Mountain Biking today in the Blue Hills

Due to the extra dry thaw this year the DCR South ended the bike ban early! So today I did some of the Blue Hills.  I wanted to check out stuff that I have not done before.  The wx was great, under 60F, and cloudy.  Perfect for riding.  Started at after 8AM and finished after 10:30 AM.

Started on Wolcolt Path, then right onto 1122, then right onto 1121 (Eustis Trail)  Then at 1183 I was looking at the map to decide what's next.  A nice jogger asked me If i was lost. After chatting with him about good trails to check out, I realized he had found my ham radio!  How lucky for me!  I though he was a ham, and he happen to have the same radio as me.

Based on the joggers advice i took Chestnut Run Path to Border Path, then left onto Rotch Path at 1114.  This got me back to Wolcott Path, from there I did the loop at top of Houghtons Hill.  This was very nice break at the top of that hill.  I put my call out on the Bridgewater 2m machine (147.18) a few time.  No one was around, but the machine was sounding solid from up there.

Now it's 9:00 AM.  I take trail back down to Wolcolth path, cross over and at 1160 I take the Hancock Hill Path.  Now this was where I had to walk the bike though some tough sections.  I hope to improve my riding skills more in this section in the future.  It's a great trail for views, it's up high.  From this trail I was back on Chestnut Run Path.  I then road again Border Path and Roach Path.  I then road Wolcolt Path back to the main road.

I was still feeling good, so I crossed over Hillside St.  and I road the 6 mile Intermediate Loop.  I took it easy on that side, but still happy with my timing, and I did not have too many breaks.

I can't wait to my next Blue Hills ride!  Next time I'll bring more water.  70 OZ was not enough, and it was not even sunny or hot.

White Horse Ledge NH

White Horse Ledge NH

temp 80 F

Ame & I did the same hike that I did yesterday. Nice day!

White Mountains NH White Horse Ledge hike

Trail icy. Temp 60s f.

more later

Hemenway Hill Hancock Hill in the Blue Hills MA

Today was a great day for a hike in the Blue Hills MA. It was partly sunny, and the temps were in the low 40s F. I wanted to buy the new Dec 2011 trail maps and get a few copies of the new Mountain Bike maps. So I started my hike today at the Blue Hills Headquarters. Then took Rotch Path at 1122, next Hemenway Hill Path at 1121, next onto Jeffries Trail that runs North at the summit of Hemenway Hill, then it bends to the East down to 1182. Around there there's a fenced in Well!  Moving along Base Path to 1185, then onto Hancock Hill Path starting at 1204.  Then to the summit of Hancock Hill via path 1201. Made it to the summit of Hancock HIll. While there I had a QSO with Dave N1LUM on simplex, 146.520. It was nice to meet Dave and hope to catch him again. I took the Blue Line Trail back to the Headquarters and onto the parking lot.  Over all the hike was under two hours.