Arnold Arboretum In January!

Hey!

We seven men had a great time at the Arnold on Sunday 1/8/17!  We stepped off from the Admin building at 1:15 into pristine, gorgeous winter wonderland.  Dry light snow conditions - fresh at about 1' deep.  It was only 20 degrees but there was no wind and we were all well dressed and shod.  We could jump and roll in the snow and stay dry because it was cold. 

We hiked up the west edge of the arboretum, explored the conifer section and learned about the ways of most easily identifying the conifers and telling one from the other.  Courier and Ives beautiful.

As we acended Peter's Hill to the summit (: - )  all of 240') the sun was behind us and we had glorious views to the City skyline with the Fenway area on our left.  We decided to back off the intensity a bit and pick up the pace going back so we walked on the hard-packed snow on the central arboretum service road which snakes through the entire 400+ acres of the park.  Good grip.  No ice.

We all made the 2nd summit ( all of 200') - Bussey Hill - above the lilac section of the arboretum.  It was about two feet deep going up the steeper south slope through some trees so it was the toughest part of the hike.  Then we rolled and slid and played going down the north slope to the lilac path and did a brisk walk back to the Hunnewell building together.

The ladies in the admin liked us so much they had hot chocolate and homemade cookies waiting.  Perfect!

Ed Sterling had made a suggestion we get beer and dinner at Galway House in Jamaica Plain - just  6 blocks from the admin building.  We had beer and great meals for a reasonable price - the service was excellent, too!

All seven of us survived the entire hike with no fatalites or injuries.  It was about 3 1/2 miles in 3 1/2 hours - a blistering pace - but it was great fun and we all enjoyed it.  We all double summited. Two in the bag for '17!

Arndold Expedition #1 Artica - Photo Library Link - download any or all the pics as you wish.  You can also save this link to your phone or any device for access at any time.  Please send me any photos you would like added to the library.  You can share this link with anyone. 

Thanks to everyone for keeping such a great spirit in spite of the punishing and unreasonable conditions.  We were only safe because we stuck together - abiding to the 1st rule of Mike's Hikes.  : - )

Mountain Master Mike

mike@mike25.com

This is a great winter hike to start the new year!  It’s great for health and meeting old friends and making new ones.  Get limbered up after the holidays and step off on your new year.

“The Arnold” is a great Boston and world resource that everyone should know.  It is arguably the biggest and most beautiful jewel of Boston’s Emerald Necklace designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (also NYC Central Park).  It houses one of world’s very best and most carefully curated “living collections” of temperate trees and shrubs arranged along a variety of trails on over 280 acres of built landscape in the natural style. 

The hike is very adaptable to your fitness level, desired output and the conditions of the day.  For people questioning their fitness for various levels of exertion, this is a great opportunity to hike with those who know and can give you feedback.  You can challenge yourself and cut the hike short at any time if needed. Only if the day is extremely “slushy” (snow+rain+wind precipitation combination) will it be rescheduled to Sunday (notice via e-mail).  Otherwise, we’re on.  Hiking is about being adaptable to changing conditions. 

Bring layers, hats, gloves, winter hiking boots, etc.  It can get windy and very “fresh” on the hilltops.  Bring your knapsack if you want to get feedback on how it would work on a hike in the White Mountains or if you want to test your new gift for fit and chafing when loaded.

We'll start at the Administration Building just inside the main gates (top of the stairs).  There are washrooms (heated) and other facilities there.  I’ll survey the group to see what kind of hike we want to do based on the day’s conditions.  Don't be late.  Our policy is to wait only 15 minutes past the designated start time for people who have registered and not checked in.  It's a courtesy to everyone.  If you can't come - please post it online where you registered (this page).

The clear day hike is 3.7-mile loop that tops the two major hills in the park, both of which offer views to the Boston Skyline in winter.  The pace will be moderate and the path is a combination of trails and/or paved roadway.  It should take 2-3 hours to complete the hike at a comfortable strolling pace. We’ll end at the gate - only a few blocks to the center of Jamaica Plain where we’ll go for beer and/or hot soup for an early evening after the hike.

I am a professional horticulturist who knows trees relatively well.  If you want to exercise or improve your plant identification skills, this is the place to do it. Winter is a great time to learn the different conifers (pines, hemlocks, spruce, cedar, etc.).  If there’s enough interest and the conditions are right we may divert part of the hike to that part of the Arboretum’s collection.  Learn to look at trees and it’s amazing what you’ll see!

The Arboretum website has years’ worth of information for you on just about any aspect of the park that you’d like to research.  It’s a recent addition to the Harvard University family of public offerings.  It is extremely well connected to the Boston Community.

We are considering making this hike a monthly event if there’s enough support and people are willing to step forward and help.  Leading this event is a great way to learn how to lead trips for Gay Outdoors.  Please join in. It's designed to be convenient and low risk for everyone.

If you’re new to GO and want to learn more, this is a great way to start.  Please come along.

Hope to see you there!

~ Mike Walsh