Thursday Hikers

Three miles, 23 degrees, little wind, wonderful open waters, slick bridges with no handrails, rolling hills with good trails, only lost once, a large pond, and best friends. Lunch at Atkins Farm (veggie burger lettuce and tomato with lots of water.) It was too biting cold for dogs so we hiked without them and we Continue reading

Mount Warner is a keeper in our hike list. The trails are really good, although today most of them had become streams of water so we walked beside them on mostly deep, wet leaves. Once at the “Long View” we always stop and see if we can name the mountains in the distance. It was Continue reading

I’ve been at Cave Hill with Tony and group led by a UMass Geology Professor. It’s astounding how I was able to forget the incredible information that was taught on that day! Geology ain’t for sissies, that’s for sure. In a nutshell, 180 million years ago, the super continent Pangea broke apart. Today I was Continue reading

I hiked with the Pioneer Valley Fern Society today along with Thursday hiker Nancy (who know the ferns well, including their latin names.) It turned out to be such an enjoyable day with (serious) fern hunters. This is the last hike of the year for them. I learned some new things and sure do mean Continue reading

We were given a perfect hiking day today: 51 degrees with a low November sun in the sky. I think this was one of our best days out together with spirits wonderfully high, dogs full of energy, a few small streams to cross, 2.8 miles with lots of up and downs, at the “top” a Continue reading

With temperatures in the upper 60s and full sun lighting up the colors of the forest canopy, this was a day that we didn’t want to end. Narrow trails and moderate climbs to a wonderful long view of the mountains beyond. I had my picture taken while stopping on a wonderful bit of old stone Continue reading

The day started out with dense fog but when it lifted the day was a quintessential October day. We couldn’t have asked for more: 62degrees, full sun shining down through the forest canopy, and lots and lots of fungi- including our favorite!: “Dead Man’s Fingers” (photo 6, look for the black “fingers” coming up through Continue reading

RAIN! We’re so used to it, what with Conway MA having had the highest July rainfall total in the US, Canada and Puerto RIco (21.42 inches) that we just plod on. Nice hike today at Briar Hill, a place we haven’t hiked before. At the top of the trail there’s a lovely long view. We Continue reading

Because of the rainstorm damages, it was hard to find a passable trail for today. I had “scouted” MA Audubon Conway Hills” for the group but a dilapidated bridge, soggy trail, and unusual swarms of blood thirsty mosquitoes ruled it out. So we decided to just “stroll” the dry cement sidewalks of Old Deerfield… and Continue reading

We had a really happy day today exploring trails that were new to us, in the great company of our two good dogs, Livvey and Cash. Lots of single file trails through hemlock and oak and mountain laurel and plenty of big rocks for fun climbing. Only one other hiker on those trails today and Continue reading