(GoogleMap 'Eaton's Pond'....)Lots of good news lately. The management at Blue Hills has decided to listen to some of our RMP comments—most notably the dropping of the winter ban on riding in favor of a March-only closure. This will give the trails a break when they really need it—mud season—rather than all winter, when the trails are typically frozen solid…..This is a big improvement in policy, the first real change we’ve seen in over 20 years. Another change, that was recently made official, is that the Ponkapoag(affectionally known as ‘Ponky’) section of the Blue Hills(BH) is now open—for now, however, only the ‘Green Dot Loop’(GDL). The GDL circumnavigates Ponkapoag Pond and is the most heavily-used trail in the BH. Some sections are actual dirt road shared by buses, trucks, cars, and park vehicles. A section enters the Ponkapoag Golf Course, so keep your helmet on in case of stray golf balls….You’ll encounter traffic in the form of joggers, strollers, horses (of course), fishermen, and lots of dogs. In other words, you’ll have to keep your speed on a leash for most of the GDL. The good news there is that this is the first of three-stage plan that BH DCR management assures us that more of Ponky will be open with a year or less. And a lot of that is singletrack (WHAT? Singletrack in the Blue Hills?—yes, kids, we may finally get some!), and includes access over the million-dollar bridge over 24, with more trails on the other side. Most of the trails in consideration are either hardly used or heavily damaged by horse traffic, meaning that either way, they’re in dire need of maintenance. Stay tuned to the SEMass facebook page and yahoogroups list for progress updates and upcoming trail days in 2012. The section east of rte 28 is still posted with no bike signs, with no legitimate reason why…. Ironically, bikers are responsible for clearing most blowdowns as they happen over there. ‘Maybe someday’ BH management will realize the efforts and concerns of local riders ARE legitimate!
…..in other local news, NEMBA was approached by the town of Braintree to design and build new mountain bike trails in a small parcel of an old quarry area near the Braintree/Quincy line. Directly behind Walmart and bounded by an active RR line a pond and residential areas, this area is ripe for improvement. The town is rightly concerned about sketchy users including homeless, drug users and party sites. There are other areas in Braintree that local riders would like to explore, so here’s our opportunity to show our stuff and make an impression. It IS a small area, but with the right combination of loops, rocky features, and access points, it will be fun.(the Braintree Conservation Ranger, who originally approached us and is working with us every step of the way, IS a Mountainbiker!!)
Again, stay tuned to the fb page and emails….we present to the ConComm next week, so if they like our ideas, we’ll be starting work in January, and do as much as we can this winter.
Back in September, the Foxboro crew hosted their 3rd annual MBAS event, on an awesome fall day with record numbers of riders and lots of new members! By the time you read this, the snow will be flying and Winter Buzz(my local fb page)will be buzzing with snowshoe hikes, cross country ski outings, and of course, Snow Biking. Catch the Buzz!
Hope I didn’t forget any other good news, but that’s all I got for now, as I’m heading to the NEMBA Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Harpoon Brewery.
Cheers!,
Steve Cobble
side note: since I wrote this, more news:
-the Harpoon V.A.N. was great, with at least 8 SEMass members present, many other chapter movers and shakers, and 12 brews to choose from.
--The Eaton’s Pond Braintree Parcel has been approved ‘in concept’ by the Braintree ConsComm! Barring any major issues, we’ll be able to start work early 2012.
---The Annual Blue Hills Toys Ride is Sunday, Dec 4th, 10 am.
Bring an unwrapped toy for a child in need, ride like a child indeed!
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