Discover The Fells

It amazes me how few Tufts students know about the Middlesex Fells Reservations. Commonly known as "The Fells", it is one of the few places I have encountered during my four years in Medford that can bring me that natural high that so many people yearn to have. Located just on the other side of Medford Square, it is a hidden treasure that should be discovered by all undergrads.

I will never understand why someone would rather run mile after mile on a treadmill or pedal along on the stationery bikes of Cousen's Gym when a beautiful and scenic landscape is so close. The choice of the fresh air of a natural park versus the overcrowded, hot gym just does not seem debatable to me. Exercising outdoors is more exciting and always accessible. Also, you can save time otherwise spent driving to an exercise club.

I understand the positive aspects of indoor exercise, such as protection from inclement weather, and the ability to weight-lift; however when you just want to go for a run or a short bike ride on that beautiful day, why would you ever choose to do it indoors? Is it to watch TV or listen to those great hits of Jammin' 94.5? You tell me. The Fells consists of approximately fifty miles of carriage trails and hiking trails. Trail destruction has become an issue recently, but there are still many miles of mountain bike trails available. Even if you do not want to exercise, you can just go to The Fells to relax, unwind, and get away from the fast-paced city life that most of us lead on the Medford/Somerville campus.

For those non-athletes, The Fells has the Sheepfold picnic area, Bellevue Pond, Virginia Wood, and Spot Pond. The Sheepfold is ten acres of open field, used for picnics, Frisbee playing, or basically any sort of outdoors game. Bellevue Pond is a seasonal pond surrounded by trails and wide fire roads. These roads lead up to Wrights Tower, which looks out over the Boston Basin. Virginia Wood, the site of a vanished mill village called "Haywardville" is now a dense hemlock enclave.

While the natural history of The Fells dates back to the retreat of the last glaciers, its land subdivisions have changed numerous times. Over the years, The Fells has been known for its timber, pastureland, diabase and granite block quarrying, ice industry, and the Haywardville mill village--the site of Goodyear's early rubber experiments. Also, the reservation was used in World War II as a tank testing grounds and in the 1950s as anti-aircraft battery position.

For all it has to offer, a trip to The Fells today will afford you one of the most treasured gifts of Massachusetts: a New England fall. The colorful collage of bright reds, yellows, and oranges reflecting off the many reservoirs and into the crisp blue autumn sky will soon be the scenery and a sweet melancholy reminder that the winter days are approaching. So before the days are too short, I urge all students who have not yet taken advantage of this local park to certainly do so before the end of the season. I promise, it will be worth your while. .

Andrew Kenney is a senior majoring in Computer Engineering.