Climbing

12/09/2011

Cold weather safety tips

Soon, winter jackets and snow boots will begin to reappear and it’s important to remember that your clothing is not the only thing that needs to be adjusted with a change of season.  Here are a few cold weather safety tips to keep you safe, warm, and healthy heading into the New Year.

Whether you’re hiking, kayaking, ice fishing, or bird watching, always tell someone where you are going and what you are doing. Everyone needs a little alone time, but don’t forget to mention the details of your planned excursion  so that your friends and family know when to expect you back or where to look for you in the event of an accident.

As always, be prepared with plenty of water and first aid items to prevent any small incidents from becoming an emergency. Flashlights, maps, and snacks are also good additions to the safety pack. As with any activity outdoors, know what you are and are not capable of before heading out.

If operating recreational vehicles, such as snow mobiles or dirt bikes (Note: DCR trails are closed for the season to dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles, other than snow mobiles), remember to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Also, take caution during bad weather and at night, making sure to stay aware of your speed and surroundings. For ice fishers, check that ponds and rivers are completely frozen before venturing out onto the ice.  Exercise more caution when the temperatures are reaching 32 degrees F.

Be prepared for anything. Don’t let New England’s unpredictable weather patterns leave you cold and wet in the middle of the woods. Get updated weather information before you set off and plan accordingly. Be ready to respond to unexpected weather with extra clothing, gloves, and hats. If planning to be outside for a long period of time, bring extra layers to add as the temperature drops. It’s all about layers: rather than wearing one heavy coat, use thermal underwear and undershirts to layer light-weight, warm clothing, and always wear a waterproof outer layer.

For hunters and hikers and everyone in between, wear bright clothing to maintain visibility past 5 pm. The fall and winter seasons bring a lot of activity into the great outdoors, so always be aware and respectful of others. 

As always, officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police are prepared for the upcoming cold weather months. They'll be patrolling off-road areas, as well as coastal and inland waters, and doing everything they can to protect the state’s residents and visitors. Enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer with these cold weather safety tips and always use your best judgment.

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11/21/2011

Weekly outdoor events 11/21

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This week, it is all about hiking.  Well, eating, resting, then eating some more, followed by hiking.  So if you are looking to burn off some of those excess calories, this is a good week for you!

There are three guided hikes this week on November 25 (better known as “Black Friday”).  The first hike is in Carver at 9 a.m., at DCR’s Myles Standish State Forest.  This hike will cover 2-3 miles of moderately difficult trails.  This hike is recommended for adults and older children who are able to walk at a moderate or fast pace for the duration of the hike.  Rain or snow will cancel this event, so please contact the park for confirmation.

The second hike on Black Friday begins at 10 a.m. in Falmouth at DCR’s Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve.  This hike is perfect for a family outing after a long day of feasting.  This is an easy to moderate 2.5 mile hike featuring a few small hills.  This trek will take you along both sides of the Quashnet River, where you can discover different wetland and upland habitats and look for wildlife.  Learn more about the path of the river, and how it has changed courses over the years.  For more information, call (508) 457-0495 x125.

The third hike offered post-Turkey Day is in Easton at DCR’s Borderland State Park.  This hike begins at 1 p.m., and is approximately 3 miles long.  This trail boasts moderately difficult terrain, so please come prepared!  Rain or snow will cancel this hike, so please contact the park for confirmation.

On Sunday, November 27, go to DCR’s Breakheart Reservation for one of their weekly guided hikes.  At 11 a.m., join your guide and others to explore the Middlesex Fells Reservation for a difficult hike that will last approximately 3 hours.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and be safe hiking!

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11/02/2011

Hiking the Skyline

Skyline Trail in DCR’s Blue Hills ReservationColumbus Day weekend I got to fulfill a wish I’ve had for the past two years – hiking the nine-plus miles of the Skyline Trail in DCR’s Blue Hills Reservation. For me, the greatest thing about the Blue Hills is that it provides over 125 miles of awesome hiking trails so close to Boston.

The Skyline crosses the entire range of the Blue Hills and takes you to some fantastic peaks, like the Wampatuck, Chickatawbut, Buck and Great Blue Hills. Once thing you should know – this is not a loop trail, and you’ll need two cars to shuttle you from one end to the other.

Be warned: this is not a hike for the faint of heart. Some parts of the trail were rugged, rocky and narrow. Six of us started (a few folks had to turn around) from the west end of the trail at the Route 138 entrance. We made our way to the summit of the 635-foot Great Blue Hill then continued past the Eliot Tower, a stone structure that provides an amazing view of the Boston skyline. Hmm, I wonder if that’s how the trail got its name? Eliot Tower

It was a warm day for a hike, reaching up into the 80s. You should always plan to bring enough water when you go hiking – at least two liters. A lot variables factor into that measurement: your level of fitness, humidity, temperature and how much you exert yourself. Warmer weather calls for more water. And carry foods that contain potassium and sodium like peanuts, raisins, and bananas.

Originally we had planned to hike the weekend before, but there was rain so we rescheduled it. In my opinion trails are always best when they’re dry, especially where the trail gets rocky. Remember to monitor weather conditions and wear the proper clothes and footwear before setting off. One trick I learned from one on of my companions is to put insoles into my hiking boots for comfort.

During our five-hour hike we saw some green, lush landscapes and picturesque vistas along the way. The terrain is rocky in places and it was at the Chickatawbut Hill that I felt like I was rock-climbing to get to the top.

At the end, I couldn’t help but smile. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming at completing the trail. If you’re up for a strenuous hike, I highly recommend the Skyline trail!

Skyline Trail in DCR’s Blue Hills Reservation


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10/31/2011

Weekly outdoor events 10/30

Happy Halloween everyone! 

On Wednesday, November 2, parents and nature-loving children (recommended ages are 5-11) should head to the DCR’s headquarters in Revere at 2 p.m. for ‘Sea Turtle Surprises’. This is an exciting, hands-on learning adventure through DCR’s Coastal Awareness Program to help children understand the importance of sea turtles and to learn more about their threatened habitats. 

For those with a passion for the stars, come to Astronomy Night at DCR’s Borderland State Park.  On Friday, November 4 at 7 p.m., join Steve Clougherty and other local astronomers to look at Jupiter, the first-quarter moon, and the fall constellations. Bring your binoculars; large telescopes will be available with instructors. Cloudy skies will cancel, so please call the park (508-238-6566) on the day of the event to confirm. 

Last, but not least, this activity is for the very active and adventurous.  On Saturday, November 6, DCR's Blue Hills Reservation is offering a strenuous and rugged eight-mile Skyline Hike over the peaks and valleys of the Skyline Trail.  This hike will run approximately 5-7 hours, and is recommended for ages 16 and up.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required.  Please call 617-698-1802 (ext. 212) to register and to find out the meeting location and time for this event.

For more Massachusetts Outdoor Events, visit The Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

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10/26/2011

Biking the Central Mass Rail Trail in Rutland

Marion Larson

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

Biking down the rail trailA gorgeous, warm autumn day inspired my husband and me to take our hybrid bikes to the Rutland portion of the Central Mass. Rail Trail. The stone dust rail trail in this area crosses part of the Midstate Trail, DCR’s Rutland State Park (near Whitehall and Long Ponds), and a portion of the DCR Ware River Watershed. The parking lot on Route 122 was our entry to the trail. A few stone benches can be found along the trail and there is a granite stone marker describing a major train accident that occurred in 1932 as well as a rail marker indicates 49 miles to Northampton.

Fall colors graced the trail and reflected in the ponds and cold water streams that crossed the trail. I smelled cooking fires from the state park and spotted a couple of mountain bikers on some adjoining trails. Though we encountered other cyclists, couples, teens, and young families walking, and even a group of horseback riders, the trail didn’t feel a bit crowded. 

Central Mass Rail Trail SignWe especially appreciated the recent cut-through tunnel near Rte 56 and Moulton Pond. It saved us from hauling our bikes up a steep embankment and riding up a good-sized hill to get to the next section of trail. Three cheers to Wachusett Greenways, the organization responsible for this most recent milestone! This group’s determined efforts have kept expanding the rail trail’s length and accessibility to all.

If you have the chance, take a hike or bike this lovely section trail in central Massachusetts. Go fishing in the stream or nearby Long and Whitehall Ponds, picnic at the state park or contemplate the lily pads and fall colors on the small ponds. Adventurous folks can explore a network of roads in the Ware River Watershed property, popularly referred to as the Prison Camps area. Hunting, hiking, fishing, biking and other passive recreation is permitted in this area.  With the onset of hunting seasons, wearing a blaze orange vest or cap is a good visibility idea. 

Enjoy the area! Train Wreck Marker Stone

Wachusett Greenways: Programs, projects, updates, and a rail trail map of the current and proposed route for the Central Mass Rail Trail.

Ware River Watershed Lands:  A variety of recreation opportunities are available on this 23,000 acre property. Maps of designated biking and horseback riding trails, wildlife management areas, and other information can be found here.

Midstate Trail Website: This jewel of a trail covers 95 miles in Worcester County from RI to NH. It is not as well known and is less travelled compared to the popular Metacomet-Mondanock and Appalachian Trails further west.

Moulton Pond, Rutland

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10/19/2011

Weekly outdoor events

With the cooler weather comes hiking season.  Take the family outdoors for some fresh air and see the beautiful colors and sights of fall.  On Wednesday, enjoy the last guided hike of the season at DCR’s Mount Greylock State Reservation.  This is an easy-paced, one to two mile-long walk geared especially for seniors, but all ages are welcome. This hike may include tree and plant identification,​birding and local history (depending on the interests of the hikers).  Call the Visitor Center (413-499-4262) for a meeting place.

For active historians, DCR is sponsoring the CCC’s History Hike in Quincy at DCR’s Blue Hills Reservation on Saturday. During this strenuous hike, you will admire the Chickatawbut Overlook, a Civilian Conservation Corps project from the 1930’s. Then you will hike to the site of the CCC Camp and back again (2.5 hours).

Early childhood educators have an exciting opportunity this week!  Register for a six-hour, hands-on course that builds on a child’s sense of wonder about nature and wildlife. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while building lifelong social and cognitive skills. This class will be held on Saturday, October 29th, at the Natick Community Organic Farm (in Natick), and is sponsored by MassWildlife and the Massachusetts Wildlife Federation.

 

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09/12/2011

Weekly outdoor events

Join biologists and foresters from MassWildlife this Thursday, September 15, for a Wildlife Habitat Site Walk at the Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Falmouth from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Site walks provide an opportunity for interested conservation-minded citizens and landowners to observe habitat management operations that benefit different kinds of wildlife in special need of conservation.

Do you know places along your daily drive where you can expect to see a turtle crossing? Or spot turkeys and deer at the roadside? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has created a new innovative program, Linking Landscapes for Wildlife, to involve citizens in both protecting wildlife and making transportation safer for everyone. On September 15, join the Nashua River Watershed Program in Groton to learn about this program from MassWildlife's Dave Paulson and Mass Department of Transportation's Tim Dexter.

On Sunday, September 18, head down to the New England Bantam Club's Annual Fall Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sell from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fairgrounds at Lancaster, Rt. 117 in Lancaster. Everybody is welcome to buy or sell chickens, bantams, ducks, geese, pigeons, pheasants, rabbits, and other stuff they raise, plus hatching eggs, cages, supplies, whatever! No advance registration - just show up with your stock! Rain or shine the event costs $5 to set up for members and $8 for non-members.

On Saturday, September 17, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is teaming up with REI, the Access Fund, and the AMC's Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee for this year’s Adopt-A-Crag event on the South Shore. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. volunteers will gather at the Quincy Quarries to clean up quarries just in time for the fall rock climbing season.

If plants are your fancy and you’re looking for something T-accessible, DCR is hosting the program Plants of Belle Isle Marsh on Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. Great for both teenagers and adults, this workshop will focus on identifying and learning fun facts about plants in the field.

Also taking place that Saturday afternoon, DCR Rangers will lead a tour of the Charles River Dam, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come and learn about the structure and pumping facility that keeps Boston and Cambridge above water. Groups will meet at Paul Revere Park flagpoles located below the Charlestown Bridge in Boston.

For more Massachusetts Outdoor Events, visit The Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

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07/05/2011

5th annual Great Park Pursuit

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Great Park Pursuit. As part of DCR’s No Child Left Inside initiative, The Great Park Pursuit 2011 encourages families to join together and travel across Massachusetts to visit state parks, forests, and reservations to discover how fun and exciting the outdoors can be.

The program starts on July 1and runs until September 10, ending with an afternoon celebration of outdoor fun and festivities, with chances to win prizes such as t-shirts and outdoor recreation packages.

During the ten-week program, families and teams will design their own “Personalized Park Pursuit.” To help teams determine where to go, and which state parks to visit, teams visit the DCR Calendar of Events homepage and select at least six Great Park Pursuit designated programs. These programs will be determined by an icon placed next to the description of the event or activity. At each event they attend, teams receive stickers for their Great Park Pursuit team game card, which organizes activities into categories (see below).

Activities include mountain biking through Cutler Park, which completes a “Nature Sport” category, or taking a wildlife safari through the Blue Hills Reservation, which completes a “Walk on the Wild Side” category. Other categories are “Wild about Water” and “Arts in the Parks.”

We encourage teams to chronicle their adventures on their own personalized homepage that they will receive after registering with the program. On this homepage, teams or families can upload photo albums from specific activities completed, write a blog entry on what they saw, experienced or felt on one of their adventures, and keep track of which categories of activities they have completed.

The Great Park Pursuit 2011 Registration

Sign up today. It’s the first step in getting outside to hike to magnificent views, learn to fish or canoe, discover the secrets of the coast, and view the wonders of the night sky!

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05/19/2011

Rock climbing at Leominster State Forest

On Sunday, April 25, I headed out with two climbers, students at MIT, to Crow Hill Ledges, a popular climbing and hiking destination in DCR’s Leominster State Forest.
 
I have been rock climbing off and on in gyms in Boston and in Sydney, Australia, for a couple of years now.  However, climbing outside is a relatively new experience for me.  Climbing has mostly been about facing my fear of heights.  Trusting that a few straps of nylon, some sticky shoes, and that my belay partner can keep me safe from falling dangerously is a big step for me, and for most anyone that climbs. It is no wonder that I hear from veteran climbers joking about how finding a solid climbing partner is often more stressful, and more difficult, than finding a significant other!
 
Climbing partners Zenith Zhang, age 29, and Ross McKinney, age 23, seem to get along famously—trusting each other with their lives each time they attempt to send, or complete, a route. This post is largely a photo story on both climbers, with detailed captions to accompany each photograph. 

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