On top of Massachusetts

Howie and I hiked up the highest peak in Massachusetts today ... Mount Greylock. It was an appropriate mountain on this grey, overcast day.

From Notch Road, we started out on the Bellows Pipe trail which is an old woods road. We stopped at a lean-to for a break and then continued on up to the ridge. We then took the Appalachian Trail (AT) south to the summit area. It was foggy on top with no views. After a quick lunch break, we headed north on the AT over Fitch mountain. The trail along the ridge still had patches of soft,wet snow. We then went down the Bernard Farms trail passing a small plane crash site along the way. It started to sprinkle very lightly (I call it spittle). We made it back to the car before the rain got heavier. Saw only a few other hikers in the woods today.

Summit Elevation: Greylock 3,491 ft
Round-trip Distance: 9 mi
Elevation Change: 2200 ft


Lean-to

In front of the war memorial

Small plane crash

Earth Day

Howie and I celebrated Earth Day by going hiking. Ok, I didn't know it was Earth Day until I read QM's blog ... but I did go hiking today.

We arrived at the Pilot Knob trailhead near Lake George and it was nearly full. There was even a yellow school bus there. Most everyone's destination was Buck mountain today ... ours was the Pilot Knob ridge. We started out on the marked trail and then took an "unofficial" (but marked very well with orange paint) path up towards the 1900 feet false summit. The woods were predominantly pine and the forest floor was covered with pine needles which were very soft underfoot. There were lots of views on the way up and at the top (and nobody around). We continued east toward a notch and then followed a drainage north/northeast back down to the state trail and then out. It was a very warm and sunny Spring day.

Round-trip Distance: 5.5 mi
Elevation Change: 1460 ft

This is a good spot to roll around


Looking south toward the village of Lake George

Looking north toward the "tongue" (with snow-capped high peaks way in the distance)


Howie on thin ice

Something old ... something new

Howie and I did a couple of local hikes today. The first was at the Moccasin Kill Preserve which I had never been to before. We did the two loop trails (red and blue). There was nobody else around for our short walk.


Trail along a narrow ridge


Small creek

Our next stop was to Plotterkill Preserve which I have visited many times before. We hiked part of the red trail (to the Rynex creek crossing) and then back-tracked. Also took the yellow spur trail down to the second falls, and then finished up with the blue overlook trail. The trails were a little wet and muddy, but I had my waterproof boots on. There were quite a few people here.


Howie wonders why there is still snow in mid April

Lower Falls