A Surprise Winter Hike Success at Peabody Town Forest: Winter weather has a way of making us second-guess our plans. Snowflakes fall, temperatures dip, and most of us think: maybe I’ll stay in today.

Not Pelham Pathways members.

Despite January chill and winter conditions, 33 hardy hikers showed up at Arthur H. Peabody Memorial Town Forest on January 10th—and what unfolded was one of our most joyful, social, and successful hikes yet

🌲 A Forest That Sparkled in Winter: The hike kicked off promptly at 10:30 AM, with the group exploring this beautiful 155-acre conservation area, home to upland woods, wetlands, and wide-open corridors perfect for wildlife viewing—even in winter

To keep things comfortable and conversational, hikers were divided into three smaller groups, each led by a knowledgeable and engaging guide:

• Beth Jussaume
• Paul Gagnon
• Marc Duquette

Each guide brought a slightly different style and perspective, which participants loved. Comments afterward included:

• “What a beautiful forest!”
• “The guides were informative and fun.”
• “I had a wonderful time.”

Exactly what we hope for—connection, learning, and a shared appreciation for nature.

🥾 From Trails to Tables: After about an hour on the trails, the adventure continued—not home, but to lunch! 28 hikers joined us at Pine Valley Golf Course, where Pelham Pathways treated everyone to a $10 lunch credit as a thank-you for coming out on a wintery day . The food earned high marks for quality and value, and while service was understandably slow at times (28 hikers arriving together will do that!), the atmosphere was relaxed and social. And just how good was the conversation? The hike started at 10:30 AM… and folks didn’t leave the restaurant until 1:30 PM.

That’s not just lunch—that’s community.

💬 Connection, Conversation & “When’s the Next One?”

The post-hike buzz said it all. People chatted, exchanged stories, made new connections, and asked the question we love hearing most:

“When is the next hike?” Even better? The day resulted in 8 new Pelham Pathways members, proof that once people experience what we’re about—welcoming, inclusive outdoor fun—they want to be part of it

❤️ A Worthwhile Winter Investment: From a numbers perspective, the entire event cost Pelham Pathways $280 (28 lunch credits at $10 each). From a community perspective?

Priceless.

A beautiful winter forest.
Dozens of smiling faces.
New friendships.
New members.
And a reminder that getting outside—especially in winter—does wonders for the soul.

🌟 Thank You for Making It Special: Thank you to our volunteer guides, our adventurous hikers, and everyone who chose boots over blankets that morning. Winter may be cold, but the Pelham Pathways community is anything but.

Stay tuned—more hikes (and more surprises) are coming.

Explore. Connect. Protect.