Middlesex Fells in Late October

Photos taken in the Middlesex Fells Reservation near Malden, MA on October 26, 2008.

I started this hike at Bellevue Pond -- where I left off with my last hike in the Fells earlier in October. Fall color season has advanced notably since then.

Here's a shot of the trail heading north from the pond.

Maple leaf.

Colorful oaks along the trail.

Here's a close-up of some of the oak leaves.

More maple leaves.

This is a wintergreen plant. They're in the ericicae family, like blueberries, and prefer the same kind of acid soil.

A colorful oak leaf.

Another oak leaf.

These are porcelain berries, an introduced ornamental species gone bad. They're very invasive, with grapey vines that choke out the surrounding vegetation. I found this patch on the Cross-Fells trail where it approaches the I-93 underpass.

On the other side of the freeway, I followed the trail through the piney woods to Spot Pond, which is really a lake.

Here's a better view of Spot Pond.

This big boulder was parked near the lake.

Following the trail through the woods, heading in a generally easterly direction.

More trail, passing by a rock outcrop. This is one of the many fire roads that criss-cross the reservation.

Another pretty maple leaf.

Yet one more pretty maple leaf.

Last bright-colored maple leaf.

Maple-leaf viburnum, with berries.

Bright-colored trees along the trail.

Another shot looking down the trail, still heading more or less east.

This plant with the bright red leaves is a high-bush blueberry.

More bright red leaves on an oak sapling.

This is the (unmarked) trailhead where I came out of the Fells.

Go around the corner, down this street, then around another corner....

....and you're at the Oak Grove T station, where you can catch a train back to Boston. Some folks I know find it somewhat.... odd.... that you can take the subway to go hiking. :-P

Back to the main photography page.

	I started this hike at Bellevue Pond -- where I left off with my last hike in the Fells earlier in October. Fall color season has advanced notably since then.
	Here's a shot of the trail heading north from the pond.
	Maple leaf.
	Colorful oaks along the trail.
	Here's a close-up of some of the oak leaves.
	More maple leaves.
	This is a wintergreen plant. They're in the ericicae family, like blueberries, and prefer the same kind of acid soil.
	A colorful oak leaf.
	Another oak leaf.
	These are porcelain berries, an introduced ornamental species gone bad. They're very invasive, with grapey vines that choke out the surrounding vegetation. I found this patch on the Cross-Fells trail where it approaches the I-93 underpass.
	On the other side of the freeway, I followed the trail through the piney woods to Spot Pond, which is really a lake.
	Here's a better view of Spot Pond.
	This big boulder was parked near the lake.
	Following the trail through the woods, heading in a generally easterly direction.
	More trail, passing by a rock outcrop. This is one of the many fire roads that criss-cross the reservation.
	Another pretty maple leaf.
	Yet one more pretty maple leaf.
	Last bright-colored maple leaf.
	Maple-leaf viburnum, with berries.
	Bright-colored trees along the trail.
	Another shot looking down the trail, still heading more or less east.
	This plant with the bright red leaves is a high-bush blueberry.
	More bright red leaves on an oak sapling.
	This is the (unmarked) trailhead where I came out of the Fells.
	Go around the corner, down this street, then around another corner....
	....and you're at the Oak Grove T station, where you can catch a train back to Boston. Some folks I know find it somewhat.... odd.... that you can take the subway to go hiking. :-P