I love snow. The silence it brings with its acoustical deadening is beautiful. For a short period of time, before melting, plowing and shoveling, it can be picturesque. After the last big storm, a friend and I decided that hiking would be a good way to get out and enjoy the coverage. We chose a local spot called Prospect Park. As it turns out, the park used to be a small ski area complete with “T” bar tow cables to get you up the 485 ft. vertical elevation. It has been abandoned for some time, and the city of Waltham took it over as a “green” amenity for the residents. Most of the skiing infrastructure has been removed with the exception of a couple of “houses” at the top and bottom, where the ski lift would have been.
Our hike took us right up the face of the hill where we noticed that people had gone tubing the day before. This made the hike easier because the deep snow was already packed. At the summit we found a communications tower, and two water tanks which serve the town.
(Front Face & Trail)
We saw the tracks of deer, squirrels, and one alarmingly large crow swooping overhead. We also met a Bently College student who had taken an Uber to the park along with his skiis. He was on his 7th and final run where he had hiked up the hill and skied down. My friend and I, who are both avid skiers decided that this would be something to try on the next good snowstorm.
(Top of hill)
The park these days is used during the warmer months for picnics and hiking, and the ski trails have been filled in with trees and brush. If you look closely, the remnants remain, but soon it will be unrecognizable. It is a wonderful example of nature taking back its territory.
Old Photograph (http://www.nelsap.org/ma/prospecthill.html)
Old Aerial Views (http://www.nelsap.org/ma/prospecthill.html)
-Nate
