Southern MA. Trip Report. Mud, Bugs, the usual etc...

[Homer&Marje]

Wonderful time on my trip, although I felt wrought at time to time with missing the wife, have grown much accustomed to hiking with her.

All in all though I think, for myself, I made great mileage and had a fantastic time...so you should HMHDI...it was the best:D

Had done Bear Mtn and Sages Ravine a while back and I started my section in MA last year at Goose Pond Rd, so Naturally I connected the dots to finish all of Southern MA. Started off At undermountain Trail across the Paradise lane trail, once again aptly named, and down through the ravine.

Nice Climb over Race Mtn...anyone know what kind of Snake that is? Someone said a copperhead, but they had a video of a HUGE Timber Rattler that had just eaten...6' long they said.

Got dropped off late that day and wanted to make the almost 10 miles to the Hemlocks, Which I did from 12:30-5pm, not bad considering I didn't eat lunch, packed too much food and extra weight, did not stretch and hit the WALL at Mt. Everett on the slick Granite. My muscles did not know which way to twitch.

Next day the feet hurt and so did the pride but I made 14.4 miles to Tom Leonard Lean to from 7:30am to 2:30pm. Wonderful hike through all the fields and pastures, stopped at a store in Sheffield and got some water (As to not pump out of the Housy, nasty) and continued on...Around East Mtn was a tough climb, stopped at a nice spring to pump more water and rest the feet before I reached the shelter. Tom Leonard Lean to was great, fantastic tent platform (that another group used) has a great view of the valley and is a well sought after platform if one is inclined....met some nice thru hikers, handed trail magic where I could, and I did. Emo Tolstoy, enjoy the rest of your hike guy!!! You got it in the bag, SoBo Moochin:D

Wanted to take it easy on day 3 but did 11 miles from 7:15am to 11:45am! That's fast for me...nice trails...lots of mud, not everywhere but enough to loosen your boot laces to blister mode. Shaker Camp site is where I ended....seriously...second coming of Chirst happened in the form of 1,700,000 angry mosquito soldiers that eat deet, breath smoke from fire rings and can rip head nets with their claws...un...friggin..real...it was truly biblical. Stayed with a nice family that showed up late, I was out at 6:45 and did my last 7.5 miles to Goose Pond Road, and then walked down the road till I found a nice grassy nole, and that's where Marje found me...

I found Complete Zen State in that grassy nole.:D

[Homer&Marje]

Continued....

[Tinker]

Probably a copperhead:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=copperhead+snake&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

Similar markings to a corn snake.

[sasquatch2014]

I think that it may be a Milk Snake. I don't think that it is a Copperhead as the pattern on a Copperhead seems to go a bit further down on the sides.

Great trip report. We had a good time going through some of that area last June. The flats had some of the most agressive skeeters known to man.

[MedicineMan]

Enjoyed the pics very much.

[Surplusman]

Great trip report! I stayed my second night on the AT at Shaker campsite last October...no bugs! I didn't realize there was a water source close to the campsite just down the AT headed towards Tyringham. I also didn't know that the AT had been relocated over the top of Tyringham Cobble. Nice panorama. This three-day, two-nighter was my first time on the AT in almost 50 years. It was great to be back.

[birdog]

Probably not a copperhead. It looks like an Eastern Milk snake but I'm not sure.

[Homer&Marje]

Yep...looks more like a milk snake to me now that I've looked at the pictures...I never saw his head it was crawling into that rock when I almost stepped on it.

Didn't want to go poking around to find out....one quick way to end a hiking trip is to get bit by a snake, and not know what kind it is.

Will be posting all my pics from the Picassa Album soon if anyone wants to see the whole hike!!! Got some great shots and video.

[Homer&Marje]

http://picasaweb.google.com/HomerAndMarje/Berkshires09#


I don't think I left the video of with me singing...Your welcome:D But there is some scary shots of me...don't worry no naked hiking days:eek:

[Snowleopard]

A couple weeks ago I did a day hike up Mt. Everett (MA) to look at the old growth forest on top. Some of your pics show small pitch pines; some of those are 200 to 300 years old.

The rock on the AT was really slippery. It was kind of odd -- one part of a rock was really slick and 6" away it was not. Everything was wet, but it seemed like there was some spots slippery and some not. Is this bacterial or mold growth or what?

[Homer&Marje]

I don't know if anything was growing but even when everything was dry there were spots that the boot would not grab....maybe there was no rock to rock contact and glacial ice smoothed some of it over...either way it burns the feet.

[Surplusman]

I'm glad in a way to see other people comment on the slippery rocks on the AT coming off Mt. Everett. I also did a day hike up and down Everett a few years ago and I slipped, slid, and fell constantly no matter how careful I was. I though for sure I was going to break my leg. I hear the rocks coming off the Jug End are no picinic, either.

[adamkrz]

Thanks for sharing, Nice photos, Man I'm jealous - Our hike the previous week in almost the same area was torture with the rain and bugs.

Going with the wife for another try in sept. or oct.

[mateozzz]

I'll be hiking MA in 3 weeks, hope the weather is as nice. I plan to avoid the campsite because even the guide book warns of skeeters!

[KMACK]

I hit the same skeeters a couple of weeks ago too! Nice views from Race Mt. Funny, I took some of the same pics from my trip.

[Snowleopard]

If anybody is in the area for a day hike or short backpack, BashBish Falls on the NY/MA border is worth the short drive from the AT, especially if the weather stays wet. Or, I've thought a loop with the AT and South Taconic trail would be nice.

The rocks on Jugend aren't bad, but I've only been there when it's dry.

[Homer&Marje]

Thanks for sharing, Nice photos, Man I'm jealous - Our hike the previous week in almost the same area was torture with the rain and bugs.

Going with the wife for another try in sept. or oct.

Did not get a drop of rain...although at times I would have welcomed it.

Bought water in Sheffield off Rt. 7 because I did not want to pump water out of the Housatonic...probly a good choice on inspection of the river.


It was warm walking through those fields though but I was making good time in the flats. Until the fields turned to mud paths:D

[CowHead]

Look like you had a great trip keep on hiking

[jamarshall]

Any one have current conditions on Paradise Lane north to the Housatonic? Stream crossings, water on the trail, etc.. Trying to decide what footwear to take.

[warraghiyagey]

Any one have current conditions on Paradise Lane north to the Housatonic? Stream crossings, water on the trail, etc.. Trying to decide what footwear to take.
Thirteen. . .