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Once again it rained on a Saturday, which derailed many of the activities that the Chapter had planned for National Trails Day. However, our Appalachian Trail Management and New England Trail Management Committees were able to proceed with their plans.

A.T. Committee: Brush Clipping at Reynolds Rock, Cheshire
Cosmo Catalano

Still, we had a stalwart group ready to work today. Russ, Dave, Lauri, Peter and Art started off in the damp under gloomy skies to clip back brush from around the Rock. Maintaining (which is what we do) much of the work that was accomplished last summer. See the before and after photos taken by Lauri (yes, it looks like we're looking at Dave's backside, but we're not). Sitting on top of the rock to the left is a likely 200-year-old maple tree. We were also able to mow the Trail through the field to keep it open for the incoming bubble of hikers - we met a couple of them (one sporting a sling for an arm she broke in Pennsylvania) today despite the looming weather. The white flowers in the background are raspberry plants just finishing their flowering. Many immature fruits are on the bushes - a future feast for birds, bears - and hikers. Eventually it started to rain for real and we called it a day around 11am. Russ and Cosmo (fools that they are) stayed on another hour to mow the field near School St (which really didn't need it) and the field and trail north of Rt 8 - which did. We also cut back the brush at the bog bridges south of Rt 8.

NET Committee: New England Trail Hike on Mt Norwottuck
Kevin Peloski, Committee Chair

We decided to buck the trend and continue full steam ahead with tabling and a hike at the wet Notch Visitor Center in Mt Holyoke Range State Park. Given the forecast, it definitely was pretty quiet at a location when, on a normal Saturday, it is loaded with hikers, walkers, and trail runners. Lots of AMC/NET and information on invasive forest pests were available at our table, which we staffed from 10-1, when the rain really picked up and we decided to call it a day. Five hikers plus Bex the dog spent 1.5 hours hiking 3 miles of the NET and the Robert Frost Trail - cutting the hike short because of increasing intensity of the rain.

Thank You!

Thank you to all who worked hard to plan this event throughout western MA, and a special thanks to the A.T. and NET Committees that made it work despite the rain. We have plenty of opportunities to get involved in guided hikes, paddling, cycling and climbing outings, as well as trail maintenance opportunities. Go to the activities page to see what's happening and come join the fun!

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The A.T. Section Hike Series offers section hikes in order through MA on the weekends this spring, summer, and fall. There is still room available on some of the hikes for those wishing to join in the fun. View upcoming hikes on the Hiking Committee's webpage. Registration is required. MORE PHOTOS »

Today's adventure is hiking at Mt Toby in Sunderland and Leverett. Mt Toby has an elevation of 1269 feet with a fire tower to climb at the top. You can hike to the top via the Robert Frost Trail or a number of other trails, including a gravel road. If you follow the Falls Trail off the road, you'll come to a beautiful cascade waterfall. This walk from the parking lot would be considered easy and suitable for most ages and abilities, although not considered accessible. You can continue on that trail up a steep slope along some huge boulders and caves, back to the gravel road, that then leads to the summit. One trail from the parking lot leads to the Sunderland Caves that you can actually crawl through if you dare! Consult your favorite hiking app and plan your next hike. You will not be disappointed. MORE PHOTOS »

June is finally here, bringing the first day of summer and lots of sunshine! The mountain laurels are in bloom all month throughout the woodlands of western Massachusetts and we have plenty of hikes planned for you to see them. Paddling and cycling season are in full swing, and we have some climbing events too. And if trail maintenance is your thing, we have that too. VIEW ACTIVITIES »

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As a volunteer, Mike was a New England National Scenic Trail (NET) Adopter on Section 10 for 3 years and a part of the NET Management Committee in the Western MA Chapter for a year. According to Kevin Peloski, the Chapter's NET Chair, "He was always willing to help with projects, smile on his face, talking about old school rock and roll!!" When the NET was being rerouted on Section 6 at Mt Tom, he assisted a new trail adopter to learn how to paint new blazes and cover up old ones. Nan Mack, Noble View Caretaker, worked closely with Mike as he assisted her in caring for the Noble View property. He mowed lawns, helped clear stone walls, and kept trail signs inventoried and clean. He once volunteered to stack wood covered in snow for a weekend at Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire. She stated "Whatever it took - Mike was the good kind of crazy." We are truly grateful for Mike's commitment and dedication to the Appalachian Mountain Club and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed. There will be a private memorial service for Mike at Noble View on Sunday, June 1^st, but anyone wishing to express their condolences and share stories are welcome to stop by after 3:00 PM. MORE PHOTOS »

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People's State Forest encompasses the Barkhamstead Lighthouse community, the settlement of a Narragansett Native American, James Chaugham and his European-born wife, Molly Barber. The couple established the community in the mid-eighteenth century and their decendents lived there until 1860. Remnants of the Native American community remain with informative placards explaining what was left behind, including a cemetery. MORE PHOTOS »

If you make it to the top of Mt Greylock, you will find this iconic monument. It is the MA Veterans War Memorial, a 92-foot-tall granite tower with a spiral staircase inside. It was dedicated in June 1933 to commemorate the courage, endurance, loyalty and self-sacrifice of all servicemen and servicewomen from the Commonwealth. We can all honor that sacrifice by doing our part to protect this precious resource - our land.

In MA they are listed as endangered, which means they are protected from killing, collecting, possessing, or selling, as well as from any activities that would destroy their habitat or disrupt their behavior. Please remember to practice Leave No Trace principles and take only photos of these beautiful natural gems. MORE PHOTOS »

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Bright Water Bog is a Kestrel Land Trust property that was donated by Julian Janowitz, a local psychiatrist and artist who wanted to share his love of art and nature with others. As you walk around Ames Pond on the trails and boardwalks through the bogs, you can view his amazing sculptures including a spider web and The Magical Door. The group also enjoyed identifying all the wildflowers on the trail which included trillium, a lady slipper, wild blueberries and strawberries, bluets, and littleleaf skullcap. It was a wonderful experience for all! MORE PHOTOS »

On Saturday, despite the gloomy weather, some significant preparatory work was done. Jon, Russ, Warren, Ed, Maggie, Sarah, Mike and Cosmo showed up as the rain was just winding down and trekked up a soggy Caretaker's Trail to the Cabin – of note, our efforts to maintain the road have paid off – it was quite driveable despite nearly 2" of rain. Upon arrival, our team of sawyers went off to address some hazard trees at the campsites, while the amphibious group got ready to install the dock parts. We quickly got the dock into the water and bolted together. Seems we might have finally gotten the hang of it...this might have been because our friend Mike Brick was not there directing traffic – I do miss that guy. We also removed quite a pile of scrap lumber from earlier projects that had been stored beneath the Cabin. It's been there – unused – for about 10 years "just in case we might need it". We'll cut it into fireplace lengths for campfires this season. Sitting under the Cabin it was a potential hazard in the event of a "ground fire", the frequency of which seems to be increasing the in the Berkshires. On Sunday – under blue skies and a nice breeze – Mary B, Mary E, Warren, Bonnie, Rob, Trish, Russ, and Cosmo made quick work of removing shutters, organizing the kitchen, setting up the wash station, testing the stove, gas lights, and fire alarms and generally getting things cleaned up and tidy for our first Caretaker, Nancy, who arrived about noon. We also replaced the broken fire grate and updated the fireplace screen with one that actually stands up on its own – plus some new fireplace tools. Our newly donated canoe was put into service collecting spring water from across the pond. The Cabin season is off to a great start – many thanks to all who have helped get things up and running over the past month (five of this weekend's crew were 2025 Caretakers)! Some of our upcoming projects:

• Saturday May 24th: Repairs to the Hop Brook Boardwalk.
• Saturday June 7th: National Trails Day – we will be clearing brush from the Reynolds Rock lookout in Cheshire.
• Sunday June 8th: We're working with Green Mountain Club volunteers to start work on a Trail relocation at the VT/MA border.
• Monday-Tuesday June 9th and 10th: We'll be monitoring rare plants in the Mt Greylock Summit area.

View our upcoming activities on our committee webpage.

Since 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club has been inspiring people to connect with the outdoors. From pioneering trails and protecting wild spaces to fostering a love of adventure across generations, AMC's story is one of conservation, community, and discovery. As we approach our 150^th anniversary in 2026, we invite you to celebrate this incredible milestone with the AMC 150^th Relay – a one-of-a-kind journey linking the iconic trails and landscapes we cherish. Together, let's honor our past and shape the future of outdoor recreation and stewardship. In celebration of 150 years, the Appalachian Mountain Club will host a historic 1,500-mile torch relay from Virginia to Maine, beginning in March and ending in October 2026. This epic journey will unite hikers, paddlers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts to carry a ceremonial torch across cherished trails, breathtaking landscapes, and beloved AMC lodges and camps. Along the way, vibrant events in cities like New York and Boston and celebratory gatherings at key AMC locations will bring our mission to life. Together, we'll celebrate our shared love for nature, our commitment to conservation, and the spirit of adventure that connects us all. Everyone is invited to participate by cheering on the participants, adopting a leg of the relay, or showing up at one of the celebrations along the route. Visit the 150th Anniversary home page to view the relay route and learn how to get involved, or watch a short video presentation to learn more.

From planning and leading recreational activities to seasonal trail work – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

The most recent A.T. Committee meeting was May 5 ✧ Seasonal project work is in full swing. Projects since the last report include a survey of the potential layout of the new Shaker campsite, blowdown clearing on Mt Greylock, brush clearing at Tyringham Cobble, corridor boundary maintenance in Tyringham, and corridor infringement monitoring ✧ Upper Goose Pond cabin was opened with a caretaker on Sunday, May 11 ✧ Work on the Upper Goose Pond cabin chimney was completed in early May ✧ Seasonal project work is ongoing; see the Outdoor Connector (OC) for details on upcoming A.T. projects and how to volunteer ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include trail maintainers, corridor monitors, a shelter coordinator, and a communications coordinator ✧ Next meeting: August 25, 2025

Bicycling

April events: The warm-up ride on 04/12 was cancelled due to weather; the 04/26 warm-up ride has been rescheduled for 04/27 ✧ Upcoming May and June bike rides are posted on the OC: (05/24) Warm-up ride in the Berkshires; (06/07) National Trails Day (NTD) - Berkshire Rail Trail Ride

Communications

Our social media accounts continue to gain new followers. All Facebook data points decreased this month despite an increase in the number of posts, while Instagram showed mixed results. Both data points on the website increased slightly in April ✧ Facebook: 29 posts (top post: National Volunteer Week) ✧ Instagram: 19 posts (top post: Spring Warm-up Ride posted on 4/17) ✧ New this month on the website: an interactive map for NTD and an activities calendar, which downloads from the OC every six hours ✧ Ongoing webwork includes activity postings, updates to the Western MA Exchange, and site maintenance

Community Engagement

Planning continues for a Women+ Juneteenth Reflection Hike, a successful outing last year ✧ Karen Foster from our partner, All Out Adventures (AOA), presented trip planning and preparation for folks with accessibility needs on 05/01 ✧ We're planning hikes on the New England Scenic Trail (NET) with Miriam Maistelman, to be led with AOA as part of a grant received by AMC ✧ Visit Sign Up Genius to volunteer with AOA ✧ The Western MA Paddling Committee will have a transfer bench for use on the NTD paddle in the Berkshires ✧ We are continuing to reach out to folks about "An Act Expanding Access To Trails For People Of All Abilities" (MA Bill S.548). Sign our group support letter to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources or use this form to send a letter to your state Rep and Senator ✧ The Interchapter Community Engagement Committee meets bimonthly

Family Programs

Held the "Family Vernal Pool Hike" with Nancy Condon and The Naturalist Club on 04/06 ✧ April's StoryWalk^® was "Its Spring" and continues through May 15^th ✧ Future StoryWalks^® have been secured with our collaborator, Hilltown Community Health Center, through contact with the new Hilltown Family Center director ✧ Utilized the HillTown Families marketing platform for "An UnderWater World: Creatures & Critters in the Stream" ✧ Scheduled the Wildflower Walk and Fairy House Creation Display for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Membership

Obtained AMC Western MA business cards and other literature ✧ Currently distributing AMC-branded cards to chapter chairs to share w/leaders ✧ Attending Tuesday hikes to meet leaders and other AMC members ✧ Planning continues for our NTD tabling event at Diane's Twist on the Ashuwilticook Trail in Cheshire (06/07/2025, 10AM-2PM). See all Western MA NTD events on the OC

NET Management

NET adopters, trail runners, and DCR staff gathered to do trail maintenance on Section 7 before the Seven Sisters Trail Race. Volunteers contributed over 60 hours at this 3^rd annual partnership event ✧ NET adopters participated in Adaptive Hiking Training with AOA at Noble View ✧ The NET Committee is providing updates for the new edition of the AMC MA Hiking Guide, which includes the NET and is updated every 5 years ✧ The NET Committee is working with the Membership and Communications chairs on NTD activities, which include staffing a table and a hike on the NET ✧ Wendell State Forest Shelter project planning continues with another site visit, acquisition of a building permit, and an update of material costs. We will remove and replace existing roof shingles and rotting structural beams ✧ NET adopters have reported almost 200 hours of volunteer time since the April 14 NET Committee report ✧ The next NET Committee meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2025

Paddling

The Paddling Committee last met on 03/19; committee goals and plans for 2025 were discussed ✧ Ann Gillard is working with Leigh Eubank of Hampshire College to borrow whitewater kayaks and equipment on AMC trips. Working through Aaron Gorban of AMC's Risk Management Office, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hampshire College has been signed and a Certificate of Insurance has been obtained ✧ Ann Gillard is developing a whitewater leader training curriculum with input from Deb and others ✧ Find upcoming trips on the OC