trips & events
trip/event ideas
Season Starter?
Region: New England Activity Type: Hiking/Walk Place: West Boylston, MA
Howdy Gents! Am thinking about a Season Starter to warm up the glutes and the quads for what will hopefully be a summer of hiking my pants off! Been away from the trail for a while, so thinking something easy-ish like Monadnock or the Welch-Dickey loop to get the blood moving. 100% open to similar options. Ideally shooting forsomething not too strenuous for now, but with some open views. If not my first, this will be one of my inaugural activities within this community, so an unhurried pace sounds good to have an opportunity get acquainted with some of you fine men! I'm unable to drive due to some vision issues and am hoping to connect with guys local to Central Mass for a lift in exchange for sharing travel expenses and war stories. I make a great traveling companion and am fully potty-trained! LMK if any interest and other ideas to get the boots dirty! Happy trails...
Hey Craig. I would be happy to join you for either of those hikes! I know Monadnock well, and I've had Welch-Dickey on my bucket list for a year or so now. I'm not sure about Welch-Dickey, but Monadnock can be a challenging hike to start the season with. I live in Leominster and am happy to give you a ride. You can email me at carl.baker.ma@gmail.com and we can chat about the details of what you want to do. Thanks for the hike idea!
what Carl said about Monadnock although it depends on the pace no experience with Welch Dickey, maybe would be good to try it as something new
lol although both entries in AllTrails rate W-D as Hard ;)
Great feedback, gents...Thanks! I mention Monadnock because of proximity and the fact that I've never been up there despite having owned a home in Winchendon for 13 years! Welch-Dickey is a fun hike with 2 open summits for little effort. Have done it 3x and always with novices in the mix. There are some big granite slabs that are kind of fun, but I do recall some burning calves and hiking parts of it backwards!
I think we start with Welch-Dickey to stretch out your winter legs. I think there are many others who also need to build up to a Monadnock. I found this loop on AllTrails. Is this what you usually do? Welch-Dickey Loop Trail on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/welch-and-dickey-loop-trail--4?sh=ex94e9
I'm open to both since I have not done either so I'd go with the group consensus. Monadnock is on my bucket list and I will get there eventually. What were you thinking for timing?
Yes, Carl, that's the one. Have only gone counter-clockwise as recommended. I'm surprised to see the trail has a "hard" rating...maybe I'm more of a beast than I thought! LOL! It must be due to the slabs, which get slippery in wet weather. Otherwise, there's nothing dodgy that I recall, but it has been 20 years! Even so, it's a short one, so any hell is done with quickly enough.
Craig- why don't you throw out a couple options for hike dates and we can post it for the group? (I'm happy to do this for this first hike, and maybe we have you take the lead on posting Monadnock as a follow-up hike?) I could do Saturday, 6/15, or Sunday, 6/16. The 16th is Father's Day, so I'd like to avoid that day of possible as there could be quite a few guys that may want to attend but wouldn't be able to.
I like the way you think, Carl, and gladly accept your offer to help a newbie out. Let's go with 6/15 as I agree on the Father's Day thing. Will be paying close attention to how this all works on here. Thanks!
Never done Welch-Dickey. I'm all for the hike, looking forward to participating.
Hey guys. In case anyone missed it, I posted this hike last night. Feel free to sign up if you're available!