North Pawtuckaway 3-23-07
Trip to North Pawtuckaway Mountain 1011’
4.5 miles 750'Elevation gain
Kevin and Emma, Jim and Virga
Jim and I finally got a chance to go tramping together in Pawtuckaway State Park. That was the good news, the bad news was that, while we waited all winter for there to be snow in Pawtuckaway, we had a warm spell the week before and most of the snow was gone. No snowshoeing on this trip. Emma also had a hiking partner as Jim brought along his Lab mix, Virga. At 4 years old Virga still had all of her puppy enthusiasm for running free in the woods, smelling all the smelly smells that she can smell so well.
If we did 4 1/2 miles, she did 9. Emma used to run like this too, but she has become older and wiser and has learned to pace herself and conserve her energy for some of the long hikes we have been on. She seemed more concerned today about peeing over anyplace Virga peed and thus being the dominant scent along the trail. When you get older you appreciate the simpler things in life more and lose the need to make a mad dash from place to place trying to take in everything at once. So, while Virga covered most of the 5535 acres of Pawtuckaway in search of an olofactory overload, Emma trotted along with us and reveled in the freedom that a nice stroll in the woods brings in the hopes that Virga would flush a nice rabbit or chipmunk to chase.
We tramped over North Pawtuckaway Mountain and then followed the trail down to Devil's Den. Above the cave there is a large birdnest which I keep meaning to return to in season to see who occupies it. It is very similar to a falcons nest, but it doesn't seem high or remote enough. I must remember to return and see if I can solve this mystery. From Devil's den we followed the trail down to the boulder field where we spent some time admiring the fine examples of glacial erratics found there. A couple are almost as big as my house. Jim did a little bouldering and then we tramped back along the North Mountain by-pass to where we had parked. Always a great hike. I hope we get to snowshoe there next winter.
Read More4.5 miles 750'Elevation gain
Kevin and Emma, Jim and Virga
Jim and I finally got a chance to go tramping together in Pawtuckaway State Park. That was the good news, the bad news was that, while we waited all winter for there to be snow in Pawtuckaway, we had a warm spell the week before and most of the snow was gone. No snowshoeing on this trip. Emma also had a hiking partner as Jim brought along his Lab mix, Virga. At 4 years old Virga still had all of her puppy enthusiasm for running free in the woods, smelling all the smelly smells that she can smell so well.
If we did 4 1/2 miles, she did 9. Emma used to run like this too, but she has become older and wiser and has learned to pace herself and conserve her energy for some of the long hikes we have been on. She seemed more concerned today about peeing over anyplace Virga peed and thus being the dominant scent along the trail. When you get older you appreciate the simpler things in life more and lose the need to make a mad dash from place to place trying to take in everything at once. So, while Virga covered most of the 5535 acres of Pawtuckaway in search of an olofactory overload, Emma trotted along with us and reveled in the freedom that a nice stroll in the woods brings in the hopes that Virga would flush a nice rabbit or chipmunk to chase.
We tramped over North Pawtuckaway Mountain and then followed the trail down to Devil's Den. Above the cave there is a large birdnest which I keep meaning to return to in season to see who occupies it. It is very similar to a falcons nest, but it doesn't seem high or remote enough. I must remember to return and see if I can solve this mystery. From Devil's den we followed the trail down to the boulder field where we spent some time admiring the fine examples of glacial erratics found there. A couple are almost as big as my house. Jim did a little bouldering and then we tramped back along the North Mountain by-pass to where we had parked. Always a great hike. I hope we get to snowshoe there next winter.
Hemlocks on North Pawtuckaway Mountain.
