Upcoming Chapter Activities

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Holyoke Revitalization Tour

Discover how a city originally designed as an industrial mill town is being reimagined. Visit innovative businesses and developers that have - and are continuing to - put new life into old buildings. Building owners provide guided tours. Easy walking tour, 1.5-2 miles, ends at Choo Choo's restaurant.

Holyoke’s Historic Canals and Dam Tour

Join the park interpreter for a walk along Holyoke's canal system. We explore engineering prowess, mill operation, historic visionaries, and the power of water as we walk along parts of the first and second level canals of this fascinating planned industrial city. Along the way we will see headraces, tailraces, intakes, a Boyden Turbine assembly, flywheels, and get an eyeball tour of Holyoke Gas and Electric's dam complex.

A.T. Toolshed Maintenance

Not exactly trail maintenance, but a necessary task to keep our home base in good shape and functioning well. As we approach the end of the field season, it's time to tidy up the building where we store and maintain our tools and equipment. We'll also do a bit of maintenance on the building itself. Work includes painting the exterior, clearing out unused or broken tools, storing maintaining and storing equipment for the winter, and general sweeping and cleaning. We have work available for all levels of experience and abilities.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Adult Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course (8 hours) that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance-use issues in Adults (18 and over). Refer to the registration page for more information.

Hilltown Hikes: The Rivulet Trail and the Conway Property

This hike is more about getting out in the woods in the hilltowns than about a physical challenge, although both trails have bit of climbing. The trails are soft and, in places, the towering white pines are like a cathedral. The Rivulet Trail is part of the Trustee's Bryant Homestead, and the Conway Property is a new set of hiking trails sponsored by the Hilltown Land Trust.

[Women’s+] Fall Foliage Hike: Mount Norwottuck and Atkins Farms

Join us for peak fall foliage in the Pioneer Valley on a 5-6 mile hike to Mt Norwottuck, Horse Caves and Rattlesnake Knob. The trail passes through dense, rocky woods to several open vistas. Optional after hike stop at Atkins Farm Market. Atkins is usually well decorated for the season and has local produce, pumpkins, prepared food, coffee and a bakery.

Wildlife Transect, Rt 20 - Tyne Rd Area

This will be out first transect in this area at the southern end of October Mtn SF and North of Rt 20 so who knows what we'll find. We will be out all day so dress for the season and weather (bad weather cancels). Bring lunch, snacks and water for the day. No experience necessary. Pace is slow mostly off trail with plenty of time to examine spoor to see what the residents are up to. Make sure to bring along your curiosity.

Richardson Cabin/NET Section 17

Join us for a hike up Stratton Mountain via NET, Section 17, to Richardson-Zlogar Cabin where we will stop and have lunch with views of Mt Monadnock, Mt Grace, and Mt Wachusett to the east. Views of Mt Ascutney to the west. Please note that the cabin is closed, but land is open to hikers.

Gym Climbing at CRG Hadley

Work week got you down? Please join the Mountaineering Committee for some midweek climbing! We will meet at 5:30pm at Central Rock Gym in Hadley for a few hours of laid-back climbing and socializing.

Holyoke Revitalization Tour

Discover how a city originally designed as an industrial mill town is being reimagined. Visit innovative businesses and developers that have - and are continuing to - put new life into old buildings. Building owners provide guided tours. Easy walking tour, 1.5-2 miles, ends at Choo Choo's restaurant.

Hiking in the Berkshires Bob’s Way & Roadside Cafe

Join us in the beautiful Berkshires for an easy 3-mile hike on Bob's Way. This hike loops through a wooded landscape carpeted in partridge berries and complete with a marsh, beaver pond, and lush laurels. There will be about a 440-ft elevation gain as we make our way to Dave's Look Out. We will conclude our outing with lunch at Gould's Farm Roadside Store and Cafe which is a quick drive down Route 23. Lunch is on your own with prices ranging from $10-$20.

Sun Bowl Climbing Trip

If you have climbed or taken a course with the Western MA Mountaineering committee this past year please join us for a 1/2 day of climbing before the chapter's annual meeting. We'll be sport climbing at a crag with 20'-30' climbs that offer a variety of grades 5.3-5.10.

Connecticut River Morning Paddle

Join us for a morning paddle on the Connecticut River in Sunderland. After the paddle, head to the AMC Western MA Annual Meeting in South Deerfield at 2 PM for food, social time, and to learn what the Chapter has been up to over the past year.

Holyoke’s Historic Canals and Dam Tour

Join the park interpreter for a walk along Holyoke's canal system. We explore engineering prowess, mill operation, historic visionaries, and the power of water as we walk along parts of the first and second level canals of this fascinating planned industrial city. Along the way we will see headraces, tailraces, intakes, a Boyden Turbine assembly, flywheels, and get an eyeball tour of Holyoke Gas and Electric's dam complex.

Fall Social and Annual Meeting

Join us for a FREE social gathering and business meeting of the AMC Western MA Chapter. We'll recognize the Chapter's Most Valuable Committee Members, elect our new slate of officers, review the year's accomplishments, and share plans for 2026 - 150^th anniversary of AMC! Member Jim Pelletier will also present on wildlife in western MA, and will update us on the Mass Pike wildlife bridges study.

AT Corridor Boundary Work - Sheffield, Day 3

Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Rt 7 and the Sheffield-Egremont Rd in Sheffield, MA, southern Berkshire County. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight - no painting required.

[20s/30s+] Social at Mike’s Maze

Please join us at Mike's Maze in Sunderland, MA! Support a local business, pet farm animals, make your way through the maze, and enjoy some cider donuts! We will meet at 3 PM and work our way through the maze. Around 5 PM, we will head over to Treehouse Brewing Company in South Deerfield, MA to continue the conversations!

Gym Climbing at CRG Hadley

Work week got you down? Please join the Mountaineering Committee for some midweek climbing! We will meet at 5:30pm at Central Rock Gym in Hadley for a few hours of laid-back climbing and socializing.

Wildlife Transect, Dalton Gulf Area

This will be our first transect along the Dalton Gulf trail. This area is located at the southern end of protected lands situated between Dalton and Cheshire, MA so there's a good chance we'll find some interesting tracks and sign of wildlife using the area.

Wednesday Night Climbing - CRG Hadley w/Social Hour at the Quarters

Please join the Mountaineering Committee and our friends from the 20s/30s Committee for an evening of socializing and climbing! We will meet at 5:30 PM at Central Rock Gym in Hadley, climb for a few hours, and then head over to the Quarters for a post-climbing social. We are excited to see some new faces and welcome those who are interested in learning more about climbing!

NET Hike: Long Mountain and Rattlesnake Knob

Hike the New England Trail out and back ~6 miles from Harris Mountain Rd to Long Mountain and Rattlesnake Knob. Difficulty: moderate-vigorous. Summits offer open views of the surrounding mountains, farms and towns. Optional after hike visit to Atkins Farms. Atkins is usually well decorated for the season and has local produce, prepared food, coffee and a bakery.

Wapack Trail: Mount Watatic and Pratt Mountain Viewpoint

Hike ~8.5 miles out and back on the Wapack Trail, which includes Mt Watatic with 360° views and the Pratt Mountain viewpoint overlooking Binney Pond. Difficulty: vigorous mostly due to distance. Terrain is mixed including steep and moderate sections with ~1,500 ft of elevation overall.

Wildlife Transect, Sages Ravine Area

It's been many years since we visited this area to check on how the wild things are using the area, so about time we did another check of the area. We do have some older records of moose being in the area and this past season multiple reports of bear presence, so who knows what we'll find ... always an adventure!

[20s/30s+] Thanksgiving at Noble View

This is an unstructured weekend focused on shared meals, downtime, and connection. During the day, you can explore Noble View's hiking trails, read or knit by the wood stove, or join a board or yard game before winding down around a campfire in the evening. We'll cultivate a sense of camaraderie by helping with meal prep, dishes, and light cabin cleanup over the course of the weekend. Refer to the registration page for details.

Wildlife Transect, Mt Prospect Area

This will be out first transect in this area - the watershed lands and northern part of the Mt Greylock State Reservation. We will approach the area from the Pattison Rd trailhead and climb to the Mt Prospect ridge top for the initial part of our search. If time and conditions permit, we will also explore the lower elevations of our trail lands nearer Pattison Rd.

Wildlife Transect, West Branch Rd Area

It's been quite awhile since we did a transect in this area but hikes/snowshoes through the area in recent winters has indicated we can expect some interesting findings. This is a rugged area, particularly if we have significant snow, and we may need to use snowshoes so keep that in mind when deciding whether to join this one.

[20s/30s+] Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

Join AMC Western MA 20s/30s for a spring weekend backpacking trip along a quiet, forested stretch of the Appalachian Trail in the Berkshires. Over two days, we'll hike nearly 19 miles through classic New England woods, with rolling ridgelines, seasonal stream crossings, and peaceful sections of remote trail.

AMC 150 Holyoke Range Seven Sisters and Mt Norwottuck

Join us in May to celebrate 150 years of AMC with the AMC 150th Relay - a 1,500-mile journey from VA to ME. Join the celebration by participating in a relay segment, attending a local event, or sharing your AMC story. Together, we'll honor the past and shape the future of outdoor adventure. For this leg of the relay, we'll be hiking sections 7 and 8 of the New England Trail. This iconic section will traverse the Seven Sisters of the Holyoke Range and continue with Mt Norwottuck and ending at Mt Harris Rd. An alternative stopping stop can be arranged at the Notch Visitors Center prior to the hike's start.

NET Committee Chair

Are you passionate about the outdoors, trail stewardship, and making a tangible impact in your community? The AMC Western MA Chapter is looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer to serve as the NET Committee Chair – a leadership role that helps shape the future of the New England National Scenic Trail (NET). As Chair, you'll work closely with a passionate team of volunteers and AMC staff to ensure the NET remains a safe, enjoyable, and well-maintained trail for all who explore it. You'll guide efforts that uphold AMC's mission and the NET's high standards – from trail blazing and signage to maintaining clear, sustainable trail corridors. Refer to the registration page for more information.

Chapter Vice Chair

Are you passionate about the outdoors and ready to give back? Help Lead the AMC Western MA Chapter as Vice Chair! The AMC Western MA Chapter is looking for a Volunteer Vice Chair to help lead our all-volunteer Executive Committee! This is a 1-year term as Vice Chair, with the expectation of stepping into the Chapter Chair role afterward. It's a unique chance to: learn about AMC leadership, support outdoor programs in western MA, and make a real impact in the outdoor community. You'll collaborate with committees, help with events and recruitment, and represent the Chapter in the broader AMC network.

Family Programs Chair

Do you love working with families and the outdoors? The AMC Western MA Chapter is looking for a Volunteer Family Chair to join our Executive Committee! We're an active, welcoming chapter, and this role is a great opportunity to support family-friendly outdoor adventures across western MA. As Family Programs Chair, you'll: attend monthly Executive Committee meetings, manage the Family Program's committee budget, contribute to annual planning and reports, and encourage and support leaders in offering family-focused outings.