Mount Toby Forest

 

So my next hiking adventure took me to the Mount Toby Forest where I planned to hike the Cranberry Pond Trail. Here's what the University of Massachusetts has to say about this area: 

"Department of Natural Resources Conservation at UMass-Amherst has responsibility for managing the 755-acre Mt. Toby Demonstration forest for teaching, research and demonstration. We also try to coordinate with recreational users of the Forest, as well as the Mass. DCR (who operate the fire tower at the summit), and other organizations. The Forest is topographically diverse. To the south are three hills, the highest being Mount Toby (1269 feet). Slopes are steep with small cliffs and ledges to the east and west. There is a deep valley between two of the hills – Roaring Mountain to the south and Ox Hill to the north – with a brook that drops in a waterfall near the eastern border of the Forest. Most, but not all of it, has been logged more than once, but some areas are so inaccessible that they were never logged. Today, UMass students and faculty use the forest for teaching, field exercises, and forestry research activities. Mount Toby is used heavily by the general public for a variety of recreational activities. These are allowed so long as they conform with the University Trustees guidelines for use of the Forest and do not interfere with teaching and research activities."

Trail's End

 

 

Clubmoss above and Golden Trumpet mushrooms below as seen on the Buffam Falls Trail near Pelham, Massachusetts

 

Amethyst Brook

Rock Art

 

Falls

 

"A trip to Buffam Falls includes a relatively flat and peaceful walk to three main sets of cascades and slides. No more than ten feet in height apiece, Buffam Falls is small, but still worth the visit, mainly because of the lowermost falls, a fanning slide about 7 feet in height. Buffam Brook takes its last major drop at this fanning slide before connecting with Amethyst Brook a few feet downstream." -- NewEnglandWaterfalls.com

Buffam Falls

Trailheads are not always easy to find in Massachusetts. I think it has something do to with how these so-called "conservation areas" are created through public-private initiatives. In any case, I had to stop and ask a very kind lady, who was out hiking herself, for directions.

Sorrel

 

It may be known as Common Yellow Wood Sorrel to some, but it appeared quite uncommon to me as I ambled along the Norwottuck Rail Trail last week. I thought at first that it must be a kind of shamrock. Then I read this on thespruce.com:

"Wood sorrel is also often confused with shamrocks—another plant in the clover family. Sorrel is sometimes called 'false shamrock,' and during St. Patrick's Day season, it's common to find yellow wood sorrel misbranded and sold as shamrock." 

Bridge

 

My old friend, the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge. The rail bed was "acquired by the state in 1985 and developed into the trail in 1993, as its current name. The name of 'Norwottuck' was the result of a suggestion by the Hadley Historical Commission, who believed that the name corresponded to the local Native American tribe, the Norwottucks. It was also the term for the entire area." -- Wikipedia

Log

 

This section of a tree trunk is from the tulip poplar that stood near the west front of Monticello. Centuries old, the tree succumbed to old age and disease and was removed in 2008. Although traditionally regarded as a tree from the era of Thomas Jefferson, the absence of solid wood and growth rings prevented a precise determination of the tree's age.

Saunders Bridge

 

Saunders Bridge, opened on July 3, 2002, serves "as Monticello's main vehicular entrance and a link between sections of the Saunders-Monticello Trail on the north and south side of Route 53.

"Thomas Jefferson, himself, envisioned a bridge in the same general vicinity when he devised plans to connect his property at Monticello to land he owned across the road, known then as Montalto (now Brown's Mountain). In his "General Ideas for the Improvement of Monticello" (ca. 1804), he discussed linking the upper (Montalto) and lower (Monticello) park lands without impeding public traffic through the 'thoroughfare' gap." -- monticello.org

Farm Table

The nice thing about hiking the Saunders-Monticello Trail is the Rubenstein Visitor Center near the end where--among other things to do--you can relax and and enjoy a meal at the Monticello Farm Table before turning around and heading back to the trail head.

 

The cafe's menus are "seasonal, using local, organic and sustainable ingredients. Offerings include homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches made with Monticello-grown vegetables and locally sourced meats, cheeses, and bread. Coffee, tea, Monticello Root Beer, Virginia wine and beer, and other locally or regionally produced beverages are available, as well as fresh-baked cookies, brownies, and muffins." 

Tom

 

Another president, long ago

Boardwalks

The Saunders-Monticello Trail also boasts a truly impressive array of boardwalks.

Saunders-Monticello Trail

"The Saunders -Monticello Trail is truly a beautiful trail achievement as it winds its way 2 miles up Carter Mountain to the entrance of Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. The entire trail never exceeds a 5% incline making it wheelchair accessible. The trail starts at the base of Carter Mountain at the Kemper Park and Arboretum. From here the trail winds through native plantings and gradually begins its ascent, passing by a small manmade pond edged with bull rushes that is well worth a closer look. Green herons can be seen stalking small fish along its banks and the rushes usually hold some skulking song and occasional swamp sparrows.

The trail was designed to reflect how Thomas Jefferson wanted his home to be approached as he wrote:

Of prospect I have a rich profusion – it may be successfully offered, & in different portions through vistas…with the advantage of shifting scenes as you advance on your way." -- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Keen Targhee

Ready for my next 500 +/- miles.

Trail's End

 

 

Surprising end to my hiking adventure. Near the end, a hiker stumbled and fell on the trail's loose rocks (probably worn out by her earlier ascent), suffering a contusion to her face, although no one could be certain that her injuries weren't any worse. Fortunately, I had a first aid kit with me, something I now always carry with me whenever I'm hiking in the backcountry after having witnessed a number of other such mishaps. 

Anyway, with the help of another hiker or two, we soon got the injured hiker back on her feet and accompanied her to the trail's end. Always good to hike these trails with others when you can because one never ever knows what might lurk just around the next turn.

Trail Sculpture

 

 

As wonderful as the view from Humpback Rocks was and is, I was equally fascinated by what I call "trail sculpture" or, in other words, nature's art as crafted by--who knows how many years-- of exposure to the elements here at around 3,080 feet (938.784 meters).

 

 

Humpback Rocks

 

Crossing

 

The Humpback Rocks Loop Trail meets the Appalachian Trail at just about this point where a spur leads to the rocks, so quite often you'll meet folks like this fellow who looks like he's making a longer trek of it.

Stairs

 

The ascent along the Humpback Rocks Loop Trail is sometimes so steep that the National Park Service has chosen to install stairs to help prevent further erosion and, one would think, to help keep hikers from injuring themselves as the result of bad falls.