Ritzhikes

Where: Mt. Wachusett When: September 22, 2026 With: Solo Redlining is the practice of tracing trails walked, traditionally with a red pen (though I use a yellow highlighter). Given enough visits to an area, the redlined trails begin to dominate and the gaps become evident, and compelling. There's a strong urge to fill in those gaps. Some especially driven hikers have redlined every trail in the AMC's White Mountain Guide, and I've been keeping track of my progress in the Pemigewassett Wilderness in those mountains, but today I set out to complete a more attainable goal: walking every trail and woods road in the Mt. Wachusett State Reservation . My visits to Wachusett go back to 1987, when Chip & I went out for a winter adventure with XC skis , but we stayed on the lower parts of the mountain. My first visit to the summit was with Wilma in 2014 . Since then, I've climbed it a dozen more times. Sometimes solo, often with Wilma, once with Andy & Wilma, and once wit...

Where: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Sharon MA) When: September 8, 2026 With: Solo When I was commuting to work in Canton, driving north on Route 95, I'd notice this property on my navigation as I passed through Sharon. I promised myself that I'd visit it some day, and today was the day. I checked in at the visitor center when I arrived, presenting my Mass Audubon member card and asking for advice for a route to explore. "Point me to a trail," I said, "something with a hill." "A hill with a view?" was the reply. Of course. So a route was suggested and I was shown where to find the trail head. The property has a long history. It was Mass Audubon's first wildlife sanctuary, established in 1916 when biologist and Sharon resident George W. Field offered his property to use as a bird sanctuary. The adjacent Moose Hill Farm (managed by the Trustees of Reservations) reflects centuries of New England agricultural history, transitioning from h...