The Western MA Exchange

No registration is required. Just bring your kids up to Noble View (635 S. Quarter Road in Russell) whenever you have time and stroll along the 1-mile, accessible trail to read this delightful story. A bonus right now is the stunning fall foliage! Drive about a half mile up the dirt road to the main parking lot. The trail starts there.

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Member Jim Pelletier will present on wildlife in western MA, and will update us on the Mass Pike wildlife bridges study. Member Dani Rich will share how being outdoors can be beneficial to our mental health and social well-being. As part of our commitment to giving back to the communities where we live, work, and recreate, our chapter is collecting lightly used winter gear for unhoused individuals across western MA. Please consider bringing gently used winter coats (insulated, softshell, Gore-Tex, hardshell, or fleece), winter boots, hats, gloves, or scarves. Your donations will help keep someone warm this winter. Thank you for your support! Our gathering will include light refreshments and a cash-only bar. Space is limited so sign up today! REGISTER »

This promotion is for newly joining members only. Please send any questions to Jon Cocina, Director of Membership at jconina@outdoors.org. Become a member to support AMC's conservation efforts and join the fun!

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THE TREK »

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• Youth Deer Hunt Day: September 27
• Shotgun Season: December 1 – December 13
• Primitive Firearms Season: December 15 – December 31
• Turkey
  • Archery only: October 6 – October 18
  • Shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, or archery: October 20 – November 1
  • Archery only: November 3 – November 29

MA HUNTING SEASONS »

The five-mile loop provided pretty views of the West Branch of the Westfield River and a chance to see three of the majestic keystone arch bridges built in the 1830s. The double bridge is found right next to the trail head parking lot and is still in use today. The two other bridges are no longer used since the track was rerouted in 1912 but have remained standing and are now part of the trail as you walk over them. After the hike, many of the participants visited the Chester Railway Museum for a private tour by Dave Pierce, President of the Chester Foundation and the Friends of the Keystone Arch Bridges. Dave shared many interesting and fun facts about the bridges and the history of the area. Many thanks to Dave for volunteering his time to share his wealth of knowledge! MORE PHOTOS »

Thirty women from MA, some surrounding states, and as far away as VA, gathered at the AMC Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell on Saturday to learn, play and enjoy the outdoors together. Workshops throughout the day included painting, creative writing, yoga, orienteering, plant identification, edible and medicinal plants, and of course some hikes on the beautiful trails at Noble View. Participants shared breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as comradery and friendships - seeing old friends and making new ones. When the tornado warning sounded, everyone went inside the North Cottage, the musicians broke out their instruments and they had an impromptu sing-along until they could go back outside. A huge shout-out to Dawne Piers-Gamble, the Community Engagement Chair for the Western MA Chapter, for organizing the event, to all the experts who came to share their knowledge, and to all the volunteers who helped Dawne! What an incredible event! MORE PHOTOS »

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September. One of the best months of the year to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The temperatures are cooler and the bugs seem to disappear. We have lots of opportunities to join the fun with us – hikes, bike, rides, yoga, family activities, paddling, events for young members and so much more! There are several ways to stay informed of what's coming up: the Chapter Activities page of our website, the Activities Calendar to browse by date, and the AMC website to search for activities anywhere in the western MA area. We hope you will join us!

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It's been a big year for our Chapter, and the momentum just keeps building! From brand new committees full of energy, to unique training opportunities, to special weekends designed to connect people with nature and each other – there's something for everyone on the horizon. Whether you're looking to meet new friends, grow your outdoor skills, or simply spend more time outside, the Western MA Chapter has plenty in store. Read on to see just a few highlights of what's happening and how you can get involved!
Kathy Martin, Western MA Chapter Chair

Committee Highlight: Western MA 20s/30s Committee is on the Rise!

The Western MA 20s/30s Committee has seen incredible growth and energy in the past year, transforming from a dormant group into one of the most active in the Chapter, now boasting over 160 members. This young-member community hosts a wide variety of events, from hiking and paddling to cross-country skiing, film nights at Tanglewood, backpacking, whitewater kayaking, and climbing trips. Many of the outings are capped off with relaxed, social gatherings, such as grabbing a beer at a local brewery or enjoying ice cream together after a hike. It's a great way to connect with others who enjoy the outdoors and are looking to build community along the way. If you or someone you know is in their 20s/30s, the best way to get involved is to join the committee's WhatsApp group where upcoming events are announced and informal activities are organized. There's also the @amcwesternma Instagram page and the 20s/30s committee page on the Chapter website if you'd like to connect in that way.

Southern New England Trail Skills College

We are happy to announce that the registration for the First Annual Southern New England Trail Skills College is now open! This 3-day event on September 10-21, 2025 at Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, MA is filled with a variety of trainings and workshops that any trail or outdoor enthusiast would love. We are lucky to have a robust selection of courses and grateful to have so many of the industry's best providing instruction. This collaborative event is for the entire trails community – volunteers and professional trail stewards alike – with all levels of experience. Whether you're just starting out and looking for ways to get involved, or a professional looking to further your skills and build your network, this event offers opportunities for everyone, and all are welcome. Learn more and register here. Thanks to all the instructors and event planning team for putting this together! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to our Trails Training Programs Supervisor, Erik Samia at esamia@outdoors.org. We hope to see you at this year's "Fall Semester"!

Western MA Fourth Annual Connecting Women, Connecting with Nature Weekend

This year's Women's Weekend will be held on September 6, 2025, 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, at Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, MA. We've scheduled a variety of traditional and non-traditional outdoor pursuits in the hope of attracting women to the joy and rejuvenation provided by experiencing the outdoors. This is a women-only event that uses an inclusive definition of women. We respectfully welcome all women including non-binary, gender non-conforming, trans-women and individuals who identify as a woman as the best expression of themselves. Some of the planned activities include forest bathing, watercolor painting, bird walking, yoga, plant/tree identification, hiking, and a campfire with music. Two big changes this year are that we will not have the cottages for overnight accommodations and our activities will be held on Saturday only. We invite women to stay over Friday, September 5^th and Saturday, September 6^th at the AMC Noble View Outdoor Center campsites. Campsites include a raised platform to place your own tent and supplies on. Please be aware that AMC Noble View's cottages are now the summer home of the AMC Professional Trail Crew (mixed gender) and that Noble View is open to the public. However, we will be the sole occupants of the campsites during Women's Weekend. Click here for details and to register.

Help Put Nature on the Ballot in 2026

AMC is leading the charge to put nature on the ballot in 2026 through the Protect Water and Nature Initiative and Nature for MA Coalition, which would dedicate $100 million annually to land and water conservation, climate resilience, and outdoor recreation – without raising taxes. To get there, we must collect 90,000 signatures this fall, and we need your help! Sign up for a signature collection training today and be part of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect nature and expand access to the outdoors. Questions? Email amcconservation@outdoors.org.

Yesterday Dave, Russ, Ted, Cosmo and Lauri performed a potpourri of work at and near Wilbur Clearing Shelter and Campsite. First on the list was moving the privy. The resting bin was ready to distribute, so we emptied it and moved the outhouse over the empty crib. From there, we moved on to installing a new site map on the kiosk, which required a bit of rearranging of existing signage. We then installed numbers on most of the tent sites and tent platforms. We also did a bit of re-benching on one tent pad; more work needs to be done here to make it suitable for pitching a tent. We also moved the bear boxes out of the site and located them at the junction of the site trail and the Money Brook Trail, so they aren't quite so close to the tenting areas (though the bear probably won't really notice the difference). We then headed uphill to the Mt Prospect Overlook. Two weeks ago, we had a teen crew cut down all the saplings and brush that had grown up into the view. Today, we moved most of the cut saplings to the sides of the opening, so they won't be underfoot as much when we clear this site again in a few years. The viewpoint was cleared last in 2014, so hopefully we have some time before another visit. Upcoming projects:

• 06-Sep-2025: Brushing back laurel north of Sherman Brook Campsite
• 19-Sep-2025: Boundary maintenance near Blotz Rd, Hinsdale
• 20-Sep-2025: Boundary mmaintenance near Cheshire
• 20-Sep-2025: Wildlife transect, Cady Brook. Register now, attendance is limited to 10 people
• 30-Sep-2025: Open area maintenance near Shays' Rebellion Monument
• 12-Oct-2025): Close Upper Goose Pond Cabin
• Oct-2025: Boundary maintenance (multiple dates)

If you're interested in getting involved in helping to maintain the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, view upcoming activities on the committee's webpage. More Photos »