Meeting Time: 1:30 PM
Event Coordinator: ChrisLMax # People: 20
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level:
Easy
SUMMARY: Entering from the Wakefield/rear entrance this is an easy 2.5 mile afternoon hike around a small lake in the rear section of the Breakheart Reservation just north of Boston. It is a co-event with Chiltern Mountain Club (also LGBTQ). This is the same hike I ran in August. A third of the route is on paved fire roads and the rest on trails along the water. It's 60% in the woods/shaded. About 3/4s of the way around is a beach we can stop at for a few minutes. If the weather is warm enough people are welcome to take a dip. (You may need to wear your suit under your short though. It's the off season and I can't vouch there'll be anywhere convenient to change) Towards the end some people often do an optional climb up to the top of a small hill with a a nice view of Boston. It adds about a 1/4 of a mile and 100ft of elevation with a short steep climb. It's easy to bypass if you want to stay to the easy route. Anything more than a drizzle will cancel - there's no rain date planned. Breakheart Reservation info & map - https://www.mass.gov/locations/breakheart-reservation. (From the rear entrance we'll go counterclockwise around Pierce Lake.) The address is100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield MA. That's the address of the Northeast Regional Voc Tech, which shares a lot with the rear entrance. *Directions NOTE: Be sure to note that we're entering the Reservation through the less common rear entrance in Wakefield. See the "R" on the map in the photo. If you find yourself at "F" (which is where the visitor center is) get to "R" by going back out to the main road and turning right. Proceed approx 1 mile to the traffic light and turn right. After approx 3/4 of a mile the road will widen a bit and you'll see a ball field on the right. There will be signs for Hemlock Rd and the Voc Tech. Turn right and follow the road into the lot at the end.) There's ample free parking in the lot. Even if you're using using GPS please note: At the last turn - the sign for Hemlock Rd isn't large. The turn is also marked by a largish sign for the Voc Tech and a ball field. (Note that there are also an elementary and a middle school on the main road by the turn - ignore them. The Voc Tech is separate and is up Hemlock behind them.) Follow Hemlock into the lot at the end. You'll see the school on the left. The Reservation entrance is at the two stone pillars at the end. Meet to the left of them. I'll be wearing a beige Yosemite cap (with a round logo).
Driving directions to the location and spot to meet at: Entering from the Wakefield/rear entrance this is an easy 2.5 mile afternoon hike around a small lake in the rear section of the Breakheart Reservation just north of Boston. It is a co-event with Chiltern Mountain Club (also LGBTQ). This is the same hike I ran in August. A third of the route is on paved fire roads and the rest on trails along the water. It's 60% in the woods/shaded. About 3/4s of the way around is a beach we can stop at for a few minutes. If the weather is warm enough people are welcome to take a dip. (You may need to wear your suit under your short though. It's the off season and I can't vouch there'll be anywhere convenient to change) Towards the end some people often do an optional climb up to the top of a small hill with a a nice view of Boston. It adds about a 1/4 of a mile and 100ft of elevation with a short steep climb. It's easy to bypass if you want to stay to the easy route. Anything more than a drizzle will cancel - there's no rain date planned. Breakheart Reservation info & map - https://www.mass.gov/locations/breakheart-reservation. (From the rear entrance we'll go counterclockwise around Pierce Lake.) The address is100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield MA. That's the address of the Northeast Regional Voc Tech, which shares a lot with the rear entrance. *Directions NOTE: Be sure to note that we're entering the Reservation through the less common rear entrance in Wakefield. See the "R" on the map in the photo. If you find yourself at "F" (which is where the visitor center is) get to "R" by going back out to the main road and turning right. Proceed approx 1 mile to the traffic light and turn right. After approx 3/4 of a mile the road will widen a bit and you'll see a ball field on the right. There will be signs for Hemlock Rd and the Voc Tech. Turn right and follow the road into the lot at the end.) There's ample free parking in the lot. Even if you're using using GPS please note: At the last turn - the sign for Hemlock Rd isn't large. The turn is also marked by a largish sign for the Voc Tech and a ball field. (Note that there are also an elementary and a middle school on the main road by the turn - ignore them. The Voc Tech is separate and is up Hemlock behind them.) Follow Hemlock into the lot at the end. You'll see the school on the left. The Reservation entrance is at the two stone pillars at the end. Meet to the left of them. I'll be wearing a beige Yosemite cap (with a round logo).