Hiking Book

 

Introduction

 

Welcome to my hiking book. Here you will find trail maps and descriptions of some of the hikes that I have taken. Most of the hikes are located in the towns of  Billerica, Burlington, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Woburn MA. Although some are solo hikes, most are done with a group from the Buzzell Senior Center in Wilmington, MA 01887.  If you want to hike with the group, contact the senior center.

 

As you flip through the pages, you will see trail maps, equipment needed, how to get ready, a list of apps, and descriptions of some recent walks.  The maps are taken from the Altrails APP and the photos are stored in my Google Photo Albums. If you have an account on these apps you can just click on the link to go there directly. Otherwise, you will need to copy the link and paste it into your browser. I recommend getting an account. Most apps are free for beginner versions. Also, most apps are used on a smartphone where you need a camera to identify plants or GPS to find directions. You are not restricted to the locations that I have chosen. Please explore other areas on Altrails and make your own maps. Most towns have a website with town parks, forests, and trail maps listed. However, you can also just take a leisurely walk in the woods and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

 

Thank You

I would like to thank all the people who helped make this book possible. Especially, Arnie who started the group walks and was familiar with hiking locations. To Rick who helped with plant identification and also as a trail guide. To Terri at the senior center who gave me encouragement to write this book and share the photos. And to all the members of the walking group who gave me suggestions along the way.

 

*Contact Info

Mark - markryan312@gmail.com  Camera Man (Photography - Author)

Buzzell Senior Center - Director - Terri - tmarciello@wilmingtonma.gov

 

*Useful APPs (To be used on smartphones)

Altrails - (Maps - Directions) - https://www.alltrails.com/

Compass - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/commander-compass

Google - (click 9 dots menu for maps or photos - http://Google.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PlantNetProject/

 

*Plant Identifiers (Plants seen along the way were identified with the APPs below:)

PictureThis - https://picturethisai.com (Subscription Needed $29.99/year)

Plantnet - https://plantnet.org (Free after registering.)

 

 

*Table of Contents

The hikes are listed below by town. Select a town and then the specific map from Altrials. To get directions to the locations on the map you can click on the three dots at the top of the map or the arrows and select directions from the menu. Follow the directions on Google Maps to the endpoint and you will see the trailhead location with GPS (longitude and latitude.)

 

1. Getting Ready

2. Trail Maps

3. Map Photos

4. Recent Hikes Descriptions

 

 

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1. Getting Ready

 

Hats, Shirts, Pants, Bandana, Headband, Sunglasses

If you are going to walk or hike in the woods you need to be ready. That means you need to be dressed for the weather and prepared to walk on different terrain. You need to wear a hat to protect you from the sun with a visor to shield your eyes.  A bandana to protect the back of the neck or over your mouth in dusty conditions. You can also use a neck gaiter. Wear a headband to absorb perspiration. Protect your eyes from glaring sun or snow with polaroid sunglasses to cut the glare.  Depending on the weather, you can wear shorts and a tee-shirt but you may want long sleeve shirts and pants if the grass is high or you are walking through brush. Bring a change of clothes in case they get wet on longer trips.

 

Shoes, Boots, Socks

For short walks, you can wear sneakers with inner soles to fit your feet for comfort.  For rougher terrain, you need ankle support so wear a good pair of hiking boots. If you sweat a lot, wear two pairs of wool socks for absorption and insulation in cold weather. Boots should be waterproof if walking through mud, snow, or streams.

 

Trekking Poles

Use a homemade walking stick to help with balance. You can also buy trekking poles that are adjustable for your height. The handles should be adjusted for shoulder height.

 

Jacket, Coat, Rain Gear, Tarp, Tent, Bank Line

Depending on the weather, wear a sweatshirt, jacket, or coat. You can always take it off if too warm. Always bring a poncho in case of rain. In addition, a plastic cover for your backpack to keep things dry on longer trips. For overnight or bad weather you need to set up a tarp or tent with bank line to tie it off.

 

Water, Snacks, Food, Cooking Gear

Even for short trips, you need to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water every half hour. For longer trips have a water purifier or tablets. Keep up your energy with granola bars or trail mix. For longer trips, bring cooking gear to heat food (cup, pot, pan, matches, fire starter).

 

Smart Phone, Flashlight, Head Lamp, Batteries, and Power Pack

You need a phone to call for help in emergencies. Phones also have apps for maps and GPS directions. Some phones have built-in led lights. A small flashlight is handy when it is dark. Also, a headlamp to wear around the camp or night trail walking. A lantern for night camping. Spare battery packs are needed for longer hikes with charging devices. Your phone needs to be recharged after a few hours especially if you are using it for maps and navigation.

 

Camera, Binoculars

Bring a camera to take photos and share your memories. Use binoculars to zoom in on far-away objects. Some cameras also have that option.

 

First Aid Kit, Needle Thread, Notebook, Pen

In an emergency, you need first aid with bandages and antiseptic. A needle and thread to sew up torn clothing or tent. A notebook to write down information on what you see.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Trail Maps

 

- Billerica

Billerica Manning State Forest

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/billerica-state-forest-f461285

- Burlington

Mary Cummings Park

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/mary-cummings-11-23-21-1349b36

- Reading

Reading Town Forest https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/reading-town-forest-inner-loop-51d92be

- Stoneham

Spot Pond

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/spot-pond-11-2-21-2bd235c

- Tewksbury

Tewksbury State Hospital

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/pinnacle-trail-tewksbury-ma-3cba81c

- Wilmington -

Town Hall

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/town-hall-5-31-22-305fa4e

- Woburn

Horn Pond

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/horn-pond-trail-42d6c7d

 

 

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3. Map Photos (link to Altrails)

 

- Billerica

Manning State Forest

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/billerica-state-forest-f461285po

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Burlington

Mary Cummings Park

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/mary-cummings-11-23-21-1349b36

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Reading

Reading Town Forest https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/reading-town-forest-inner-loop-51d92be

 

 

 

 

 

- Stoneham

Spot Pond

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/spot-pond-11-2-21-2bd235c

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Tewksbury

Tewksbury State Hospital

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/pinnacle-trail-tewksbury-ma-3cba81c

 

 

 

 

 

- Wilmington -

Town Hall

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/town-hall-5-31-22-305fa4e

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Woburn

Horn Pond

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/horn-pond-trail-42d6c7d

 

 

 

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4. Recent Hike Descriptions (with link to photos)

 

Spot Pond 6-14-22

Today Tuesday, 6-14-22 we hiked at Spot Pond in Stoneham MA. There were eight attendees including Rick, Rosemary, Katsuko, Annemarie, Janet, Mark, Bob, and Dorothy. Dorothy was Annemarie's cousin visiting from Florida. There was a lot of traffic on Rte 93 backed up. Probably since the Sumner Tunnel was closed. We walked for about two hours and covered 3 miles. My Altrails app quit along the way so the track is missing. My step counter shows 2.9 miles and 7678 steps. However, the map shows that we walked along the eastern bottom of the pond from the boathouse over to pickle rock near Rte 93 and back. Along the way, we saw dog walkers and fishermen, and boys on bikes. Rick pointed out a lot of plants that I later identified with the APP Picture This. There were about 38 plants that I identified. You can see photos in the Google Photo Album. I quick list included staghorn sumac, crown vetch, poison ivy, nightshade, wild geranium, maple-leaf viburnum, huckleberry, sweet fern, greenbrier, white pine, bracken fern, white oak, wild strawberry, black ash, Japanese barberry, sassafras, black locust, American linden, American beech, eastern hemlock, Virginia creeper, green ash, bird's foot trefoil, red clover, oxeye daisy, wood's rose, red raspberry, Lilly of the valley, orange jewelweed, alder buckthorn, Canada mayflower, common burdock, catalpa. There were no swimming signs but boat rentals were available. As a young boy, I worked at a boy scout camp in NH called Parker Mountain and described my days at the lake. There was also a Girl Scout camp across the lake.  Katsuko talked about using Burdock roots as a vegetable and tea. Rick talked about making sassafras tea. Some signposts identified trees (American beech, cottonwood) and others the trails we walked (pinnacle path, cross fells, half-mile rd.). Some trees had large holes at the trunk probably for animal dens. There was a lot of coal on the trail used as nonporous filler called cinder. There were some horseshoe prints in the mud on the trail. A group of young boys passed us on their bikes. Rick talked about identifying white pine with five needles the same as the letters in its name. Along the way, we saw large rocks with scratches on them. These were glacial striations from the last ice age. Rick showed a photo on his phone that said free poison ivy pick your own. Ha Ha. You can see some photos on my Google album. Just click the link below ,,,,

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CuBS8MD7VArKjMun8

 

Tewksbury Hosp Hike 6-7-22

Today's hike was at the Tewksbury Hospital in Tewksbury MA. on Tuesday 6-7-22. We met at 9 Am at lot E in the hospital parking lot. By mistake, I took a wrong turn at the Tewksbury CC instead of at the Tewksbury Library and was 5 minutes late. There were five attendees including Arnie, Annemarie, Bob, Rick, and Mark. Arnie started the walk by going left at the trailhead gate towards the horse farm. We walked about 1.5 miles in about one hour. You can see our trek on the Altrails map. A beginning piece of the map is missing since the App didn't start right away. Along the way, we saw a black snake, grey toad, and many colorful flowering plants which I'll try to identify. I identified 18 plants along the way. They were poison ivy, burdock, reed canary grass, multiflora rose, hawksbeard, goldenrod, cow vetch, buttercup, daisy, viburnum, New York fern, sarsaparilla, Virginia creeper, cinquefoil, Canada mayflower, catalpa, vervain, and bittersweet.  We were the only walkers on the trail today. We crossed a small bridge over a marsh. Fortunately, the trail was dry with no muddy spots. We saw some horses in corrals with blankets and blinders on. Annemarie said the blinders were used to keep flies out of horses' eyes.

I remembered the horse-drawn wagons in Chelsea in the 1950s when I was a boy. They pulled wagons with vendors who sold ice, vegetables, oil, crabs, and apples. Bob said you could put a sign in your apartment window where one side said ice and the other oil. Whichever you wanted. My mom would give me 50 cents to buy a square foot block of ice from the vendor and he would grab the block with tongs and put it on his shoulder with a leather apron. He would then climb three flights of stairs to our third-floor apartment and put the block on the top of our ice chest. It would keep things cold on the lower shelves. Water would drip down to a tray on the floor at the bottom. We had no refrigerator. On other days, Mom would give me a nickel to buy a crab from a street vendor and I would try to suck the meat out of the skinny legs. The fruit man would sell Indian apples (pomegranates) and again the neighborhood kids would sit on the sidewalk and suck all the juice from around the seeds. Later we might get a new slice of watermelon and spit out the seeds to see who could spit the furthest. Well, that's it for today's adventure. See you next time. You can see photos at the Google photo link below ……https://photos.app.goo.gl/p7QgjRz3h6mVoUGE6  

 

Town Hall Hike 5-31-22

Today's walk was around the Wilmington Town Hall off Harnden St. We covered 1.7 miles in 1:12 hours. You can see the trail we walked on the Altrails Map. The main purpose of the hike was to see the beautiful lady slipper flower. We all took photos as Rick pointed out various flower clusters along the trail. Earlier in the day, there was a mist or fog but it turned out to be pine pollen blowing off the trees. There were eight attendees including Rick, Arnie, Bob, Mark, Audrey, Janet, Katsuko, and Marcia. Rick was excited to show us the elusive pink lady slipper. It only blooms at the end of May and is a treasure to find. Sometimes singular but most often in small groups. Rick pointed out the three sisters. Like royalty, they stood there proud and tall. I also identified many other plants later with the APP called Picture This. See if you can find the original photo for the ID. Burdock, blackberry, huckleberry, eastern white pine, skunk cabbage, buckthorn, red maple, bittersweet, starflower, white oak, greenbrier, poison ivy, mayflower, and lady slipper to name a few. You had to be careful walking, like tree roots growing across the trail. Several of us had cameras and took closeups of flowers that Rick pointed out. As always Janet spotted the artistic shape of animals in dead logs. (an imaginary anaconda snake or a zebra or a horse head). See the photos on the Google link below ….

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EM7fxUjoBJDKb45L6

 

Haggett’s Pond 5-17-22

Today's hike was to Haggett's Pond in Andover off Rte. 133 on Tuesday, 5-17-22. We met at the Target parking lot at 8:40 AM and then took two cars to the Pond since there was limited Parking there. The Attendees were Rick, Rosemary, Anne Marie, Katsuko, Janet, Ghislaine, Bob, and Mark. As we walked various conversations were going on simultaneously with Rick pointing out flora and fauna. We walked 2.2 miles in 1:42 minutes and took about 6000 steps.  You can see the trail on the Altrails Map and Step Counter attached in the photos. We stayed on the west side of the pond and looped up and back on the same path. Rick said the rest of the trail was somewhat muddy, We walked about halfway around, so it's about 3-4 miles around the whole pond. Rick pointed out lots of wildlife. On shallow parts of the water, we saw some fish feeding on floating insects. They stock fish in the pond: Trout and Bass. Rick pointed out a hollow in the shallow water where fish lay their eggs. We also saw a beaver dam and evidence of chewed trees. Rick said the beavers come out mostly at night. There was a large bog stretching a half-mile over to Rte 495 filled with cattails. We saw mallard ducks and turtles sunning themselves. I took closeups of tree bark to try and ID them. They were Eastern White Pine, Red Pine, Paper Birch, American Beech, Sweet Birch, and many others. All the benches along the shore were made by Boy-scout Eagle Projects. Lots of flowers including Canada Mayflower, Lady Slipper, and Bracken Fern. Rick pointed out a high bush blueberry. Rick saw a Jack in the Pulpit in a steam bed off the trail and climbed down to it. Near the pond edge, Rick found an old fishing rod with a molted insect skeleton fixed to the handle. Eventually, it will be a prehistoric fossil. Ha Ha. We will come back to check on it with Fred Flintstone. Janet has an artistic eye and imagines animal shapes in tree branches. She saw a Giraffe head in a dead log and said it was like the Loch Ness Monster. We called it Nessie. I took a picture and it looks like Nessie. There were a few dog walkers and one mother with a double baby carriage for twins. You can see some photos in the Google album link below …..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oKXrsze8P67fvA938

 

Horn Pond 5-10-22

Today's walk was at Horn Pond on Tuesday, 5-10-22 at 9 am. We walked about 2 hours and 2.7 miles and 7885 steps. Check out the photos of the Altrails Map and Step counter. The attendees were Rick, Bob, Mark, Janet, Annemarie, and Katsuko. We stayed on the west side of the pond and walked the causeway and looped back. There were a lot of dog walkers and others. Some in groups and some single. Several in our group wondered why lots of women walked alone especially reflecting on the latest headlines where women have been attacked. I said a lot of single hikers on the Appalachian Trail carry protection (guns, knives, bear spray). Lots of kooks out there. However, the horn pond trail is very busy with lots of walkers so there is security in numbers. Along the way, Rick pointed out lots of trees, plants, ducks, and turtles. Lots of turtles were sunning themselves on logs. Rick would stop ever so often to quiz the group on the next tree leaf or shrub. Repetition helps the memory. Chokecherry, sumac, garlic mustard, aspen, birch, elm, oak, poison ivy, mayflower, knotweed, and lots of pine-red, pitch, white - were just a few that Rick identified. Rick said he sneezed a lot when trees are in bloom. I took photos of them all. See if you can ID them. The best APP that I have found is called "Picture This" on the iPhone. Janet has an eye for art and imagination. She makes out images in the shape of rocks and trees. On one tree she saw the image of King Kong, another was a deer. Going downhill at the electric plant, Katsuko said it was easier walking diagonally. So we all followed and looked like drunken sailors. At end of the trail, we saw the wooden Indian statue. I took a video of our shadows as the sun was behind us. Janet said she could hear people talking across the water. Sound carries far in open areas. Rick saw some swans with their little ones across the water. You needed a telephoto lens to see. We saw evidence of beaver gnawing on trees. Rick pointed out a sumac tree and I said as a boy we would make whips and girls made hula skirts. I tried to ID some of the plants. You can see the photos at the Google link below…..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BH5myHYR8DNbqhEb7

 

 

 

The End