Ritzhikes

Where: F. Gilbert Hills State Forest, Foxborough MA When: 19 December 2020 With: Chip & Dave A pandemic relief XC ski trip. A week earlier we'd been enjoying warm temps and dry ground, but now there was good snow on the ground, and Dave suggested trails near his house in the F. Gilbert Hills state forest. I'd been interested in visiting it for some time anyway. We met at the parking area, reviewed our varius aches & pains, then set off. Other folks were on the trails but it wasn't especially crowded. We donned our masks when we met others, but often went without the masks. Dave led the way, since he walked the trails often, and he led us off into a quieter portion of the property, near a pond. At one point we debated taking a side trail but it seemed too steep for our skills and we passed on it. Another downhill later on was unavoidable, but we all managed to negotiate it one way or the other. Eventually we all ran out of energy and turned our skis back toward the p...

Where: Blue Hill, Milton MA When: 13 December, 2020 With: Chip & Dave A pandemic relief hike. Chip suggested a spot midway between all of our houses, the Great Blue Hill, and a meeting/starting point near the Blue Hills Reservation HQ on Hillside Street. It would give us parking and access to a number of trails. The weather was mild however, and lots of other folks had the same idea to get out that day. I was first to arrive, and found the parking lot full. Same for all of the other lots in the area. I kept driving along the base of the Hill, looking for other options, before turning around at an ice rink and heading back. I may have called Chip at some point to explain the situation, but he called me while I was driving. I mentioned seeing a parking spot along the road at a trailhead and suggested we meet there. I pulled into the spot and didn't have to wait too long for the others to arrive. We gathered our gear, then made our way up the trail. I don't remember if we had ...