Dugan
New member
Sections 18, 17, 16 22.4 miles
Participants: Dugan, NH_Mtn_Hiker, TramperAl
We'd originally planned to do day 6, but after Jade's cancelation, and concerns about weather and flooding, we decided on a last minute plan change to re-hike Day 2. This is the only section that TramperAl was missing in his efforts to section hike the M-M trail.
Yesterday there were a few less people and a lot less degrees than the first time I hiked this section back on 6/26/2005. We started off by arriving about 10 minutes late to pick up TramperAl at the southern end. As I approached the turn off from route 2, I could see a shadowy figure wearing a head lamp (and shorts! brrrr....) standing by the side of route 2. Who else could it be but another nutty hiker?! TramperAl parked in an area with a signboard on a side road on the north side of route 2. Though it'd been a while since I'd been there, I did not remember there being parking allowed in that area, but Al insisted he'd seen the sign board. We ferried up to Newton Cemetery on Route 32, giving TramperAl a tour through Orange and Athol to begin our hike.
About a mile into our hike we heard a scurry through the crisp autumn leaves littering the forest floor. We turned to look - a fisher! Sighting an elusive fisher was an exciting way to start the day. The low lands between route 32 and Bliss Hill Road were a bit wet, not as bad as I thought they'd be.
We continued along until we reached a stream crossing where NH and TramperAl demonstrated how not to cross a stream by both getting their feet wet. I went down stream a little and easily stepped across using Al's poles. As we began a nicely warming up hill stretch, we watched for the state line. Today's southbound hike starting in MA travels briefly in NH - kind of like that stretch of road where Route 32 north and 122 south are in the same direction. We found the border, marked in one place with a small sign. Somewhere in this stretch we saw a shiny metal thing. It was a small, thin-walled cylinder, capped on one end - perhaps 1" long, 5/8" diameter. We picked up a couple, thinking they were litter. As we continued, we saw more and more of them. Yes, litter, but far too many for us to pick up on a hike that had to move fast. We have no idea what they were. An enduring form of bread crumbs from Hansel & Gretel?
We descended to begin a walk along rural roads. True to form, Al walked right by where the trail turned off the road. Back safely into the woods, we quickly reached Richards Reservoir. We enjoyed the views as the trail skirts the north and part of the western edge. It was in this area we encountered the first of a home made looking sign - very artistically done - giving information about the area - and noting that a planned trail was abandoned due to beaver activity.
We reached the powerlines and stopped for a snack. The gooey treats I'd baked the night before were well received. We continued along, enjoying a bit of sunshine in a logged area. One more road crossing, then the big up of the day to Mt Grace. We reached the summit in good time. TramperAl and NH tied in their race up the summit boulder. There were very good views from the tower, even with the cloud cover. We could see Killington, Bromley, and Stratton in VT. Monadnock in NH. Wachusett and Northfield Reservoir in MA. As we started down, NH and I were grateful not to be hearing the rumbles of thunder that preceded a deluge as we had on our first hike of this section.
We wound over the edge of Stratton Mountain (the smaller MA version) and through the Upper Hills. Due to confusion between reality and the map, we were again unable to reach an accurate conclusion as to our location in this section until we reached Gulf Road. Either the trail or the powerlines are not where they're supposed to be! After crossing Gulf Road, we began a little climb up to the ridge of Crag Mountain. It was on this ridge we had our first sighting of a human. Later, we saw many humans - boy scout troop perhaps? We reached the summit of Crag. TramperAl saw Greylock. I was busy looking at the trees and brush that had been cleared. Sure, it's nice to have the views, but fresh stumps revealed a couple of larger trees had been felled.
We descended Crag and reached a road with a big dog (bull mastiff?) barking from a fenced yard. We continued along through pretty but nondescript forest walking. We eventually reached a vista looking down on the Millers River. We skirted the earthen walls of the Northfield Mountain Reservoir, then began our final descent. As we did the last 50 yards of the day, we saw a very hiker friendly log cabin. A white blaze on their mailbox, a cairn at the end of the driveway, and it looks like the new parking is on their land. As I read the signboard, I realized there must've been a relo, since the trail used to come down Cross Road. We'd come out to the east of it, tramping along the edge of the cabin's land.
Overall, once again a nice easy section. Long, but not too many hills. The trail routes over lots of old roads. Thankfully it is well blazed, which saves a great deal of time when route finding at the many intersections with other old forest roads and trails.
Participants: Dugan, NH_Mtn_Hiker, TramperAl
We'd originally planned to do day 6, but after Jade's cancelation, and concerns about weather and flooding, we decided on a last minute plan change to re-hike Day 2. This is the only section that TramperAl was missing in his efforts to section hike the M-M trail.
Yesterday there were a few less people and a lot less degrees than the first time I hiked this section back on 6/26/2005. We started off by arriving about 10 minutes late to pick up TramperAl at the southern end. As I approached the turn off from route 2, I could see a shadowy figure wearing a head lamp (and shorts! brrrr....) standing by the side of route 2. Who else could it be but another nutty hiker?! TramperAl parked in an area with a signboard on a side road on the north side of route 2. Though it'd been a while since I'd been there, I did not remember there being parking allowed in that area, but Al insisted he'd seen the sign board. We ferried up to Newton Cemetery on Route 32, giving TramperAl a tour through Orange and Athol to begin our hike.
About a mile into our hike we heard a scurry through the crisp autumn leaves littering the forest floor. We turned to look - a fisher! Sighting an elusive fisher was an exciting way to start the day. The low lands between route 32 and Bliss Hill Road were a bit wet, not as bad as I thought they'd be.
We continued along until we reached a stream crossing where NH and TramperAl demonstrated how not to cross a stream by both getting their feet wet. I went down stream a little and easily stepped across using Al's poles. As we began a nicely warming up hill stretch, we watched for the state line. Today's southbound hike starting in MA travels briefly in NH - kind of like that stretch of road where Route 32 north and 122 south are in the same direction. We found the border, marked in one place with a small sign. Somewhere in this stretch we saw a shiny metal thing. It was a small, thin-walled cylinder, capped on one end - perhaps 1" long, 5/8" diameter. We picked up a couple, thinking they were litter. As we continued, we saw more and more of them. Yes, litter, but far too many for us to pick up on a hike that had to move fast. We have no idea what they were. An enduring form of bread crumbs from Hansel & Gretel?
We descended to begin a walk along rural roads. True to form, Al walked right by where the trail turned off the road. Back safely into the woods, we quickly reached Richards Reservoir. We enjoyed the views as the trail skirts the north and part of the western edge. It was in this area we encountered the first of a home made looking sign - very artistically done - giving information about the area - and noting that a planned trail was abandoned due to beaver activity.
We reached the powerlines and stopped for a snack. The gooey treats I'd baked the night before were well received. We continued along, enjoying a bit of sunshine in a logged area. One more road crossing, then the big up of the day to Mt Grace. We reached the summit in good time. TramperAl and NH tied in their race up the summit boulder. There were very good views from the tower, even with the cloud cover. We could see Killington, Bromley, and Stratton in VT. Monadnock in NH. Wachusett and Northfield Reservoir in MA. As we started down, NH and I were grateful not to be hearing the rumbles of thunder that preceded a deluge as we had on our first hike of this section.
We wound over the edge of Stratton Mountain (the smaller MA version) and through the Upper Hills. Due to confusion between reality and the map, we were again unable to reach an accurate conclusion as to our location in this section until we reached Gulf Road. Either the trail or the powerlines are not where they're supposed to be! After crossing Gulf Road, we began a little climb up to the ridge of Crag Mountain. It was on this ridge we had our first sighting of a human. Later, we saw many humans - boy scout troop perhaps? We reached the summit of Crag. TramperAl saw Greylock. I was busy looking at the trees and brush that had been cleared. Sure, it's nice to have the views, but fresh stumps revealed a couple of larger trees had been felled.
We descended Crag and reached a road with a big dog (bull mastiff?) barking from a fenced yard. We continued along through pretty but nondescript forest walking. We eventually reached a vista looking down on the Millers River. We skirted the earthen walls of the Northfield Mountain Reservoir, then began our final descent. As we did the last 50 yards of the day, we saw a very hiker friendly log cabin. A white blaze on their mailbox, a cairn at the end of the driveway, and it looks like the new parking is on their land. As I read the signboard, I realized there must've been a relo, since the trail used to come down Cross Road. We'd come out to the east of it, tramping along the edge of the cabin's land.
Overall, once again a nice easy section. Long, but not too many hills. The trail routes over lots of old roads. Thankfully it is well blazed, which saves a great deal of time when route finding at the many intersections with other old forest roads and trails.
