March Newsletter 2025
View towards the Berkshires from Sheep Hill, pic by M Waldman
QUICK—GET OUT THE SNOWSHOES!!
It may look like the snow levels are declining, but the woods are holding fast to the snow and ice from recent storms. The lowlands are starting to melt out, but the mountains and north have between one and three feet of snow on the ground. With the crusty surfaces now softening, unless a trail is well packed, your boots will punch through, and your micro-spikes will be useless—unless we get a refreeze to sheets of ice. What to do? Unleash those snowshoes which have been languishing over the last snowless year of 2024 in our closets!
Then head out for one of these delightful places to snowshoe. Together they offer a pleasing variety of snowshoeing experiences, and individually present terrain and conditions that could suit you perfectly. Remember to bring your poles along. Check the websites for each to download trail maps and get updates. And of course, choose your snowshoes wisely depending on your destination, excursion duration, and vertical you plan to do. Some prefer the old-fashioned wide rawhide and ash devices; others love their MSRs with their trusty crampons, and some like the newer and shorter snowshoes like Dion’s that are light and fast.
Here are some winter choices for you and your snowshoes:
Grafton Lakes State Park—The NYS Dept of Parks and Recreation does a beautiful job of managing GLSP and its trails and visitor center. Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to enjoy the Long Lake loop trail, since the snow will have smoothed out the trail surface, making the going quite easy. Grafton holds snow and has a lot this year, so when temperatures rise you can be guaranteed a snowshoeing day here.
Field Farm in Williamstown—While the snow lasts, visit this Trustees of Reservations property and its 4.5 miles of easy trails that loop through fields, a pond and an architecturally renowned guest house. Finish up by stowing your snowshoes and driving over to the Clark Art Museum for a visit and then checking out their own trails behind the museum up Stone Hill.
Yokun Ridge—Passing through Lenox, Richmond, and West Stockbridge, Berkshire Natural Resources Council’s extensive series of connected trails on the ridge present many options for a snowshoe through hemlock and hardwood forests. Relax, savor the quiet, and enjoy being on top of whatever snow pack of the day you find.
Greylock Glen—You can’t do better than snowshoeing the Greylock Reservation. There’s something for everyone, whether you approach from the north, south, east, or west and whether or not you stay low or go deep and high into the forest, where of course the snow depth will be challenging. The Glen in Adams, MA boasts a brand new state-of-the-art Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, an environmental center whose programming is managed by Mass Audubon. Connected to the Center is a flat looping 2-mile trail, and off this trail are others that lead toward higher elevation trails in the Bellows Pipe Area or to the Gould or Cheshire Harbor trails. Expect good snow up here.
Berlin Mountain—Hop onto the Taconic Crest Trail and find out why this is always a winter favorite—for the good climb to its almost 3,000’ summit, deep snow, lovely woods, and great views from the top. You’ll get a good workout on your way up. Park at Petersburg Pass at the top of Rt. 2, accessed either from Williamstown, MA or Petersburg, NY.
Valentino Family Community Forest—Owned by Hudson Taconic Lands (HTL), formerly RPA, this lovely, wooded preserve on the Rensselaer Plateau is at its best in winter. You can coast in your snowshoes over any boggy wet areas, uneven terrain, and take in a large and biodiverse ecosystem.
Hollow Fields—BNRC owns this property which can be accessed from Richmond, Mass’ Perry’s Peak Road (park only in the designated lot!), and it will delight you with its gentle climb through open fields with fantastic views east. Continuing to “Scottie’s Lookout” and/or Perry’s Peak will put you within easy reach of the northern terminus on DCR’s Beacon Trail in Bates Memorial State Forest and an exit onto Rt. 20 on top of Lebanon Mountain. You can spot cars for a through-hike and a varied experience. These woods will hold their snow for quite a while, but the fields will see their snowpack diminish quickly depending on temperatures.
Hand Hollow Conservation Area—This CLC (Columbia Land Conservancy) property located in New Lebanon, NY, has several loops through woods, along a regenerating beaver pond, and with views across a small lake. This is not at elevation, so keep in mind snow will melt here before other places.
It’s still winter, so be safe out there!
SPRING GATHERING: Save the date! Our Spring Gathering will be at Grafton Lakes State Park on Sunday, June 1. We have the Deer Field Pavilion reserved for the day. There are great hiking and paddling opportunities as well as time to socialize! More details to follow.
OUTINGS: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We schedule on a monthly and short-term basis, so check the website periodically.
Wednesday, March 12: Hopkins Memorial Forest, Williamstown B-
Sunday March 16 : Ski to Pine Lake B
Wednesday, March 19: Clam River Reserve, Sandisfield, B-
Sunday March 30 Greylock B+
Quote: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” — John Muir
Dixon Fire Tower, Grafton Lakes State Park, pic by M Waldman
Bozenkill Preserve, pic by L Siegard
Deer “bedroom”, pic by m Waldman