“The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 09/07/2025: Posted photo — From Above.

The photo theme for the week is taking a photo from above. I took many photos during the week and decided on posting this photo of the altar from above from the choir loft. I selected this one to post since I liked the colors in this photo better than the other photos I took during the week.

Monday, 09/08/2025: Posted photo — Balance Rock.

Glaciers can pick up chunks of rocks and transport them over long distances. When they drop these rocks, they are often far from their origin—the outcrop or bedrock from which they were plucked. These rocks are known as glacial erratics.

This erratic is called Balance Rock. It is located on the Balance Rock train on Wachusett Mountain. It was left behind by the Laurentide Ice Sheet about 12,000 years ago (thank you Matt Landry for that information).

I once heard a college-aged couple discussing how someone would have placed the rocks on each other. I had to explain to them that it was a glacial erratic.

Tuesday, 09/09/2025: Posted photo — View from the Trail.

My hike this week took me across the ski area at Wachusett Mountain. As the sun sets earlier each day this time of year, I wanted to see how the lighting would be on the ski area.

The lighting was not bad. The shadows made it a difficult photo.

Wednesday, 09/10/2025: Posted photo — Graffiti.

Kids do not spend the time outside these days making graffiti the way they did many years ago. Today graffiti is done with spray paint. I often wonder how long it took to carve names into rocks.

Thursday, 09/11/2025: Posted photo — Trial Ahead.

I took this photo for a couple of reasons. These blazes are new on the trail, and I wanted to show them during my next navigation class.

I took this trail this week to challenge myself. I wanted to see how quickly, at a fast-walking pace, I could do a loop. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes to cover 3.93 miles. I had an average moving speed of 2.6 miles per hour with a maximum speed of 4.2 miles per hour. This trail had an ascent of 979 feet. All this information was taken off my Gaia GPS app.

Next time I will take less stops. If I were with a group, my estimated time for this same route would be around 3 hours. I always like to double the time it would take me when I am with a group. This estimate works most of the time if I do not know all the people that are hiking in the group.

Friday, 09/13/2025: Post photo — Stream Crossing.

Hiking trail bridges are necessary to allow for safe crossings of streams, rivers, wetlands, ravines, and other environmental features. I have crossed many bridges in my days and years of hiking.

There are several of these bridges on Wachusett Mountain. They allow for safe crossings of the many streams on the mountain. During the dry season, I might cross next to the bridge since it is a straighter and safer path.

The commonwealth is doing a great job maintaining these bridges. Most of them are in great shape. There are a few in which some of the boards are starting to rot and need to be replaced. These bridges are on the north side of the mountain.

Saturday, 09/13/2025: Post photo — Something New.

They are starting to assembly the new high-speed lift on Wachusett. This is a photo of the new towers at the summit as the ski area prepares to install the upper part of the lift.

For the past 15 or so years, I have been posting a photo of me on the summit of one of the 48 4K mountains in New Hampshire as part of the Flags on the 48 September 11 memorial hike. This year I was unable to do the hike due to a prior commitment. I would like to congratulate the members of the Worcester AMC and the Wachusett Hikers who both took on summits this year.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”