Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Bobbie Scarpino
Leaders: Bobbie Scarpino, Paul Fortin

The weather forecast called for gloomy, rainy skies as 20 tramps started out to drive the 140 miles to North Adams, MA for a three-day midweek, multi-activity adventure. But when we arrived at the Holiday Inn on Tuesday, June 3, we were greeted instead with sunshine and temperatures in the 80’s. After checking in and changing into biking clothes, all drove the few miles to the Adams Visitor Center to begin our first adventure of biking on the paved Ashuwillticook Rail Trail – Round trip 22 miles.
The scenery was beautiful. In some sections the trees formed a canopy tunnel for us to pass through. Mt. Greylock and other mountains in the Appalachian chain flanked one side. The Hoosic River bubbled and flowed along the trail for a while. Another section of trail ran close to the edge of the Cheshire Reservoir.
At the farthest end of the trail in Lanesboro, a cell phone was checked for a weather update. A severe thunderstorm was heading our way and would be upon us soon. Our bikes grew wings as we flew back the 11 miles to the cars. The sky became so dark that it became difficult to see the trail in the canopied area. We were hoping that Dick Blanchard would come to our rescue with his headlamps to light the way! As bikes were loaded onto the cars, the first raindrops fell. Everyone quickly headed to CJ’s Sports Bar located alongside the Ashuwillticook Trail to wait out the worst of the storm while enjoying a cold beverage.

The next day, June 4, dawned with a wet ground and low clouds covering the tops of the mountains . . . but no rain! Our adventure this day was to hike Mt. Greylock, highest point in Massachusetts, on the Appalachian Trail. After meeting in the hotel lobby to plan our route, ten tramps decided to hike to the summit of the mountain along the Hopper Trail (or as Paul called it, “Hawpa”), total distance 5.4 mi. Four adventurous Tramps decided on a route out of the ordinary, beginning at the summit and hiking down and then hiking back up. This hike was done as a loop to Jone’s Nose and had a total distance of 8 mi. Six Tramps believed that this would be the best opportunity to kayak the Cheshire Reservoir, since Thursday’s forecast called for rain all day. As all of us started out on our different adventures, the sun broke through the clouds, making it a perfect day enjoyed by all.