Thanks for the report, Dawn!

From Your Webmaster (report written earlier)...

Whew!  There were a lot of us ready to head out for a walk in Lynn Woods (and the picture doesn't even show everyone who came along).  I don't know how many people eventually showed up for the walk, but Dawn had sixteen on her list.  Your Webmaster snuck in, as did a few more.

The weather could not have been better.  It was sunny and cool, great fall hiking stuff for sure.

Lynn Woods is a good sized parcel of land along the Lynn-Saugus, MA border, off Walnut St. off Rte 1.  There are two towers to check out, a stone tower and the remains of a fire tower.  There are also a few ponds and a picnic area or two.  And, of course, miles of trails and old fire roads.

Our walk took us to Dungeon Rock and the Lemon Squeezer, which a few of us dared to try (Jeff's son Daniel did it at least twice, maybe more).  We then wandered past a few ponds (or, actually, a few ponds which have dried up and become fields), and on to the stone tower.  Eventually we made it to the remains of the fire tower, and from that area there's a great view of Boston and a good place for a snack.

The ponds, or what remains of them.  It looks like they're allowing them to drain.

Weird thing of the day:  The group ran into a dog having a good time romping in the woods.  Gee, that dog looked familiar, just like Elvis, a dog we met at the Bartlett Inn the previous weekend.  Wouldn't that be funny if..."Heeeere Elvis!" said the person walking the dog.  No way!!  Yep, it was Elvis and Suzi, whom we had seen at the Bartlett Inn!

Over the weekend we got in some hot tubbin' at the Inn, and they provided us with some excellent breakfasts.  Saturday's special was apple cider waffles and Sunday's was an omelet with cheese and veggies.  The good food was necessary to fuel us up for the hiking we did on both days.

Because of the slippery conditions, Pam and I decided not to forge on any further.  We stopped for a few minutes to let Shadow get some food and water, and we turned back.  About halfway down the snow flurries turned to drizzle as the snow disappeared underfoot.  In a little while we were back to the car and back to the Inn, where the speedier GONewEnglanders had already enjoyed some time in the hot tub and were sitting in the big living room by the wood stove, just hanging out.  It's great work if you can get it.  :-)

Somehow we managed to get some motivation and head to the Red Parka Pub for dins.  Good stuff!

Any pictures of that view from Mt. Willard just don't do it justice.  You really have to go there and experience it.  It's not that hard, it's easy to find (behind Crawford's station on Rte 302, right at the AMC Hostel across from Saco Lake), and the rewards are certainly worth it!

We made it to the top where we had some lunch, then it was back down to the cars.  We went over to Woodstock for something to eat, at which point we made our ways home.  But not Kathy, as she decided to spend one more night at the Bartlett Inn.  I can't say as I blame her.

And I'm sure KK took after Zoe, a fluffy feline visitor to the Inn sound asleep on the couch.  Zoe knows:  It's great work if you can get it.  :-)

Fall hiking.  It just doesn't get any better.  Cool days, nice colors, no bugs.

Gee, where have I heard that before?

Five of us (Your Webmaster, Pam, Jen, Chandra, and Linda) found our way to the trailhead for Purgatory Falls in Lyndeborough, NH.  Although listed in the book as a 2 mile trail, it's really more than that.  The 2 miles were probably just to the Upper Falls area, but you can go several more miles in a loop by making your way to Lower Falls via Janet's Trail, crossing over a bridge just shy of Lower Falls*, and taking the Purgatory Brook Trail up the other side.  It's a wonderful loop of about 5 miles!  There's an option off the Purgatory Brook Trail to head up onto a ridge as well, but we opted to stay closer to the Brook so we could see the falls.

Trail note:  Janet's Trail is rather rocky.

Our first stop (and last stop, but on the other side) was Upper Falls.

The Beanpot is a large, circular hole worn into the rock.  It has dirt at the bottom, so it probably goes down a bit further into the rock.  I can only imagine the length of time it took for the water and stones to wear away that pothole!  The Devil's Footprint is another rock formation shaped like a large shoeprint.

Ironically you can't see the falls itself approaching by Janet's Trail!  We had to wait until our return along the Purgatory Brook Trail to get a glimpse.

From the top:  A sinuous stream wears through the rock

We passed by Middle Falls on Janet's Trail, but as that trail is a bit above the river, we were unaware that Middle Falls was there.  On our return, though, we caught it.  Pam and Jen swear they can see the head of an Indian at Middle Falls .  Can you?

Onward we went down Janet's Trail, crossing a snowmobile trail, and encountering a very long pond.  We discovered later that this pond is kept full by a beaver dam at the far end.  And there was plenty of beaver activity in and around that pond, too---they take down some really big trees sometimes!

The extent of our walking led us to Lower Falls.    Lower Falls elicits one of those "Oh, wow" moments as you turn to look at the pool.  A small cascade (not really a "falls") leads to the pool, which is quiet, peaceful, and secluded.  There's a bench there for you to sit and enjoy the scenery.

We snacked there, then made our way across a small bridge and up the Purgatory Brook Trail to make our return to the parking lot.

After we stopped on a neat rock and lazed in the sun for a little while, Linda had to take off, but the rest of us continued on back up the Purgatory Brook Trail where we got a good look at Middle Falls and Upper Falls. 

Then it was on out and over to Elisha's in Milford for dins...of course...just as the sun was setting.