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.

Fourth

 

Had I stayed in Boston, I guess I could have attended this live. As it was, though, I watched it on television instead. I was lot drier and more comfortable than if I had been there in person, I'd say. How did you celebrate the Fourth? Or what is your country's equivalent?