November Newsletter 2022
Tom Ball Mtn, view from Saddle Trail at Alford Springs. Pic by M Waldman
NOMINEES for 2023/24 THC Board:
President - Martha Waldman
Vice President - Karen Ross
Treasurer - Leslie Siegard
Secretary – Michelle Filiault
Election of the 2023/24 officers will be held during the THC annual banquet at Moscatiello’s Italian Restaurant on November 6, 2022. See the Outings page for banquet details.
Volunteers continuing their Coordinator roles for 2023/24 include: Trails - Dave Pisaneschi, Membership - Sue Jordan, and Social - Margaret Parks.
Many thanks to all the volunteers, including Board and various committee members, outings leaders, trail workers, and those who worked on the End-to-End Challenge this year, getting the Club successfully though the pandemic.
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP for 2023 now!
You may renew online or by mail. Be sure to update changes in your contact information: email, phone, or address.
To renew a membership by credit card or PayPal, go to the membership page of the Taconic Hiking Club website, or click here https://taconichikingclub.org/membership
To renew by mail, make out a check payable to the “Taconic Hiking Club” in the amount of $10. (per person). Send completed check to:
Taconic Hiking Club, c/o Sue Jordan - Membership Chair, 276 South Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208
HOPKINS MEMORIAL FOREST
Our series on parks around the Taconic Range continues with the Hopkins Memorial Forest, Williamstown, MA. According to the website https://hmf.williams.edu The Hopkins Memorial Forest (HMF) is a 2600-acre reserve in the NW corner of Williamstown, MA, adjacent to Pownal, VT and Petersburg, NY. Managed by the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies its dual purpose is both education and recreation. It is used to facilitate ecological research and teaching activities while preserving and monitoring forest resources.
Located at 271 NW Hill Rd in Williamstown, MA off Rt. 7, this forest encompasses several square miles of varied forests, streams, fields, and topography from the Hoosic River to the crest of the Taconic Range. It originally consisted of small farms which were consolidated between 1887 and 1910 by Col. Amos Lawrence Hopkins, for whom the Forest is named. His widow donated the land to Williams College and more has been added to the property over the years.
The Forest
As you move up the mountain from the Hoosic floodplain (elevation: 560 feet) to the summit of the Taconic Range (2445 feet) you encounter a variety of forest types that are, in part, a product of their underlying soil and topographic characteristics. This “Northern Hardwood” forest is divided into several subsections including a rich alluvial bottomland forest that inhabits the flat, but narrow Hoosic Valley. Then sugar maple and mixed deciduous stands appear. As the slopes steepen, these forests give way to the classic Northern hardwood types, dominated by sugar and red maple, American beech and yellow birch (often accompanied by black cherry, white ash and Eastern Hemlock). As you traverse the drier “shoulders” of the mountain, you see the more open stands of red oak, sometimes accompanied by white and chestnut oaks; often they hover over thickets of blueberry, huckleberry and an occasional mountain laurel.
A variety of ecosystems flourish in the forest. They include several high-quality mountain streams, including the Birch Brook watershed which falls entirely within its boundaries. This watershed has become the focal area for hydrological and water chemistry monitoring activities. Approximately 40 acres of meadows are maintained for research and teaching by annual mowing. Wildlife, from large mammals like deer and bear to vernal pool breeders, is abundant. Over 40 species of birds nest here.
Beautiful ferns cover the forest floor along the Birch Brook Trail. Pic by M Waldman
Hiking: Known for its lovely glades and wide trails. HMF’s miles of trails and abandoned roads attract the casual stroller as well as the more avid hiker and trail runner. Views vary from overarching forest canopies to extensive mountain views to the placid Hoosic River. View the trail map here: https://hmf.williams.edu/public/trail-map/
Some of the trails you might want to explore are these:
Birch Brook Trail. The BBT leaves the Upper Loop Trail near a bridge across the North Branch of Birch Brook. The trail climbs the steep, east-facing slope of the Taconic Range, crossing the New York state border at 1.1 miles and reaching the Taconic Crest Trail 1.5 miles from the Loop Trail.
Carriage Road Trail. The CRT (1.4 mile), also known as the Horse Trail, follows the alignment of the Buxton Farm carriage road running between the Rosenburg Center at the eastern HMF entrance and the northern reaches of NW Hill Road.
Ice formations in brook. Pic by M Waldman
Ford Glen Brook Trail. The FGBT parallels Ford Glen Brook between the Hoosic River and Northwest Hill Road. The eastern half of this 0.6 mile-long trail is on private property.
Hoosic River Tail. The mile-long HRT parallels the Hoosic River along the eastern boundary of the HMF. The HRT starts at the old Boy’s Club Camp field on the FGT and ends at the northeastern corner of the Forest.
Lower Loop Trail. The LL forms a loop of about 1.5 miles immediately west of the Rosenburg Center at the main entrance to the HMF. The northern leg of the trail is on the old carriage road, while the southern leg parallels an old farm road and has a fairly steep section just west of the Moon Barn.
Upper Loop Trail. The 2.6-mile UL is the western loop of a figure-eight formed with the LL. The trail crosses rolling terrain and can be hiked in less than two hours.
Shepherd’s Well Trail. The SWT (1.0 mile) connects the Taconic Crest Trail with the western upper reaches of the RRR Brooks Trail (that ends on Bee Hill Road at Flora Glen in Williamstown).
Taconic Crest Trail. The TCT extends from Pittsfield, MA to N. Pownal, VT and is marked with white and blue diamond shaped trail signs. The Trail runs near the western border of the HMF. The easiest access to the Trail is from Petersburg Pass on Route 2. The Trail enters Hopkins Forest immediately north of the Pass, reaching the SWT at 0.4 miles and the BBT at 1.0 miles from Petersburg Pass. About 0.5 miles north of this intersection, the TCT enters Vermont and 2.75 miles from Petersburg Pass a short trail leads east to the Snow Hole.
Late summer flowers along the Loop trail. Pic by M Waldman
Other Recreation
The rolling four and a quarter mile figure eight loop (Lower and upper Loops) is ideal in the winter for classical cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing is a popular winter activity.
Dog walking and hunting are allowed, with restrictions—leashes for dogs and permitting for hunting--while all wheeled or tracked vehicles, including bicycles and mountain bikes, are prohibited. Note that only deer hunters are allowed in a large section of the Hopkins Forest between 11/28/22 – 12/10/22 so avoid the Loop trails and Birch Brook Trails at that time.
Throughout the year, there are festivals and events for the public, including the Fall Festival and Maplefest. In addition, there are a series of guided outings each year, including winter wildlife tracking, amphibian forays, wildflower walks and birdwatching. Check their Calendar for upcoming events.
A note on GPS services: Do not use “Hopkins Memorial Forest” in Google and Apple Maps, it won’t get you to the right place. Use “Rosenberg Center” or “271 NW Hill Rd Williamstown, MA for accurate directions.
OUTINGS: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We are scheduling on a short-term basis rather than seasonally, so check the website periodically.
Fall Banquet: Moscatiello’s Italian Restaurant, Sunday, November 6, 2022
Friday, November 11: Perry’s Peak & Hollow Fields B
Tuesday, November 15: Fitch, Brooks, and Adjoining Trails, Williamstown MA B-
Thursday, November 17: Stony Ledge via Haley Farm Trail B+
Tuesday, November 22: TCT – Petersburg Pass to Rte. 346 B
Friday, November 25: Moreau Lake State Park B
Sunday, November 27: Savoy Mountain State Forest, MA B
View across wetland at Albert Family Community Forest (AFCF)
Beeches leaning into Father Trail at BNRC’s Alfred Springs preserve. Pic by J Nissan
Mounds of mosses in the wet, shaded areas of AFCF. Pic by M Waldman
Old foundation of cottage or hotel, Moreau Lake State Park. Pic by M Waldman
Site of the foundation of an old homestead at AFCF. Pic by M Waldman
Moreau Lake State Park, remains of steps to cottage. Pic by M Waldman
The group enjoyed a beautiful fall day for an outing at AFCF. Pic by M Waldman