Background Information
This chapter describes both a bike route (“Bumpy Biking”) and a walking trail (“Woodland Wander”) in the Ogilvie Forest. The bike route is entirely on carriage roads (also called fire lanes) which are wide enough for two cyclists to ride abreast. The roads are also fairly flat and easy for young children to mountain bike on.

There are many gorgeous parts of both of these trials. Both trails are heavily wooded with lots of foliage. There is one small pond at the middle of the walk. There are several small trickling streams running across the trails, but nothing major. The best time for either the walk or bike is Spring, Summer or early Fall. The Spring and Summer would allow you to see the colorful flowers and green trees, while the fall would show you the gorgeous fall leaves.

This section of Weston Land was purchase in 1960. The family of Beriah L. Ogilvie sold 48 acres to the town of Weston. Since then the town has bought the entire forest for a total of 196 acres.

Recommended Walk and Bike Ride
Both the bike ride and the hike begin at a gate located on Sudbury Road at the Weston/Wayland border, next to #147 Sudbury Road. You can park in a small spot just in front of the gate next to an old stone marker that indicates the edge of Weston.

The walking trail is a good trail for an easy afternoon walk or a light jog. The bike trail is fit for an easy, slow going mountain bike ride or cross-country skiing; this could also be a trail for a nice run.

Spring Peepers
In the spring time near the wetlands during the evening you can hear thousands of little peeps. These come from tiny tree frogs called peepers. The spring peeper is a small frog that is less than 1 1/2 inches long. They have a dark cross on their back that looks like an X. They breed from March until June and are nocturnal so they are mostly heard but not seen. They have an especially loud mating call in the spring which is what gives them their name. When lots of them are peeping the group makes a loud ringing noise that cannot be missed!

Skunk Cabbage
Skunk cabbage is a plant that grows in wet, boggy areas. It has no odor UNTIL you break off a fresh leaf and then you will know why it is called skunk cabbage! Although it may be unpleasant the odor is not harmful and the plant is not poisonous. Skunk cabbage grows really deep roots and is virtually impossible to dig up.

The Decorated Tree at Intersection #4
A “mysterious” decorator keeps the tree at intersection 4 decorated. At Christmas time, it has ornaments, bows, and bird seed garlands. On Valentine’s Day it has hearts!

Whoever does this brings a smile to the faces of hikers walking by.

TRAIL RECIPE: Snowdrop Brownies
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter 8 x 8 x 2 inch glass baking dish.
Sift first 4 ingredients into small bowl.
Beat sugar, eggs and vanilla together in medium bowl.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Mix in chips.
Spread batter in prepared dish.

Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs still attached, about 25 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Makes 16. Pack in airtight container and enjoy on the trail!

About the Author
Maggie Merrill is fifteen and a freshman at Weston High School. She enjoys music, playing the piano, writing, working out and cooking. She is a great dessert chef and has made chocolate mousse, cheesecakes, strawberry-rhubarb pie and many other delectable delights that make her family happy.

Maggie does a very thorough job on whatever she attempts to do -- after she decides to stop procrastinating. She is interested in marine biology and has studied whales in the Bay of Fundy. This summer she will be studying sea turtles in Costa Rica.