6.5 mile loop; ~2600 ft. elevation gain
Summit: 4,052 ft. (Mt. Jackson) and 3,910 ft. (Mt. Webster)
Route: Webster-Jackson Trail to Mt. Webster; Webster Cliff Tr. to Mt. Jackson; and Webster Jackson Tr. back down to trailhead
Review: Beautiful views of Mt. Willey, Mt. Field and Mt. Tom from the top of Mt. Webster, and views of Mt. Washington and the rest of the Presidential Range from the summit of Mt. Jackson.
There's quite a bit of scrambling over rock and roots on the trail, with the most difficult section being the Webster Cliff Trail.
We started at 9:30 and didn't finish until 5:30pm! Eight hours to go only 6.5 miles! That gives you an idea of how difficult the trail is.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sat., July 21 -- Mt. Tecumseh, a 4,000-footer (NH)
5.6 mile loop; ~2400 ft. elevation gain
Summit: 4,003 ft.
Route: Tecumseh Trail from Tripoli Road to summit and then from summit to end at Waterville Valley Ski Area
Review: A relatively easy, but steadily steep trail, with good views of Mt. Moosilauke from a blowdown patch (approached via a 30-yard side path). The tree-covered summit provides disappointing views of the nearby mountains, but a side path (easy to miss) about halfway down cuts over to the Northside ski lift of Waterville Valley ski, affording beautiful views of the Tripyramids amid a gorgeous, Sound of Music-like meadow with wild strawberries. This side trip was easily the most memorable part of the hike, beating the summit views by far.
Antics by leader Steve Tulip's dog Thibodeaux -- who carried his own pack complete with water and snacks (cheese and cookies) -- provided entertainment for all.
Not worth doing again, except perhaps for the meadow view of the Tripyramids from the Northside chair lift of Waterville Valley.
Summit: 4,003 ft.
Route: Tecumseh Trail from Tripoli Road to summit and then from summit to end at Waterville Valley Ski Area
Review: A relatively easy, but steadily steep trail, with good views of Mt. Moosilauke from a blowdown patch (approached via a 30-yard side path). The tree-covered summit provides disappointing views of the nearby mountains, but a side path (easy to miss) about halfway down cuts over to the Northside ski lift of Waterville Valley ski, affording beautiful views of the Tripyramids amid a gorgeous, Sound of Music-like meadow with wild strawberries. This side trip was easily the most memorable part of the hike, beating the summit views by far.
Antics by leader Steve Tulip's dog Thibodeaux -- who carried his own pack complete with water and snacks (cheese and cookies) -- provided entertainment for all.
Not worth doing again, except perhaps for the meadow view of the Tripyramids from the Northside chair lift of Waterville Valley.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Shakespeare & Co.'s Rough Crossing
I saw Tom Stoppard's "Rough Crossing" this afternoon. Not Shakespeare and Company's best, but thoroughly enjoyable. Numerous humorous moments. It features several of the Company's regular and always excellent cast members -- namely Jonathan Croy and Elizabeth Aspenlieder. The New York Times put it best when it wrote "Mr. Stoppard’s puns and non-sequiturs ricochet around the stage like pingpong balls at summer camp".
Sunday, July 15 -- Monument Mountain (Great Barrington, MA)
3.0 mile loop; ~710 ft. elevation gain
Summit: 1,640 ft.
Route: Indian Monument Trail to summit; Squaw Peak Trail back
Review: This mountain provides tremendous views for little effort. It only takes 45 minutes to get to the top, even using the longest (Indian Monument) trail. It can easily be ascended without all the usual hiking gear. I fully recommend it for families, as kids will particularly enjoy scrambling on the ragged crest of rock atop the cliffs. Though it's hard to find a flat rock to sit and enjoy the views and a snack, it is possible. You can see both summits and do the whole trip in about an hour and a half. On some days, you see hawks soaring through the air near the cliffs.
Theater at its Best: The Front Page at Williamstown Theater Festival
What better way to top a day of hiking than good theater? To see GREAT theater, as in The Front Page at the Williamstown Theater Festival!
Being an ex-journalist, I found this portrayal of a bygone journalistic era of jaded writers, crooked pols and opportunistic editors to ring true. The action takes place in a press room in Chicago in the 1920s.
Variety calls this play an unaccomplished production, with an uneven ensemble. I couldn't disagree more. The cast was spectacular, with some key parts played by well-known actors -- Wayne Knight (Newman on "Seinfeld") as Sheriff Hartman and Richard Kind ("Spin City" and "Mad about You") as Walter Burns were particularly memorable.
The character Hildy Johnson, who just can't seem to put his girl ahead of his work at The Examiner, really makes you think about your priorities in life. Is getting the scoop of your life worth losing your true love? Fortunately, Hildy makes the right decision in the end and all ends well (or almost, but I won't give away the ending).
I'd urge you to get out to the Berkshires and see this play, but unfortunately, its last production was today.
Being an ex-journalist, I found this portrayal of a bygone journalistic era of jaded writers, crooked pols and opportunistic editors to ring true. The action takes place in a press room in Chicago in the 1920s.
Variety calls this play an unaccomplished production, with an uneven ensemble. I couldn't disagree more. The cast was spectacular, with some key parts played by well-known actors -- Wayne Knight (Newman on "Seinfeld") as Sheriff Hartman and Richard Kind ("Spin City" and "Mad about You") as Walter Burns were particularly memorable.
The character Hildy Johnson, who just can't seem to put his girl ahead of his work at The Examiner, really makes you think about your priorities in life. Is getting the scoop of your life worth losing your true love? Fortunately, Hildy makes the right decision in the end and all ends well (or almost, but I won't give away the ending).
I'd urge you to get out to the Berkshires and see this play, but unfortunately, its last production was today.
Sat., July 14 -- Mt. Greylock (western MA)
6.5 mile loop; ~2,000 ft. elevation gain
Summit: 3,491 ft.
Route: Gould Trail to summit; Cheshire Harbor Trail back to parking lot
Review: Mt. Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts. The Gould and Cheshire Harbor trails are reached from West Mountain Road, just west of the town of Adams, and on the eastern side of Mt. Greylock. I did the hike with two AMCers -- John Good and Bob Armao. We spotted cars so we could do this loop. The sign at trailhead calls this a strenuous hike. We certainly didn't think so--not compared to the White Mountains in New Hampshire! No ladders, no difficult parts, not overly steep. Just a very steady climb up for 2 hours.
The summit is reached after crossing the summit road several times and taking the AT (Appalachian Trail) for about half a mile. Fortunately the auto road is closed, so the only people at the top were fellow hikers, and it wasn't as crowded as it usually gets on a nice day.
The tower at the summit is actually a lighthouse! Or at least that's what the signage states. Apparently there is some controversy about whether it was actually built and intended for the Charles River estuary, ending up as a war memorial on the top of Mt. Greylock.
The views are nice, but over-rated. Views from summits in New Hampshire and Vermont are far more spectacular. All-in-all, not worth doing again, even though there are numerous approaches and trails to try.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Concert heaven: Staind & Nickelback back-to-back
Now I remember why I engraved "Music = Life" on my iPod! I've never felt more alive than when I'm at a great concert. Tonight was a double header at the Tweeter Center -- two of my favorite bands, Staind and Nickelback. Staind is a stellar artist in their own right, and could/should be the headliner. What a performance they gave! Many of the songs were from their best album, Break the Cycle. Their music really moved me. Too bad they couldn't come back for an encore...
I wasn't expecting much from Nickelback live, not after the dismal performance they gave a few years ago at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. They were so bad there that I actually walked out: it's the only time I've ever walked out on a band. They hit their stride tonight, though, more than making up for that previous disappointing performance. A piercingly loud cannon shot started the concert, and ceiling-high flames punctuated their delivery. They played a great selection of new and old songs, pleasing their longtime fans (that's me) as well as newbies. Their tribute to Pantera was poignant, given the tragic death of Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was shot and killed in December 2004 in a bizarre rampage during a club gig in Columbus, Ohio. The bottled water and beer that lead singer Chad Kroeger ordered distributed to the audience was a nice touch, but the "free Nickelback stuff" shot from four cannons during the show was the real crowd pleaser. (What was in those cannons, anyway? T-shirts, probably.)
Note to self: attend more concerts! They are great for the soul. Coming up soon: Linkin Park and the Smashing Pumpkins.
I wasn't expecting much from Nickelback live, not after the dismal performance they gave a few years ago at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. They were so bad there that I actually walked out: it's the only time I've ever walked out on a band. They hit their stride tonight, though, more than making up for that previous disappointing performance. A piercingly loud cannon shot started the concert, and ceiling-high flames punctuated their delivery. They played a great selection of new and old songs, pleasing their longtime fans (that's me) as well as newbies. Their tribute to Pantera was poignant, given the tragic death of Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was shot and killed in December 2004 in a bizarre rampage during a club gig in Columbus, Ohio. The bottled water and beer that lead singer Chad Kroeger ordered distributed to the audience was a nice touch, but the "free Nickelback stuff" shot from four cannons during the show was the real crowd pleaser. (What was in those cannons, anyway? T-shirts, probably.)
Note to self: attend more concerts! They are great for the soul. Coming up soon: Linkin Park and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
A cultural weekend punctuated by a blown tire!
This was a "cultural weekend" in the Berkshires with my friend Anne, not a hiking weekend. Shakespeare & Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was enchanting , with Kevin Rich 's Puck the standout of the evening. The play within the play was amusingly farcical, just as Shakespeare intended. The 200 girls from Belvoir Terrace certainly enjoyed it. My only criticism is that the production was a bit too long.
The Travelodge in Great Barrington was disappointing. Expensive for a motel feeling, with an odd showerstall in the bathroom.
Bartholomew's Cobble in Sheffield delighted with its massive limestone, marble and quartzite boulders, the lazy Housatonic River and dozens of species of ferns. We didn't climb the hill, though, which I've done in the past and can highly recommend.
The highlight of the weekend was the horrifying experience of driving at 80 mph on the Mass Pike and suddenly losing control of the car when the right front tire blew out! Yes, this was a highlight, not a lowlight. I still shudder to think of what might have happened, and how lucky we truly were. So many things worked in our favor, sparing us from an accident or serious injury. I was able to move over two lanes to the breakdown lane. No car was in the way when I had to move over. And there was an adequate breakdown lane (many parts of the Pike don't have a breakdown lane at all ... what a nightmare it would have been to stop in the middle of a lane!) No one rear-ended us as we screeched to a stop. I'm amazed that I had the presence of mind to turn on the hazards as I was struggling to control the car. All in all, we were very fortunate. What could have been a terrible accident turned out to be merely an inconvenience: in about one hour, with the help of AAA and the State Police, we were on our way again. This is why I consider this incident a highlight of the weekend.
I'll get a new spare tire this week. It's back to the Berkshires again next weekend! But this time it's to hike Mt. Greylock with the Mohawk Hudson chapter of the AMC.
The Travelodge in Great Barrington was disappointing. Expensive for a motel feeling, with an odd showerstall in the bathroom.
Bartholomew's Cobble in Sheffield delighted with its massive limestone, marble and quartzite boulders, the lazy Housatonic River and dozens of species of ferns. We didn't climb the hill, though, which I've done in the past and can highly recommend.
The highlight of the weekend was the horrifying experience of driving at 80 mph on the Mass Pike and suddenly losing control of the car when the right front tire blew out! Yes, this was a highlight, not a lowlight. I still shudder to think of what might have happened, and how lucky we truly were. So many things worked in our favor, sparing us from an accident or serious injury. I was able to move over two lanes to the breakdown lane. No car was in the way when I had to move over. And there was an adequate breakdown lane (many parts of the Pike don't have a breakdown lane at all ... what a nightmare it would have been to stop in the middle of a lane!) No one rear-ended us as we screeched to a stop. I'm amazed that I had the presence of mind to turn on the hazards as I was struggling to control the car. All in all, we were very fortunate. What could have been a terrible accident turned out to be merely an inconvenience: in about one hour, with the help of AAA and the State Police, we were on our way again. This is why I consider this incident a highlight of the weekend.
I'll get a new spare tire this week. It's back to the Berkshires again next weekend! But this time it's to hike Mt. Greylock with the Mohawk Hudson chapter of the AMC.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Sun., July 1--Welch and Dickey Mountains (NH)
4.5 mile loop; 1,600 ft. elevation gain
Summits: Mt. Welch = 2,605 ft; Mt. Dickey = 2,734 ft.
Route: Welch-Dickey Loop Trail
Review: This is a moderate hike with some steep sections and one easily navigable boulder cave. It boasts nearly 2 miles of large, flat open ledges, affording excellent views east of Mt. Tripyramid and Sandwich Mountain.
The loop should be done counter-clockwise, first ascending Welch Mountain, where the steep ledges make ascending easier than descending. Avoid this trail in inclement weather due to the exposed and steep ledges, which are likely to be slippery when wet (and definitely when icy).
The hike from the summit of Welch to the summit of Dickey looks long when you're on the Welsh Mountain summit, but it's surprisingly fast and easy. The whole loop, including a break for lunch on the summit of Dickey Mountain, is only 4 hours.
This was a "bootleg" hike with Peter Broderick, his wife Maureen, and Charlie.
Worth doing again!
Summits: Mt. Welch = 2,605 ft; Mt. Dickey = 2,734 ft.
Route: Welch-Dickey Loop Trail
Review: This is a moderate hike with some steep sections and one easily navigable boulder cave. It boasts nearly 2 miles of large, flat open ledges, affording excellent views east of Mt. Tripyramid and Sandwich Mountain.
The loop should be done counter-clockwise, first ascending Welch Mountain, where the steep ledges make ascending easier than descending. Avoid this trail in inclement weather due to the exposed and steep ledges, which are likely to be slippery when wet (and definitely when icy).
The hike from the summit of Welch to the summit of Dickey looks long when you're on the Welsh Mountain summit, but it's surprisingly fast and easy. The whole loop, including a break for lunch on the summit of Dickey Mountain, is only 4 hours.
This was a "bootleg" hike with Peter Broderick, his wife Maureen, and Charlie.
Worth doing again!
Sat., June 30--Mt. Morgan & Mt. Percival (NH)
Loop 5.4 miles; 1,550 feet elevation gain
Summits: Mt. Morgan = 2,220 ft; Mt Percival = 2,212 ft.
Route: Mt. Morgan Trail (1.7 miles) to Crawford-Ridgepole Trail (0.8 miles) to Mt. Percival Trail (1.9 miles), then the Morgan-Percival Connector.
Review: A 5-hour scenic loop hike with gorgeous views of Squam Lake and the surrounding areas. Mt. Percival is the better lunch spot of the two peaks, with vast granite ledges and beautiful views.
The ladders and cave portion of the Mount Morgan trail is not for the faint of heart. The last of the three ladders is awkwardly positioned, requiring a hair-raising and wide sidestep to the right and a difficult, seemingly impossible step up a sheer face without the benefit of a handhold! Fortunately Dick was there to pull us up via the top of our backpacks! Thank you, Dick!
Following the ladders is a boulder cave, which is somewhat difficult to navigate with a large pack. I stood up too quickly and whacked my head on the boulder directly above the exit to the cave, leaving me with a noticeable bump on the head, but thankfully no headache.
It is possible to bypass the ladders and cave via a trail that leads to the right of the ladders; this is recommended in wet weather.
The rest of the trail is steep in parts, but otherwise quite manageable.
The apres-hike stop of note for food and libations is The Common Man on Route 3 in Holderness.
Thanks to the AMC Narragansett Chapter, leader Peter Broderick & co-leader Sue Warthman, for a most memorable hike!
Summits: Mt. Morgan = 2,220 ft; Mt Percival = 2,212 ft.
Route: Mt. Morgan Trail (1.7 miles) to Crawford-Ridgepole Trail (0.8 miles) to Mt. Percival Trail (1.9 miles), then the Morgan-Percival Connector.
Review: A 5-hour scenic loop hike with gorgeous views of Squam Lake and the surrounding areas. Mt. Percival is the better lunch spot of the two peaks, with vast granite ledges and beautiful views.
The ladders and cave portion of the Mount Morgan trail is not for the faint of heart. The last of the three ladders is awkwardly positioned, requiring a hair-raising and wide sidestep to the right and a difficult, seemingly impossible step up a sheer face without the benefit of a handhold! Fortunately Dick was there to pull us up via the top of our backpacks! Thank you, Dick!
Following the ladders is a boulder cave, which is somewhat difficult to navigate with a large pack. I stood up too quickly and whacked my head on the boulder directly above the exit to the cave, leaving me with a noticeable bump on the head, but thankfully no headache.
It is possible to bypass the ladders and cave via a trail that leads to the right of the ladders; this is recommended in wet weather.
The rest of the trail is steep in parts, but otherwise quite manageable.
The apres-hike stop of note for food and libations is The Common Man on Route 3 in Holderness.
Thanks to the AMC Narragansett Chapter, leader Peter Broderick & co-leader Sue Warthman, for a most memorable hike!
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