HIKE REPORT Wednesday, 13 March 2024, Wayland - Hike the Eskers Hike Leader: Betty Salzberg ~4.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA Hikers (15) Betty, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Ellen Harvey, Ernie Glickman, George Stromberg, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Melissa Norton, Mike Hanauer, Patrick Ward, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and Ted Nyder. It was a warm and sunny day. We walked past the large hosta farm where all the potted plants were under white wraps, which made it look like snow from a distance. We then passed a large house under construction and walked parallel to the Sudbury River which we could see in the distance. The Sudbury River is overflowing now and there was more water to look at than usual. Then we crossed Trout Brook on Oxbow Road and went onto a path (on private land) which is used by many neighbors to get to the Trout Brook Conservation Area. We immediately climbed onto a high esker with views over a large marsh. As we hiked along the esker, we saw a couple of impressive kettleholes before descending to cross Sherman's Bridge Road on our way to the next esker in the Castle Hill Conservation Area. After another ascent, we looked down at Schoolhouse Pond. Hazel Brook feeds Schoolhouse Pond then goes over a dam and under a footbridge before reaching the Sudbury River. We could not see the river when we were in Castle Hill, but the pond was large and beautiful. We then walked back on a different path on the Trout Brook esker. We also hiked around a peninsula which was surrounded by reeds, before exiting Trout Brook. We met for post-hike lunch at Verrill Farm in Concord. Some excitement occurred when a bottle of Verrill’s root beer was mistakenly thought to be a real beer. Here is a link to the route which was provided by Mike: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/154326120: Report by Betty Salzberg. -------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 13 March 2024, Wayland - Hike the Eskers Hike Leader: Betty Salzberg, 508 439 2815, <bsalzberg127@gmail.com> ~4.5 mi, 10:00 am start from 30 Grove Street, Wayland, MA Description: We will begin on the unpaved access road adjacent to 30 Grove Street. We will pass the Weir Meadow Hosta Farm, with thousands of potted plants, adjacent to the Sudbury River - you will be able to see the river in the distance. We then continue, on the unpaved access road that parallels the river, until we get to Oxbow Road where we walk a short distance to arrive at a path into the Trout Brook Conservation Area. Here, we will climb up an esker and look down steep slopes into a few kettleholes. We then descend the esker and cross Sherman's Bridge Road onto Alpine Road. Entering the Castle Hill Conservation Area, we climb up another esker and look down upon Schoolhouse Pond. Our path is blocked by private property at the end of the esker, so we will retrace our steps until we are back in the Trout Brook Conservation Area. Here we will visit a peninsula which juts out into a large cattail swamp, before returning to our cars via a footbridge over Trout Brook. It is likely to be muddy. We will also be passing by the construction of a large, new house on the shore of the Sudbury River, so we may encounter some construction vehicles and ruts in the road. Post-hike LUNCH will be at Verrill Farm in Concord. Directions: Find your own best way to 30 Grove Street in Wayland. Park along Grove Street which is a dead-end off Oxbow Road.