THINGS TO DO
Mountains & molehills By Sean McCarthy
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
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– Hiker’s adage
rom the Atlantic Ocean to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, New England provides ample scenic opportunities to explore and enjoy. Now that spring has arrived and Mother Nature is becoming more accommodating, it’s an opportune time to be immersed in some of the natural beauty that the region has to offer. If someone tells you to “take a hike” it’s probably some good advice. New England’s geography provides hikers of all levels with a plethora of opportunities to get in some exercise and be treated to some eye-pleasing scenery. Local terrain can prove enjoyable while the area always provides the opportunity to graduate to something larger and more challenging. With the right gear and knowledge, rewarding hikes can be found just a short distance away. With a partner or a group you can partake in some leisurely excursions at some of the locations found in the South Coast. The area offers
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an easygoing introduction to the hiking experience – waterways abound locally while towering peaks are only a few hours to the north. Bring your best camera – you’ll probably want to capture some of the unique sights and experiences that a nature hike has to offer. “The local area has some pretty easy trails to get started on,” says Paul DaysMerrill, owner of Days Health and Sports in Fairhaven. “If you want to move on to larger hikes you can go with something that has ‘a little more mountain to it’ such as the Blue Mountain State Park in Clinton, Massachusetts, or Mount Manadnock in New Hampshire.” The most demanding mountains on the East Coast are the White Mountains in New Hampshire, with hikes that often last for six to eight hours. Heights can range from 4,000 feet to more than 6,000 feet. “The local trails are good for beginners; they’re not too far away in the middle of nowhere and there aren’t a lot of rocks to climb,” Days-Merrill says. “It’s good for relaxation and clearing your head – you can get some fresh air. If you like what
April 2020 | The South Coast Insider
you’re doing you can move on to something larger. I recommend that you start with a local hike that lasts an hour to an hour-and-a-half and work your way up to bigger hikes.” Local trails can be peaceful and scenic. There can be a lot to be enjoyed. “You’re out in the nice quiet woods,” Days-Merrill says. “You might come across some wildlife, waterways, wilderness, wild flowers, and birds and seagulls.” But Days-Merrill has advice for those who are embarking on their first hikes. “If you’re hiking locally you want to get the correct running shoe that matches the way you move, your bio-mechanics. You’re looking for stability so that you won’t get beat up and you’ll enjoy it more.” But there’s something else to consider when hiking: being on the lookout for ticks. “Keep your legs covered and use insect spray,” he recommends. “When it comes to clothing, you want to have things that are fairly closed below around your ankles so you’re not getting any ticks climbing up. I recommend a nylon pant so that ticks
