Third Saturdays of the month hiking series.
For ages 12 and older
Fee: FREE
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
Join this group hiking experience through beautiful natural areas as a part of your path to fitness. TBS staff will get you started at the beginning of each hike with tips and tricks for stretching, increasing distance safely, working within your target heart rate range and more. Click here for the >"fitness handout" that will be given out prior to each hike. Northfield naturalist Beth Bazler will share the natural and cultural history of some of her favorite spots-along rivers, atop breezy mountains, maybe a secret swimming hole in the heat of summer. Hikes will increase in length and challenge through the series. Bring lots of water and hearty trail snacks. Most hikes will require some carpooling.
Our Third Saturday hike for July: July 19th, 9:00AM Farley to Wendell.
Meet in Farley, just off of route 2. All details are below, including how to get to the start of the hike and the hike description.
A message from Beth and Debi, about the hike
Hi Hikers!
We'd like to share a Google Maps links with you (below) for the July 19 hike with Northfield Mountain and the Body Shoppe. When you are at the map, simply click on the blue balloon and enter your starting location to generate directions to the meeting place. You can also zoom out to get a broader view by using the tool to the left of the map.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101559033225597771000.0004514bba4db86b465d3&ll=42.59884,-72.437721&spn=0.00203,0.004796&z=17
Meet at 8:45 a.m. sharp so we can carpool and start the hike at 9 a.m.
Carpooling:
Since this is a linear hike, everyone will meet at the end and carpool to the hike start. We’ll reverse the procedure at the end of the hike to pick up cars at the start.
Hike description:
We’ll be hiking on the M-M trail on a segment that is 6.3 miles long, rising 500 feet and descending 1,000 feet in elevation. The trail winds beside beautiful Ruggles Pond and through an area with lots of blow-downs from a July 2006 tornado (trail is cleared in this section, so no worries about scrambling over trees!) After a climb we will reach a couple of beautiful overlooks and then wind down to Mormon Hollow Brook. On the Brook we will pass a swimming hole and make several stream crossings. Where the brook joins the Millers river we will hike on a railroad track for a short distance and then return to our cars. Link to M-M online trail guide with elevation profile and beautiful view of hikers on Crag: http://amcberkshire.org/node/51 (Our hike is from mile 5.1 to 11.4 on the route listed.)
Hike pace/length/food:
The group customarily divides into the mountain goats who love to move and the nature buffs who love to look. Pick whichever group fits your preferred pace. The quick folk will probably be done by 12 noon and will just need a hearty trail snack and water. The nature folk will likely be out through the lunch hour with a 1:30 or 2 p.m. finish, so bring a lunch, snack and water.
What else to bring:
Bring along a swimsuit if you’d like to make a quick dip in the swimming hole or the Millers River at the end of the hike. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sun screen and bug spray as desired.
Weather Cancellation:
If the weather is questionable that day, please call 800-859-2960 X4461 (or locally 659-4461) after 7:10 a.m. to see if the hike is still on.
Looking forward to hiking with you,
Beth Bazler & Debi Garlick
Beth Bazler
Public Environmental Program Coordinator
FirstLight Power's
Northfield Mountain Recreation & Environmental Center
99 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Phone: 413-659-4461
Fax: 413-659-4460
ebazler@firstlightpower.com
www.firstlightpower.com/northfield
OUR THIRD HIKE June 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at Northfield Moutain Recreation Center prior to the 9AM start.
For ages 12 and older
Fee: Free
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
The June hike to the Rose Ledge area of Northfield Mountain is planned for the peak blooming of mountain laurel and will pass historic rock quarries and beautiful valley views. The June hike for the nature lovers will be approximately three miles long with 690 feet change in elevation. The fitness oriented crew will likely add a visit to the summit of the Mountain to the itinerary for a hike length of 4½ miles and change in elevation of 830 feet. Hikes will increase in length and challenge through the series. Bring lots of water and hearty trail snacks. All hikers meet at Northfield Mountain.
Northfield Mountain Website: http://www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/publicprograms.asp
Contact information for questions:
Beth Bazler at Northfield Mountain Recreation & Environmental Center: 413-659-4461, Wednesday a.m., Friday & Saturday or at home 413-422- 2442.
OUR SECOND HIKE
Hi,
We'd like to share Google Maps links with you (below) for the May 17th hike with Northfield Mountain and the Body Shoppe. When you are at the map, simply click on the blue balloon and enter your starting location to generate directions to the meeting place. You can also zoom out to get a broader view by using the tool to the left of the map.
The three mile hikers will park on the Gulf Road in Northfield and carpool to Mountain Road in Erving where we will meet the six-milers at the starting point. The six mile hikers will go out and back on the same trail with an option to jump on the beautiful Old Wendell Road at the end of the return trip.
PLEASE LET BETH KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO DO THE THREE MILE HIKE OPTION.
Three mile hike link: Meet at 8:45 a.m. sharp. Will leave at 8:50 to carpool to Mountain Road
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101559033225597771000.00044cccfe7e649f3deda&ll=42.677987,-72.426209&spn=0.007667,0.019226&z=15&iwloc=00044ccd0ba5025b21e88Six mile hike link: Meet at 9:00 a.m.
Hike description:
We’ll be hiking on the M-M trail on a segment that is 2.9 miles long with 400 feet change in elevation. There is one section that is a steep rock scramble just below the beautiful views at Mount Crag. Six milers will double the length and elevation change. Link to M-M online trail guide with elevation profile and beautiful view of hikers on Crag: http://amcberkshire.org/node/52
Hike pace: Many hikers in April were in great shape and ready to move quickly. Our pace on this hike will be similar.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and a trail snack. If it’s warm that morning the blackflies will be out, so wear a hat and bring bug spray, a bandana or a headnet. We hope the mountain-top breezes will keep us refreshed and relatively bug free!
If the weather is questionable that day, please call 800-859-2960 X4461 (or locally 659-4461) after 7:10 a.m. to see if the hike is still on.
Looking forward to hiking with you,
Beth Bazler & Deb Garlick
OUR FIRST HIKE.
Hi, We'd like to share a Google Maps link below with you for the April 19th hike with Northfield Mountain and the Body Shoppe.
The link below show the parking place for those that would like to hike about 6 miles. Simply click on the blue balloon to generate directions to the site. (If you'd like to hike approx. 3 miles, please contact me to receive directions to another meeting spot.)
We will park at the end of 1st Street in the dirt parking lot on the river side of the road. Those meeting at Masonic Street will arrive at this parking area at 8:55 a.m. so we'll all be ready for a 9 a.m. start.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and a trail snack. We will be walking on the Turners Falls bike path, so the trail will be level and paved with beautiful views of the Connecticut, the Power Canal in Turners and a great bridge crossing over the CT near the mouth of the Deerfield. It can be breezy by the river, so windproof clothes would be great.
If the weather is questionable that day, please call 800-859-2960 X4461 (or locally 659-4461) after 7:10 a.m. to see if the hike is still on.
Looking forward to hiking with you,
Beth Bazler & Deb Garlick
Click on this link for directions to the starting point.
Turners Falls Hike