Thursday Hikers

We had perfect weather today as we hiked some not often traveled trails in Dubuque State Forest in Hawley MA. We were also in Dubuue Forest last week, but with 5000 acres, Dubuque has many many trails. Tony and I scouted the hike on Monday and we led it today. The only map we had used for scouting was really vague and we depended a lot on using a compass. After 4 hours of scouting, we cut the hike down to what became a 3 hour hike. Trails aren’t marked and are often single file and vague and …exciting! An extensive cellar hole, now mostly overgrown, must have been a tavern for travelers. We enjoyed exploring it and speculating about it. The dogs had no problem finding places for swimming. We had many muddy trail challenges due to a downpour just the other night. The Bog Trail eventually leads down to the Old Hawley Town Common where cellar holes have interesting historic markers. Bag lunches at the Hawley Bog picnic table, with lots of shared goodies, was pleasant. After lunch we took a walk into the Bog itself. Managed by Nature Conservancy and UMass and Hampshire College, it’s always a remarkable excursion. No orchids or sundews now, but plenty of pitcher plants and cotton grass and sure signs that the season is in flux. Happy September, Love, Penny