Getting lost on the Charles Davisson Trail – Wilton NH

I got up early this morning and was bright eyed and bushy tailed hoping to hit the trails before the mugginess and heat got too bad. I had just the place to go – back to the Sheldrick Forest Preserve in Wilton. This time I am in a little better shape and I thought I could hit the loop I missed the last time I was here.

I noticed a different trail than the one I had taken before jutting off the driveway to the parking lot. It seemed like the perfect place to start and the map on the bulletin board made it look super simple. I’d take the Swift Way Trail until the intersection and if I still felt like walking I’d head up the Charles Davisson Trail, swing round, bypass Margaret’s Meander (which I have already done) and take Helen’s Way back to the car. One big loop. Easy peasy.

Heading onto the trail it was a relatively cool 74 degrees and I was all set with my water bottle. I was happy to note this trail was simply crawling with salamanders. I couldn’t tell you why but I always love to see them and beyond the salamanders there was a pretty meadow before the path took me into the old growth woods.

This path seemed like it was less travelled than the one I had taken last time but it was just as quiet and far prettier. To either side, and sometimes to both, there were traditional New England rock walls which were covered in moss giving them a primordial look. I felt like Robin Hood and his Merry Men might be just around the corner here! It was gorgeous! And better still there were mushrooms of every variety scattered about. Some of them were quite colorful!

But then as I walked I noticed the trail was just going and going and going without the turn I had seen on the map. Surely, I must be close to it! This path was super obvious and I was still on it. But then I came to a point where it looked like a bunch of trees had been taken down and here on the path were two large piles of said trees blocking the way. Odd, but maybe a mud slide had taken them down and no one had cleaned them up? I could see where the ground was worn down where people had made their way around the obstruction.

I was starting to get edgy. I was still on an obvious path but the markers seemed… less professional. Instead of little yellow arrows pointing the way all I could see were ribbons on random trees which could have meant I was on a path or could just as likely meant those trees were being marked for removal. Still… I had seen this sort of thing before. Sometimes new trails are marked poorer. But then the trail abruptly dumped me onto what appeared to be a logging road. A truck with no owner in sight was parked here. AGAIN I had to wonder, am I going the right direction? I mean some paths do take roadways for a little bit but you would have thought that’d be on the map. Still I continued on because this road didn’t seem like a real proper road… but then it dumped me out onto Russel Hill Road – or at least that’s where the “Where am I?” button on my phone said I was. I was suddenly in a little village and as much as I felt this was wrong there were STILL ribbons on the trees. By now I could hear the traffic from the highway and wondered if I’d end up hitchhiking back to my car. This COULDN’T be right!

So I turned around. By now my mostly level little jaunt had turned into an uphill hike in 81 degree weather. I was sweating buckets, so sticky I could have crawled up a wall like a gecko. How did I get this far off course?! And where was the turn I missed?!

As I made my way back to the logging road I noticed a gap in the stone wall near the truck. Was that my turn?? I wandered into the woods but what looked like a path wasn’t. Back to the road. Not far from there was the downed trees which I could see from this side had all sorts of ribbons on them – this time blue. The end of a trail?? But this was supposed to be a loop! I crawled around them.

The trail marker/turn I missed. Notice the #15 wooden post. TURN HERE.

I seemed to walk forever when I finally came across a marker on a tree noting I was entering the Sheldrick Forest. Notice, the side of the tree facing the exit had no such sign which is why I had previously walked right out of it! I was SUPER agitated by this point. It’d be an extra HOUR of walking in peak heat and humidity before I finally found the turn I missed. It was insanely poorly marked – with a short wooden pole – the sort I’d seen every so often with numbers on them. After turning I went straight down hill and pleaded with god I was on the right track because I didn’t have it in me to backtrack up anymore hills!

By now the trail was marked again pretty well with yellow arrows but it’s obvious no one was taking this trail on the regular. Forest vegetation was taking over. There was barely a path left. I’d gone from loving this hike and having fun taking pictures to just wanting to be back to my car. By now I was suffering heat sickness and I knew if I didn’t remedy this I’d be in some serious trouble. I could feel heat emanating from my body like a radiator. I was getting dizzy.

I found a tree with smooth cool bark and stopped to take a break next to it. Realizing how cold it was I hugged the damn thing like a five year old. It helped a little. I continued on. Trudging. Finally I came to an intersection in the path with two markers pointing in different directions but no labels telling me which was which! I knew if I went up one I’d be taking a grueling hike uphill on Margaret’s Meander, an additional loop for no reason. OH FOR THE LOVE OF…. I chose one and walked a little ways where I finally found a sign post. I’d chosen the right path, thank god.

By now I came across a little brook and decided dipping my hands in shouldn’t hurt. I would never drink from a little gully like this – the water is far too slow moving and is likely to have all sorts of pathogens – but I didn’t see the harm in using it to cool down. Kneeling I put both my hands in and it was ICE COLD. It felt AMAZING. It made me feel instantly better. I splashed around and dipped my arms in for a little bit before getting up.

I didn’t remember Helen’s Way having hills but it did… Now I know why the last time I was here there was an Asian couple muttering forebodingly, “WE MADE IT!” while looking half dead. Had they also taken the same path and gotten lost like I did??

You have no idea how happy I was to see the parking lot and my car, now cuddled up to a second hiker’s car. I opened the doors, scrambled for my keys and turned on the AC while I waited for the heat to come belching out of the open doors. I texted, “I MADE IT TO THE CAR!” And then I drove off… and went straight home even though I’d planned to do more exploring in the area.

Had I not gotten lost this would have been a very pleasurable and totally manageable trail to take. But seeing how easy it was to just walk right off of it and still think I was on it… I seriously don’t suggest it unless you’re really paying attention!! If you have made it to the downed trees TURN BACK, you’ve gone way too far!! I’ve marked on the map here my trek… including where I wandered off…

July 13, 2020 0

Simmons Pond Loop – Little Compton RI

I admit most of the time I am a lone hiker wandering the woods in search of spiritual inspiration but on this day I decided to be a little more amicable. I went out, clad in my mask, with a family – two small children in tow. We needed to go somewhere they would not die of exhaustion and need to be carried home so Simmons Pond it was, apparently an old favorite haunt. I was all the happier to tag along.

I admit this was out of my comfort zone because during the corona epidemic it was more peopled than I am used to… there was a large parking lot and it had quite a few cars in it. Hikers passed by at will and some were masked although others were not. But they say Rhode Island is one of only two states to have a decreasing risk of Corona so I tried to relax my newly acquired germaphobia just enough to at least enjoy myself out here in the open air.

It’s been interesting. I wasn’t even 200 feet up the trail before I saw something dark black in color move on the ground at the side of the path. I thought it might be a salamander or something so I looked a little harder. I didn’t see anything. So I shuffled my feet until I saw it again. It wasn’t a salamander. It was a baby ringneck snake. I had a brief discussion with myself, “Should I pick this little cutey up? The kids might find it interesting. This is your first outing with them – for the love of god don’t go all Crocodile Hunter on them. Be NoRmAl. Nooooormaaaaalllll”

Obviously I had no choice but to pick it up and then yell, “HEY! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!” Which caused some unrelated hikers to walk up from behind to check the situation out.

“Oh my God, that thing is TINY. HOW DID YOU SEE THAT?!”

The kids toddled up. I let them pet it before releasing it back into the bushes – forgetting to take a photo. We walked a ways down the path which was quaint and well maintained with all sorts of informative plaques about the local plant life and the various ruined foundations that were smattered about this once-farm. I was told this was the job of the local Boy Scouts to maintain. Wow. Where I am from the Boy Scouts whittle sticks… if they’re lucky. And that’s way cooler than what the Girl Scouts are up to — which is why I always wanted to be a Boy Scout. AH! Childhood memories of disappointment and confusion!

When we got to the pond we all sat down on its banks and enjoyed a wee picnic. The kids seemed to be lethally allergic to food in general so this was a bit of a circus but I was enjoying it. It was the perfect day for this sort of thing. After lunch had concluded mama wanted to stay behind with the kids and read a book so I wandered off with my remaining hiking companion to a little loop trail nearby and explored that for the next 20 or 30 minutes. The farther I went the less people there were and the calmer I became. I enjoyed poking around another large cellar hole that was overgrown with ferns. It provided a nice opportunity for photos even though I’d forgotten my actual camera and only had my cell phone.

It was a nice short walk – perfectly level – impossible to get lost on. When we got back the kids wanted to show me “a really huge scary bug” so I walked with them to a bench next to the water leaving the other adults behind. The bug had gone but the kids were thrilled to have me around. The little one got really close to the water’s edge and I pulled him back the first time but realizing it was only two inches of water and I was standing right there in case he toppled in I just let it go. I save my policing for matches and knives. This is likely why I don’t have children. On the way back the little squirts fought over who got to hold my hand.

“Is this…. usual?” I had to ask. “Your kids wanting to hold a stranger’s hand?”

“Well I mean I haven’t really had any female friends around them in a long time sooo….”

All and all this was a very pleasant place full of history and charm and I would highly suggest it to anyone who needs an easy amble. Or a place to walk the kiddoes. Or perhaps just someone who wants both a nature walk and to see a tiny old family cemetery which sits at it’s entrance.

July 9, 2020 0

Mason Rail Trail – Mason NH

Alright! Having been sufficiently engaged with the Pleasant View Cemetery I was all ready to go find a hiking trial… one that was a little more user friendly than the last one I tried! It didn’t take long before I stumbled onto the Mason Rail Trail.

I was a little disappointed. I wanted something a little less… popular… but it probably was a good thing I ended up here. I am hideously out of shape and the rail trails and nice and flat! And go on for miles! And since it was later on in the day there weren’t too many people, although more than I would have liked considering quarantine and whatnot. However, there were few enough of us to really spread out and even so one older couple had masks (so did I, matching my orange hair of course.)

I was happy to note there was not only a bunch of cyclists but also much evidence of horses along the trail. Rail trails are lovely places to go out riding if you are so inclined.

Today’s trail seemed very polite, it even had signs warning of washed out areas! And the people all seemed in a great mood. It was the perfect weather to be out – cloudy and 66 degrees. I walked at a fast clip trying to get myself a decent work out. A cyclist noticing my camera told me that if I walked in the opposite direction, across the road, I would come to a little swampy area where an “oblivious pileated woodpecker” lives. I had to laugh. Thanks for the heads up!

I walked for about 45 minutes before getting winded and deciding to find a place to sit. This turned out to be on a little detour off the mail rail trail where I found a rock to sit and listen to people going by overhead. That was kind of amazing in it’s own way. Most had no idea I was there, though one guy took a double take at something colorful in the woods and upon seeing what it was, or rather who, he smiled and laughed. I know these little interactions are brief and meaningless but they pick up my spirits. I like to know that my mere existence can make a stranger smile. I sat for quite some time enjoying this little serene spot before heading back at a leisurely pace. Rail Trails are wonderful for late day hikes because they are very wide and straight and literally impossible to get lost on so if you get caught out there after dark – no bigs! You’ll still get back to the car just fine! And I did… and I was the last car to leave the parking lot…

If you would like to check out this trail please know the Uncle Sam House (and adjoining trail) are also right up the road!

June 8, 2020 0

Unmarked Trail – Ashby MA

My life’s a mess and the world’s on fire – which means it’s high time for a happy distraction. Why not a hike? In the woods? With trees? They’re good people, those trees. Never said anything bad about anyone and sometimes… I just need this. I think we all do. So I hopped into the car and drove in a random direction.

I ended up winding down a series of lovely dirt roads which seemed for the most part completely unpopulated except for the odd historical barn and or farmhouse. It was like going back into time out there… and I was loving every second of it. I’ve been going through a Classic Rock phase lately and was blaring anthems from the 1960’s. Maybe it’s just comforting to listen to knowing the state of things today. I don’t know, but I was looking for a trail as I was groovin’ along and it didn’t take long before I found something that looked promising. It was an unmarked trail in the middle of nowhere guarded by rock slabs. I pulled over and asked my phone where I was (because my GPS seemed to have no idea.)

Did you know you can just Google “Where am I?” and the damn phone will actually tell you?! Just like that! The wonders of technology! But yes, I was at 1590 Greenville Road Ashby MA.

It was quiet here, not a soul in sight, the perfect place for a socially distanced little stroll through the forest. Immediately upon stepping on the trail I saw two other trails branching off the main trail. Hmmm. And there were tree branches cut everywhere. Clearly someone was trying to keep this place maintained but… there were no trail markers and not 100 feet up the main line I came to a 4-way Y. Now what?! I walked straight, or at least the closest thing I could to straight but the path seemingly ended not far from there OR wound off to the left which looked super hairy. I then walked back to the 4-way impasse and chose to take the farthest left trail. MAYBE if I just keep taking lefts I will just have to take a bunch of rights to get back to the car, right? Theoretically… but this place was godawful. The trail kept winding in every direction with other trails constantly branching off in other Y’s. Nothing was marked AT ALL. This was like navigating my way through someone’s arteries. I couldn’t have been more than an eighth of a mile from the car but I called it quits. I just didn’t want to die lost in the woods today. Sorry. This was literally the worst trail I have ever been on as far as being a rat’s nest of options. It’s a GREAT place if you really do want to get hopelessly lost or perhaps have a body to unburden yourself of… otherwise I do NOT suggest this trail to anyone!

Onwards I went! First to the Pleasant View Cemetery and then the Mason Rail Trail. Both very close to an old destination – the Uncle Sam house.

June 8, 2020 0

Unnamed Trail – Greenville NH

How is everyone out there today? Chomping at the bit and going a little stir crazy? Yeah, me too. I’ve been working super hard on my writing and have been churning out one novel length manuscript a month since January but this sedentary life has not done anything good for my body. Time for some exercise and a little fresh air!

Since the Stay-at-Home orders were put in place a lot of the more popular hiking destinations were forcibly closed because too many people were gathering there. Now they are thinking about opening them back up again which is a horrendous idea. Please people, keep yourself and others safe there are a TON of hiking options that are far less populated! And it’ll be those destinations I will be bringing you along as we hit these warmer months.

Today I asked if my mother if she needed a little time out of the house and when she said yes I hopped into the car and just started driving. I had no destination actually planned. For me it’s fun to just drive in a random direction and let the Universe guide me to wherever it is I am to go. That’s how I ended up in Greenville NH, a town I’d never heard of, taking up the single parking space outside of an obvious trail that looked like it might have been a road once. I had no idea where I was and my GPS decided to take that moment to croak. Luckily I googled, “Where am I??” and my phone answered thusly:

The trail didn’t seem to have a name or anything like that but there were a few signs up saying it was not for “wheeled vehicles” which I don’t think the locals took very seriously because there were tracks from bicycles, dirt bikes, and probably a four-wheeler or two… These were clearly visible because HOLY MUD! It was just flooded!

It’s been an unusually wet spring. I guess I will start travelling with my trusty galoshes… Despite the mud this path was gorgeous at the beginning. Cascades of tiny droplets were coming through the mossy rocks and twinkling in the noonday sun. It was actually kind of magical. I wish I was able to get better photos of this but I am 100% inexperienced taking photos of droplets and apparently it is very hard to catch those little buggars! Clearly I needed to change the speed of my camera’s shutter or something… but I guess that’s a lesson for another day when I am not towing my mother behind me while standing ankle deep in mud.

The rocky outcropping was to both sides of the trail and had a lot of trees growing out of it allowing for some pretty gnarly roots and terrific scenes of erosion as a few toppled down the embankment. There was even a few pieces of graffiti hidden in some of the rocks going back to ’89!

We didn’t walk too far before the trail just ended at what looked like maybe piece of bridge? Luckily the path was to either side of the road where I parked so we just went back and took the low side. It was a brisk walk from there that passed one house and had signs reading “gate ahead” but we never found a gate as I tuckered my poor mother out and we had to head back. It was a nice little jaunt, a well needed one at that. If you happen to live in the area I’d suggest checking it out, otherwise it’s a little muddy and the prettiest parts were literally at the beginning so I don’t think I’d suggest travelling too far to see it… but you know, it looks like a good option for an easy solo walk…

May 4, 2020 0

Federated Women’s Club State Forest – Petersham/New Salem MA

Taking a jaunt through the Northwest Cemetery was fun but ideally I was out for a hike today. All the cemeteries and fishing holes were just a distraction. Really I wanted to find a nice trail and enjoy the somewhat moderate weather. It was only 79 degrees out, in the past week it’s been 84 and although that seems only a slight difference it really isn’t when slogging through the woods!

I’d passed by a number of trailheads which weren’t marked. I wasn’t sure if they were private property and was really on the lookout for something that I could park in front of without being towed away or reported. That’s always a plus. So when I started seeing a few feeble signs for the Federated Woman’s Club State Forest I couldn’t help but wonder what that was. I turned in and it was…. completely vacant. I am not sure any cars have been down here since spring. The roads were ROUGH. The potholes were so deep that the undercarriage of the Prius got a bit scraped up despite me trying desperately to drive less than ten miles an hour and go around them. The GPS was also no help. According to my map I was driving into nowhere. The roads weren’t even showing up.

Finally I drove up to a little parking space which looked like it was at a trailhead although nothing was marked at all. I stopped and tried for the fourth time today to type in “Where am I?” into my cell phone and for the fourth time it told me I was out of range for any kind of internet connection. SIGH. So unfortunately I have no idea which trail it was that I took or where it was… only that I was somewhere within the boundaries of the park.

There were signs everywhere warning that hunting and trapping were allowed here. I guess it’s a good thing I have neon orange hair. I don’t feel like being shot today. The trail at first seemed like an old road and someone had probably driven up it somewhat recently but before I knew it the path narrowed and started looking more like a hiking trail. It was SO QUIET out here that all I could hear was the birds. I don’t think there was a soul around and I don’t think many people aside from trappers and hunters must use these trails because it wasn’t long before it went from a pleasant stroll to “Hmmm, there appears to a be a bridge which I am not sure if humans or beavers built and the trail…. doesn’t seem very trail like anymore…” Plus it was getting hot so I turned around at the weird log bridge.

I had on the way discovered some weird mushrooms, the likes of which I had never seen before. I’d also scared a few frogs, tangoed with a dragon fly or two, and spotted and old stone which I could not prove or disprove may have been a burial for someone. It’s not unusual to find stones in State Forests – often the land is donated by people whose families have lived on it for a long time and back in the day cemeteries were frequently tiny family plots of only 1-20 individuals basically in the back yard of the family farm. Over time trees grow, houses crumble, and people forget.

I was pretty melted by the time I got back to the car but I was having such a wonderful day. This was the ultimate introvert’s retreat. I really felt like I was so far from civilization that I could have turned feral at any moment. I drove down the road some more to see if I could find any more trails. There was one that was badly hidden that I passed by accidentally and then the road basically stopped at a T. To the left there was a big sign reading, “Road closed, bridge out!” and to the right there was a gate across the way. There was a small parking area fit for maybe four cars and I was tempted to check it out but I was still pretty overheated and decided this might be best for another day. Besides I had one more adventure – to the South Cemetery in Wendell – to go to before going home.

August 3, 2019 0

Welch Family Farm & Forest Hancock NH

So today I actually did some research before bumbling into the woods in 84 degree weather. I looked up the trailhead I had passed on my way to Sarah’s Hat Boxes the other day and low and behold it actually sounded pretty interesting. The property the trail runs through used to be an old farm in the late 1800’s on and there were a few whispered rumors about there being ruins of the old farm still on the property. What kind of ruins? It didn’t say but I was picturing maybe some old farmhouse foundation or something. I’m all into that.

There was a hitch though. My mother was on her way out and currently I have been sharing her car. Suffice to say both her and her friend ended up coming with me in the dastardly muggy heat but that’s OK because I also read this was an easy .9 mile hike through the shade of many trees. Doable.

The trailhead sits right off route 123 a few miles past the center of Hancock. There’s a little bit of space for parking which is easy to find because of the sign reading Welch’s Family Farm & Forest. The path itself has a gate across it.

My first impression was this place was not frequented by too many people. The path was very wide but grass was growing over most of it. It was forested at first but gave way eventually to a scene of rolling unmanicured pastures framed by the mountains in the background. My mother was thrilled as this reminded her of the paths she rambled down as a youth. Luckily it was an easy trail with gentle slopes and inclines here and there.

We came to a ruin of a sort – an old hay machine. It was hard to date it exactly but it was neither very old nor particularly modern. It was however sitting upright and well rusted. Also on the trail I found evidence of owls (owl pellets were spat on the ground at one point) and what I think was fox or coyote scat. Someone also had taken a turkey feather and poked it into a tree stump. Clearly this place was alive with wildlife. It was said to be a great place to see a bobcat in the winter. Also I fully expected to run into a flooded trail as beavers were said to be constantly washing it out with their activities.

We walked about 3/4ths of a mile before we passed a sign on the opposite side of the trail marking a property boundary. We had gone from being on a completely unmarked trail to the red trail. We then walked to the .9 mile we had been promised. By now we seemed to be walking past a more active looking pasture with what seemed to be an access road in the background. A sign read, “Red trail exit” and gave a two way arrow. We decided to head back rather than go to the end. I didn’t see any ruins, only whispers of wildlife, and no water or beavers. Maybe they were on one or more of the trails that jutted off of this one. Who knows. All and all I wouldn’t really recommend this path unless you’re looking for something easy and happen to live in the area. It was pleasant but pretty boring. There was however more stone walls than I could count so it might be a nice slice of New England scenery for someone who doesn’t live here as well.

July 29, 2019 0

Lower Purgatory Falls – Lyndeborough NH

Just when I feel like I know where everything is and there’s no new places to explore I get another giggle from the Universe. Lyndeborough is only thirty minutes from where I live and I had no idea this town even existed. I have never heard of it which is a shame because apparently that’s where the devil makes beans. Or something. I may have gotten that one a bit wrong… but what I do know is that Lyndeborough is one of many purgatories you’ll find scattered through our deliciously Puritanical New England. This time it comes in the form of waterfalls.

I was told by a few different people it was somewhere I needed to check out so I looked it up vaguely online for an address. There were numerous people who claimed the parking lot was hidden, that it was near impossible to find, and that the GPS will only lead you to a sign across town reading:

OK, so let me explain the sign. It’s placed on Purgatory Falls Road which being the clever thing I am I figured was the home of Purgatory Falls. So I let my GPS take me there because it was being a total jerk today and wouldn’t acknowledge that not only Purgatory Road was a real place but also the entire town of Lyndeborough. SIGH. Now here’s the trick. Purgatory Falls Road is NOT correct but plain old Purgatory Road is. And the parking lot is indeed really frelling easy to miss. The signs out front are worn right off the trees and it doesn’t even look like a trail head. I had to drive in and find a single 8 by 11 sign hanging above a trash can that let me know that yes, I found the right place (by following good old fashioned print directions.) But I’ve made it easier for you. While I was in the parking lot I took a snap of my GPS coordinates which your GPS should not fuck up!

Alright, now that we have that cleared up… I was only one of three cars there when I arrived. When I entered the woods I was greeted by the usual path although there wasn’t a damn marker anywhere and the trail kept having other little partial trails jutting off it. Sooooo I was already hesitant but I did manage to end up at Lower Purgatory Falls which was perhaps a quarter of a mile in. I was lucky to show up early enough that no one was here. I had the whole waterfall to myself. It’s apparently a popular swimming hole with a nice area below and above the falls to take a nice ice cold dip. There were missing items of clothing and random trash scattered through the whole area. I had done a very shitty amount of research before I left and knew that this was Lower Purgatory Falls but that there is also an Upper Purgatory Falls somewhere. Stupidly I thought this was a loop trail. And I was feeling a bit brazen because I saw the first trail markers at the falls. I’m already in the woods why not? I took the yellow trail, whatever that is, but it wasn’t long before I realized every goddamn trail was marked with yellow markers. They all led into each other sure but… whew, that was confusing.

It was a hot out today and I didn’t really feel like dying out here so I tried to stay near the riverbank figuring it was likely the river attached to the other falls and definitely was the river attached to the Lower Falls should I need to get back to the car. It was a pretty little hike with lots of little inlets and river scenes. I was enjoying myself. But then I had to turn away from the river and that made me get a bit fidgety. Up until then I’d only seen two other hikers who I thought were an army. Christ were they a loud bunch. I was shocked to find they were a young couple and not a circus troop of small children (the only kind of people I’d expect so much noise from!) From here the trail was… sketchily marked, at times getting pretty overgrown and hairy and at two places surrounded by “NO TRESPASSING!” and “Security cameras are on!” signs. Not very welcoming. Those were attached to the properties of two mansions and I just can’t help but wonder what is wrong with those people. You bought a house almost built directly on a popular public trail did you not expect people to be wandering by? Idjits. Oh what I’d do to live on a house attached to such a nice hiking trail! I’d be HAPPY.

And I kept walking. And walking. And walking. Deeper into the woods. The trail markers are now mostly yellow with a few white ones mixed in to keep me guessing and offshoot trails are appearing with orange and blue markers. Finally I was back at the river bank. I immediately looked for a spot to stop and rest. Heat exhaustion was starting to make my head hurt. And then I saw the PERFECT little spot. A rock stretched out over the water and allowed for a nice semi-secluded spot to sit so I crawled out there, lobbed off my shoes, and splashed in that COLD COLD water like a small child. It was shaded and the water was so cold it actually hurt to put my feet in it but I was desperate and it did make me immediately feel better. I dithered about there for a while before passing hikers make me feel a bit self conscious so I moved on.

The trail ahead was not the “easy” beginner trail I was told it’d be online. Jagged and often slippery roots, steep hills, and terrifying cliffs dotted the entire route. My knees were screaming bloody murder at me. And now my head and stomach were kicking in. Heat. And then I came to a clearly marked trail junction that pointed to whence I came “Lower Falls” and another path “Purgatory Brook Trail” which I think leads to the other falls. So I kept going even though by now I was toast. I’d WAY overdone it. I needed to be at the car not 4 or 5 miles into the woods. I still kept going before reaching a bridge that both had trail markings and yet another Private Property/No Trespassing sign. I sat down, pulled out my phone, turned the mobile data on, and started to figure this out. First I tried “Where am I?” which resulted in a map…. of literally nothing no matter how much I zoomed out. Fuck. Now I’ve done it. I’m in no man’s land. Then I tried looking up where the falls were on the trail. One source said 5.1 miles apart, another said the whole trail was 15 miles. All said they started in one parking lot and ended in another. NOT A LOOP. And I didn’t have any kind soul to pick me up at parking lot #2 because I was too stupid to plan this out better.

I turned back and started marching. It seemed like forever before I found that rock plank over the river again and when I did I stopped and dunked myself. In fact I wandered around a bit splashing water over myself as much as I could. A hiker sneaked by me as I was probably looking like a lunatic prospecting for gold. I’d seen very few hikers out today but ALL of them caught me doing or saying something nutty. One caught me muttering, “Yellow trail my ass! These markers are shit!” A second caught me cursing again at myself when I twisted my ankle going down a hill, “Fucking no! I am NOT breaking my goddamn ankle out in the goddamn woods!” Luckily no one came upon me with my ass in the air taking a macro photo of an adorable mushroom I found on a ground but that is usually when people do pass… This has all taught me 1) I curse a profound amount and 2) I’m probably pretty embarrassing to be around.

When I gathered myself up from the river I decided to dunk my socks in the water so I’d at least have something cold and wet around my ankles keeping me sorted as I made my way back. Another egregious trip back. This time when the trail weaved away from the water I sort of freaked a little bit because in this direction it was marked even worse. Would I ever get back to the car?! Every now and then I’d notice something to keep me somewhat distracted like a half-made fairy house made of birch bark or a grackle. We have grackles in New England?! WHY IS IT MOCKING ME?!

Eventually I heard my phone ringing. My mother had noticed hours after taking her car that I was missing. I’d arrived at 10:30. It was 3PM before I finally found my way to the parking lot. This time the waterfalls themselves were filled with people but I was less than thrilled to walk from the falls back to my car in a rat’s nest of unmarked trails and half trails. Just keep walking. Just keep walking.

I made it. What a glorious sight the car was. It was however hotter than hell when I opened it up and as it burped out that 140 degree stale air I was dooooone. I’m home now. Already in pain. Going to be paying for this one for days to come! But although I know I will be in a coma for the next couple of days I am still happy I went. And heeeeey, maybe I can drive to the Upper Falls parking lot and see the upper falls and the devil’s bean pot from there. Then I can say I did the whole trail and stop feeling like such a hiking wuss.

July 27, 2019 0

Rails to Trails – Rindge NH

It was another one of those rare sunny days we seem to get once a week now. It was a good day to go out and have lunch with a friend at the local diner followed by a brisk hike into the nearby woods. Lunch at the Hometown Diner was as mediocre as I remember it the last time I attempted. I have no idea why this place is so so popular. The first time I went I got what tasted like pancakes from a box and this time around they served what was clearly mashed potatoes made from powder. You can always tell when it looks only vaguely like its supposed to with a sort of sick translucent sheen… I mean from a DINER which is supposed to be freshly made easy food. Where is your pride?! But hey after I got done eating the saltiest turkey sandwich on the planet I was ready to go!

The Rails to Trails goes through a pretty big area and has multiple spots to start and or end at. We decided to drive up towards Wal-Mart and take it from there. I was happy to see that this time around they had added all sorts of signs to adjoining paths to local eateries and businesses including the Hometown Diner! If only we had known. No wonder I never see the college student from Franklin Peirce, they must be skittering like squirrels through the woods whenever they go out to eat!

It was VERY bright out, my camera was less than enthusiastic about this so my photos are pretty washed out. This trail is nice in the fact its very flat, very wide, and makes for a great place to start out the season – all easy! We came across several other people but they were all cruising along on bicycles. In fact one politely dinged at us to get out of the way, which is such a sad little tinkle of a noise that everyone was looking around to see whose phone was chirping but alas… when we finally moved to the side the guy just laughed at us. Or maybe he was laughing at me… as flamboyantly dressed as I usually am.

We walked past the Hometown Diner, across the street, and continued to walk all the way until we reached the little park where the town’s farmer’s market is. I wanted to go further (where all the water and pretty scenery is) but my walking buddies were getting tired… so we headed back. One of these days I will explore more of this trail…possibly by myself.

June 13, 2019 0

Casalis Marsh & State Forest – Peterborough NH

I know I have gotten a late start in my traveling this year, suffice to say my body has not been happy with me lately so it’s made my little adventures quite difficult but I desperately needed the tranquility of the woods so today I went for a drive and meandered around until I found a trail head at the – Casalis State Marsh in Peterborough NH. As usual I have never heard of it and had to drive by it four times before I actually managed to get my car in the parking lot! The driveway was pretty damn hidden by foliage and there was quick traffic always behind me… but I made it!

I slung my camera over my shoulder, packed the extra lens in my new kick ass hip bag, and headed in. It seemed to be an old access road or maybe even a current one. The first part of the trail was beautiful but typical – just a lot of trees. Still I cannot tell you how good it felt to be out there again! I found a little garter snake sunbathing on the path and stopped to take some macro photos. It was 73 degrees out today, plenty warm enough, but he was in no hurry to get away from me, in fact besides a curious flick of the tongue he allowed me to get super close with my camera and take a few really lovely snaps.

And from there I came upon a small marsh with one bird house seemingly inhabited by a red winged blackbird. Despite being a marsh there weren’t too many bugs about and I was at complete peace here as I took photos of dead trees, dark waters, and the reflections of clouds on gently rippling water. No one else was on the trail today and I was thoroughly enjoying the solitude. When I finally picked up and continued on the trail I wasn’t sure where I’d end up or how far I’d go. I’d already passed one fork in the trail shortly after the marsh (I went straight and ignored a left turn.) Before long the trail was bisected by a gorgeous gurgling river. Another path ran upstream. Should I wade in and cross the river? It looked as if the water would be a little above my knees and I knew river rocks have a tendency to be insanely slick. Decisions. I usually don’t take any turns but I decided the photography would be stunning just following the river upstream so that’s what I did but not before playing in for a while!

Since I forgot to bring my marbles I instead took a couple shoe pictures on the banks before stripping them off and wading in barefooted. The water was cold and so refreshing. I splashed my legs and arms and muttered my usual prayer, “Please wash all negativity away from me and bring towards me only positivity.” Going on walks into the woods is a sacred ritual for me especially when I come to a river – it’s sort of like going to church. Maybe this is why I forsook my socks and shoes and when I left the river’s banks I continued to hike barefooted. Feeling the often muddy and mossy earth underneath my feet felt so right, so calming, and I once again was utterly connected to this place and moment in time. I was transfixed which is probably why I didn’t notice two joggers coming off another trail. They seemed alarmed to find me. Their black lab bounded in the water, an older German man made a precarious crossing over the river from stone to stone, and a younger American man tried desperately not to make eye contact with me which just wasn’t going to be possible when we were both heading the same direction! He was panting, trying to catch his breath, and I was refraining from making a joke about running away from bears. Instead I just said a cheerful, “Hello!” and went on my merry way. The German was far more entertained by me, he said hello back, smiling. I know, I must have been quite a sight, my hair now completely orange wearing psychedelic orange bellbottoms most people would not chose for hiking, a hip bag, and bare feet dragging my shoes at my side. I realize I must have looked ridiculous, possibly insane. I laughed. The two jogged ahead of me and I didn’t see them again. It was a wonderful little stroll back to the car. Today’s outing has made me feel whole once again.

June 8, 2019 0