The Western MA Exchange

What a month it has been! From celebrating AMC's 150^th anniversary on trails, rivers, roads, and at Noble View Outdoor Center to recognizing the volunteers who care for the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), our chapter continues to show what can happen when people come together around a love of the outdoors. This month we're sharing highlights from the AMC 150 Relay, introducing you to the work of our A.T. Management Committee, and inviting someone with a passion for families and the outdoors to help lead our Family Programs. As always, we welcome our new chapter members! Looking forward to SEEING you on one of our many adventures! Happy Summer,
Kathy Martin, Western MA Chapter Chair

AMC 150 Recap

After months of planning, the AMC 150 Relay entered MA on May 17 with a 6.2-mile hike from Northwest Camp to Guilder Pond, then made its way through western MA over 16 days before crossing into Worcester County. Thirty-two Western MA leaders planned 14 adventures with 224 participants. We hiked, backpacked, paddled, and climbed our way along the A.T., the Westfield and Connecticut Rivers, the New England Trail, and roadways through Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties before passing the official AMC 150 banner to the Worcester Chapter to continue its way through MA and on to NH. We also enjoyed a fabulous celebration at Noble View Outdoor Center, welcoming the cyclists on a 26-mile ride from the town of Washington to Russell with much fanfare, a barbeque, and a 150^th anniversary cake. The western MA segment of the relay functioned as a regional showcase of the chapter's outdoor community: it connected trails and waterways with volunteer leadership, conservation, and accessible ways for people to participate in AMC's anniversary. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this epic celebration a huge success! Follow the relay in real time and view photos of the relay segments.

June Committee Highlight: The A.T. Management Committee

This Committee of the Western MA Chapter is charged with the maintenance and management of the A.T. in MA, including many of the associated side trails. The 14 volunteers on the Committee work with the National Park Service and Mass DCR on this effort, coordinating and supporting the efforts of around 100 individual volunteers. Opportunities for volunteering are available in many different areas:

• Regular trail maintenance: Clearing pathways, clipping brush, painting blazes, mowing, etc.
• Overnight facilities maintenance: Monitoring and maintaining camps, shelters, campsites, privies, etc. along the Trail.
• Corridor monitoring and boundary maintenance: Keeping the boundary of trail lands marked and monitoring for any misuse.
• Natural resource monitoring: Visiting more than 50 sites to document the presence of rare, threatened or endangered plants and the habits of wildlife.
• Cultural resource monitoring: Visiting, researching and documenting the remains of historic structures and sites on Trail lands and monitoring them for any changes.
• Supporting A.T. Communities along the Trail: North Adams, Cheshire, Dalton, Lee, and Great Barrington.
• Connecting with sponsored or organized groups using the Trail and its overnight facilities: Providing information about group use regulations and best practices.
• Working with land managers and other staff: Proposing and designing major maintenance and repair projects on damaged or eroded sections of the Trail.

We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work the A.T. Committee volunteers put into maintaining the incredible and beautiful A.T. in MA! Learn more about the A.T. Committee and find upcoming projects to join.

Volunteer Opportunity: Family Programs Chair

The AMC Western MA Chapter is looking for an enthusiastic individual interested in helping families spend time outdoors. The Family Programs Chair coordinates family-friendly outings and events, supports volunteer leaders, and helps grow a welcoming community for new generations of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Experience organizing events is helpful, but enthusiasm, communication, and a love of the outdoors matter most. Learn more about the Family Programs Committee or email Chapter Chair, Kathy Martin (chair@amc-wma.org) for more information about this exciting opportunity!

Work may include brushing, corridor clearing, drainage touch-ups, and general tread maintenance. No experience is required. Training and tools will be provided. Participants should bring snacks, lunch, water, gloves, and safety glasses. As part of the day, we will also briefly send off the AMC 150 Relay Riders as they begin their ride from Hiram to Freeport. REGISTER »

Experience organizing events is helpful, but enthusiasm, communication, and a love of the outdoors matter most. Learn more about the Family Programs Committee and email our Chapter Chair, Kathy Martin at chair@amc-wma.org if you're interested in this exciting position!

Each month we highlight one of the committees in the Western MA Chapter, to showcase who our volunteers are and what they do, and to highlight Chapter programs, recreational activities, and volunteer opportunities. This month we're featuring the A.T. Management Committee. This Committee of the Western MA Chapter is charged with the maintenance and management of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in MA, including many of the associated side trails. The 14 volunteers on the Committee work with the National Park Service and Mass DCR on this effort, coordinating and supporting the efforts of around 100 individual volunteers. Opportunities for volunteering are available in many different areas:

• Regular trail maintenance: Clearing pathways, clipping brush, painting blazes, mowing, etc.
• Overnight facilities maintenance: Monitoring and maintaining camps, shelters, campsites, privies, etc. along the Trail.
• Corridor monitoring and boundary maintenance: Keeping the boundary of trail lands marked and monitoring for any misuse.
• Natural resource monitoring: Visiting more than 50 sites to document the presence of rare, threatened or endangered plants and the habits of wildlife.
• Cultural resource monitoring: Visiting, researching and documenting the remains of historic structures and sites on Trail lands and monitoring them for any changes.
• Supporting A.T. Communities along the Trail: North Adams, Cheshire, Dalton, Lee, and Great Barrington.
• Connecting with sponsored or organized groups using the Trail and its overnight facilities: Providing information about group use regulations and best practices.
• Working with land managers and other staff: Proposing and designing major maintenance and repair projects on damaged or eroded sections of the Trail.

We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work the A.T. Committee volunteers put into maintaining the incredible and beautiful Appalachian Trail in MA! Learn more about the A.T. Committee and find upcoming projects to join.

Only three fine riders joined us, but summer vacation season tends to slow things down a bit. The five of us enjoyed a nice lunch afterwards at Wild Roots in Sunderland. A pleasant way to spend the morning! MORE PHOTOS »

We enjoyed sunny skies, delicious food, laughs, and friendship as we shared memories of Nan's tenure at Noble View. Nan took meticulous care of the property and grounds, and managed the large Chapter events that were held there. Whether she was weilding a chainsaw, a spatula, or a glue gun, she was always ready to do what was needed with a big smile and a can-do attitude. We wish her safe travels and happy adventures as she embarks on the next chapter of her life! You will be missed Nan! MORE PHOTOS »

This common plant, considered a weed by many, has a variety of medicinal and edible uses. Young, tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach, offering high amounts of vitamins A, C, and K. Freshly crushed leaves are widely used as a poultice to quickly relieve bee stings, mosquito bites, rashes, and minor cuts. And, the dried leaves can be used in soothing teas or infused into topical skin salves. Good to know if you're ever out in the woods and need a simple remedy for cuts, rashes, or bug bites.

Great views, beautiful mountain laurels, ladders, and great company. Interested in joining this series? We'll be offering an A.T. hike every weekend through August. Come join us! MORE PHOTOS »

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The group learned about the importance of a sustainable trail - why they exist, why they are maintained, and the role that trail crews play in keeping them sustainable. We have more trails sustainability hikes planned on this section of the trail in July and August, so stay tuned on AMC Outdoors Connector for further postings!

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We've been sharing information about the US Senate's America the Beautiful Act recently, and distributing postcards for folks to message their representatives in support of the bill. Here we provide an update on the status of the Act, which reauthorizes the Legacy Restoration Fund to provide resources addressing the substantial backlog of maintenance projects we have on our public lands. The US Senate officially introduced the America the Beautiful Act (S. 1547) a few weeks ago and it is up to 64 co-sponsors, which is above the number needed to pass the bill in the Senate. The US House introduced their bill on Monday, calling it the Great American Outdoors Act 250. The House committee leading this effort held a hearing in Hot Springs, AR recently, complete with moving testimony from Kevin Costner (at minute 37). The Senate and House bills both reauthorize LRF at the same funding level, though have some differences in implementation and other details. There will have to be agreement between the versions once each bill passes both chambers, but both bills are very constructive. The timing for when we can expect either bill to pass is uncertain but we will keep you posted. If you sent in postcards to your representatives, we thank you! And if you would like to send out a postcard or two, let us know and we will find a way to get them to you. Just send a message to communications@amc-wma.org.

Our schedule is packed with rides of all kinds, from relaxed outings on farm roads to challenging adventures in the Berkshires. We even have some gravel rides coming up. Visit our activities page and click on Bicycling for details and to register.

ATC »

Every month we like to highlight a place for recreating outdoors to give our followers new ideas for their outdoor adventures. This month we're highlighting the entire Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in MA that offers many opportunities for hiking and backpacking. The A.T. stretches 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain GA to Mt Katahdin in ME. Thousands of thru hikers attempt to hike the entire trail in a single season, but only 25-30% finish it, roughly 700 people. The MA portion is just over 90 miles - starting in Salisbury, CT and ending in Clarksburg State Forest on the VT border. There are many places along the trail to do a day hike, or perhaps an overnight backpacking trip. One option is to drive to the top of Mt Greylock and hop on a section of the A.T. that passes over the summit. Another moderate hike is to head up to Upper Goose Pond starting on Rte 20 in Becket. This 3.5-mile, round trip hike starts near the Mass Pike in Becket and brings you up to a beautiful pond. You can continue south on the A.T. if you're looking for a longer hike. In Cheshire, you can hike the Cobbles Trail that brings you to an overlook with views of Cheshire Reservoir and Mt Greylock. Or, join the Western MA Chapter on the A.T. Hike Series. We're leading several hikes on the A.T. on consecutive weekends, beginning at the CT border and working our way up to VT. Go to our activity page to register for the remaining hikes. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is the organization that manages the A.T. Since 1925, the ATC has been leading the management and conservation of the A.T. and its landscape. Their website is a great resource for planning your MA A.T. adventures with maps, suggested day hikes, shelters, and other helpful resources. There are many ways to enjoy this national treasure! We hope you get a chance to get out there and see for yourself. And don't forget to tag us in your posts.

After a picnic lunch in the meadow overlooking the valley below, we walked along a trail to a neighbor's beautiful perennial and mountain laurel garden. Lovely day! We have a wide variety of hikes on the schedule this summer from easy historical walks in Holyoke to overnight backpacking hikes. Find your adventure on our activities page. MORE PHOTOS »

This 6+ mile section led the group through the area of the Butternut fire two years ago and folks were happy to see how well it had recovered, with ferns everywhere! The hikers also marveled at the ice gulch, a half-mile ravine with steep 100 foot cliffs and glacial boulders. Find more A.T. hikes on our activity page. MORE PHOTOS »

MASS.GOV »

The day started with snacks and the National Trails Day pledge to protect trails at the AMC Western MA table set up on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Cheshire, then the groups went off on their respective activities. Kathy and Kathy Martin, Chapter Chair, staffed the table and shared information and donuts with folks on the bike path. All participants were rewarded with a delicious ice cream cone from Diane's Twist upon their return. A huge thank you to Kathy for organizing our NTD celebration, to all the leaders for stepping up to lead an activity, and to all those who came out to help us celebrate!! What a great day! MORE PHOTOS »