CANCELLED

Join Neal for a walk/hike at the Ward Reservation which includes over 700 acres and about 15 miles of trails.  I suggest we do the bog trail and the blue loop (total about 4 miles).  The reservation is a Trustees property and the address above is at the end of Prospect Road where there is a parking lot.  Charge for parking is $6 (free for Trustees members).  The trail does include some hills, rocks and tree roots (Level 2).  Most of the route will be forested. You should wear hiking boots (you may want hiking poles) and bring bug spray and water.  I do not believe there are restrooms.  Leashed pets are welcome.  

The first part of the walk will be on a boardwalk through a swamp to a pond.  This is a very scenic easy about ½ mile walk.  Then we must climb up Holt Hill which includes about 60 steps and then a further climb to the top of Holt Hill where there is a group of summer solstice stones.  The top of the hill also affords a great view-even Boston in the distance.  If we then proceed along the blue trail, we will eventually get to Elephant Rock which again affords a great view including the Boston skyline.

If people are interested, we can go to lunch in Andover.  I would suggest Samuel’s (4 Chapel Avenue, Andover) which is part of the Andover Inn on the Phillips Academy  campus. Phillips Academy is the prep school that the first George Bush attended as a high school student.