Thursday Hikers

Feel free to delete if you’ve had enough of my hike reports – BUT !!! this really was a special day! Bob Leverett, old growth forest tree expert in MA, took us on a spectacular – and pretty darn difficult- hike, mostly off trail and through steep “boulder fields” today. He has expressed a fondness for our Thursday hiker group and we are delighted that he does. His credentials are such that a videographer came with him today and, when Bob was telling us about a special old growth tree, we were required to be “quiet on the set” as we weren’t the only ones that would be hearing and seeing what he had to say. Such fun for a group that never stops chatting, but we also know how to be respectful and .. quiet! We learned tons. I won’t rant on. The very steep day, from 10 until 4, proved to us our hiking mettle! Hooray for everything that I experienced today. And, yes, my feet were happy when I took off my hiking boots (thanks, I still love them, Ellie). Last note: Bob came to an old growth black cherry tree and gathered us around it as he named it “The Thursday Hiker Tree”. That’s official! He is the namer of old growth trees in the state of MA. SUCH an honor!! We had seen the Henry David Thoreau 13′ 4″ circumference white pine (I think I may have that wrong… my brain is shutting down!!!). We saw at least 6 other named trees. They’re far bigger than “The Thursday Hiker Tree”, but WE are now in the record book with a tree we can claim as “ours”. It’s so wonderful. And, oh yeah, on the way down we stopped and were awed by the entrance to the Hoosac train tunnel, over 4 miles long, completed in 1877, and still an active train tunnel. Amazing, isn’t it? Come and see it Charlie! Love you all, Thursday Hiker Penny