My Book! Out Now!
random.org picked Matthew Sawyer as the winner, congrats!
Last summer things were a bit slow here at HuskyHiker.com, but I was busy. I was working on a guidebook for Falcon Guides (Globe Pequot Press) featuring 20 easy day hikes in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Most weekends were spent on the trail exploring some great places and talking with other hikers learning a lot about the area. Weeknights were spent in the library editing GPS routes into maps and writing about the weekend’s adventures. I visited a bunch of neat places and shared the best of the best in the book. Although a lot of work now that I get to see it in print it proves worth it. I can’t wait to get back out on some of these hikes again this year… Who know maybe I will see you on the trail!
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From The Mt. Tom Summit
I can easily say that the Mt. Tom Cliff hike is one of the best in the Pioneer Valley. After a quick climb the the summit you get to stroll along the cliffs for about 2.5 miles with awesome views the whole way.
Start the hike by parking near the Mt. Joe coffee kiosk. The trailhead is across RT 141 where the guardrail ends. The trail quickly makes it’s way to some power lines turn left and follow the trail along the power lines. The trail turns to the right leaving the power lines and starts a steep short 1/2 mile climb to the summit. Read more »
About a month ago, I was contacted by an old high school friend wondering if I would be interested in an overnight hike in early October. Of course, I wanted to go but lacked the backpacking gear I felt I would need, mainly for sleeping. The plan came together when I acquired a Warbonnet Blackbird hammock and Superfly tarp. I stared to feel this trip could happen; I still lacked a sleeping bag that I could pack and carry. I have plans to buy an over quilt sometime over the winter so I didn’t want to buy a bag solely for this trip. Luckily, EMS rents gear; bags are $5 a day so I rented a 20-degree bag so I was ready to go and agreed to the trip.
Group Shot
The trip was set for Stratton Mountain (3940ft) in Vermont with an over night camp at the Stratton Pond Tenting Area. We had the meeting time set for 8am on Oct. 2; it was cool morning with the temp right around 40 degrees. The night before as I packed my bag I quickly realized that my 28L osprey was not as big as I had thought, I managed to squeeze most stuff in it only had to lash my bag and pad to the outside. The pack weighed in at 23lbs, not bad I thought.
I car pooled to the trail head with 2 friends with plans to meet 2 more there, everyone was on time and we hit the trail at about 8:45. The route was picked, hike the AT/LT to the Stratton Mountain summit then continue on to the tenting area about 8 miles for day one. Then hike the blue blazes out for an easy 3.8-mile hike back to the cars on day two. Read more »
Carter Pond
The Rock House Reservation is located in West Brookfield, MA right along rt9. The 135 acre park was established by the Trustees in 1993. I grew up in West Brookfield and used to go here when I was a kid with my mom. We would hike up to the house that overlooks the lake and have lunch and watermelon. The house is now a “museum” that has some info about the rock house’s history…
We did the “outer loop” using the Inner loop trail (red), Outer loop trail (orange), Fullam trail (blue), and the Fire Road. I hiked with Miss HuskyHiker, my Brother and his
The Rock Shelter
girlfriend. My Brother and his girl have been out on two more hikes since, so I think I might have got them hooked on the outdoors…
At the Rock House they allow horseback riding and hiking/skiing/snowshoeing only no Mountain Biking and I have never seen any horses or traces of any horses. No Fishing or boating is allowed in the pond either. This park is rich with history and a great place to stop if you ever find yourself in the area…
I headed out early Sunday to beat the heat, 90+ temps in April crazy right? I parked at the base of the Sugarloaf summit road and followed the blue blazed trail. I don’t really know the trails here but figured I could make a nice loop, not so… Read more »
Deer at the Quabbin
Had to cut todays hike a bit short due to a late start and the park closing at 6:30. The hike from Enfield Lookout is a nice little loop with moderate elevation changes. The hike takes you along the shore of the Quabbin Reservoir (yelow blazes). This loop also offers 3 geocaches to be found if that is yor thing. Many more can be found in the area i you want to make a day of it…
I want to go back and do the full loop (6 miles) soon and I will post more with that trip.
Lake Fitzgerald Frozen
Went out for a walk and a cache run at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area this morning. Today was the first snow fall in Western, MA, it was just a dusting but it was lovely. Fitzgerald Lake is a 591 acre area owned by the City of Northampton. On the property you will find a 40 acre man made lake. This area is rich in wildlife making it very popular with birders. Just off the Marian Street Trail you can find a wildlife blind. The lake has some very active beavers. Today is the first time I have not seen a beaver while there, and the only reason for that is that the lake was frozen over. Fishing is allowed but hunting is only allowed in a small area. A lot of the trails here very wet but they have done a great job laying rock and bridges on the trails to help keep you out of the muck. Non of the trails really loop which I find to be a bummer. On the FLCA home page you can view a trail map.
I found two geocaches today. “Hidden Campsite by the Lake” and “Caching the World“. Campsite by the Lake is a really neat cache that is just what the title says it is. I wonder when this site was last used and by whom… The Caching the World cache is just off the parking area and a super easy find. Would make a great place to relax and read a book in the summer. I still have 2 more caches to find in the area.
I can’t wait for more snow so I can break out the snowshoes. The only downfall of the snow is it makes geocaching so much more difficult…
First off I want to say that I find it odd that the last two hikes I have been on are 4.3 miles. Kinda strange. This hike starts off at the parking lot near the gate of the road that leads to the Holyoke summit house. Read more »
This hike will take you to the summit of two mountains in the Metacomet Ridge. If hiking clockwise the first summit is Bare Mountain. After a steep rocky climb along the M&M trail (white blaze) you will reach the summit of Bare Mountain (1014ft). On the way to the top there is a great example of a talus slope. Read more »
giveaways, hikes, hiking, outdoors | Husky Hiker - Jim Bradley | 
3/29/2011 7:00 PM | 
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