Hiking: Thanksgiving 5-mile hike plan

Home for the holiday, and I've already enjoyed homemade chili, golden potato bake, pork chops and several snickerdoodles. So I've decided to start off Thanksgiving day with a nice long hike to make sure I don't unwittingly pack on unwanted pounds after enjoying tomorrow's feast of turkey, all the trimmings and mom's home-baked apple and pumpkin pies.

I won't be able to do a 10-miler - there's just not enough time since most of the family won't be joining me and being anti-social won't cut it on this brief visit home. No, a nice five-miler will do just fine.

Khizer will be joining me, of course, but so far no one else from the family has shown any interest. I have, though, put out the following invite to friends via Facebook:

Hey Hanoverians...join us in the morning for a five-mile Thanksgiving hike! We're walking from the Hanover YMCA down past the hospital and old Eichelberger school to the library, then down Railroad Street to the Famous Hot Wiener, where we'll turn up Broadway and head to Moul Field. From there we'll take the Hanover Trolley Rail Trail to Wilson Avenue and head northwest on Wilson past Hanover High to end up back at the Y. Meet up at 8:30 a.m. Let me know if you're coming!

I hope to get another couple of hikers to tag along, but even if not Khizer and I will have a great time exploring the old town and checking out a bit of the rail trail. Then on Friday we hope to get out to the woods, either at Maryland Heights down by Harper's Ferry, WV, or Chimney Rocks in Michaux State Forest here in the south central Pennsylvania. Both of those hikes would include portions of the Appalachian Trail, and I've got hope that my brother Zach will join us on that one.

Hiking: A passion ignited on Mount Monadnock

When I moved to Massachusetts in August of this year, I already knew I wanted to take up hiking. Living in flat Florida just wasn't cutting it. I longed for long walks with payoff - the kind you get from reaching the summit.

At Monadnock's summit, October 2011

The first mountain I climbed was Mount Monadnock. It rises above southern New Hampshire to 3,165 feet and is visible on a clear day from my favorite hills in the Middlesex Fells and even as far south as the Blue Hills, where, from the bald top of Buck Hill, you can see it by looking northwest - it lies just to the right of Watchung Mountain on the distant skyline.

I first went to Monadnock with friends on a rainy day in September, but we were turned back by the slippery terrain just about a half mile up the two-mile long White Dot Trail, not even to the point where the White Cross Trail splits from it. But I went back later that week, alone, determined to make it to the summit.

When I made it just past treeline I was excited to find such an incredible view to the south. I could see Watchung, and the ponds of north central Massachusetts seemed to scatter in all directions just below my perch. I almost said, that's enough, and considered turning back for fear I just wasn't ready to go all the way. But something inside me said, no, you've got to try!

So I pressed on, and in just two hours almost to the minute, I made it. Here is what I wrote in my journal there at the peak:

Goal accomplished! Sitting atop Mt. Monadnock in southern New Hampshire, the Western Hemisphere's most climbed mountain at 3,165 ft. elevation. Started at 12:20 today at the ranger's station at the bottom of the White Dot Trail, some 1,765 feet and about two miles below. Arrived exactly two hours later and am now optimistically dreading the descent. This hill is a bear! Steep, rocky and at points slippery. Plus, its trails are jam-packed with silly people talking about bull**** like jobs, real estate and the world of finance. Can't they see what's around them? Nature, friends, family. Why not talk of these things, and of love, or better, enjoy the silence? I wish only for some silence right now, but believe it or not it sounds like the inside of a bar - with the rush of wind the only natural vibration. Thank God for the wind!

Trail map, Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire

I took the White Cross Trail down, and at the bottom I felt like a victor. I overcame a great fear that day, and the success at Monadnock fueled my confidence to try longer and equally difficult hikes (Still, I have not had such a difficult hike as Monadnock, except perhaps my first ten-mile hike along the Skyline Trail in Blue Hills last week, which was longer and very rocky and rugged, but not nearly as steep for such an extended period of time).

I'm posting here the trail map of Mount Monadnock. I would recommend this hike to anyone. I saw children complete it that day, which isn't to say it is easy but rather to encourage you that you can do it! Just get out there and try!

Hiking: Third 10-mile trip plan - Middlesex Fells, Skyline Trail with sections of Cross Fells and Rock Circuit

For my third 10-mile hike I will be doing the Skyline Trail loop and part of the Cross Fells Trail and Rock Circuit Trail entirely within the Middlesex Fells Reservation. According to the Massachusetts Trail Guide, 9^th edition, published by the Appalachian Trail Club, the Skyline Trail itself is 6.8 miles. With the portions of the Cross Fells and Rock Circuit I describe below, the total hike will be about 10.8 miles if not longer.

 I’ll start at the Long Pond parking area on South Border Road at around 8 a.m. and take Molly’s Spring Road a short distance to where it connects with the Skyline Trail. From there I’ll follow the north branch as it circles up and around the Middle and North reservoirs. On the east side of North Reservoir I will take the Bear Hill Trail spur to Bear Hill Tower. I’ll then reconnect to the Skyline Trail and continue south to where it meets up with the Cross Fells Trail at Brooks Road.

Crossing Fellsway West and going under Interstate 93, the Cross Fells Trail continues heading east through Wright’s Park until it reaches Woodland Road just past Quarter Mile Pond. Shortly after crossing Woodland Road, I’ll reach the Rock Circuit Trail and take the southern portion of this loop down past Boojum Rock and Bears Den and back north to where it reconnects with the Cross Fells Trail at Fellsway East. I’ll then take the Cross Fells Trail west again, back to where it connects with the Skyline Trail in the western Fells and will continue the southern loop to Wright’s Tower atop Pine Hill.

From the tower, I’ll continue west and north on the Skyline Trail as it runs just below South Reservoir. I will complete the Skyline Trail loop as it once again reaches Molly’s Spring Road, at which point I will follow that road back out to the parking area.

I plan to undertake this hike during late autumn when the days are short, so I will need to keep up a good pace despite the hilly and rugged nature of this intense Fells hike. I’ll be prepared as I have been for the previous two hikes with plenty of rations, layered clothing and a change of socks, which I’ve found has been essential for my feet to remain comfortable, dry and blister-free, particularly after about seven miles on the trail.

I’m not sure when this hike will take place, as I’m heading to Pennsylvania for the Thanksgiving holiday. But rest assured I will do it on the first suitable day I have available either the last week of November or, at the latest, the first week of December.

To keep in shape for this hike, I will continue my habit of hiking between three and five miles per day interspersed throughout each seven-day period to total at least 20 miles per week. In fact, even while on vacation, I will maintain my schedule by hiking part of the Appalachian trail to Chimney Rocks in the Michaux State Forest of south central Pennsylvania and another part of the AT to the overlook of Harper’s Ferry at Maryland Heights.

More about my mission

The aim of this blog is highlighted in the first post, On becoming a man of merit (November 17, 2011). In that post, I mentioned that - as a middle-aged man - I'm trying to complete requirements for several BSA merit badges, ones that I would have liked to have completed before I dropped out of the Boy Scouts organization for personal reasons in the 1980s. But I'd like to explain more about my goals here.

This blog will follow my progress as I work to complete the requirements for the 12 most important merit badges in the BSA, those that are required to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Twenty-one badges are required in all, but according to the Boy Scout Handbook, these 12 must be earned:

1. First Aid
2. Citizenship in the Community
3. Citizenship in the Nation
4. Citizenship in the World
5. Communications
6. Personal Fitness
7. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
8. Environmental Science
9. Personal Management
10. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
11. Camping, and
12. Family Life

First, I have decided to start by pursuing the requirements for the Hiking merit badge. I am also very interested in earning the Personal Fitness badge, since fitness is one of my primary passions (see Fitness400). First Aid and Emergency Preparedness are also on my short range list, as is Camping. The others I will also work on in turn.

I don't currently have any friends who are involved with the Boy Scouts, but if anyone finds this blog who is in the organization, I would appreciate your input. This is going to be a fun project, and I am excited to see what I'll be able to accomplish with what I learn through the process of becoming a man of merit!

Dance to Death

This is a poem I wrote in October of this year - a month ago today, in fact - while sitting on a rock on the Skyline Trail about three-quarters of the way up the western slop of Great Blue Hill in the Blue Hills Reservation, south of Boston. I originally posted this on my blog Fitness400, which follows my 160-pound weight loss journey over the past two years, but thought it would be fitting on this blog as well. It gives insight into what inspires me to do the things I'm doing.


Dance to Death
by Brian Schwarz

Dying things are all around
As soon as birth, then death abounds
Not just in the devil's touch
But God, through death, has taught us much

To love and care and fill our days
With life and laughs and curious ways
And all the time we've got is ours
Till finally we've marked the hours

So dance to death; fly, be free
March your way down to the sea
Then back again to mountain tops
Take on life with all you've got!

Hiking: Second 10-mile report - Weston to Lincoln and Concord

Pastoral scenery along Conant Road

Today I did my second 10-mile hike. This time was a bit easier than my first hike along the Skyline Trail in the Blue Hills, which was extremely rocky and hilly terrain. I only climbed one large hill today – Cat Rock – and that was toward the beginning of the hike.

I started out at 12:40 p.m. from the house where I’m staying on Page Road in Weston, Mass., and headed straight into the woods to cut through Weston Conservation Lands, connecting Weston to Lincoln on Conant Road. The remainder of my hike would be along roadways and well maintained paths.

Once I reached Conant Road I was treated to some spectacular rural scenery around the Valley Pond and Valley Brook areas. I hooked a right from Conant onto Weston Road and passed by Browning Fields. Along this stretch I was surprised to see so many baby boomers out on the road cycling, jogging, and walking. I even saw a couple in their 60s using rock-climbing gear to climb a tree in their yard. It was interesting to say the least!

Pierce Mansion

As I reached the Lincoln Center, I decided to enjoy my lunch on a picnic table beside an elegant Georgian mansion – the Pierce House – in the adjacent Pierce Park. This was the four-mile mark, and my legs were getting tired, but I was excited to press on.

Spot where Lincoln Minutemen mustered

I passed the Lincoln Library and further on a stone marking the place where the famed Lincoln Minutemen mustered to march north to be the first militia to battle the British along the Battle Road. I walked northward feeling strengthened somehow by knowing the history and the strength of those men who marched here more than 200 years ago facing uncertainty in their brave attempt to forge a new nation.

About a mile and a half north I crossed Massachusetts Route 2, and then soon I was entering Minute Man National Historic Park. My first impression of the park was the Captain William Smith House at the corner of Bedford Road and North Great Road. Smith was the commander of the Lincoln Minute Men and Abigail Adams’ brother.

I turned left on the old battle road here and continued down toward the Samuel Hartwell House site. On this path I read a vivid description of the British Column, close to 700 soldiers that took up about 300 yards of the road as they marched from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to Boston Harbor. It sent chills down my spine.

British soldier on Battle Road

I then headed off the Battle Road to continue west on North Great Road, which turns into Lexington Road as it moves into Concord before Meriam’s Corner. It was getting dark, but along Lexington Road I enjoyed more pastoral scenes, including the sun setting on the historic farm behind Noah Brooks’ Tavern, and a bit farther down the road near Meriam’s Corner, the Palumbo Farm.

Once I passed the intersection of Lexington Road and Old Bedford Road, known as the aforementioned Meriam’s Corner, I was just two miles from Concord center, where I would catch the train back to Kendal Green. But still some surprises were in store. On my way into town I passed by the Grapevine Cottage, home of Ephraim Wales Bull, originator of the Concord Grape, The Wayside, home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Orchard House, home of the Alcotts and the famous “Little Women”.

By this time it was starting to get dark. Fortunately, there was a walkway along the road where I could stay safely out of the way of traffic, which wasn't the case for much of the time I spent on the roads today. Still, I picked up my pace despite the extreme soreness I was beginning to feel in my knees and calf muscles.

Sun sets on Palumbo Farm

Finally, I made it to Concord, where I made my way down Main Street to Thoreau Street and the commuter rail station. I arrived just before 5 p.m., an hour before I anticipated. My total trip time was just over four hours. I calculated my pace at about 2.5 miles per hour, given two stops I made to refuel along the way. Since I was early for the train, I waited at the Starbucks down the street.

All in all, it was an amazing day. I feel I’m pushing my limits while at the same time seeing my limits being stretched out farther and farther in the distance. Who knows what I’m capable of, but one this is for sure: After a few more of these 10 milers, I’ll be ready to take on a 20-mile hike without hardly breaking a sweat!