7 Dec - Mt. Greylock. Whenever we drove into Massachusetts we had been passing by signs for Mt Greylock and decided it was time to see what it was all about. There are many trails in this area and many ways to get up to the summit. The visitor center was closed and the road for cars to go up the summit was closed for the season. We decided on a trail and started off. The Jones Nose trail was quite boggy in places but it was a beautiful blue day and a good hike up to the summit. At the top of the mountain is a park with a 93 foot high lighthouse-like Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower. It was lovely at the top with great views and only a handful of people. We had one of those 'small world' moments when we met a couple hiking along the trail who were from Mattituck (a small town next to the town we lived in on Long Island.) We decided to fore-go the boggy trail and walk down the road which was a great walk as it was closed to cars. Along the way we saw a huge porcupine waddling down the road for quite a way before he took off and disappeared into the brush.
8 Nov - Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. It was a good day for bikiing so we brought the bikes to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams, Mass. The name derives from American Indian meaning "the pleasant river in between the hills." This is a paved trail that runs 12 miles near some small towns, through wetlands, and along the Hoosic River. There are not many other people on the path, I imagine it is very crowded in warmer times of year.
12 Nov - Chestnut Trail to Appalachian Trail Loop. Another nice day brought us to Williamstown, Mass where we took the Chestnut Trail up to the Appalachian Trail then down the AT and around on the road back to the car. There was one steep part on the trail and the rest was fine.
18 Nov - Park McCullough Woods. The Green Mountain Club is out for another outing in nearby North Bennington. A nice, easy walk with good company.
