Thanksgiving Family Hike

November 30, 2013

For the first time in 26 years we are in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving.  Betsy is in White Christmas this weekend, so traveling to PA just won't work.  Instead, everyone gathers at our Johnny Appleseed home for the holiday.  And apparently, everybody's up for a little hike on Saturday afternoon.  Nathaniel brought his hiking shoes home just for the occasion (assuming he gets a break from homework and projects).  Matt (coming up from Philly) just assumed we would be taking a hike.  Betsy stayed home to rest to she could give a great performance, singing, acting, and dancing (see photo on her web site).

For this hike, we did a small section of the Mid-State trail.  We dropped a car at the Wachusett Mountain parking lot ("down" arrow on left side of map) and then headed back to our starting point, the Crow Hills parking lot in Leominster State Forest ("up" arrow on right side of map).  The ski area is open with a few trails already.  I hope to behitting those slopes soon myself.  But today, we hike!

Cassandra joined us at the last minute with Dominic.  First he has to be loaded into the baby backpack.

It is a steep climb from the parking lot to the base of the Crow Hills.  Nathaniel & Matt had colds so were struggling a bit to breathe.  Once there, Alex suggested we go up to the top of the cliffs to enjoy the views.  That was an even steeper climb.

But Alex is right about the views.  Directly behind me is a 100' cliff and Crow Hills Pond in the distance.

After a bit of a walk, we get our first glimpse of Mt. Wachusett.  You can see the ski trails clearly.

Nathaniel tests the ice at the edge of this frozen brook.

You think crossing a brook in the summer is fun?  At this time of year, it's frozen on top, but still very cold water just beneath.  It's beautiful, but don't fall in.

The brook cascades down between the granite boulders.  The shadows are long even though it's only 1pm.

We make it to Redemption Rock, where James joined my last May.

The water formed hair-like icicles near these rocks.  Cool!

We're finally near the end, crossing "tick field".  Fortunately, no ticks at this time of year.  You can see snow from the guns on the mountain just across the road.

All told, it was only about 3 miles of hiking, but with the cold and the colds, it took us over 2 hours.  There was one casualty - I lost my favorite water bottle, and I'm not sure where. I don't have time to go looking for it now, because we have to make dinner and then we're off to see Betsy in her show.  Despite the loss, everyone welcomed this bit of outdoor exercise.