The Western MA Exchange

When I stepped outside this morning to grab the newspaper, it was already over 80 degrees – and the forecast is calling for triple digits over the next few days! With this heat, my mind turns to cooler, more peaceful ways to relax and recharge. Below are a few upcoming activities that offer just that: gentle ways to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find a little calm in the midst of summer. Yoga on the Mountain – unwind with gentle yoga in a beautiful meadow at AMC's Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, MA. Or, come paddling with the AMC – all summer long! Beat the heat with a quiet water or whitewater paddling trip organized by the AMC Western MA Chapter. No experience? No problem! We'll provide instruction and gear. It's a refreshing way to spend a summer day. And mark your calendar for our annual Women's Weekend Retreat in September – a women-only day retreat at Noble View. Enjoy journaling, hiking, music, and more at "Connecting Women, Connecting with Nature." A perfect day to relax and recharge in great company. And don't forget to check our Activities Calendar regularly to see what's happening in the Chapter. We hope you'll join us for one – or all! – of our peaceful escapes into nature. Kathy Martin, Western MA Chapter Chair

Yoga on the Mountain

Come and experience the gentle movements and soothing breathing of yoga in a lovely meadow at Noble View. Surrounded by tall trees, singing birds and amazing views of the valley, Sally Barber, from the Westfield Yoga Center, will lead a family yoga class on July 26, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, as she has done for many years. This event is open to all abilities and experience, but we recommend children be at least seven years old. Wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in and bring a mat or blanket to cover the ground. Afterward, plan to explore the miles of beautiful trails or walk the All Persons Trail and read the current StoryWalk^® book.

Paddling with the AMC Western MA Chapter

The Paddling Committee organizes quiet water and whitewater canoeing and kayaking training opportunities and trips from April through October. We love to get people on the water and can provide instruction for new paddlers. We are offering a paddling instruction event at Barton Cove on July 5, 2025 where we will teach the basics of boating safety and effective paddling. We are blessed to have a variety of places to paddle in our region, from quiet ponds to larger lakes, mellow rivers, and whitewater rivers. The Connecticut River offers long and short paddle trips and even water-accessible campsites. Whitewater paddling means canoeing and kayaking on moving water with rocks, waves, and other features. We paddle local rivers such as the Deerfield which is dam controlled and allows for whitewater paddling April through October. Quiet water paddling means scenic canoeing or kayaking on lakes, ponds, and gentle rivers. Western MA has some splendid rivers and lakes for quiet water paddling. We'll take you there, and we can even help provide you with a boat and gear. We teach the basics of boating safety and effective paddling at our annual instructional program. We also educate paddlers on water quality and identification of invasive species. In conjunction with AMC's Conservation Committee, we organize river stewardship events to remove invasive water chestnut plants from local rivers. Click here for more information, including upcoming trips and a list of resources for paddlers.

Save the Date: Women's Weekend 2025

Mark your calendars for the AMC Western MA Chapter's fourth annual "Connecting Women, Connecting with Nature", a women-only retreat on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Noble View. This event encompasses a variety of activities throughout the day including hikes, music, yoga, journaling, singing, paddling, and more. The cottages at Noble View will not be available for lodging this year, but anyone interested in camping may do so in the tent site area on Friday and Saturday nights. Stay tuned for more information and a registration link or check the Chapter Activities page for updates.

ATC »

A.T. volunteers Russ, Dave, Tom, and Cosmo got a lot of useful work accomplished on the A.T. pit toilets last Saturday – a rain-free day on the longest day of the year. Here is Cosmo's report. At Shaker the pit was full to the top. We cut down a small dead tree and moved the outhouse about 6ft to the right (when facing the door). As usual at this site, digging was easy, and the depth of the pit was only limited by the mechanics of getting the loosened dirt out of the waist deep hole. We also replaced a few boards on the picnic table and applied a fresh coat of stain to the top. I think this is the 2^nd repair to this table since it was installed. Much longer, and we will have replaced nearly every part of it. Hopefully, we will be able to close this campsite (which is in fragile habitat, contains a cultural site, and is visited by neighboring bears a few times a year) and build a new one a few miles to the north in a couple of years. We then travelled to the back door access to South Wilcox Shelter and hiked down for a quick lunch at the old shelter before starting work on the privy (also full). Because the ground is slightly sloped, we cut a bit of a flat bench for the privy to sit on then dug the pit. We did encounter a few large rocks, which we left protruding into the new pit, rather than risking collapsing the sides by removing them. Once we got the outhouse settled at its new home, we added some rock steps to make access a bit more comfortable. Hopefully, this and other pit-type privies on the A.T. in MA will be replaced with moldering types in the next 2-3 years – pending Federal funding for the work. While we were working, we met Adam Morris – DCR South Berkshire Regional Supervisor – who was showing a new staff person around the park (Beartown State Forest). We had a nice conversation about how the A.T. works within the state forests, among other topics. We are coming up to a bit of a hiatus in our work schedule around the holiday, and we have some open dates on the calendar in July. If you think there are projects we should undertake, there is room to add them to the schedule – just let me know. Go to our committee webpage to view and register for upcoming work. More Photos

In 1781, Elizabeth, with an enslaved man named Brom, petitioned the Court of Common Pleas in Great Barrington, with legal support of lawyer Theodore Sedgwick, for their freedom. They won their suit. Their success paved the way for the end of slavery in the state of Massachusetts two years later. You can visit Sheffield's statue of Elizabeth Freeman and her gravesite in the Sedgwick Family Plot in Stockbridge. MORE PHOTOS »

From planning and leading recreational activities to seasonal trail work – here's what our committees were up to last month.

20s/30s

The 20s/30s+ WhatsApp group has over 100 members! ✧ Recent events: 02/22: XC Skiing at Notchview (w/ Worcester); 03/08: XC Skiing at Notchview (w/ Worcester); 03/29: Hike at Mt. Toby State Reservation; 04/19: Hike at Mt. Tom State Reservation; 04/30: Social at Treehouse Brewing; 05/17: Hike at Quabbin Park; 05/17: Interchapter Social at Rapscallion Brewery (WMA, CT, Narragansett, Worcester); 06/04: Another Spring Social at Powder Hollow Brewing; 06/14: Paddle+Hike at Tully Lake; 06/22: Outdoor Leadership Training

A.T. Management

The most recent A.T. Committee meeting was May 5 ✧ Seasonal project work is in full swing. Projects since the last report include removal of 2 deer stands on Park Service land near the trail, grass mowing along the trail in open areas, repairing the picnic table at Wilcox North shelter, corridor boundary maintenance in Tyringham, clearing invasive plants along the trail, leveling the boardwalk around Hop Brook in Tyringham, clearing brush around Reynolds Rock in Cheshire on National Trails Day and helping the Green Mountain Club rough cut an Appalachian Trail relocation at the MA/VT border ✧ Upper Goose Pond Cabin has been open for 4 weeks and is seeing an increasing number of overnight visitors as the season moves along ✧ Seasonal project work is ongoing; see the Outdoor Connector (OC) for details on upcoming A.T. projects and information on how to volunteer with us ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and three coordinators: shelter, communications and group outreach ✧ Next meeting: August 25, 2025

Bicycling

The Spring Warm-up for Experienced Cyclists and the 25 Miles of Farms & Quiet Roads Warm-up were cancelled due to rain ✧ June, July and August bike rides are listed on the AMC Outdoor Connector (OC) and include: Turners Falls to Northfield Ride (23.9 miles/1240 ft), Tour of the Hamptons (29.9 miles/1638 ft), Berkshires Ride - Tyringham Loop (32.6 miles/2043 ft), Berkshires Ride - Great Barrington to Mill River (26.8 miles/1223ft), Berkshires Ride - Stockbridge to Alford (37.7 miles/2518 ft)

Communications

The Chapter's social media accounts continue to gain new followers. The Facebook account had a great month due to the popularity of a post about the adaptive hike with All Out Adventures. Instagram data remained fairly stable ✧ We created a poster and an event on Facebook to promote the National Trails Day events throughout western MA ✧ On the website, this month's analytics registered the highest users (1,487) and views (3,713) since we started tracking web data! ✧ Facebook: 28 posts (top post: All Out Adventures Adaptive Hike) ✧ Instagram: 20 posts (top post: Lady Slipper Season) ✧ Ongoing web work includes activity postings, updates to the Western MA Exchange, new photos, and site maintenance

Community Engagement

Katherine Brainard and Dawne Piers-Gamble are leading a Women+ Juneteenth Reflection Hike on June 19 ✧ The Paddling Committee will have our new transfer bench for use on the rescheduled Cheshire paddle on June 15, in the Berkshires ✧ Interested AMC volunteers can sign up to volunteer with AOA here ✧ The Interchapter Community Engagement Committee meets bimonthly on the 4th Thursday of the month from 5-6 PM. Our next meeting is Thursday, June 26, 2025 ✧ We're planning hikes on the New England Scenic Trail (NET) with Miriam Maistelman, to be led with AOA as part of a grant received by AMC ✧ Save the date for 4th annual Women's Weekend on Sept 6, 2025. Planning for this retreat is underway

Family Programs

May 18, Family Wildflower Hike at Noble View ✧ The May/June StoryWalk^® is "Fairy House" by Tracey Kane ✧ Family Outings members, Paddle Committee members and NV Stewards Council members created fairy houses for the StoryWalk^® APT Trail. 9 houses are displayed ✧ Created a Family Scavenger Hunt Bingo handout and other family pamphlets for National Trails Day in Cheshire ✧ Late summer and early fall program preparation continues

Membership

We are working with Kevin Pelosky re: a NET Tabling event in Cheshire, MA. Information, swag, snacks, and maps will be available ✧ We are scouting potential "front country" hikes in Williamstown, Pittsfield, North Adams, and Adams ✧ Upcoming events, now scheduled on AMC's Outdoor Connector, include a guided hike with w/Williamstown Rural Lands to examine the local effects of climate change and a tabling event at Bennington Trailfest. Feel free to join us or share information about your committee with the Membership Chair

NET Management

May 17: AOA (All Out Adventures) event at Bright Water Bog property owned by the Kestrel Land Trust; NET/AMC and NPS staff assisted ✧ 173 Volunteer hours are reported, including the Pioneer Valley Hiking Club's installation of a new set of stairs on Section 2, north of the Springfield Reservoir ✧ Planning continues for Wendell SF Shelter Project scheduled for mid July ✧ Attended a National Trails Day event at Holyoke Range SP, which included tabling and a guided hike The next NET Committee meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2025

Paddling

The Paddling Committee last met on 03/19; committee goals and plans for 2025 were discussed ✧ Deb attended the Interchapter Paddling Committee meeting on May 15 with discussion of the Outdoor Connector and new Leader Fundamentals course. Much of the meeting concerned the AMC150 relay for 2026 with discussion of the paddling legs. Western MA expects to run the Westfield River day trip and a 2- day trip on the Connecticut River in Northampton. Hoping to involve All Out Adventures in one day of AMC150. ✧ May 23: LGBTQ+ river trip on the Knightville section of the Wesetfield River [moved from Deerfield due to high water), led by Ann Gillard Find upcoming trips on the OC

Training and Education

T/E members met to discuss how to best support learned knowledge on new online training platform by identifying ways to check LIT understanding of content ✧ Supported in planning a 20s & 30s affinity space in hosting a leadership application day for June ✧ Continued to support new LIT's, both from Western MA and other chapters to identify paths to full leadership status

Under the leadership of Hiking Chair Mike April, we lead guided hikes throughout the year, but summer is perhaps our busiest season. Most hikes occur on weekends, but we do have a tradition of Tuesday hiking trips as well. The Tuesday Hikers have been hiking together for over 25 years. This year for the first time, we are offering two hiking series - a section hike of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) through MA and a section hike of the Robert Frost Trail through the Connecticut River Valley from South Hadley to Wendell. The A.T. series is led by different hike leaders on consecutive weekends May through October, while the Robert Frost Trail series is led by Mike April. We also offer affinity hikes for families, people in their 20s and 30s, and women. We have hikes that commemorate special days throughout the year, like the Summer Solstice, National Trails Day, and Juneteenth, and hikes that feature waterfalls, spring wildflowers, and mountain laurels. We do easy hikes, accessible hikes, and more challenging hikes - something for everyone. Check out the Hiking Committee page to learn more about the committee, register for upcoming hikes, access resources (including gear, trail guides, and beginner options), and to find out how to become a leader. We are grateful to all the volunteer leaders who make these experiences possible! We hope you will join us on the trails!

AMC MAINE »

This annual event encompasses a variety of activities throughout the day including hikes, music, yoga, journaling, singing, paddling and more. The cottages at Noble View will not be available for lodging this year, but anyone interested in camping may do so in the tent site area on Friday and Saturday night. Stay tuned for more information and a registration link or check the Chapter Activities page.

REGISTER »

MORE PHOTOS »

Once again it rained on a Saturday, which derailed many of the activities that the Chapter had planned for National Trails Day. However, our Appalachian Trail Management and New England Trail Management Committees were able to proceed with their plans.

A.T. Committee: Brush Clipping at Reynolds Rock, Cheshire
Cosmo Catalano

Still, we had a stalwart group ready to work today. Russ, Dave, Lauri, Peter and Art started off in the damp under gloomy skies to clip back brush from around the Rock. Maintaining (which is what we do) much of the work that was accomplished last summer. See the before and after photos taken by Lauri (yes, it looks like we're looking at Dave's backside, but we're not). Sitting on top of the rock to the left is a likely 200-year-old maple tree. We were also able to mow the Trail through the field to keep it open for the incoming bubble of hikers - we met a couple of them (one sporting a sling for an arm she broke in Pennsylvania) today despite the looming weather. The white flowers in the background are raspberry plants just finishing their flowering. Many immature fruits are on the bushes - a future feast for birds, bears - and hikers. Eventually it started to rain for real and we called it a day around 11am. Russ and Cosmo (fools that they are) stayed on another hour to mow the field near School St (which really didn't need it) and the field and trail north of Rt 8 - which did. We also cut back the brush at the bog bridges south of Rt 8.

NET Committee: New England Trail Hike on Mt Norwottuck
Kevin Peloski, Committee Chair

We decided to buck the trend and continue full steam ahead with tabling and a hike at the wet Notch Visitor Center in Mt Holyoke Range State Park. Given the forecast, it definitely was pretty quiet at a location when, on a normal Saturday, it is loaded with hikers, walkers, and trail runners. Lots of AMC/NET and information on invasive forest pests were available at our table, which we staffed from 10-1, when the rain really picked up and we decided to call it a day. Five hikers plus Bex the dog spent 1.5 hours hiking 3 miles of the NET and the Robert Frost Trail - cutting the hike short because of increasing intensity of the rain.

Thank You!

Thank you to all who worked hard to plan this event throughout western MA, and a special thanks to the A.T. and NET Committees that made it work despite the rain. We have plenty of opportunities to get involved in guided hikes, paddling, cycling and climbing outings, as well as trail maintenance opportunities. Go to the activities page to see what's happening and come join the fun!

ATC »

The A.T. Section Hike Series offers section hikes in order through MA on the weekends this spring, summer, and fall. There is still room available on some of the hikes for those wishing to join in the fun. View upcoming hikes on the Hiking Committee's webpage. Registration is required. MORE PHOTOS »

June is finally here, bringing the first day of summer and lots of sunshine! The mountain laurels are in bloom all month throughout the woodlands of western Massachusetts and we have plenty of hikes planned for you to see them. Paddling and cycling season are in full swing, and we have some climbing events too. And if trail maintenance is your thing, we have that too. VIEW ACTIVITIES »

Today's adventure is hiking at Mt Toby in Sunderland and Leverett. Mt Toby has an elevation of 1269 feet with a fire tower to climb at the top. You can hike to the top via the Robert Frost Trail or a number of other trails, including a gravel road. If you follow the Falls Trail off the road, you'll come to a beautiful cascade waterfall. This walk from the parking lot would be considered easy and suitable for most ages and abilities, although not considered accessible. You can continue on that trail up a steep slope along some huge boulders and caves, back to the gravel road, that then leads to the summit. One trail from the parking lot leads to the Sunderland Caves that you can actually crawl through if you dare! Consult your favorite hiking app and plan your next hike. You will not be disappointed. MORE PHOTOS »

VIEW ACTIVITIES »

AMC RESOURCES »

As a volunteer, Mike was a New England National Scenic Trail (NET) Adopter on Section 10 for 3 years and a part of the NET Management Committee in the Western MA Chapter for a year. According to Kevin Peloski, the Chapter's NET Chair, "He was always willing to help with projects, smile on his face, talking about old school rock and roll!!" When the NET was being rerouted on Section 6 at Mt Tom, he assisted a new trail adopter to learn how to paint new blazes and cover up old ones. Nan Mack, Noble View Caretaker, worked closely with Mike as he assisted her in caring for the Noble View property. He mowed lawns, helped clear stone walls, and kept trail signs inventoried and clean. He once volunteered to stack wood covered in snow for a weekend at Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire. She stated "Whatever it took - Mike was the good kind of crazy." We are truly grateful for Mike's commitment and dedication to the Appalachian Mountain Club and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed. There will be a private memorial service for Mike at Noble View on Sunday, June 1^st, but anyone wishing to express their condolences and share stories are welcome to stop by after 3:00 PM. MORE PHOTOS »