The Western MA Exchange

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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 DEI 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)

DEI

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 "Normalizing Diversity in the Outdoors with Marian May Perez" ✧ 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 DEI Roadmap facilitated by DEI 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 »

AMC »

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 »

With limited time and many issues needing attention, we need your help to ensure the EXPLORE Act makes it across the finish line. The EXPLORE Act has strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate and is ready to be passed. The bill includes several AMC priorities, including the Outdoors for All Act, which will reduce barriers for disadvantaged communities to access Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars for parks and outdoor access. Other priorities in the outdoor recreation package include support for sustainable long-distance biking trails, improving the federal recreational permitting system, and protections for wilderness climbing. The EXPLORE Act will boost the recreation economy and make it easier for people with disabilities to get outside. Send a message to your members of Congress. Thank you for speaking up to support outdoor recreation opportunities for all!

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 »

WESTERN MA ACTIVITIES »

AMC EVENTS »

MORE PHOTOS »

The Chapter's AT Management Committee's Volunteer Coordinator, Cosmo Catalano, and the AT Management Chair, Russ Skelton, went to check on the Tom Leonard Shelter recently. Here is Cosmo's report. "It was a November day like we used to have: cold, windy, damp and cloudy. Russ and I made a minor repair to the Tom Leonard bear box, reviewed potential hazard trees at the site, then headed trail south to the fire area. We arrived at the edge of the burn and a fire line about a mile south of the shelter (42.16509, -73.31708). Since the local Incident Commander (IC) has asked people to stay away, we did not enter the burn area. As you can see from the photo, at least at this location, the fire only involved the ground cover; trees and larger shrubs are generally unaffected. We even noted some young beech tree's dead leaves were not even scorched, even though they were a foot above the ground. You may be able to see a white blaze on the small tree in the center of the photo. This location likely does not represent all conditions elsewhere in the fire area or the Trail. Media video shot from the other side of the mountain clearly shows whole trees involved. We did see a couple of spots at the edge of the burn today where larger, previously downed trunks/branches were still smoldering. There are also likely still places where the fire is underground in roots and deeper duff, this can flare up unexpectedly and restart a small blaze. The fire department has asked that people still avoid the area, and residents on Home Rd are reportedly not happy to see folks driving by to 'take a look'. From the fire maps we've received from APPA, the fire area is quite close to Brush Hill Rd/Home Rd, and it looks like most of the Trail to the overlook areas above the road was involved. This might improve some of the limited views for a few seasons, and we should see a nice crop of blueberries this summer. The NPS-dispatched engine crew from Delaware Water Gap has reported they have cleared the Trail of fallen trees and it appears to be in good shape. Since we have no pressing need to get the Trail open for large numbers of hikers, let's wait until we get clearance to enter the burn area, rather than jumping in to see what needs fixing (if anything)."

Downed trees were cut, hauled out of the woods, split and stacked for use in the cottages' wood stoves and the tent site fire pit. The crew enjoyed a lunch of corn bread and Three Sister Soup, a traditional Native American soup featuring corn, beans and squash, made by Laura. Many thanks to Laura, Kathy, Susan, Heidi, Jeannette, Dave and Peter for all your hard work! MORE PHOTOS »

AMC CONSERVATION »

The National Park Service and Mass DCR have closed the A.T. between Lake Buel Rd (on the trail-north side), to Boardman St (on the trail-south side). NPS has also sent a fire crew from Delaware Water Gap to assist in the effort. Crews are concentrating on protecting houses in the area and trying to establish a strong containment line. Neither the Trail or the shelter area are a priority over people's houses. The Incident Commander has asked for folks to stay away from the area and not try to assist with firefighting. Rain (and perhaps even snow at elevation) for the next few days is expected to help slow the fire and assist with containment. Updates will be provided when available. This photo was taken yesterday in Great Barrington during the Tuesday Hiking Group's hike on the A.T. near Benedict Pond.