Wilderness Heals

Thank you for visiting the Wilderness Heals blog. Wilderness Heals is an all-women, three-day annual pledge hike that benefits the Elizabeth Stone House (ESH), a Boston-based emergency shelter, transitional housing program, and therapeutic community that provides services to women and children who are escaping violence and overcoming trauma. By encouraging hikers to set challenging physical, emotional, and financial goals, Wilderness Heals mirrors the experiences of hundreds of women who have sought help from the Stone House. Committing to hike is a way to grow personally while simultaneously standing in solidarity with women of the Stone House and women everywhere who are working to overcome the effects of violence in their lives.
Wilderness Heals 2011 will take place July 15-17, 2011. Registration materials may be downloaded here.
Go here to view the 2011 routes, and visit our Who's Who page to meet this year's team leaders and Recruitment Committee members.
Want to learn more? Visit our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Still have questions? Contact Erika Whyte, Wilderness Heals event coordinator, at 781-726-0551 or ewhyte@elizabethstone.org.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Learn More at a Hiker Meeting

Want to learn more about Wilderness Heals and the Elizabeth Stone House? Attend one of our Hiker Meetings. Meetings are open to everyone--first-time hikers, veteran hikers, and women who simply want to learn more about the event. Team Leaders will be on hand to answer all of your training questions, and event coordinator Danielle Piscatelli will provide valuable fundraising tips. The agenda also includes presentations by Stone House residents and staff and veteran Wilderness Heals hikers. Hope to see you there!

Hiker Meeting Schedule, 2008


Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 4, 2007, at 6 p.m.


All meetings will take place at the Elizabeth Stone House. For additional information and directions, contact Danielle Piscatelli at 617-427-9801, ext. 415, or dpiscatelli@stonehouse.org.

Bring a Friend on a Recruitment Hike!

Can't wait until May to hit the trails? Come on a Wilderness Heals recruitment hike!

Throughout the spring, members of the Wilderness Heals Recruitment Committee will be hosting hikes at Blue Hills Reservation and Middlesex Fells. These hikes are open to everyone, including men and children. Participants do not need to be registered Wilderness Heals hikers.

Come if you want to jumpstart your training, meet other hikers, or learn more about the Hike. Bring a friend, bring some snacks, and enjoy a walk in the woods! Please note that because these are not official training hikes, participants do not need to carry all of the required Wilderness Heals gear. For information about the hikes, contact wildernessheals@elizabethstone.org.

Wilderness Heals Recruitment Hike Schedule, 2008

Sunday, March 30, 2008, at Blue Hills Reservation
Led by Sandy Goodman and Sue Weil
Trail route to be determined
Meet at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot across the street from the Reservation Headquarters, located at 695 Hillside St. in Milton, 1/4 mile north of Houghton's Pond, beside the State Police Station.

Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Middlesex Fells Reservation
Led by Beth Grierson
Reservoir Trail (approximately 5 miles)
Meet in the Long Pond parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Dogs are welcome.

Sunday, April 20, 2008, at Middlesex Fells Reservation
Led by Beth Grierson
Skyline and Reservoir Trails (approximately 5 miles)
Meeting in the Sheepfold parking lot at 9 a.m. Dogs are welcome.

Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Blue Hills Reservation
Led by Sandy Goodman and Sue Weil
Trail route to be determined.
Meet at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot across the street from the Reservation Headquarters, located at 695 Hillside St. in Milton, 1/4 mile north of Houghton's Pond, beside the State Police Station.

Directions to Blue Hills:
By car: Take I-93 to Exit 3. Turn right at the stop sign onto Hillside Street. Houghton's Pond is located approximately 1/4 miles on the right. Continue 1/4 miles to the Reservation Headquarters on the left.

By MBTA: Take the Red Line to Ashmont Station. From Ashmont, take the high-speed line to Mattapan. The Canton and Blue Hills Bus services the Trailside Museum and Great Blue Hill on Route 138. For the Houghton's Pond area, exit the bus at Blue Hill River Road. Cross the road and walk one mile east on Hillside Street.

Directions to Middlesex Fells Reservation, Long Pond:
Take I-93 to Exit 33. This puts you in a traffic circle. If you're coming from the north, take the first right you can onto South Border Road. If you're coming from the south, go half-way around the circle and turn right onto South Border Road (if the circle is a clock, South Border is at 10). Follow South Border Road for a mile to the Long Pond Parking area (on your right). Long Pond is clearly marked. If you come to a traffic light, you've gone too far. Please be aware that there are no non-tree bathroom facilities at the Fells or any of the Fells parking areas, and no public restrooms nearby.

Directions to Middlesex Fells Reservation, Sheepfold:
Take I93 to Exit 33. This puts you in a traffic circle. Take Rt 28 North/Fellsway West out of the circle. The entrance to the Sheepfold parking area will be on your left about half a mile or so from the traffic circle.