By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Happening throughout the year, Westwood Community Trails (WCT) is hosting free group hikes on the first Saturday of every month. All are welcome to join and enjoy the experience of hiking with fellow enthusiasts. This past Saturday, February 3rd, Westwood residents filed into the parking lot of the Martha Jones School (MJS) for a two-mile hike over mostly flat terrain.
WCT’S main goal is to invite residents to explore the town’s trails while learning more about their importance within the community. These hikes usually last for about two hours or so, vary in distance and topography, and explore an array of areas including Hale Education and beyond. While registration is encouraged before the day of the hike, it is not required and all are welcome to come along for the journey.
WCT is sponsored by Westwood’s Department of Public Works and its Recreation Department and each hike is guided by a member of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee (PBSC) and administered by Hale Education. There are an abundance of trails throughout the town of Westwood that WCT, as well as fellow hikers, are extremely excited to explore.
Despite the rather frigid temperatures last Saturday morning, a crowd of twenty six hikers gathered together in front of the MJS baseball field. Before officially starting the course, a PBSC member went over some safety precautions, making sure everyone was well aware of each other and their surroundings. Going around in a circle, everyone stated a number that would represent themself, and they were all told to remember the number before and after theirs as well. By doing this, all hikers could keep track of one another, making sure no one gets lost along the way.
As a further safety precaution, there was a ‘sweeper’ located at the back of the hikers who was in charge of not letting anyone go behind him. Once all the safety protocols were in place, it was time to hike on! With everyone all bundled up, some grabbed their packs and walking sticks and headed off onto the trail as a group.
The next trail they will be hiking is located at Rocky Woods in Medfield. WCT will be doing this three-mile hike on Saturday, March 2nd. For more information about upcoming hikes, please visit Hale Education's website at www.hale.education.
