This was a day of much anticipation for Carol (aka cas25): a trip to the Charles W. Ward Reservation in Andover, MA for her 5,000th geocaching find. The cache she chose for this landmark find, "Aldo's Andover Geocache," dates back to December, 2000 - the year that geocaching was born. It's one of the oldest caches in the Bay State. The Ward Reservation is a beautiful 704-acre property owned by the Trustees of Reservations. It has 15 miles of trails and is a very popular walking destination.
Along the short approach walk to the Aldo cache we passed this picturesque field with the Boston skyline on the horizon.
The logbook for #5,000!
The logbook entry.
A happy geocacher! Thanks to fellow geocachers Dick and Sue Kenn for the sign.
From the Aldo cache, we continued around the excellent Ward Reservation trail network.
Much of this land was once actively farmed, and there are many stone walls crisscrossing the property.
An inviting path makes an easy winding climb up Boston Hill (385 ft.).
At the top a spur path leads to a cluster of rocks with a fine view.
The Boston skyline, 20 miles to the south.
Elephant Rock rests on the top of Boston Hill.
An especially nice section of needle-carpeted trail leading through a corridor of pines.
The grassy top of Holt Hill (420 ft.) is the highest point in Essex County.
Another long view to Beantown.
Zoomed.
The Ward family, who donated this property to the Trustees, set up these "Solstice Stones" on the top of Holt Hill to mark the sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year.
A USGS reference marker. The actual summit benchmark is broken and unreadable.
The Bay Circuit Trail passes through here.
We concluded our four-mile ramble with a short hike out along the boardwalk through Pine Hole Bog, a quaking bog with many interesting plants.
At the end of the boardwalk you look out over Pine Hole Pond. For more info about the Ward Reservation, including a downloadble trail map: https://thetrustees.org/place/charles-w-ward-reservation/
Congratulations, Carol! Glad you both enjoyed your visit. We were there the day before (less than 15 minutes from our house in Lawrence); accessing it from the Boston Hill side on 114. The senior living place has a designated area for hiking parking and it's a pleasant climb to Boston Hill. Merrimack Valley has lots of great places. Hope you both get to visit again~
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Carol! Amazing accomplishment!!
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