Our Blog
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...
Great Blue Hill is Their Sacred Mountain
According to the Milton Times, the director of "Crooked Arrows" thought the Blue Hills was the perfect setting to film a sacred mountain. We agree, it's definitely 'a gift.' Director Steve Rash – whose other work includes “The Buddy Holly Story” and the “Bring It On”...
How Can a Pen Reduce Trash in the Blue Hills?
How can you help reduce trash in the Blue Hills – and increase recycling at the same time? Help collect signatures for the ballot initiative to update the Bottle Bill! We've found that when people know they can redeem their bottles, they're less likely to leave them...
Boy Scouts in Milton Explore Blue Hills Plants
Through stories, crafts and a scavenger hunt, Boy Scouts at Camp Sayre learned about plants in the Blue Hills. We’re delighted to partner with Camp Sayre and to meet so many enthusiastic scouts! For more photos, visit us on FaceBook.
Shall We Embrace Invasive Species?
Yesterday’s Boston Globe featured an article questioning the ‘war on invasive species.’ Some ecologists, according to the article, challenge the prevailing wisdom to promote native plants and encourage control of invasive species. I hate to be a spoiler, but the end...
Volunteer Spotlight: Sam Jaffe
Volunteer Spotlight: Sam Jaffe Town: Readville, MA Volunteer activities: Leading butterfly and caterpillar walks, putting on live caterpillar shows at museums and sanctuaries to show off our fantastic native creatures, cataloging the caterpillars that use the blue...
Robert’s Secret to a Healthy Forest
The Blue Hills has lots of the invasive plant, garlic mustard - particularly at the AMC Ponkapoag cabins. Former Friends of the Blue Hills Board member, Robert Mussy, has had great success in controlling this invasive plant on his own property, which is very near the...
What do we value and what do we want to see?
What’s most important to all of us who care deeply about the Blue Hills Reservation? What are our fundamental values and what do we want to see for the future? We articulated the answers to those questions below. We’d love to hear your feedback. Values We value an...
Blue Hills Recognized as the Best Hiking around Boston
You're probably not surprised, but it's certainly nice the Reservation was recognized by CBS Boston as one of the top spots for hiking near Boston. If you're looking for the right hike for you - check out our recommended hikes. And if you have a favorite hike - let us...
Listen for the Whip-por-will at the Reservoir
Unless you’re an avid birder, you probably haven’t heard a whip-por-will . People throughout Massachusetts have been hearing these nocturnal birds less and less often. According to Paul Peterson’s post on MassBird, however, if you go to Blue Hills Reservoir on...