Horse Hill Nature Preserve

It was a lovely warm day today for once.  I received a Facebook note from one of my closest friends to stop on by with the baby. I had originally planned to go for a jog on the Nashua Rail Trail but I opted to have a playdate instead.  Once her youngest woke up we decided to head to Horse Hill Nature Preserve for a small hike.  It is right around the corner from her home and we'd been there a few times together and separately.  
 
Horse Hill is the largest preserved open space property in Merrimack, NH.  It was purchased as conservation land in 2002.  The 550+ acre property consists of gently rolling to fairly steep terrain and two hills approximately 400' elevation.  The preserve is named after Horse Hill, one of two hills located within the property. The preserve includes a series of streams, ponds, swamps, and numerous wetlands totaling approximately 60 acres. 

The parking area is easy to find at 184 Amherst Rd with parking enough for 15 - 20 cars.  There is a posted map and trail map box at the trail head.  We followed the Loop Trail up to Lawstoka Pond.  The trail was wide and mainly clear of snow and mud but we did encounter a patch or two of winter remains.    
    

At the Loop Trail split we reached the pond.  There is one of the most impressive beaver dam I've encountered.  It's neatly laid and hold back the swelling pond very well.  The lodge close to the dam looked quiet.  There was a bench near by where you could take a break and quietly wait for the wildlife to emerge.  But with two babies and a preschooler we decided the animals would not be appearing.  
    

We continued up the Loop Trail until we reached the Loop Trail Bypass.  On the way we saw one of the largest beaver lodges that I've ever seen.  From a distance it looked as if it was 5 feet above the water.  I wondered if the beavers left the first lodge and moved to the larger lodge as more and more people used the trails.  It looked more secluded on that end of the pond.  

We followed the white blazes and encountered a few other hikers enjoying the warm weather.  The trails had been rerouted in several areas but were well marked and freshly blazed.  We stopped at the top of a hill at one point to listen to strange sounds coming from a wetland just out of view.  It sounded like geese or perhaps frogs.  
      

We didn't snag one of the maps at the parking lot but through a bit of guess work we managed to loop ourselves back to the pond by way of the Long Pond Bypass.  At this point the 3 year old was starting to get tired.  I was quite impressed with how well she managed to keep up with us and carry her sticks, pinecones, and twigs.  She was a true hiker.  
        

We made it back to the Loop Trail and kept her going with promises of the wishing well and occasionally being carried by her mom.  At the wishing well we all made wishes and pushed on towards the cars. 

The hike was an enjoyable one.  It was also the first time I carried Lil' Dude on my back instead of  in a front carry.  He did alright and seemed to enjoy himself.  Whenever I stopped he would push his hands into my shoulder blades to let me know that I should keep moving.  At one point, he liked the up and down momentum so much that when I stopped he kept bouncing as if he was riding a horse.  The fresh air was good for both of us.  He fell asleep on the drive home and I know I'm going to have a good night sleep.  

Should you want to visit Horse Hill Nature Preserve more information can be found on the Town of Merrimack website, including a trail map.  They allow hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, and snowmobile and horseback riding.

Spring is coming! Finally!

My little guy is one now.  Can't believe how quickly that year went.  This winter I've managed to get some jogging in and even ran a local race.  I learned how much more I enjoy running in the winter than in the summer.

We've had a long tough winter here in New England and the snow is finally disappearing.  This past week the Lil' Dude and I went to storytime in Chelmsford and then decided to pop over to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and see how the conditions were.

We made it about a mile and then the trail was completely covered with about 2 inches of snow.  There were signs of spring about though....  

We were passed by a group of bikers. They decided to push on through the snow.  I watched as they slipped and slid off their bikes.  I'm sure they found more pavement further on down the trail but it must have been hard work to get there.  

The Lil' Dude and I turned back towards the center of town.  We met up with a mom and young daughter that we had passed earlier and got to chatting.  The four of us wandered through the center of town towards the ball fields.  The mom was on roller skates and her daughter was on a trike.

It was terrific talking with them and strolling in the sunshine.  We even exchanged contact information with the hopes of getting outside with our kids again soon.  So in the end, no the trail isn't quite clear yet but we had a great time outside and making new friends.    

Sherburne Trail

In October we went for a quick walk in the woods near our home to get outside and to take some "spooky" Halloween photos of our baby.  

Sherburne Nature Center is on Coburn Road in Tyngsborough, MA. the Sherburne Estate and habitat is an 80-acre parcel consists of a combination of woodlands, marshes, a beaver pond, and a meadow maintained to support birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. It was donated to the town in 1999. 

Sherburne Nature Center activities are open to all who are interested. Unless otherwise noted, all activities take place at Sherburne Estate and will go rain or shine. In extreme weather conditions, activities will be canceled. No reservations or fees required. You simply show up.
    

We've hiked here many times.  We've also done some geocaching on the property as well.  It's one of our favorites for a quick time in nature.  The parking lot has a welcome sign with postings of animal or bird sightings.  The fall colors were starting to fade and we could see that storm clouds were going to be heading our way so we put the Little Dude in the Ergo and set out on the paths.  

 

We immediately came across this little guy hiding in the middle of the trail.  He had many friends nearby as well.  

This bench is one of many Gold Award and Eagle Award projects that have been completed by Girl and Boy Scouts on the property.

  

   

Ansel had fun sniffing about in the leaves near one of the vernal pools.  

We found a great spot at a fork in the trail to take photos of the Little Dude.  Then the skies grew very dark and we started to get dripped on by the oncoming storm.  We walked back quickly towards the parking lot but I couldn't resist getting some pictures of the wetlands in the gloom.  

 

The rain slowed and we wandered down towards the wetlands to investigate some new construction.  There was a gentleman installing a boardwalk and new benches to over look the beaver dam and wetlands.  We chatted with him for a bit and then after he told us it was safe we went out on to the new construction.  It was a lovely addition to the trails.  We were able to walk out a bit and be surrounded by cattails.  We liked it so much we went back there in November to take our Christmas photos.    

We wandered back towards our car as those dark clouds grew darker. Next to the parking lot is the house.  It serves as the hub for all nature exhibits in town and is a learning center to the public. We've never been in it but the gentleman constructing the boardwalk was staying there while he was working. 

     

As I mentioned this is one of our favorite spots to walk.  If you are in the area, I definitely recommend checking it out.  I always find something new to see and explore.  Maps are occasionally at the kiosk in the parking lot.  The Town of Tyngsborough usually has them on their website but the link I found appears to be broken at the moment.  

Lake Massabesic

In Mid-September we had a very warm day with nothing to scheduled.  So we ventured into the woods.  Trying again to use the trail app on my phone we set out for Lake Massabesic. Massabesic Lake is a lake in southern New Hampshire, United States, covering about 2,561 acres within the city of Manchester and the town of Auburn.We struggled to find the trail head that was marked on the app in Auburn but parked near an entrance off a main road. 

We pulled out our stroller and followed the path with our picnic lunch from a local sub shop.  The path was easy enough for use to push the baby along in his stroller with some inclines and a few ruts here and there to be cautious of.  I dislike not having a trail map and hiking poorly blazed trails but we could hear people and catch glimpses of the lake through the trees.

 

We hiked along and came across a wooden map near the Massabesic Audubon Center. It gave us some bearings to where we were.  We followed the trail towards the water.  The woods were cool and shady.

We found a nice point to sit and watch the boats.  Later I learned that this spot is named Battery Point.  While eating our subs were heard the sounds of loons in the distance.  We caught a glimpse of the pair swimming and diving.

Loons in the distance

Native American legends claim that the famous New Hampshire chief Passaconaway died on Lake Massabesic. A settler reported that the elder chief was headed towards Loon Island on the east side of the lake, which was "a place of fond memories of the aged chief's young past". When he was in the north part of the lake, a thunderstorm was being formed, which "was a sign of the presence of the Great Spirit". Then, a lightning bolt hit the canoe in which Passaconaway was riding in, and he and the canoe were disintegrated instantly.

After we ate we backtracked through the paths.  It was quite warm and we had only a limited amount of water with us.  There were miles of trails to be explored though and I would definitely go back again for a walk in the woods.  

    

   

Maps of the Lake Massabesic Area can be found on the Manchester waterworks website and on the Massabesic Audubon page.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

One rainy day at the end of July, I decided to take the Little Dude for a stroll after baby story hour in my hometown library.  We went over to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and parked at the entrance in the center of Chelmsford.

Murals along the rail trail behind my favorite coffee spot, The Java Room.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is the start of a larger rail trail project.   When I was a kid, th rail road that ran through the center of town was silent.  It was proposed in the mid-80s to create a rail trail from Chelmsford to Sudbury.  Today the project potentially encompasss Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham in Massachusetts.

Phase I was completed a few years ago and it is well used by bikers, roller bladers, walkers, ect.  Currently, the trail runs from Lowell (at Crosspoint Towers) to just barely across the town line of Westford.  Milelage is marked out on the pavement and streets are labeled on pillars so you always know where you are.  

The day we walked it the weather was grey and misty.  Very few people were out and about which made for good picture taking.  I pushed Little Dude in his stroller as he was asleep.  It was a nice, peaceful walk.  

We covered about 4 miles during out stroll.  Little Dude dozed and only woke up towards the end when he was hungry.  Currently the trail is 6.8 miles end-to-end.  I hope we don't have to wait another 20 years for the next section to be built.    

Independence Day

On July 4th we decided to go for a hike.  I'm not sure it was the best idea as it was very hot and muggy.  In fact there will be no photos of me in this post as I was apparently super grumpy throughout our journey.  You'll see a few pics of my favorite hiking buddy....

We decided to go to Ward Reservation in North Andover, MA.  It's part of the Trustees of the Reservations holdings.  We've walked these trails before but didn't remember where the trail head was.  The AllTrails app on our phone was pretty much useless as it put us in someone's yard.  After driving around a bit we did stumble upon it.  This did not set us up for a happy hike.

We snagged a trail map from the parking lot and set off on the lower trails.  It was extremely buggy and muggy down by the wetlands.  As much as I wanted to follow the path through the bog to Pine Hole Pond, I elected to head up towards the top of the hill.  

The Path to the Bog

The steps from the Bog up to the hill

The hill was bright and sunny.  There were fewer bugs bug unfortunately no breeze and few trees along the path to dim the sun.  The trail wasn't well marked but we weren't too concerned about being lost.  I attempted to take photos of butterflies and the baby snoozed as I carried him.  Ansel pulled Big Dude along the path as he struggled to figure out where the trail led.

 

We neared the top of Holt Hill and saw the fire tower.  As we walked through the high grasses the sun was terrible.  We did meet up with a few other hikers near here.

The summit is very neat.  The Solstice Stones are at the highest point of Essex County at 422 feet.  Yup, I bagged another peak for my list!  

You can see Boston and the Atlantic on a clear day.  Our day was a bit hazy but you can barely make out the outline of the city.  

Another cool thing about Ward Reservation is that it is part of the Bay Circuit Trail.  If you've not heard of this, it is a chain of  trails and greenways that are just outside Boston running through 34 towns.  These green spaces link the North Shore and South Shore and provide terrific areas to play outside without driving too far.  

There are tons of side trails and paths that could be followed in Ward Reservation.  We cut this short as it was too hot and quite frankly I was cranky.  It is not a stroller friendly place but it is a great one for small children and parents who don't mind baby carriers.  There a usually quite a few dogs as well.  I know we'll be back to visit on a less muggy and buggy day.