Ecstatic on Watatic

This one's been sitting in the queue for a bit, mostly because of computer issues loading pics through the blogging software.  But all is well now, and I wanted to share a family trip up Mount Watatic in Ashby/Ashburnham this fall, mostly as a way to brag about my awesome family, but also to show off a hidden treasure in our neck of the woods for the interested hikers.

The gateway to the main trail is a monolithic, multi-ton split rock, which, quite frankly, has that Lord of the Rings Battle at Amon Hen feel to it.  Sadly, no Uruk-Hai in sight this day, just my Fellowship.

Mount Watatic boasts an elevation of 1,832 feet, and is part of a group of summits known as the Wapack Range, which starts in Worcester County, and extends into southern New Hampshire.

Other sister mounts in this range include Mount Wachusett, which we E Streeters have run up numerous times, and Pack Monadnock, which Barry, Scott and I sorta ran up once and declared we would never do so again.  And thus far, we've held true to that pledge. (It was hellacious.)

Everything was going great on this family hike, lots of laughs, great exercise, tremendous bonding time.  And then came the behemoth in the next picture - the Midgard Serpent, the Anaconda of Ashby, Nagini from House Slytherin, Snake Plissken himself.

Not sure I've ever seen Heather and Jack move so quickly up a hill.

Here, Andrew and Katie stand watch to make sure the python doesn't make its way uphill in pursuit of the ladies.

Finally, we reached the summit

For decades, the 280+ acre mountain was used as a ski area, but that recreation ended somewhere around 1989.

Now it's just a terrific one day hike.  Moderately challenging, but very family friendly - dog friendly too!  Wasn't able to determine the meaning of the name Watatic, but I'm assuming it's of Native American origins.  Anyone?

As always, I needed to seek out the reference marker.

Walk softly, and carry a big stick.

My world

Front and back and front again, courtesy of Katie Durkin, Audubon photographer

The young lovers, ready to scale whatever mountains they encounter, together

And this last pic on our way down, I had to take/share, just because I was feeling knotty.

That's a wrap on Watatic!  Highly recommended for a single-day climb.  Just make sure to stop up top and take in the views and appreciate this wonder in our extended backyard.