Rolf Larson

Hike Series 2011

FOLLOW THE YELLOW TRIANGLES

Hikes are easy to moderate with some hills and are held RAIN OR SHINE.

HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Bring small pack with water, refreshments, weather-appropriate gear, bug spray and maybe  camera, etc. Pants and sturdy shoes are highly recommended..

Day-hike series on Midstate and Wapack trails -- 2011

#1 Sunday, July 10: Meet NOON at parking lot of Wachusett Mtn. Ski Area. From Boston area, take Route 2 west to exit 25 onto Route 140 heading south, take right at ski area sign. From Worcester area, take Rte.190 to exit 5.  Go north on Rte. 140 for 9.5 miles to Wachusett Mt. entrance on left. Meet in main parking lot near compressor building where trail enters woods. Leave some cars and drive to trail crossing at junction of Route 62 and Ball Hill Road in Princeton.  Hike north through Wachusett Meadows Audubon Preserve and over mountain, 6.2 miles. Moderate pace; rolling-to-steep terrain. Leaders: Bob Dral (tel. 978-464-5175) or Jeannine Girouard (tel. 978-874-2445).

#2 Saturday, July 16: Meet 9 a.m. at corner of Stone Hill Road and Narrows Road in Westminster. From Boston area take Rte. 2 west, exit 27.  Take left at exit, crossing Rte. 2 onto Narrows Rd. Drive straight to fork at Stone Hill Road where trail crosses. From Worcester area, take Rte. 140 north, take right onto Gatehouse Road just before ski area entrance; follow about 2 miles and turn right onto Stone Hill Road, park at bottom of hill at corner with Narrows Road. Leave some cars and shuttle to trail crossing at Wachusett Mtn. Ski Area, where trail crosses parking lot near rental lodge.  Hike north by Redemption Rock and over Crow Hill ledges to Stone Hill Road, 5 miles. Moderate pace; rolling-to-steep terrain. Leaders: John Gau (508-853-6254); Jeannine Girouard (tel. 978-874-2445) or Jim Wrightson (tel. 978-852-4800).

#3 Saturday, July 23: Meet 9 a.m. in Westminster at graffiti bridge on Oakmont Ave. From Boston area, take Rte. 2 west to exit 25.  Turn left on Rte. 2A and take quick left on Town Farm Rd.  Drive to end, then right on Oakmont Ave to graffiti bridge.  Or, from Rte. 140 north, about 2 miles past Wachusett Mtn., cross Rte. 2 overpass and go left onto Town Farm Rd. (see above). Leave some cars and drive to Narrows Road near Stone Hill Road in Westminster where trail crosses. Hike north to graffiti bridge, 5 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Jim Wrightson (tel. 978-852-4800) & Steve Smith (tel. 978-692-8219) & Toby Mushrush (tel. 978-602-2814)

#4 Sunday, July 31: Meet at NOON near where trail crosses Route 12 in Ashburnham, From Rte. 31 in Fitchburg, take Rte. 12 north for 4.5 miles. After Ashburnham town line, watch for trail crossing blazes on left at [abandoned] Whitney Hill Road—directly across Route 12 is corner of Jewell Hill Road w/ traffic island. Park some cars on Jewell Hill Road and shuttle to “graffiti bridge” on Oakmont Ave. in Westminster.   Hike around beautiful, remote, Muddy Pond, 5.8 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Mark Dubois* (tel. 508-853-9609)  Marie Auger* (tel. 978-874-5629).

#5 Saturday, Aug. 6: Meet 9 a.m. in trail parking lot on north side of Route 119 in Ashburnham, opposite Pierce Road, located exactly 1.4 miles west of Route 101 junction. Leave most cars here and shuttle to where trail crosses Route 12 at corner of Jewell Hill Road in Ashburnham. Hike north over Fisher Hill and Mount Hunger, 6.7 miles, to Route 119. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Marie Auger* (tel. 978-874-5629) or Toby Mushrush (tel. 978-602-2814)

#6 Saturday, Aug. 13: Wapack Trail-- Bring lunch!  Meet at 10 a.m. at Windblown X-C Ski Area [up driveway and 1^st parking lot on left] on Route 123 in New Ipswich, N.H. Leave some cars and shuttle to Midstate parking lot on Route 119 by Mount Watatic in Ashburnham. Hike on Wapack Trail (same yellow triangles as Midstate) north over Mount Watatic ridge over Barrett Mtn. and back to Windblown, about 9 miles. Moderate pace; strenuous terrain. Leaders: Mark Dubois* (tel. 508-853-9609)  or Paul Glazebrook (tel. 617-852-1975).

#7 Sunday, Aug. 21: Wapack Trail-- Meet at NOON at former Temple Mtn. Ski Area on Route 101 east of Peterborough, N.H., across from Miller State Park. Leave some cars and shuttle down to Windblown X-C Ski Area on Route 123 in New Ipswich. Hike north over spectacular ridge to Temple Mtn. and Route 101, about 7 miles. Moderate pace; strenuous terrain. Leaders: Mark Dubois* (tel. 508-853-9609)  or Marie Auger* (tel. 978-874-5629).

#8 Saturday, Aug. 27: Wapack Trail-- Meet at 10 a.m. at Wapack Trail terminus on Old Mountain Road in Greenfield, N.H. Leave some cars and shuttle to [former] Temple Mtn. Ski Area on Route 101. Park across from Miller State Park in Temple Mtn. parking lot. Cross road into state park on Wapack Trail—bring a few bucks for ranger—and hike over Pack Monadnock with sweeping views in all directions, about 5.5 miles. Moderate pace; strenuous terrain. Leaders: Alan Harris (tel. 508-835-2512)  or Mark Dubois* (tel. 508-853-9609).

#9 Saturday, Sept. 3: Meet at 9 a.m. on Route 16 in Douglas where Midstate crosses. Take Rte. 395 to exit 2.  Go east on Rte. 16 for 4.3 miles to state park’s trail parking lot on right.  From Rte.146 and East Douglas, take Rte. 16 west.  Lot is on .9 miles past entrance to Wallum Lake/Douglas State Forest (Cedar St). Leave some cars and shuttle south to trailhead over R.I. line. Walk up to trail terminus marker stone in Douglas State Forest and follow Midstate up to Route 16—about 9 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Ken Baldyga* (tel. 508-757-5812) or Ed Faron* (tel. 508-892-9237)

#10 Sunday, Sept. 11: Meet at NOON. at parking lot by church on Central Turnpike in West Sutton —it’s the Sutton Ave. exit off Route 395 in Oxford Center. Leave some cars there and shuttle to Route 16 trail crossing in Douglas.  Hike north past Whitin Reservoir to West Sutton, 6.2 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Ken Baldyga* (tel. 508-757-5812) or Tia Koziak  (tel. 508-981-1152).

#11 Saturday, Sept. 17: Meet at 9 a.m. at gate at dead-end of Rocky Hill Road off Route 12 in Oxford, north of town center. Leave some cars and drive to West Sutton parking lot by church on Central Turnpike. Hike northerly 6.5 miles by Sacrarrappa Pond and Bugs Swamp to Rocky Hill Rd. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Tia Koziak  (tel. 508-981-1152)  or Barbara Day (tel. 508-987-0549)

#12 Saturday, Sept. 24: Meet 9 a.m. at trail crossing on (south side of) Route 20 in Charlton. Turn off Route 20, at traffic light onto Old Worcester Road—bear left and park at end-of-road circle. Leave some cars here and drive to Rocky Hill Road in Oxford. From here hike north though Hodges Village Dam watershed over French River to Route 20, about 5 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Tia Koziak  (tel. 508-981-1152) or  Alan Harris (tel. 508-835-2512)

#13 Sunday, Oct. 2: Meet at NOON where trail crosses G.H. Wilson Road in Spencer. From Rte. 20, take Rte. 31 north 5.4 miles. Take right on Capon Road, .4 miles to end.  Go right .1 mile to GH Wilson Rd and trail crossing.  From Rte. 9, take Rte. 31 south.  Turn left on East Charlton Rd. to GH Wilson Rd.  Leave some cars here and drive to where trail crosses Route 20 in Charlton. From here hike north 6.4 miles through Fay Mountain orchard, starting with walk through cow tunnel under Route 20. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Jeanne DiCenzo* (tel. 508-852-6882) & Duke Charbonneau* (tel. 508-885-4387).

#14 Saturday, Oct. 8: Meet at 9 a.m. in Spencer on Route 9 in lower parking lot of Spencer Country Inn. Leave some cars here and shuttle to G.H. Wilson Road in Spencer.  Walk north through Audubon land and by horse farms, 5.3 miles, back to Route 9. Hikers are invited for lunch after hike at nearby Green Mtn. Club camp on Cedar Meadow Lake in Leicester. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Jeanne DiCenzo* (tel. 508-852-6882) & Mark Dubois* (tel. 508-853-9609).

#15 Saturday, Oct. 15: Meet at 9 a.m. in Spencer where trail crosses McCormack Road by 4-H Club horse barns near Buck Hill. From Worcester take Rte. 9 toward Spencer, opposite Ragsdale Chevrolet take right on Paxton Road for 1.4 miles.  Go left on Gold Nugget Rd for .6 miles, then right on McCormack Rd for 1.9 miles to 4-H Club parking lot on left. Leave some cars here and shuttle to Route 9 in Spencer across from Spencer Country Inn.  Hike north over Moose Hill and across Moose Hill Reservoir dam back to Buck Hill, 6 miles. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Ed Faron* (tel. 508-892-9237)  or Duke Charbonneau* (tel. 508-885-4387).

#16 Sunday, Oct. 23: Meet 9 a.m. on trail crossing at East Hill Road off Pleasantdale Road in Rutland. From Rte. 31 in Paxton Center, go west on Rte. 122 for 4.2 miles and turn left onto Pleasantdale Rd.  Go .5 mile and turn right onto East Hill Rd. for almost a mile to Midstate crossing. Leave some cars here and shuttle to 4H Club horse barns near Buck Hill in Spencer, on McCormack Road. Hike north 5.2 miles around Thompson Pond and through Treasure Valley. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders:  Paul Glazebrook* (tel. 617-852-1975) or  Robert Juckins (tel. 978-249-3744).

#17 Saturday, Nov. 5: Meet at 9 a.m. at Barre Falls Dam off Route 62 in Barre. From Rte. 68, take Rte. 62 west for 2.2 miles.  Take left on entrance road, and park in first lot on left, just before dam. Leave some cars here and shuttle to trail crossing on East Hill Road off Pleasantdale Road in Rutland.  Hike north 7.7 miles through Rutland State Park  back to Barre Falls Dam. Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders: Dave Sensenig (tel. 508-757-8052) or Paul Cully* (tel. 978-692-2498),

#18 Saturday, Nov. 12: Meet at 9 a.m. at junction of Route 62 and Ball Hill Road in Princeton.  From Worcester area follow Route 31 north out of Holden, after Princeton town line take left onto Ball Hill Road and drive to end. From Boston area head west on Route 2 to Fitchburg then south on Route 31. Stay on 31 to Princeton Center then head west on Route 62 for 2.3 miles to Ball Hill Rd.  Leave some cars here and drive to Barre Falls Dam. Hike north through Ware River watershed to Route 62, 8.5 miles.  Moderate pace; rolling terrain. Leaders:  Bob Dral (tel. 978-464-5175)  or  Dave Sensenig (tel. 508-757-8052).

Please contact hike leaders for information and directions to meeting place.  

*Any of these hike leaders may be contacted for more information

www.midstatetrail.org   

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