08:51:27 +0000

hey, got some of Kendals 2nd largest export to send you (interestingly enough the largest is snuff) whats yer address again?

Posted by pchippy on 2006-04-26 12:30:26 +0000

Fantastic! 112 Trenton St., Boston MA 02128

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-01 09:34:38 +0000

The 2006 Chocorua Expedition safely summited yesterday c. 2PM. No snow, minimal ice along the route, but the Presidential Range (25 miles to the north, and 2700 feet higher) appears very snowy still. Spring wildflowers on Chocorua included trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium), wild oats (Uvularia sessilifolia), three species of violets (Viola spp.),painted trillium (Trillium undulatum), and Stinking Benjamin (T. erectum).

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-01 09:35:04 +0000

Next expedition: the Emerald Necklace, Saturday, May 6, 2006 Total distance: 7 miles Elevation gain: minimal Terrain: mostly paved paths The “Emerald Necklace” is the chain of parks and green spaces that runs between the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain and the Common in downtown Boston. There are only a few sections along the way where you’re walking among buildings rather than among trees. It’s not wilderness, but it’s pleasant. The plan: Meet at Forest Hills T stop (the end of the Orange Line) on Saturday at 1PM. We will walk from the T stop to the Arboretum, with a quick stop to visit the lilacs, then proceed back out to the Arborway. A short walk on the Arborway brings us to Jamaica Pond, Ward’s Pond, Leverett Pond, and Olmsted Park. The Back Bay Fens will lead us to Commonwealth Avenue, which we will follow down its grassy median park to the Public Garden and the Common. Then maybe go out for beers at some downtown pub before heading to our respective homes. If anybody, having joined us from the start of the trip, needs to bail out partway through, there are numerous public transport options. About one-third of the way through the trip, we’ll pass close to the Heath Street E Line stop. Halfway through, we pass close to the Longwood D Line stop. Two-thirds of the way through, we pass close to the MFA E Line stop. Three-quarters of the way through, we pass by Hynes/ICA Green Line stop. Small children welcome.

Posted by G lib on 2006-05-01 10:31:16 +0000

VERY fun day. Beautiful weather, nice _long_ hike, not very many people on the trail, good company. And after-- THE PIZZA BARN!* Pitchers and pizza, the best reward for a job well done. A+ day, in my opinion. *This review is wrong in one area-- the sizes are actually "Stall" and "Barn"

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-05-01 22:11:05 +0000

yr post = printed out and handed out to the master scheduler. I will mos def be in Boston as I have tix @ the Middle East to see Boston's very own not-tot-be-f'd with metal doom core band Isis and experimental hip hop outfit Dalek (No way the wife is going to that, so we are discussing if it'll be a 2 car gig or what not - I'll keep you posted...)

Posted by tgl on 2006-05-01 23:28:46 +0000

Even if I don't see any ponies Sat., it's still worth it to get the season pass.

Posted by buzzorhowl on 2006-05-02 03:34:05 +0000

Holla post-show Saturday.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-05 11:34:19 +0000

Weather forecast looks promising for tomorrow afternoon. Warm and generally sunny. Forest Hills, 1PM. Anyone have a recommendation for a good apres-trek pub?

Posted by MF DU on 2006-05-05 14:08:12 +0000

think it 'll just be me coming to Boston - still not sure what time though

Posted by buzzorhowl on 2006-05-05 14:59:34 +0000

I'll be working, if y'all wanna stop by.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-05-06 02:58:21 +0000

Going to school in the am, then to C4RT at around 12:30, then work at 4 pm. Love to all who make the trek.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-06 19:54:00 +0000

Emerald Necklace Trek report: Participants: 7 Person-miles covered: 50 Beers consumed: 16 (plus one glass of wine, plus one Nalgene bottle of "grape juice plus" Shiraz flavor) Seen: One oriole, several gargoyles, one young woman in an inflatable body, one small redwood tree, eleven monumental statues, one frittilarium.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-06 20:02:09 +0000

If anyone wants to come along on the moonlight hike next Saturday night, here’s what you need to know: We’ll leave Boston at 5:00 PM and drive north. We’ll arrive in the mountains after 8:30 PM, just as twilight gives way to the dark of night. Our trailhead—the highest in New England—is at 3000’ elevation, at the top of the Jefferson Notch Road. There’s a sizeable gravel parking lot, with a self-service parking fee station, which will cost us a couple of bucks. There may be a very few cars in the parking lot at that time of night, but probably not many, because the trailhead doesn’t give easy access to any huts or established campsites. I very much doubt we’ll see anyone on the trail. We’ll spend a few minutes getting our packs ready, letting our eyes adjust to the low light conditions, and putting on sweaters and coats. (At that elevation in early May, temperatures are likely to be in the 40s.) Then we’ll set off up the trail, without flashlights if possible. It will be slow going—fairly level and boggy at first, then steeper and rocky—but if skies are clear we should be able to grope our way by starlight. The trail is fairly straight, and the woods on each side are thick with firs and spruces, and there aren’t any intersecting paths in the first mile. It will be cold and dark, and we may bang our shins on rocks and trip on a few roots, but we shouldn’t encounter any life-threatening difficulties. At about the 1-mile point, we’ll come to the first viewpoint: a prominent bedrock outcropping at the edge of a ravine. Beyond that point the trees get smaller and smaller, and then we reach the Caps, a series of little crags that the trail winds its way around and over. A few parts involve rugged scrambling, with attention to handholds and footholds, but at this point there’s no forest cover and the moon should be up, so we’ll be able to see what we’re doing. Beyond the Caps the trail continues to rise fairly steeply, but more smoothly, to the summit. At the top of the mountain, at 5700’ elevation, temperatures are likely to be in the 20s, and there may be a stiff wind as well, so it’s very important that everyone have plenty of warm clothes including hats, gloves, and wind-resistant shells, and NO COTTON. If conditions are pleasant, we’ll hang out at the summit a while, enjoying the moonlight and stars. Then we’ll go back down, arriving back at the trailhead sometime before dawn. My suggestion would be that we then head down to my house in Madison and nap until noon or so before driving back down to Boston. That’s the plan. Anyone is welcome to join us; you just have to be fairly fit and adventurous enough not to mind getting a little scraped up, with maybe a few twigs in your eye, all in the name of adventure. You should wear sturdy hiking boots and plenty of layers of warm, non-cotton clothes (as noted above), and bring along some tasty food and a couple of bottles of water. You should also bring a flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries, though we’ll only use lights if we find them absolutely necessary. If anyone has a camera that might take good pictures by moonlight, bring it along! We’ll only do this trip if the weather forecast is for clear or mostly clear skies Saturday night. Otherwise, stay tuned for an alternate and less extreme excursion, to take place either Saturday during the day or Sunday.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-07 12:56:28 +0000

Correction to above: After I went home, the trek continued on foot all the way to Harvard Square, thus bringing the total person-miles covered to about 60 and the number of beers consumed to approximately 86.

Posted by G lib on 2006-05-08 09:48:59 +0000

86? Pshaw. Honar and I probably consumed 86 each!

Posted by cdubrocker on 2006-05-08 14:16:21 +0000

Seen:

Posted by MF DU on 2006-05-08 14:39:19 +0000

OMFG. severe apologies for my flaking out...

Posted by cdubrocker on 2006-05-08 14:45:11 +0000

It was the surreal moment of the day. Perhaps something to suit-up in for the next C4[RT] show...

Posted by MF DU on 2006-05-08 15:06:28 +0000

true that. the Buzz (tm) and I were talking about the possibility of fatigues and berets (fake Uzi's optional) and when I see someone wearing one of their shirts, I think that they're scum too:

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-10 08:20:58 +0000

The official forecast for Jefferson, NH, is looking *better* than the forecast for Boston. Don't be deceived by WBUR's talk of rain! Keep your fingers crossed, but for now it looks like the Jefferson hike is on.

Posted by tgl on 2006-05-10 10:26:36 +0000

Since the hike won't be rescheduled, we won't need to think that a Saturday daylight make-up event would be prefered to a Sunday daylight make-up event.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-11 08:36:49 +0000

Things look good for the mountains right now, but the hike still might be rescheduled if the forecast for Saturday night worsens. In that event, I'd like to do a Saturday hike somewhere up in the Whites. But for now, can I count on your coming along for the night hike? Notice to all dutiful sons and daughters: If you come along on the night hike, you can still be back down in Boston--having had six hours of sleep--by 3PM. You don't have to neglect your Mom.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-12 07:04:12 +0000

The latest weather forecast--dark and damp--necessitates putting off the moonlight hike again. New target date: Saturday night, 6/10/06. For THIS weekend, I still want to hike, so we're looking at a strenuous day hike or bushwhack tomorrow (Sat.), somewhere in the White Mountains but below treeline in case it rains. Who's in? We can do it as a long excursion from Boston, or we can stop over at my house in Madison on Saturday night before driving south.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-05-16 17:34:48 +0000

Desperate for outdoor time, I'm planning two excursions for this weekend: The Middlesex Fells hike, which has been on my schedule since its inception, will happen on Saturday morning. It's close by and provides a nice four-mile loop over interesting though not spectacular terrain--lots of rocky hills and ledges, with occasional views over the treetops to the city. On Sunday I'd like to climb Mt. Lafayette, up in the White Mountains. It's no more than three hours' drive up I-93 from Boston; the trailhead is in breathtakingly picturesque Franconia Notch. It's about 2.8 miles up a steep trail to Greenleaf Hut, which is just at treeline. From there, if weather is good, one proceeds up into the alpine zone; it's slightly over a mile up to the summit, where the panoramic view encompasses most of New Hampshire, all of the Green Mountains, part of the Adirondacks, and a few peaks in Canada. One can return the way one came, or make a loop over Mt. Lincoln and Little Haystack and down the Falling Waters Trail to the car. Anyone in?

Posted by Honar the librarian on 2006-05-16 19:05:51 +0000

I'm in for both--would prefer to do the loop, as the one time I went up falling waters it was absolutely pouring, and we gave up about an hour in.

Posted by pchippy on 2006-06-02 12:11:38 +0000

I tried sending out a listserve message about it, but the system seems to be down. The rock climbing excursion at Hammond Pond will happen on Sunday, not Saturday, because of the rain. I can supply all the necessary technical gear. I'm thinking roughly 1PM to 4PM. Anyone interested? Also, if you're an adventurous sort of person, keep your schedule free for the moonlight hike next weekend. (Saturday night, 6/10)