Thursday Hikers

This was very probably our last hike on Tony’s land as the closing on the house is imminent. A nostalgic day for all of us, graced with our friendship, our memories, our love for one another and especially for Tony. It’s shattering to see the 2021 date on his stone in the family memorial site Continue reading

Lots of wonderful ups and downs, stone walls, and best of all, Springtime. Quick lesson: Mountain Maple on the left, Striped Maple on the right. Jack in the Pulpit giving a sermon high up on a rock. My favorite wild flower(and Tony’s): Rock Saxifrage! A deep opening in a rock face with COLD air pouring Continue reading

Can’t think of a better place – or a better day – to have spent this early Spring weather with friends. lots of water a few beavers skunk cabbage and false hellebore a film of red maple pollen and red maple buds floating in the river friends (of course) toothwort a bird watching blind and Continue reading

Graves Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is a Massachusetts Audubon Property with 543 acres of forest, wetland, and abandoned old farmland with lots of stonewalls. The land is relatively flat with wonderful fast flowing brooks . How did the two pieces of that spit rock get so far part? We shared our thoughts about…… what do you Continue reading

After two cold rainy days, the sun burst out today so we could celebrate hiking at Bear Swamp. We were about a week too early for the best of the Spring Ephemeral show, so we’ll have the joy or returning very soon again. This natural mountain pool always makes me think of you, Ellie, and Continue reading

A bit of rain at first, 44 degrees, and (of course) high spirits for Gwen’s and my birthday hike. A wonderful 2.7 miles of soggy trails as New England’s Mud Season has arrived. Stopping to identify trees and bird calls, climbing over fallen trees, posing on the “birthday throne”, navigating through the mud, listing to Continue reading

Top of the Morning to you! Cold and damp hike, but with high spirits. 2.9 miles of beautiful late winter forest. Couldn’t resist another photo of Witch’s Butter. And there I am wearing my Irish sweater that Ellie gave to me, posing on a big old mossy green rock. Crustose lichen/happy polka dots on a Continue reading

33 degrees with a steady wind and a brilliant blue sky. Wonderful late winter weather as we count the days until Spring. Gwen Dwyer who used to hike with came along for the day. How good it was to be wither again! Too cold to take mittens off for much photo taking. 4.8 miles on Continue reading

Good trails along beautiful Sodom Brook, temperature hovering at 25 with that tight cold feel in the air of the snow that’s predicted for tonight. There was an unusual “mnii glacier” (so named by us) that captured our imaginations but was far too slippery for investigation. Some new educational signage was appreciated, as was the Continue reading

Such great hiking weather and such a great hike. This was a favorite hike for Tony and Sukee, as well as one of the first hikes that Thursday hikers had together years ago. We took the Rivulet trail to the Pine Loop Trail into the Old Growth Forest that is now intentionally left intact and Continue reading