Our Blog
The Blue Hills: A Road Runs Through It
By Jim Briand A massive construction project in the Blue Hills as well as arguments about national security and boosting the local economy used to justify destroying wetlands, recreational resources and wildlife habitat. That might remind you of the fairly recent...
Volunteers Who Make Happy Trails (and Trail Users!)
Chris Mullin and Robert Shine started the year attending the AAT Program training session in April and they jumped into the program with both feet. They are having a major impact on the program in just their first year. Over the year, both participated in six work...
Clean up and restoration of Fowl Meadow South
After several years of site investigation and permitting, the Department of Conservation and Recreation expects to complete clean-up and restoration of Fowl Meadow South this year also known as the old Canton Airport. The Department of Conservation and...
New Wetlands at Ponkapoag Golf Course
Have you noticed some activity at Ponkapoag Golf Course lately? When the projects are complete, the Blue Hills will have new wetlands and better drainage at the golf course. Creating (or replicating…) Wetlands After bureaucratic hurdles kept the project tied up for...
Volunteer Spotlight: Laura Beebe
Town: Milton Volunteer activities: Staffing the Friends of the Blue Hills info table at community events, advocacy FBH member since: 2009 Favorite Hike: A 45-min.-loop that takes me over the top of Hemenway Hill. Favorite thing to do in the Blue Hills: Walk with my...
What’s So Special About the Skyline Trail?
We'd love to hear your stories about the Skyline trail. Do you regularly hike the entire trail? Do you stick to a small portion of the trail? Do you walk with your dog? Do you have photos of yourself on the trail you'd like to share? Have you captured a great...
Eliot Tower: A Vision with a View
Have you ever climbed Great Blue Hill to enjoy the spectacular view from Eliot Tower? Ever wondered who built this sturdy, stone building?  Jim Briand, a Friends of the Blue Hills member and an avid hiker, looked into the history of this popular destination. Seventy...
How the Blue Hills Can Help You Keep This Year’s Resolutions
Did you start the year by joining a gym, only to find the classes full and the ellipticals busy? Take heart. You’ll always find opportunities to exercise at the Blue Hills! You can even feel virtuous for escaping the crowds to enjoy a brisk walk in nature. You...
Consider a New Perspective for the New Year
As New Year approaches, many of us mull over how we can make next year better for ourselves, our families and our communities. Maybe part of acting differently next year involves thinking differently about each other and the world around us. Let us know if you find...
Take a Break from the Holidays Right at Home
Need a vacation from the holidays before they even start? Even if you don’t have much time, you can still get a respite from the hustle and bustle by exploring a new part of the Blue Hills. Here’s one suggestion for your quick, local family get-away. Start on the...
Volunteer Spotlight: Amir Degany
Name: Amir Degany Town: Stoughton, Ma Volunteer activities: Adopt-A-Trail program since 2008, adopted the Wildcat Notch Path. FBH member since: 2006 Favorite Hike: Skyline Favorite thing to do in the Blue Hills: Hiking with my son and son-in-law, blueberry picking,...
What do you think about a proposal for zip lines in Quincy Quarries?
What do you think about a proposal to build a ‘canopy tour’ at the portion of the Reservation called Quincy Quarries. Would you like to be strapped into a harness with your friends or family and glide on zip lines (wire cords) over the Quarries?  Would a guided zip...
Do you know why Daniel Casey’s Memorial is on top of Big Blue?
Many of us have stumbled upon the Daniel M. Casey memorial at the top of Big Blue, between the ski area and the weather observatory and wondered about this inscription: Daniel M. Casey October 20, 1968 – July 25, 1994 With such a comrade, such a friend, I fain would...
Annihilation Knotweed
Twenty two students, teachers and parents from the South Shore Public Charter School got together and helped remove 38 bales of Japanese Knotweed along the Neponset River. Ms. Emily Merwin, teacher and organizer helped coordinate the event and came up with the unique...
Chris Riley of Milton Tells of the ‘Most Awesome Summer”
Chris Riley received the second most electronic votes for his memory of the 'most awesome' summer ever. Remember how Awesome this Summer was? By Chris Riley, Milton My fondest memory of the Blue Hills was this past summer (2011). Camp Chickatawbut has been my summer...
A Childhood Memory of the Blue Hills – Mary McMahon, Milton
I remember a 1939 summer Sunday afternoon motor trip from Roslindale through Milton and up Chickatawbut Road where my mother purchased ¼ pounds of Penuche fudge from a mom and pop stand located at the summit. She was expecting her fifth baby and had a craving for some...
Do you snowshoe in the Blue Hills?
Although there's still not enough snow on the ground to snowshoe, we're looking for your recommendations for our next newsletter! Do you snowshoe in the Blue Hills? What are your favorite trails?
Your memories of the Blue Hills in the News
Several of the memories that people submitted to the 'Remember When' Contest are on WickedLocal.com. Entries included Deb DaSilva's of Easton, who wrote the following: Remember when we took the kids to Ponkapoag? No TV, no reception, no complaints. It was a wonderful...
High Mercury Levels Found in Ponkapoag Fish
According to WickedLocal Canton, the Department of Health found high levels of organic mercury in fish caught in Ponkapoag Pond, the Neponset River and two other locations in Canton. If you fish locally, you'll want to check the advisory to see if you should limit...
Catching Sight of a Fisher – Dave Kabatchnick, Quincy
Of the many fine memories I have in and of the Blue Hills, I guess the number one experience was encountering Fishers (Martes pennanti) near Hemenway Hill. On July 7, 2006, I was walking with a friend when she stopped, grabbed my shoulder and whispered "look!" She...
Many memories from growing up next to the Blue Hills – Paula Smith, Dedham
I am the youngest of seven children and have many wonderful memories of the Blue Hills. Here are just a few: I loved the otter at the Trailside Museum. I could watch him for hours. I would hike with Dad and my sisters and have lunch at the top of Great Blue. I...
You can now bike at Ponkapoag
As you can see below, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has opened up the Ponkapoag Pond section of the Blue Hills to mountain biking. Here's the latest from the Department of Conservation and Recreation: The Blue Hills Resource Management Plan was...
Updated Bottle Bill Campaign Achieves Majority in Legislature, Cancels Ballot Initiative
See below for the latest update on the campaign to pass the Bottle Bill from the Environmental League of Massachusetts. As part of the Coalition that supports the bill, we will no longer work to collect signatures for the ballot initiative, but will work with other...
Volunteer Spotlight: Alok Kant
name: Alok Kant Town: Canton Volunteer activities: Trail maintenance , working with FBH to control invasive species and looking forward to participate in other activities when time permits. FBH member since: March 2011 Favorite Hike: Blue dot trails between  rte 138...