Hello MIT Postdocs,
Before the winter rolls in too strongly, we would love to take some time to get outside, meet new people, and enjoy the great outdoors. We are proposing a new strategy to coordinate an outing for Saturday, November 1st @ 9:30AM that is dependent on you! Check out the details below:
The Hike:
Wachusett Mountain Old Indian, Stage Coach, Bicentennial Trails. Details at this Link and (more generally) this Link.
The Deets:
4.8 Miles (7.7km) long, 1154ft (351m) elevation gain. Stunning views, well-maintained trails and even a fun and mild rock scramble. The initial portion will be a bit steep, but once it’s completed it’ll be a leisurely ~ 3.5 hr hike (total time). It’s going to be awesome. We will meet here at 9:30AM to coordinate drivers and hikers.
How it Will Work:
We first need to get there – meaning we need drivers. In order to assess capacity and practicality we need to get a sense of how many people are interested in coming along, and how many postdocs with cars are willing to bring your fellow postdocs on a trip! To arrive at the trailhead is a 1.5hr drive from MIT, which is certainly a lower barrier to entry than many of the hikes in NH. Our target is to identify approximately 5 drivers/cars, meaning ~25 people can join. The final number will be based on the number of available drivers.
What We Need From You:
Fill out this form if you’d like to join us on the hike! This entire plan only works if we have sufficient participation! We must stress, if you have a car and you’re able to drive folks, you have a very high likelihood of being accepted to the hike. In order to be compensated for fuel and vehicle maintenance, we will follow the MIT Outing Club’s example and use the IRS standard of $0.7/mile (2025 rate) for travel related expenses. This trip will amount to approximately 104 miles (there and back) putting the per-person total at $14.56 for a car of 5. If you are a passenger, please plan to pay the driver approximately $15 on the day of the hike (venmo, whatever).
What You Need to Bring:
This is a moderate level hike that will require you to bring the following:
1. Solid shoes! Hiking boots are recommended, make sure they’re sturdy and comfortable!
2. Layers! It can get cold/windy in the mountains and while the forecast looks (currently) moderate, be prepared! Expect lows of ~ 40F (4C) and highs of ~ 60F (16C). We will monitor the weather and send specific instructions as we get closer to the date of the hike to those interested.
3. Water! You need to bring a minimum of 32Oz (1L) of water with you, it’s quite literally the most important thing to sustain your life on a hike.
4. Something to eat! Snacks, a sandwich, a granola bar (or two) are all excellent options. Perhaps even consider bringing things to share with your fellow postdocs!
5. Positive outlook + probably sunblock
We will open sign-ups from now until Wednesday October 29th. This will give us sufficient time to collect information, coordinate and confirm with drivers, and put together the specific logistics of the event. Again, this only will happen if you sign up!
With Respect,
Blake + Sarah