A sunny afternoon at Hager Trail

I grew up in Singapore, where it’s 2 degrees north of the equator and 90 degrees all year round. When the sun was out - as it often was - I would be indoors. Or outdoors, but walking towards a shaded area.

Never thought that I’d one day jump for joy and throw on hiking boots when it got sunny, but that’s what my husband and I did when the weather hit the 40s last weekend.

We pulled out the Boxborough Trail Map, picked a random trail and got going.

Found a gem!

History of Hager Trail

The Hager trails are part of Hager Land, which belonged to a German farmer who landed in the 1700s. Determined to start anew, he worked the fields diligently and wanted no other identity save for the fact that he was a dependable person who put in honest work.

As a result of his hours on the fields, he had a lean physique, though some might say that he looked emaciated. Regardless, he was called Mr Hager - “Hager”, which is German for gaunt.

I’m kidding.

I made this story up while hiking.

We parked at Boxmill Road, where the red trail began at the end of a neighborhood cul-de-sac.

I would love to live in a setting like that.

Who needs a backyard when you've got access to 99 acres of land?

Perhaps it was the years of city living, or perhaps I had grown tired of the cold.

Maybe even the fact that within the same week I had learnt of three persons who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Seeing semi-melted Guggins Brook was a tad overwhelming for me.

It was desolate, but beautiful. A reminder that life exists in different states. That all things follow a natural progression; and after winter comes spring, and all will be green again.