This hike at the Bryant Homestead in Cummington was largely an expanded version of the same one done last fall with naturalist Aimee Gelinas. We did the popular Rivulet Trail along with the Pine Loop. Back at the House, we hike along additional trails and roads to visit the Bryant Cemetery. We also poke our noses along an overgrown extension of Bryant Rd looking for a couple homestead/grave sites but realized this was better left for the non-foliage season of the year.
Another boiling hot oppressive day! This was just a bit earlier in the morning and limited to the destination of the Snow Mine on the side of Gobble Mountain in Chester. Gobble is a VERY steep mountain but fortunately we did not have to climb perhaps more than 500 feet of elevation. The mine is located right along trail side so not too much poking around - at first. But later on we sought out a couple of prospect sites nearby.
After looking over the mine, which at this point is basically a water filled hole silted in, nearby mine dumps and small cuts rounded out the exploration on this site. With the temperature climbing we made a quick descent to the comfort of air conditioned cars.
Hard as it is to believe - Secret Caverns over in Cobleskill NY is place that just slipped through the cracks! A lesser know commercial enterprise than the nearby Howe Caverns, friend Gary was up for an adventure to the Empire State. We arrived at the entrance building a bit early and scouted around all the exhibits. At the appointed time we left through a rear entrance crossed a short distance to a set of stairs and covered walkway. Going down into a sinkhole that contained the original natural entrance, we made our way deep into the bowels of the Earth! Passing all sorts of nifty formations, often with illustrious names, the commercial accessible part of our adventure ended where a gigantic waterfall plunges from above. It is know this water exits into a whole other cave system and Secret may even have a connection with Howe Caverns itself!
After extracting ourselves from said Earthly bowels, we walked the grounds observing several various karst features. Lunch and a local gift shop followed. We ended up over at Howe Caverns but the wait for the cave tour was long so settled for just poking around the gift shop. Another satisfying day to get this one crossed off my list of places to visit!
On a boiling hot day - one of the hottest this summer - one group of the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers went down to the Ice Gulch/Gorge off the Appalachian Trail. Another, including myself, Tom, and Karen, took on one of the Hilltowns. This was purposely meant to be a relatively easy hike and we did five old cemeteries and the Indian Oven. Except for the brutalizing sun and its accompanying heat, our objectives were met without much exertion.
Western Mass Hilltown Hikers join the Northern Berkshire Mineral Club at the old emery mines. Rocks galore! Shafts and tailing piles left from the old operations.
Moving on to Chesterfield, we accessed the Indian Hollow area where camping can be found. Crossing the Dead Branch River right near its intersection with the Westfield River, we now entered Huntington and the ending point of last weeks long sojourn from the Knighville Dam to this river crossing. Not far further, we once again saw the old charcoal kiln remnants eventually making our way to the beginning of a trail to The Pinnacle. Here we met fellow member Karen,who had started out hours earlier in Knightville, walking towards us. Most of the members went on to The Pinnacle, I walked back to the kilns and across the river with Karen.
Another Western Mass Hilltown Hikers event. Taking an extended route from Knightville and the Knightville Dam property, all the way to Indian Hollow near its intersection with the Westfield River. Along the way were a couple of early resident foundations. That included the foundation of an old silo. Slightly before reaching the Dead Branch River, we got the opportunity to visit the site of a couple old charcoal kilns. Then a LONG walk back!
