Day hikes on the A.T.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011
The Massachusetts Appalachian Trail Management Committee is again sponsoring hikes along the AT in Massachusetts. This year's events will be on Saturday, October 8th, 2011.
Hikes vary in difficulty and length, please contact the trip leader for more info and any changes in rendezvous information or starting times. For information about AT Day events, contact Jim Pelletier at 413-454-4773 or E-mail: at@amcberkshire.org
For all hikes, wear suitable clothing; bring plenty of water, as well as lunch or snacks for longer hikes. Hikes will go, rain or shine.
After the hikes, the AT Committee will be sponsoring a cookout, at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary off Rt 7 near the border of Lenox and Pittsfield. Follow the signs off Rt 7 onto Dugway Rd. 1.6 miles to the Sanctuary. Stop by for a bite to eat, meet other hikers and to report about trail conditions and what you saw on your hike.
Hike #1 Sages Ravine to Race Brook Falls Trail. — Ten miles with beautiful views from open cliffs, waterfalls, hemlock groves, including part of the Undermountain Trail, Paradise Lane and Race Brook Falls trail as well as a section of the AT. This is a strenuous but rewarding hike for those in good condition. Meet at 8:30 am, contact leader for meeting location, Leader: Bob Napolitano (413-534-8955 before 8 pm, nappyofma@comcast.net, A3AB
Hike #2 Race Brook Falls Trail to the AT and north to Jug End Rd. — Beautiful waterfalls, views of Mt. Greylock, the Catskills, other mountains and the Housatonic valley. A strenuous hike of 7 miles using Race Brook Falls Trail as an access. Meet 9am at Race Brook Trail parking area on Route 41 in South Egremont, 3 miles south of Jug End Road. Leader: TBD, B3AB
Hike #3 Jug End Road, Sheffield to Boardman Street. — A moderate hike of 5.5 miles with no major ascent. See a variety of habitats from open fields to woodlands. Meet at 10 am at Guido's parking lot across from the Great Barrington Fair Grounds. Leaders: TBD. B3D
Hike #4 Benedict Pond to Home Rd. — A moderately strenuous hike over East Mountain and along ledges with nice views. 7.5 miles. Meet at 9:30am at Guido's parking lot across from the Great Barrington Fair Grounds. Leaders: Bob Snyder and Mary Berryhill, (413-528-4022, rls@simons-rock.edu). B3BC
Hike #5 Benedict Pond to Tyringham Cobble. — Moderately strenuous, 9 miles, including views, a beaver pond, shelters (including the new shelter at South Wilcox), spruce grove and interesting rock formations. Meet at the Trustees of Reservations Tyringham Cobble Parking lot on Jerusalem Rd, Tyringham at 9:00 am. Leader: TBD. A3C
Hike #6 Fernside Road to Goose Pond Road, Tyringham. — This is a moderate and enjoyable 7.5 mile hike with varied scenery including old stone walls and overgrown pasture. Meet at 9am at the Tyringham Fire Station on Main Rd. Leader: Pete Rentz (413-442-6732)
Hike #7 Route 20 to Goose Pond Road. Explore the Upper Goose Pond area. — Cross the Mass Pike on the footbridge. Also, a side trip to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Approximately 5.5 miles of moderate, scenic walking. Meet 10am at the Appalachian Trail parking lot on Rt 20 in Lee/Becket. Leader: TBD, B3C
Hike #8 Rt 20 Lee to Pittsfield Road, Washington. — 9.5 miles of moderately paced and moderately strenuous hiking through October Mountain State Forest, over Becket Mountain and along scenic Finnerty Pond. Meet 9am at the Appalachian Trail parking lot on Rt 20 in Lee/Becket. Leader: Deb Weisenstein (508-358-4169, weisenstein@aer.com). A3B
Hike #9 Pittsfield Road, Washington to Grange Hall Road, Dalton. — A pleasant, moderate hike of 7 miles with good views from Warner Hill summit and a visit to Kay Wood shelter. Meet 10am at the Brugner’s Market parking lot 777 Dalton Division Rd and Williams Street, Pittsfield. Leader: Don Fairbanks, (413-212-7953 or gdfairbanks@verizon.net), B3C
Hike #10 Houstonic St. To Grange Hall Rd Round trip, making a total of 4 miles. — This will be a short, interesting hike for those who are not free to walk in the morning. Possible 1/2 mile extension to Kay Wood AT Shelter. Meet at 1pm at AT crossing near the train tracks on Housatonic Street, Dalton. Leader: TBD. C4BC
Hike #11 Cheshire to Gulf Rd., Dalton. — About 8 miles of mostly moderate hiking. Nice views of Hoosac Lake, the valley and mountains from Cheshire Cobble. Gore Pond, one of the highest ponds in the state. Meet at 9am at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Parking lot on Depot St in Cheshire. Leader: TBD, B3BC
Hike #12 Rt. 8 Cheshire to Mount Greylock summit. — This is a strenuous hike of approximately 8.4 miles from Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Cheshire to Mount Greylock summit (shuttle back to rail trail). Meet at 9am in parking lot adjacent to Ashuwillticook Rail Trail (Church St.), Cheshire Leader: Becky Barnes - (413)499-7003, B3B
Hike #13 Pattison Road to Mt. Greylock summit. — This is a 5.5 mile, strenuous hike involving some steep climbing on Prospect, Williams and Greylock mountains, rewarded with great views. Meet at 9am at the Greylock Community Club parking area on Rt 2, 500ft east of Phelps Ave. Leader: TBD, B3B
Hike #14 Massachusetts Ave to the Vermont border. — North on the AT and return using the Pine Cobble Trail. This is 8 miles of fairly strenuous but pleasant hiking with good views from Pine Cobble. Meet 9am at intersection of Cole Ave and North Hoosic Road in Williamstown. Leader: TBD, B3B
Hike Ratings Hikes are rated according to their distance, pace, and ruggedness. A typical rating might be "B3C". The first letter (or pair of letters) indicates the hike's distance:
AA = over 13 miles
A = 9 - 13 miles
B = 5 - 8 miles
C = under 5 miles
The number in the middle indicates the pace the leader expects to set (on average terrain):
1 = very fast (2.5 mph or faster)
2 = fast (2 - 2.5 mph)
3 = moderate (1.5 - 2 mph)
4 = leisurely (less than 1.5 mph)
The final letter indicates the kind of terrain:
A = very strenuous
B = strenuous
C = average
D = easy
If there are two letters at the end (for example, "B3BC"), it indicates the terrain is somewhere between the levels indicated by either of the letters alone. As always, if you have any questions about what the hike will be like, call the trip leader or hiking contact person.
TO HELP YOU DECIDE whether to take part in one of these hikes, here's a listing of the programs we have scheduled for during the day on Saturday:Saturday afternoon receptions:
Saturday Morning:
First aid for hikers
The New England Trail
The Canadian Rockies
The Northville Placid Trail
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Trekking in Nepal near Tibet
The International A.T. workshop 1
The Israel National Trail
Companion field editors meeting
Summertime Dream: An A.T. thru-hike
The International A.T.workshop 2
Climbing Mount Blanc
Subculture of A.T. Hikers
Lightweight gear seminar
"Wizards of the A.T." video
The GR 7 route in Europe
Andrew Skurka: The Hayduke Trail and High Sierra Route
"The Last One" video
"A.T. Trail Magic" video
Saturday Afternoon:
Workshop for MCLA students
Superior Trail
International A.T. workshop 3
"Seven Moons on the AT" video
The Florida Trail
The Class of 2011 answers Dreamers' questions
PCT panel discussion
Colorado Trail workshop
Andrew Skurka workshop on lightweight backpacking
Leave No Trace principles
International A.T. workshop 4
The Sheltowee Trace workshop
Garvey storytelling contest
Lightweight backpacking advice
The John Muir Trail workshop
Northville Placid Trail workshop
Cycling the Great Divide slide show
"Planning the Dream" A.T. workshop
Both the International Appalachian Trail and the Trail Dames are hosting receptions late Saturday afternoon. Details will be in the program.