Upcoming Chapter Activities

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  Title   Activity   Difficulty   Date    

Sanderson Brook Falls and Overlook

Join us for a 5 mile hike including Sanderson Brook Falls and a nearby overlook. The trail to the overlook has some steep sections, most of the hike is moderate. Required Gear: Sturdy hiking shoes or boots, synthetic hiking attire including an extra layer and rain gear if there is a chance of rain. Trekking poles are highly recommended. 1.5-2 liters of water, snacks and lunch.

[20s/30s] Mt. Toby Fire Tower and Treehouse Brewing

Come hike to the Mt. Toby fire tower with other 20s/30s folks! We will meet at 12:00 PM on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the trailhead near Cranberry Pond, where we'll do a quick gear check before heading out on this out-and-back hike to the summit. This hike is ~4.5 miles with moderate elevation gain and will take about 3-4 hours to complete. We'll follow a scenic trail along Cranberry Pond before joining the fire tower road for a steady climb to the summit. At the top, we'll take a break to enjoy the views from the fire tower (weather permitting), then decide as a group on our route back down.

Transition Gym to Rock Climbing Class

1 day of instruction held at Chapel Ledge (Ashfield). Build on your indoor skills and learn the skills required to climb outdoors including: safety, proper equipment use, knots and tying into the rope, communication with a climbing partner, movement on the rock, belaying a partner, and an introduction to top rope anchors (including cleaning). There will be lots of climbing time! Gear is supplied, but bring what you have.

Bullit Preserve, Chapel Falls and Chapel Ledge

Moderate hike of approximately 5 miles including woods, waterfalls and the Chapel Ledge overlook on Pony Mountain. Weekend rain should make this an especially good time to enjoy the falls!

Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary

Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight. Pace will be slow, terrain may occasionally be steep. Brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

Womens+ Hike to Tannery Falls

Moderate hike of approx. 6 miles with 500-600 ft. elevation gain on the Tannery Trail to Tannery Falls (~70-80 ft. waterfall). We'll take a lunch and photo break at the falls then hike back.

Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary

Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush and painting blazes along the boundary line. Work is off-trail, occasionally in heavy brush and up and down hills. Expect some wet areas, too. Some stooping to clip back brush to maintain a clear line of sight along the boundary. We also refresh yellow blazes on trees with paint which will permanently mark clothing, so don't wear your favorite trail duds.

Warner Hill Brush Clearing

The open top of Warner Hill on the Appalachian Trail in Hinsdale, MA is home to some old high bush blueberry shrubs as well as some low blueberries. Every few years we need to cut back other shrubs and small trees growing on the hill top and we need to thin the high bush blueberry shrubs so they will continue to prosper. If you'd like to join Gary and me on this effort please sign up! We'll supply the tools and Gary will show us how to properly thin the high bush blueberry shrubs.

A Woodland Nursery - Journey to a Vernal Pool

Let's hike through the woods at Noble View Outdoor Center to a special water feature - a vernal pool. These important inland ponds are nurseries for certain woodland creatures. With no inlet or outlet, these temporary water holes are fed by rain and melting snow and often dry up in the summer, making them bereft of fish. So, it is a good place for frogs and salamanders to lay eggs without fear of fish eating them all up.

[20s&30s] AT Trail Corridor Boundary Work in Tyringham

[Affinity - 20s/30s] This trip encourages participation by those in their 20s and 30s though all are welcome. Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes on trees to demarcate the boundary. Pace will be slow, terrain includes steep sections, and may be wet, muddy, or rocky. Brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail, often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

NET Section 5 & East Mtn WMA Hike

Loop hike on a portion of the New England Trail Section 5, trails behind Holyoke Community College and in East Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Some of the trails are rocky and steep with uneven footing and there may be wet and boggy areas. Hike distance approx 6 miles with elevation gain of 700 feet. Bring snacks, lunch and water.

Early Work at Upper Goose Pond Cabin

I won't sugar-coat this, we need some help getting gear up from the pond to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Most will arrive by boat where it will be unloaded onto the beach (the dock will not be in place this early in the season). After that, it all needs to be carried up the hill to the cabin itself.

21 Mile Spring Warm-up for Experienced Cyclists - Sunderland to Montague Loop

Ride north from Sunderland and enjoy rolling hills as we make our way through Deerfield on our way to the Montague crossing of the Connecticut River before turning back to Sunderland. This 21-mile ride provides quiet rural roads and interesting scenery including a waterfall.

Wildlife Transect, Tyringham Main Rd / Hop Brook Area

Our wildlife transect will take us to the Hop Brook area where the A.T. crosses Tyringham Main Rd. We will briefly take another look in the area just trail north of Main Rd where fresh moose sign and a deer kill site were spotted earlier this winter. Most of our transect will be south of Main Rd in the Hop Brook valley area.

Outdoor Leadership Training Weekend

The AMC Worcester Chapter is facilitating this program and is open to outdoor enthusiasts who are interested in organizing and leading AMC Chapter activities and trips. Completion of the program qualifies participants to become leaders in training alongside an experienced leader for Hiking/Backpacking, Biking, Skiing, 20s/30s, Family Outings, Paddling, and other chapter-specific committees. See the registration page for more information.

SOLO Wilderness First Aid

The ability to apply basic backcountry first aid is vital for any outdoor enthusiast, whether it's for yourself or others. Moving beyond urban first aid, this course teaches the skills necessary to identify and treat medical issues common to wilderness settings and to prepare for long-term care scenarios. Includes hands-on practice and lectures. Upon completion, participants receive 16-hour SOLO Wilderness First Aid certification. A CPR certification will be offered in the evening of the first day, this is optional. See the registration page for program highlights.

Mt. Greylock Visitor’s Center to Rounds Rock Loop

Starting from the Visitor's Center, we will climb the Woodeson Spring Trail to the Rounds Rock Trail where we will have lunch at a beautiful view, and return back to the Visitor's Center on the Northrup Trail. We will pass through various forest types and should see lots of wildflowers! Approx. 7 miles.

8-hr Leadership Training

Class covers many aspects of being a leader such as: leadership styles, group dynamics, day hike planning, map & compass, leadership opportunities, leader liability, screening hike participants, critical incident stress debriefing, accident scene management, Leave No Trace principles, conservation, and community. See the registration page for more information.

NH Hikes: North Pack and Pack Monadnock

Summit North Pack and Pack Monadnock out and back from the north. On a clear day enjoy views from both summits with the opportunity to climb the fire tower on Pack Monadnock during lunch. Overall difficulty is intermediate. Approx. 7.5 miles with 2,150 elevation gain, averaging 2 mph with breaks to enjoy viewpoints.

Spring Warm-up for Experienced Cyclists - Sunderland to Montague Loop

Ride north from Sunderland and enjoy rolling hills as we make our way through Deerfield, Turners Falls and Millers Falls with a nice rail trail crossing of the Connecticut River before turning back to Sunderland. This 25-mile ride provides quiet rural roads, interesting scenery, and village centers. We will keep the group together riding at a moderate 11-13 mph average regrouping/stopping for a snack along the way.

A.T. Tyringham Cobble Joint Work Day

Join in with local volunteers to maintain the A.T. as it traverses iconic viewpoints on Tyringham Cobble. We'll clip brush and maintain open areas. Possibly carry in and construct bog bridges.

Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary

Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Fernside Rd and the Beartown State Forest boundary. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes along the boundary. Pace will be slow, terrain will include steep sections, and brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary

Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Fernside Rd and the Beartown State Forest boundary. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes along the boundary. Pace will be slow, terrain will include steep sections, and brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

Invasives Management, Jug End Area

We will be addressing invasive plants in the Jug End area, cutting and hand pulling, using hand tools. Stooping and carrying cut brush. Pace is slow, terrain easy to moderate.

Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary

Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working in North Adams between Phelps Ave and Pattison Rd. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight. Pace will be slow, terrain may occasionally be steep, wet, or rocky. Brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail, often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

Upper Goose Pond Cabin Maintenance Day

We will perform annual maintenance in anticipation of the cabin opening for the season. Work will include light carpentry, some digging in rocky soil, cutting brush and servicing moldering privies. Short moderate hike to worksite. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes bring lunch/snacks, and water to drink. Work gloves are recommended.

Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking

Ann Gillard will lead an introduction to whitewater clinic May 10-11, 2025 with Hampshire College. We will start in the pool on Saturday morning, learning about boats, equipment, and fit, how to safely exit a capsized kayak, and basic paddle strokes and maneuvers. In the afternoon, we will either continue in the pool OR travel to a class 1-2 river within 90 minutes to practice river skills (ferrying, eddying out, peeling out) on easier water, based on the needs and interests of the group. On Sunday, we will meet at a class 1-2 river and enjoy a river run.

Open Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Open this iconic A.T. hiker stop for the season. We'll take down the shutters, sweep and clean, set up the outdoor kitchen area, post the "Cabin Open" sign and other tasks to get this beloved place ready for another season.

Anchoring Hop Brook Bridge

Hop Brook Bridge is falling into the stream. We need to secure it for 2-3 years until Federal monies are available for replacement. We will hammer two 10ft long pipes into the ground to anchor the south end of the bridge and attach the bridge to the anchors with chains. We may also raise the low end of the bridge. We must carry heavy materials and tools approx 1/2 mile on easy trail from the parking area.

[Women’s+ Hike] High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary and Massaemett Mountain

Hike is ~6-6.5 miles and includes several overlooks - Beaver Pond and the Shelburne Tower at the summit of Massaemett Mountain. Shelburne Tower features a tall narrow staircase for which headlamps are needed during the day since not all areas get sufficient light from windows. The top offers far views of the northern pioneer valley.

Berkshires-Spring Warm-Up Ride

Join us for a relaxed 20-mile warmup ride on (mostly) quiet and scenic country roads in the southwest corner of the Berkshires. Starting in Great Barrington MA, we'll ride a clockwise loop passing through Sheffield and Egremont. We will sustain a relaxed riding pace of 11-13 mph, and the total elevation gain over the course of the ride will be under 800 feet (about 40 feet per mile). The terrain will be rolling, with a handful of climbs and some grades of about 5%.

Trail Day WMA: NH Hikes: 52WAV Mount Cube

Hike to Mount Cube out and back on the Appalachian Trail. On the NH 52 list with a view, the summit offers far views of the surrounding mountains. 7.5 miles on mixed terrain, with some steep sections including rock scrambles and approx. 2,800 elevation gain. Average pace of 2 mph with breaks to enjoy viewpoints.

Replace & Reset Bog Bridges

We will reset wobbly bog bridges and replace any that are failing in the swampy area immediately south of Blue Hill Rd. Conditions will be muddy, if not downright wet. Dress for expected weather conditions.

Privy Moves - Maintaining Privies at AT Campsites

We will be moving the privies at Shaker Campsite and Wilcox South Campsite to new locations. Work involves digging with hand tools and lifting and moving the outhouse several feet to a new site. Work may involve incidental contact with human waste. We will start at Shaker Campsite, approx 1/2 mile down hill from the meeting location. Upon completion, we will drive approx 30 mins to the access to Wilcox South Shelter, and hike another 1/2 mile down hill to that work site.

AT Hike Series

Have you ever dreamed of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail - all 2,197.4 miles, 5 million steps, and 14 states of it - from Georgia to Maine? Maybe it's a bucket list goal, or maybe you just love the idea of a challenge, breathtaking views, and the thrill of the trail. Wherever you stand, the Western MA Chapter is here to help you take that first step! Join us this summer and early fall for an exciting and challenging hiking series covering the 90 miles of the A.T. in MA. Whether you're testing the waters for a future thru-hike or just looking for an unforgettable adventure, this series is your gateway to the trail.

Chapter Vice Chair

Looking for the satisfaction of using your skills to help people Be Outdoors in western Massachusetts? Explore chapter governance in this support role, learning about all areas of the AMC Western MA Chapter, its activities, and the AMC organization.