The Western MA Exchange Archive

From recreational activities to lobbying Congress – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

One wildlife transect on Mt. Everett was cancelled in February; another took place a few days ago in the Mt. Warner area of Hinsdale ✧ A down payment was made to the contractor for the chimney repair at Upper Goose Pond Cabin, scheduled for completion before the cabin opens in May ✧ Seasonal project work begins in early April. See the Outdoor Connector for details of specific projects and to volunteer ✧ The Committee welcomed a new Group Outreach Coordinator, Carla Valentine ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include natural heritage monitors, trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and a shelter coordinator ✧ Next meeting: May 5, 2025

Communications

Our social media accounts continue to gain new followers. All Facebook data points showed improvement this month, while Instagram had mixed results. ✧ Facebook: 20 posts (top post: The Community Voices Speaker Series post on 2/6) ✧ Instagram: 12 posts (top post: 20s/30s Cross Country Ski announcement on 2/20) ✧ Newsletters: 4078 messages sent ✧ Website: ongoing updates (activities, Western MA Exchange, conservation news, monthly maintenance)

Family Programs

60 participants attended the "Parade of Planets, Eyes to the Skies" event, a coordinated effort with the Naturalist Club of Springfield and the Noble View Stewards Council ✧ 29 folks attended the February vacation week Skate and Pizza Party at Amelia Park in Westfield, a collaborated effort with the Russell Public Library which enabled the 17 children attending to receive a free book ✧ Planning for spring activities was initiated

NET Management

Snowshoe hike in collaboration with All Out Adventures and DCR was held on the NET Section 15 in Wendell State Forest on 02/15 ✧ NET Coordinator Miriam Maistelman attended the annual "Hike The Hill Summit" in Washington DC, meeting with senators and representatives to lobby on behalf of AMC and the NET ✧ Our Adopter Spring Gathering is scheduled for April 5 at Mt Holyoke Range State Park Notch Visitor Center ✧ Next meeting: March 10

Paddling

Previous meetings: Sept 25, 2024 (full committee), Oct 18 (whitewater subcommittee); next meeting: March 19, 2025 ✧ Deb attended the Interchapter Paddling Committee meeting on Feb 27 ✧ Ann Gillard is developing a whitewater trip leader training and orientation curriculum ✧ May 10-11 Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking with Hampshire College, led by Ann Gillard and using the Hampshire College pool, now posted on OC ✧ Planning continues for 2025 activities

ATC »

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AMC RESOURCES »

The Double Blaze

Chapter 7: Appalachian Trail History, Part 2

Earlier in the summer, we left our story in 1936 after the "Appies" came west and completed the AT, pretty much on the route it takes today. Unfortunately, the Pioneer Valley-based Chapter leaders did not consider it a priority to work closely with the local Berkshire residents who had already done considerable work on the Trail prior to their arrival. A year or two after clearing the Trail, Chapter interest waned, and without organized local support, the Trail began to sink back into the woods.

As the decade drew to a close, however, two new groups began to take an interest in reviving the Trail. The Mt. Greylock Ski Club agreed to take responsibility for the Trail between Upper Goose Pond and the Vermont Line. Max Sauter began work in 1938 and with an Avery-like (but local) effort, took in hand the task of organizing other Berkshire County volunteers. At the Massachusetts State College (now U-Mass, Amherst), the faculty outing club, Metawampe, officially adopted the section between Tyringham and Washington. The AMC Berkshire Chapter continued to lead maintenance efforts in the south. Volunteers from both the Ski Club and what remains of the Metawampes are still active on the Trail today.

This commitment by local groups began to bring other Berkshire residents on board, and local support of the AT has continued to this day. However, the pre-war malaise that affected the Trail along its entire length did not skip the Berkshires, and as the war took hold of the country, maintenance lapsed. After the war, interest in the Trail revived. But as the economy and the country began to grow vigorously, portions of the Trail on private land became increasingly difficult to keep open, and more and more miles of Trail were routed onto roads.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) was lobbying for Federal protection for the Trail. Finally, in December 1968 the National Trails System Act was passed by Congress. The Act defines four types of trail: National Recreation Trails to "...provide a variety of outdoor recreation uses in or reasonably accessible to urban areas"; National Scenic Trails which are "...extended trails so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass"; and National Historic Trails "...which follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance." The fourth designation is for side trails connecting to or between these trails. The AT is the first designated National Scenic Trail. This legislation also contains the following in its Statement of Policy:

The Congress recognizes the valuable contributions that volunteers and private, nonprofit trail groups have made to the development and maintenance of the Nation's trails. In recognition of these contributions, it is further the purpose of this Act to encourage and assist volunteer citizen involvement in the planning, development, maintenance, and management, where appropriate, of trails."

This language directs Federal agencies to involve volunteers in the care and feeding of National trails. Notice that it doesn't just mention the "dirt work" of on-the-ground maintenance, but runs the full gamut of trail management responsibilities. The "where appropriate" clause does provide an out, and in its current application is taken to refer to management areas such as law enforcement and land acquisition. This is a pretty bold step by government to include this kind of direct citizen involvement – but it's what makes the AT work.

The Act also calls for a protected right-of-way for the Trail in this language:

Where the lands included in a national scenic or national historic trail right-of-way are outside of the exterior boundaries of federally administered areas, the Secretary charged with the administration of such trail shall encourage the States or local governments involved (1) to enter into written cooperative agreements with landowners, private organizations, and individuals to provide the necessary trail right-of-way, or (2) to acquire such lands or interests therein to be utilized as segments of the national scenic or national historic trail.

So the first choice was to encourage state and local governments and private entities to protect the footpath, with Federal acquisition as the second. Practically speaking, the first choice was the only option in 1968, as there was little funding for federal land acquisition in the Act.

Interestingly, Massachusetts was the first state to follow this Federal action by passing Chapter 627, "An Act to Protect the Appalachian Trail" in 1969. The then-Department of Natural Resources (later the Department of Environmental Management, or DEM, and now the Department of Conservation and Recreations, or DCR) was directed to acquire lands in fee simple (meaning complete ownership), easements, conservation restrictions, or gifts to protect the footpath from inappropriate use. Over the sub sequent seven years, the Division of Forests and Parks acquired 20 parcels and two watershed easements on behalf of the Trail.

Other AT states did not enact any significant legislation to protect the AT, however, and in 1976 the National Trails System Act was amended to provide funding to purchase land to create a protected corridor. This funding has been continued over the years and now more than 3000 individual parcels have been purchased and less than one percent of the trail is on private land subject to development. Most of these purchases have been in fee simple, but some protection has been achieved by easements wherein the owner retains some rights to the property, but the land can never be developed. For more information on land protection see Chapter 3 of the Double Blaze in the December 2002 Berkshire Exchange.

In our state, the NPS acquisition efforts were focused on protecting pieces of Trail between the major state forests in Berkshire County. Much of this connecting Trail was in the Tyringham area and on unprotected property in Dalton and Cheshire, as well as other property south of Great Barrington. In 1968, 21.8 miles of the state's 85 miles of AT were on roads.

A year after the amended National Trails System Act, the NPS, working cooperatively with the DEM, conducted a survey of the Trail on lands outside of state forests. This survey established a Trail centerline and the land ownership of approximately 40 Trail miles in the county. From this plan, the NPS and DEM decided which agency would pursue the purchase of which land parcels. By 1992, virtually the entire route had been protected, at a cost of more than $8.1 million.

This protection has served us well, preserving some of the County's most attractive and significant scenic areas. The highlight of the Park Service protection effort in the state is the land surrounding Upper Goose Pond, now one of the last undeveloped ponds in the Berkshires. Other areas protected by this effort are Sage's Ravine, Ice Gulch, Warner Hill, Gore Pond, the Cheshire Cobbles, and Sherman Brook.

This protection was not without controversy. Since Shays' Rebellion our citizens have been wary of excessive interference from outside, be it Springfield, Boston or Washington DC. The National Park Service stood to become the new "Myron Avery," and fueled some local resentment of the Trail among its neighbors as it began to purchase land for the corridor. However, unlike the 1930s, the AT has a loyal following of hardworking local citizens who were willing to work closely with their neighbors.

The AT Committee of the Berkshire Chapter was formed in 1979 at the behest of the ATC to consolidate into a single entity the efforts of the three active maintaining groups. This past summer, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed designating our Berkshire Chapter AT Committee as the entity responsible for AT management on both state and NPS lands in the Commonwealth. This Committee consists of Chapter volunteers, and DCR, AMC and ATC staff.

What does the future hold? As the NPS shifts from the process of acquiring corridor land to the active management of these lands, the ATC in turn begins to redefine its own role. With the footpath essentially complete and protected from adjacent incompatible uses, focus has been shifting to actively protect the existing corridor from misuse, harden the footpath against the heavy traffic it receives, and manage the other effects of this state's thousands of yearly Trail visitors. It is also time to look more broadly at "external" threats to the Trail. A 1000-foot corridor does not provide much protection from increasing levels of air and water pollution, telecom and utility projects, and large-scale land development. Although the nature of our work is changing, it will never be complete.

If you want to volunteer on the Trail, or find out more about your AT Committee, please visit our webpage.

Next chapter: Recent ATC Policy Decisions.

Did you miss Part 1 of AT History? The Summer 2004 and other back issues of the Berkshire Exchange can be viewed here.

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The group snowshoed 3.1 miles on the NET as well as on Wendell State Forrest wood roads. Many thanks to Miriam Maistelman, AMC's NET Coordinator and Kevin Pelosky, the Chapter's NET Chair, for making this event a huge success! What a fun and rewarding experience for all. We look forward to more collaborations in the future!

THE TREK »

AMC ADVENTURES »

Today 5,700 United States Forest Service, National Parks, and public lands staff were let go, a massive and unprecedented reduction that is only beginning. Parks staff are essential to the protection of the outdoors. Maintenance rangers keep the trails looking their best, and backcountry patrollers keep you safe – and there are so many more examples.

ATC BLOG »

From event planning and outdoor adventures to trail maintenance – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

Most recent meeting: 06-January-2025 ✧ Wildlife transects are ongoing; other activities are dormant with the arrival of winter ✧ Welcomed Leif Bigelow as our new Communication Coordinator ✧ Gary Adamson has stepped into a leadership role with Natural Resources ✧ The Committee voted unanimously to move ahead with the chimney repair at Upper Goose Pond Cabin using money from the Mohhekennek Fund ✧ The committee is exploring the possibility of renovating the Stillwell Property into a year-round facility for hikers and education ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include natural heritage monitors, trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and a shelter coordinator ✧ Next meeting: 03-Mar-2025

Communications

Most data points on the Chapter's social media accounts went down this month when compared to December, likely due to one post in December that went viral ✧ Facebook: 17 posts (top post: photos from the wildlife tracking outing at Noble View on January 12th) ✧ Instagram: 14 posts (top post: photos from the wildlife tracking outing at Noble View on January 12th) ✧ Newsletters: 4095 messages sent ✧ Website: Ongoing updates (activities, WM Exchange, conservation news, monthly maintenance)

Community Engagement

Participated with All Out Adventures in Amherst for Senior snowshoeing (January 22) ✧ Set date for Women+ botany hike at Bartholomew's Cobble with Katherine Brainard ✧ Completed a site visit of Camp Moses Scout Camp for weekend events ✧ Planning for winter and spring continues

Family Programs

Events in December 2024 and January 2025 included Natural Holiday Decoration Workshop and Tracks & Signs with Jim Pelletier ✧ The StoryWalks^® in December 2024 and January 2025 were "Thanks to the Animals" and "Ten Ways to Hear Snow" respectively ✧ Learned and utilized the new Outdoor Connector to market and register folks for upcoming events ✧ Planning for winter and spring continues

Membership

Met with Jon Cocina, Director of Membership to discuss access to chapter-level membership information on Sharepoint and ideas to grow membership ✧ Attended an AMC Western MA hike with two leaders to evaluate opportunities to offer "new member" hikes

Paddling

Most recent meeting: 25-Sep-2024 ✧ Assessed Hampshire College's whitewater paddling equipment for potential use by AMC ✧ Scheduled Intro to Canoe Camping Workshop with NH Chapter ✧ Planning for 2025 whitewater / flatwater programs and on-water leader and LIT training days continues

JOB DESCRIPTION »

AMC RESOURCES »

THE ART NEWSPAPER »

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REGISTER »

AMC RESOURCES »

WESTERN MA ACTIVITIES »

Last night, my community experienced the first major snowfall of the season. As I write this, the sun shines brightly against a clear blue sky with crisp air. The snow sparkles like "diamond dust" similar to starlight traveling through space. This highlights the intricate structures of both snowflakes and the universe, reminding us of our connection to the broader cosmos. This month, we invite you to join us at the Noble View Outdoor Center to witness unique planetary alignments on February 1st. Explore the wonders of the cosmos through telescopes while we sip hot cocoa beside the fire. As we celebrate the dedicated leaders and maintainers who keep our trails accessible at the Annual Appalachian Trail Annual Gathering, we also honor initiatives like the wildlife bridge, which connects ecosystems and safeguards both wildlife and humans. Just as the wildlife bridge creates harmony and connection on Earth, it mirrors the intricate connections of our universe – a reminder that every element, from snowflakes to starlight, is part of a greater, interconnected whole. See you outdoors! Kathy Martin, Western MA Chapter Chair

Eyes to the Skies for a Parade of Planets

With the crescent moon aglow, six planets in the evening sky will align. Join the Chapter's Family Committee to behold the wonders of the winter sky at the Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, MA on February 1st. With our feet planted on our home planet, Earth, we will have a unique opportunity to view through telescopes a parade of planets from west to east. This will include Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars. Come enjoy a cocoa and a warm cottage fire with other night sky enthusiasts, as well as a craft activity for the children. Please bundle up, wear warm layers, boots, hat and gloves, and bring a headlamp or flashlight, folding chair and blanket. Extreme cold or overcast skies, will postpone this event until Sunday, February 2nd.

Appalachian Trail Committee Annual Gathering

On Saturday, February 8, 2025 the Chapter's A.T. Committee will hold its 24th Annual Mass A.T. Volunteer Gathering at the Cheshire Community House in Cheshire, MA from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for all current, former and new A.T. volunteers, and folks who may be interested in volunteering for the Trail to chat, learn new information, help plan upcoming projects and generally have a great time talking about all things Appalachian Trail. Lunch is on us. We'll have short breakout sessions on trail maintenance, corridor lands monitoring, natural and cultural resource monitoring, Upper Goose Pond Cabin caretaking, and overnight site adopting. There will be a gear swap table and a free raffle of nifty stuff at the end of the meeting.

Mass DOT Receives $1.7 Million for a Wildlife Bridge in Becket

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) has received 1.7 million dollars to begin the process of building a wildlife bridge across the Mass Pike in Becket. There is currently a footbridge here, crossing the Pike on the Appalachian Trail, which you may have walked across or noticed when driving on the Pike. The bridge is designed to guide animals over the highway rather than across it to reduce the number of animal and vehicle collisions. The new bridge will replace an existing overpass where the Appalachian Trail crosses the Pike in Becket, an area that sees a high number of collisions between drivers and deer. The Chapter's Appalachian Trail Committee has been involved in assisting the DOT to create a plan to build the bridge. Jim Pelletier, the Natural Resources Coordinator on the A.T. Management Committee, explains the role it has played: "...we decided to offer our expertise to Mass DOT to monitor how wildlife is using the area. We partnered with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) to conduct periodic wildlife transects and to do trailcam monitoring in the area of the A.T. as it passed over both the Mass Pike and adjacent Rt 20. Our volunteers, including several who are certified wildlife trackers ... have spent many hours over the last year doing the transects and monitoring in the area with some very interesting results. We anticipate continuing that effort in the coming years as long as we can add some value to DOT's efforts." Stay tuned for new developments about this exciting project!

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AMC DESTINATIONS »

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The bill, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act, will expand opportunities for Americans in public outdoor spaces like national parks and forests. Its provisions include improved access for disabled people and military veterans, protections for rock climbing, better access to public lands and waters for recreational purposes and abridged permitting processes and reduced fees for small businesses that depend on public lands. As an organization whose mission is to promote the protection, enjoyment and understanding of the outdoors, we are thrilled that this law has passed! THE HILL »

There is currently a footbridge crossing the Pike on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). The bridge is designed to guide animals over the road, rather than across them, to reduce the number of animal and vehicle collisions. The new bridge will replace the existing footbridge where the A.T. meets the highway in Becket, an area that sees a high number of collisions between drivers and deer. Jim Pelletier, the Natural Resources Coordinator on the A.T. Management Committee, explained the role that it has played in the development of the bridge: "About a year ago, we were invited to a meeting of stakeholders related to the A.T. / Mass Pike bridges. At this meeting we became aware that MassDOT was considering replacement of the current bridges with a bridge (or bridges) that would accommodate wildlife as well as hikers crossing the Pike. After the meeting our A.T. Committee discussed this possible project and decided to offer our expertise to MassDOT to monitor how wildlife is using the area." "We partnered with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team to conduct periodic wildlife transects and to do trailcam monitoring in the area of the A.T. as it passed over both the Mass Pike and adjacent Rt 20. Our volunteers, including several who are certified wildlife trackers by Cybertracker North America, have spent many hours over the last year doing the transects and monitoring in the area with some very interesting results. We anticipate continuing that effort in the coming years as long as we can add some value to DOT's efforts." WWLP ARTICLE »

VIDEO »

AMC is thrilled to deliver this key tool as a place where the AMC community can discover the breadth of our activities as we carry out our mission of fostering the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors! Due to the transition, there will be a period of extremely limited system availability from January 6-10th. The Activities Database will be viewable but the AMC community will not be able to register for new trips until Outdoors Connector is available on the 10th. Please register now for any activities you want to go on during that time. If you are already registered for an activity, you can contact the leader directly. An email address of the leader is always provided in the listing. If you have any other questions please contact info@amc-wma.org. Once the New Outdoors Connector is up and running, you can contact the Chapter's Outdoor Connector Support Team: Deb Weisenstein (dkweis@gmail.com) or Cosmo Catalano (catalano.cosmo@gmail.com).

Come check out the new StoryWalk^® at Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell. Walk the new All Persons Trail as you read this lovely story about mindfulness and time spent with loved ones. As Lina walks to her grandmother's house in the snow to make a traditional family dish, she finds ten ways to pay attention to things that might not have been noticed. If there is snow, you can bring your sleds or snow tubes and go sledding on the hill near the Double Cottage. Noble View is open year-round and there is no fee. From South Quarter Road, follow the dirt road about half a mile to the parking lot. The All Person's Trail starts there.

Every summer, August Camp becomes a vibrant tent community of around 60 participants. This base camp is set up near the stunning landscapes of National Parks or wilderness areas, with daily activities located within an hour's drive. Campers stay in comfortable two-person tents, equipped with cots. Your camp experience includes three daily meals, transportation to daily activities, and a nightly campfire that fosters community through storytelling, announcements, and fun activities. LEARN MORE »

AMC »

Fifteen adopters enjoyed the festivities, including Caitlin McCarthy, the AMC Southern New England Trails Coordinator. Folks had a chance to connect with fellow NET maintainers, review highlights from 2024, and discuss anticipated projects for 2025. Fiskar hand pruners were presented to the adopters as an appreciation gift for their dedication to providing a safe outdoor recreational experience on the NET. Drinks, snacks and renowned Red Rose Pizza were provided and an enjoyable experience was had by all!

Our 2025 Annual Summit will celebrate the joy of outdoor leadership, what it means to be part of the AMC community, and how collaboration will help us accelerate AMC’s exciting new strategic plan. Come join us for a fun and informative day, and make new connections with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts! All are welcome! REGISTER »

AMC OUTDOORS »

As the holiday season fills the air with warmth and joy, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our new Executive Committee members for their leadership and vision. Get to know them in the details below! We're also eagerly looking forward to the Annual Meeting Summit on January 25, 2025 – a special opportunity to gather, learn, and connect in meaningful ways. We hope you'll join us. Looking ahead, the creativity and possibilities offered by our NET Artist-in-Residence program inspire us. Could you see yourself in this role? Wishing you peace, joy, and time to celebrate the bonds that bring us together. See you outdoors! Kathy Martin, Western MA Chapter Chair

The Western MA Chapter Welcomes New Members

We are delighted to introduce three new members to the Executive Committee. Kathy Kindness was voted in as our new Membership Chair. Kathy has been an active and enthusiastic AMC member for 14 years. While living in Pennsylvania, she served as Chapter Secretary for four years and Membership Chair for two years in AMC's Delaware Valley Chapter, and is an AMC-trained hiking leader. We would also like to welcome John Adams as a new Member-at-Large. John enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, kayaking, bicycling and trail work. When asked why he wanted to volunteer with the Chapter he stated, "I am an advocate for the natural world in all its varied and marvelous permutations, and would like to add my voice to those who value and enjoy the natural world." We are also happy to have Kim Carlino join the Executive Committee as a Member-at-large. When asked about why she wanted to join the Executive Committee, Kim writes, "I am interested in the Member-at-Large role because I am passionate about the outdoors and spend as much time both learning about and hiking, paddling and camping as I can. Mt. Tom Reservation right here in the Valley has captured me and become my daily companion, one in which I find to be incredibly special." We are beyond grateful that Kathy, John and Kim have chosen to share their skills and passion for the outdoors with us! Learn more about our volunteers and volunteering opportunities on our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Upcoming AMC Annual Summit

This year's Annual Summit will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood on January 25, 2025. This one-day event will include a full schedule of learning opportunities, a delicious lunch in the Four Points Ballroom with a presentation of AMC awards, the Annual Business Meeting for AMC members, and a fun social hour. Our 2025 Annual Summit will celebrate the joy of outdoor leadership, what it means to be part of the AMC community, and how collaboration will help us accelerate AMC's exciting new strategic plan. Come join us for a fun and informative day, and make new connections with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts!

New England National Scenic Trail Artist-in-Residence 2025

The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) seeks an Artist-in-Residence for the summer of 2025. Over the course of their term in residence, the NET artist is encouraged to find inspiration and create art based on their exploration of the trail and the communities through which it travels. Through a series of events and projects, they share their work and invite community members to engage with the trail in a new and unique way! The goal of the program is to encourage and inspire artistic connection with the Trail. Artists of all mediums are encouraged to apply. The artist will receive a stipend distributed throughout the course of their residency, and is responsible for securing their own housing. The application deadline is February 28, 2025, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the application period.

AMC »

We started with a stroll around the property to gather greens and other natural materials, made more festive by some fresh snow on the ground. We then gathered in the Double Cottage to create a variety of holiday decorations including wreaths, swags, snowpeople and centerpieces while sipping hot chocolate or coffee. Many thanks to Laura Stinnette, Family Programs Chair, and Nan Mack, the Noble View Caretaker, for organizing this super fun annual holiday event!

At the request of DCR and APPA, our Appalachian Trail (A.T.) volunteer Cosmo Catalano scouted the section of the A.T. that passes through the burnt area on East Mountain State Forest on December 2nd and recommended that the Trail be reopened. Here is his report and photographs. The Trail is in good shape, but we'll want to monitor parts of this area in the spring as the ground thaws and hiker traffic picks up. I hiked from Home Rd to Tom Leonard on Dec 2nd to further evaluate trail conditions resulting from the Butternut Fire. Jim Pelletier and Russ Skelton have also made similar trips in the past week. Temps were in the 20's with a light NW wind. The morning was sunny but was mostly cloudy by afternoon. At elevation, there was about an inch of dry snow over the entire area, no traction devices were needed. Much of the treadway in the burn area suffered no damage and there is no indication of significant damage to trees near the trail - with some exceptions noted below. Russ has cleared the few blowdowns in this section. As part of my continuing communication with Kurt Spears (APPA) and Adam Morris (Mass DCR) I recommended that the Trail be officially reopened. As of my visit (after Friday's light snowfall), there is evidence of light visitor use on the section I traversed. Below are a few items we should consider for the upcoming hiking season.

General Conditions

With a few exceptions, the Trail has experienced only superficial damage from the fire - in some places, it is the only unburnt portion of the surrounding forest. Wayfinding has not been compromised, as nearly all trees are intact and existing blazes are clearly visible (though some could use some fresh paint). Pretty much all of the duff and leaf litter in the burn area has been consumed and the ground is black. The treadway (except where cleared for a fire line) is often undisturbed. At some locations adjacent to the trail, small, shallow pits can be observed where the ground fire has surfaced and completely burnt the organic soil layer. Much of the understory between the road and the ridgetop is laurel. In most locations the plants (which have green leaves all year long) have been "baked" by the fire to a light brown, while the stems appear to have suffered minimal damage. Whether these leaves will be replaced or if the entire plant is gone will need to wait until summer to determine. Based on my experience with the Clarksburg fire, new growth will sprout from the rootstock and the existing stems will not produce any new leaves. Small shrubs and trees had limited damage. Limbs and branches on the ground have been partially consumed. Most trees have blackening on the first 2 to 3 feet, but I did not observe any that have been heavily damaged. Even small white pines seemed to suffer only minor scorching.

West-facing Ledges/Overlook Area

Proceeding north-bound from the large rock viewpoint approximately 1 mile from Home Rd, it's clear that the fire was quite intense in this area. Much of the laurel is burnt away and the small trees in this area are heavily scorched and likely have damaged roots. These trees may die off in future seasons and may be a source of minor blowdowns. No obvious hazard trees were noted in the overlook area - though we should monitor larger trees (mostly 10-12" white pines) for changes in health or die-off that might indicate the need to remove them. There was no noticeable improvement in the marginal view points in this area.

Undermined Treadway

In the same area of trail, there are short (2 to 3 ft) sections where ground fire has destroyed organic and mineral soil beneath the root mat. It's likely that when the weather warms and hiker traffic increases, these sections will collapse down to the underlying bedrock or cobbles. This may provide some temporary difficulties for hikers, but there is usually adjacent bedrock or undisturbed soil where hikers will likely walk on to bypass these areas. A few trees have had their roots and adjacent soil burnt. These appear to be seriously weakened, we'll want to monitor their health and stability.

Other Random Observations

The area south of the view point is in need of significant brushing out. There are some waterbars that need cleaning. Some blazes could use some fresh paint. There were fresh ATV tracks on the woods road (Jim encountered the rider last week). All of the work by the fire crews near the trail was done by hand, no vehicles were used on the trail to transport fire-fighters, or clear the fireline. There were multiple north-bound visitor footprints between Home Rd and the overlook. I noted 2-3 sets of southbound human footprints on the "flat" section past the overlook ledges, but they turned around about half way between Tom Leonard and the woods road. Tom Leonard Shelter has had several visitors, including a few folks who stayed there over Thanksgiving.

From club-wide strategizing and event planning to trip leadership, outdoor training, and Community Engagement efforts – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

Most recent meeting: 04-Nov-2024 ✧ Committee members met with NPS-APPA wetlands and floodplain specialists regarding the Hop Brook Tyringham Project. Volunteers cleared a rough path for the trail relocation part of this project ✧ Wildlife transects are on going ✧ Corridor monitoring and maintenance are done for the season ✧ Three committee leaders inspected the roughly 2.5 miles of trail affected by the Butternut Fire. As I write this, DCR has yet to reopen the trail in the fire area ✧ A trail corridor encroachment south of Dalton involving ATV usage and an illicit campsite was discovered. The NPS ranger was notified through ATC ✧ As part of our 3-year plan for the Mohhekennek Fund we are securing quotes for repairs to Upper Goose Pond Cabin ✧ Our committee is exploring the possibility of renovating the Stillwell Property into a year-round facility for hikers and education ✧ Our annual Volunteer Gathering will be held Saturday 08-Feb-2025, 9:00 AM at the Cheshire Town Hall in Cheshire, MA ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include natural heritage monitors, trail maintainers, corridor monitors, shelter coordinator, and a communications coordinator ✧ Next meeting: 06-Jan-2025

Communications

All data points on the Chapter's social media accounts increased significantly in November. The Indigenous Voices on the New England Trail post went viral with over 22,000 views. Newsletter data also showed increases in every category except clicks, which is likely due to fewer links in the message. ✧ Facebook: 22 posts (top post: Indigenous voices on the New England Trail) ✧ Instagram: 19 posts (top post: Report on the Great Barrington fire) ✧ Newsletters: 4254 messages sent ✧ Website: Ongoing updates (activities, WM Exchange, conservation news, monthly maintenance)

Community Engagement

Volunteered as part of the Western MA AMC paddling committee with All Out Adventures at Benedict Pond for kayaking on the pond in October ✧ Hosted Speaker Marian May Perez for their October Speaker Series presentation ✧ Coordinated with the AMC Western MA Paddling committee to purchase a kayak chariot to house at and share with AOA. This along with the transfer bench purchased in the spring will allow us to accommodate for various mobility needs on the water next season ✧ Participated with Laura Stinnette at the Richardson Zlogar Cabin on the NET in celebration of Native American Heritage Month and Veteran's Day, organized by Miriam Maistelman and Jay Levy ✧ Participated with the MA Office of Outdoor Recreation to form a Trail Access Working Group to identify barriers to access to the outdoors for those with disabilities and seniors and to make recommendations for state, local, and private programs, policies, and investments focused on adaptive trail design and outdoor recreation. We joined with accessible trail advocates (with leadership of Meg Bandarra, founder of (Unpaved Trails for All), state officials including Senator Jo Comerford, AMC's Western MA chapter, New England Mountain Bike Association, trail users and outdoor enthusiasts at the new All Person's Trail at Noble View in Russell to announce and celebrate the formation of the working group and our collective commitment to growing access to the outdoors for all ✧ Provided 4 points of feedback to AMC Trails staff on improvements to increase accessibility for all at Noble View ✧ Implementation of the Community Engagement Roadmap facilitated by Community Engagement Outdoors continues

Paddling

Most recent meeting: 25-Sep-2024 ✧ Kayak Chariot purchased through Creating Ability has been received. It will be shared between our Paddling Committee and All Out Adventures and will be stored at All Out Adventures in Northampton ✧ Planning for 2025 whitewater and flatwater programs is underway

"Thanks to the Animals" tells the story of little Zoo Sap who fell off the family's sled on their annual trek from the coast to their winter home in the deep woods. Zoo Sap's cries attract some animals that come to protect him until his father comes back for him. Bring the family up to Noble View and walk the new All Person's Trail as you read this lovely story. If there's snow on the ground, you can also do some tubing on the hill nearby.

According to the BEA's Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, the sector generated $13.2 billion in value added to the state's economy in 2023 and created 103,600 jobs. Massachusetts has distinguished itself as a leader in outdoor recreation, achieving a growth rate of 13.3 percent from 2022 to 2023, the highest among all U.S. states. This growth marks a 73 percent increase since 2012. Another reason to be proud of our great state and the work we do here in the Western Massachusetts Chapter! MASS.GOV »

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Elevated around 1,100 feet above the Connecticut Valley, the Noble View Outdoor Center provides spectacular views of the countryside and the cities of Westfield and Springfield. After enjoying the view from the iconic front porch, explore 360 acres of woodlands, trails, and abandoned farm fields. Perfect for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and even a great hill for sledding! Overnight guests stay in fully updated cottages with electricity and heated with a cozy wood stove. The cottages share a central campfire ring, firewood included! Central parking is a short walk from the cottages, and campsites are accessible by gravel paths. Cottages and campsites are dog-friendly, but require a pet fee to be paid at the time of booking. So gather your friends and family at Noble View for an idyllic winter experience! MORE PHOTOS »

Levy's site survey of the NET takes many forms. He'll spend time in archives and libraries, examining primary documents. But a big part of the job is hiking the trail with Tribal elders from the Ojibwe, Pequot, Wampanoag, and Schaghticoke. Indigenous culture in the area is largely based in an oral tradition, so the direct involvement of leaders who know their Tribes' stories and pass them on is essential. LEARN MORE »

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