Find Your Way on Cross Country Skis in the Blue Hills
By Sue Christensen of Jamaica Plain
Friends of the Blue Hills

According to FBH members Allen Lapey of Milton and Barbara Meyer’s of Medfield, the Blue Hills offers cross country skiing experiences for everyone, whether you’re “a gentleman of advanced age” looking for an easy glide, or an advanced skier looking for a challenge.

For many, wintertime brings the joy of packing up snowshoes or skis and heading into the woods and fields to enjoy the hush after a snowfall.

Allen Lapey heads to Ponkapoag Golf course for its gentle terrain and open vistas. He doesn’t set a course and just heads out to enjoy the great big beautiful area of whiteness.  Though he used to ski the Blue Hills proper, he now prefers the safety of a milder landscape to the more challenging area he calls Suicide Hill.

“It is a treasure.”

Barbara Meyer is a bit more adventurous and will go anywhere depending on the depth of the snow. If there’s plenty of snow, she’ll ski along the Bouncing Brook trail.  Many times she had gone on the Braintree pass trail which disappears down a hill ending at the highway.

She says, “It’s a dramatic experience, but you have to know it’s coming.”

The Bugbee trail is another favorite for her. The joy for her is to be in the woods and moving.  Hills are also a plus.  Usually she is joined by her “other half” a friend or ski patrollers. She’ll opt for snowshoeing when skiing is not an option because the trials haven’t been tamped down.

You can also continue to explore the Blue Hills on foot, if you prefer.  If you’re interested in winter hiking, check out our tips for winter hiking on our blog and tips for winter hiking in a short video.