Salem Woods Highland Park
Salem, Massachusetts
"Follow the yellow tree road"
📍 Base Camp & Provisions
[Holiday Inn Express and Suites - Saugus, MA]
[INSA Cannabis Dispensary, Salem or ATG Salem]
[WAL*MART Saugus]
🚗 Transit Data
Set your GPS for the Olde Salem Greens Golf Course, you are headed for the parking lot off of Wilson St. As you pull in, you want to head all the way to the back of the lot, and you should see the trailhead at the far end of the lot. Parking is free, but limited spaces available, shared with the golf course. Plan accordingly.
- Ticks are a real thing here, and they're everywhere. Ticks transmit a dangerous bacteria that can make you very sick, so using a proper tick repellent is extremely advisable.
- Remember, this is a nature path with plenty of dead leaves and vegetation, which makes it a primary fire danger. Smoking here is unadvised, and should be considered carefully with attention to collecting your ashes and cherry. Remember to respect the spot.
- This trail is frequented by walkers, joggers, runners, and bikers. Be a considerate stoner and get out of the way of others who need or want to pass you. Nod and acknowledge the other patrons if they acknowledge you, and be friendly. It is not considerate to use your drugs in the presence or view of others who are there to enjoy the fresh air and clean trails.
The Ascent
The trail starts off pretty straight forward. As you walk into the woods, you will initially be walking more or less parallel to the golf course, and you're likely to hear the distinct crack of the golf balls off to your left side. Shortly in, you'll notice a little path going uphill to your right, take note of it, and the makeshift memorial up ahead on your left. Continue straight ahead. The creaking woods should be getting you in the mood already. As you pass the memorial, you will notice how the path splits off to the left and right, with the "yellow" trail splitting off to the left and the "blue" trail splitting off to the right. Stay to the left, and what you're looking for is the yellow paint on the trees (and sometimes rocks) that will keep you guided to the path. Just follow the yellow paint.
The Destination
As you come up on the far end of the trail, you'll see the marsh off in the distance. This is your save point! Take a breath, take in the view, and hit that vape! Take some time to walk around, check out the marsh, and appreciate the solitude.
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding
[5 things to see] - I counted at least a dozen different kinds of trees, look at their leaves and colors, check out the various things always falling out of the trees and landing among the forest. Theres a lot of small life too, look for the mushrooms growing everywhere. Moss grows among the trees, and it comes in a variety of shades, from yellow to green. Do you see the fallen trees, being held by other trees? Finally, look off into the distance and try to count the tree tops.
[4 sounds] - My favorite is the creaking woods; You hear all the wood rubbing against itself and making noise, its so creepy, you really get the ambience of the environment! Listen to all the little creatures that are in the woods hopping around and disturbing the forest floor, they're everywhere! You can also hear the sounds of leaves falling and branches twisting and falling off in the distance, adding to that scary, creepy factor! Finally, the sounds of the birds everywhere, above you, below you, off in the distance, just try to isolate any given bird and listen for its song, or if you are really focused, can you hear two birds calling each other?
[3 textures/sensations] - Feel the ground under your feet, is it hard, does it feel muddy, can you feel the leaves underfoot? The wind, feel it blowing across your clothes, on your skin, and through your hair. The sun, can you feel its warmth, or is it cold today, how does the air temperature feel?
[2 scents] - Of course, the forest has a unique smell to it, but I think the most prominent smell comes around the low lying water, the swampy, muddy, marsh; you can smell the decaying wet vegetation and the intensive humidity, but its not bad, it just smells wet and decaying like old dead leaves. As you get further into the forest, keep your nose out for the smell of flowers, but I don't think its flowers, I think its just tree pollen, but doesn't it smell amazing?
[1 taste] - Hopefully you brought a nice tasty vape with you, but whatever you brought, how does the smell and temperature around the marsh impact the flavor of it? Do you think the air makes it taste better or worse? Does the flavor compliment the environment? If you could choose a different flavor now that you're here, what would it be?
Appreciation
Prior to being settled, this was of course, Native American land, primarily being home to the Naumkeag (meaning: "Fishing Place") people, who were a subset of the Pawtucket, who themselves were part of the larger Algonquian-speaking people. In the mid 1600s, the area was very badly affected by what they called "The Great Dying", caused by European plagues and the subsequent colonial expansion. The land is still considered ancestral territory to the Massachusett tribe. Three sites in the woods are officially recognized by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
The Extraction
Having been blessed by the marsh and honored it with your high, continue down the trail. Now you will be on the downhill path, but keep your wits about you, theres still a few steep little downward drops, so watch your feet and ankles. Theres a few nice big open areas where you can continue to enjoy the view and enjoy that high. As you come around, you'll eventually find your way down a little branchy path, and if you take a moment, you'll notice, you just came down that path you saw trailing off to the right when you first came into the forest! A nice little roundabout loop, and now you're just a little walk off down to the left to get back to the entrance to the trail.