Chester quartz

One more hike with the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers and 'old' bud Tom (really - I'm older than Tom). This took us into Chester once again, one of the most heavily mined towns I've come across in Massachusetts. One of the group's members is owner of the land and was our host for the morning.

A boulder of interest.

The property is quite hilly (indeed, the access road was something to marvel at!) and we began an extended hike though woods with occasional views of Chester far below. A quartz quarry was the ultimate object of our walk and was the last thing we encountered. A deep open cut into the rocks, with partial collapse, was all that was left to see. Along with a few drill marks.

Exploring the interior of the quartz (rock cut) quarry.

We pondered what quartz might have been used for. It was during my later 'debriefing' it apparently went into the manufacturing of porcelain. Chester even had (at one time) a manufacturing operation that made use of the local quarried quartz. And Chester, long known for it's emery, did indeed have numerous quartz quarries.

Byrant!

Sometimes it's nice to 'kick back' a bit and do something that leans more towards the recreational rather than the many, much more, intense excursions I find myself on. On this nice Fall day, I rode into Cummington. A town I've traveled through oh so many more times than I could remember. It is often on my main route to and from the Berkshires. The destination? A place (believe it or not) I had never visited: the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. A Trustees of Reservations property.

Under the forest canopy!

Today's walk was lead by naturalist Aimee Gelinas of Tamarack Hollow in Windsor. It was the quintessential hike through sylvanian wilderness that encompassed learning opportunities on a variety of subjects. Subjects such as tress, fungi, and even a smattering of geology. For those wishing to follow our route, it took us down the Rivulet Trail. Near it's farthest point, we diverged onto the Pine Loop which did bring us back to the Rivulet and our way from the forest. Picturesque all the way!

A fine specimen!

Just over the Line.

A wet insurgence entrance to Merlin's Cave

This trip was focused on just over the border into New York State. Here liesproperty of the Notheastern Cave Conservancy. Two nice caves, Dragon Bones and Merlin's, may be found. But both are closed to human exploration during the winter mortoriuum to protect the bat population. However, Merlin's is considered a very challenging cave and beyond the capibilities of the two old seniors hiking about the preserve.

The twin tunnels. Left one abandoned

Adjacent to this cave preserve is a set of twin railroad tunnels. The more northern of the two, is the oldest being constructed about 1840. It is now abandoned but the southern one (built in 1912) still sees use.