With its beautiful rolling hills and wide expanses of open land, Franklin County is full of amazing winter sledding, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing spots. Here a few local favorites to enjoy on a snow [...]
Winter is here and with the arrival of beautiful fresh white snow, everyone is itching to get out and play! Getting outside and playing in the snow is a great way to cure the winter and Covid blues. Plus, it’s easy to social distance and keep everyone safe while doing so. Check out these local beautiful spots where you can bask in a winter wonderland!
Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont opened on December 17. The mountain crew has been working hard to make snow and keep the trails maintained for excellent riding conditions. This season, things will be different due to Covid, but Berkshire East has been preparing new systems and amenities to make the season safe and fun. For example, they are asking that all non-season pass holders book their tickets in advance so that they can control the number of skiers on the mountain. For dining, they ask that reservations for dining inside at Crazy Horse be made in advance. Or you can check out their new outdoor dining service. Order online from an even larger selection of food than in the past, and then pick up your order from the window when it’s ready. Plan ahead for your day at Berkshire East by reading their information online related to Covid-19. This will help to make it a safe and enjoyable season for all.
As of December 14, Northfield Mountain announced that they will not be selling trail passes or renting equipment. But the good news is, if you have your own gear, you can still access the trails when the snow cover is sufficient. Just note that the trails will not be groomed or patrolled, so know your limits and plan ahead because there will be no restroom or warming facilities. When the snow cover is thin, the public will be allowed to use the trails for hiking or cycling on fat bikes. All trail users must wear face masks at all times. Check their Facebook page or website for any updates around this.
Happy trails!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
The December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon has some exciting natural events listed for this month! The most interesting events include two meteor showers. First, December 13-14 will be the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower. As many as 120 shooting stars will be visible in the dark sky between midnight and dawn. Then on December 21-22, the Ursid Meteor Shower will originate from the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor). The Ursid Meteor Shower generally has about 5 to 10 meteors per hour, but in rare instances could have bursts of 100 or more per hour.
Check out the full December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon below:
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
The Greenfield Recreation Department has saved Halloween! Alongside businesses and agencies throughout Greenfield, they have planned a socially-distanced drive-thru Halloween experience at Highland Park. Load up your household into a vehicle and enjoy a ¾ mile drive full of fun and scary Halloween sights, including ghosts, goblins, zombies, witches, and skeletons!
Enter Highland Park via Highland Avenue and continue through the display, driving at 5 mph. Once you’ve reached the finish, exit via Crescent Street. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and masks are required.
Plus, the first 2000 children through the entrance will receive a free Halloween Treat Bag full of goodies!
This special Halloween event is happening Friday, October 30th from 4-6 pm. Visit franklincc.org for more information and RSVP to the Facebook event!
Happy Halloween!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
Many people’s favorite time of year in Massachusetts is autumn. The leaves turn and the trees become bursts of reds, oranges, and yellows. Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh autumn air and epic views of the foliage. There are many ways to witness the natural beauty of fall in Franklin County - by car, bike, foot, or [...]
Each month, Mass Audubon posts the Outdoor Almanac with a list of things to look out for in the weeks ahead. Here is the Outdoor Almanac for October. There are a lot of interesting animals and happenings in the sky to keep an eye out for this month.
A truly exciting event happening this month is the full moon on Halloween. This full moon is also considered a blue moon because it is the second full moon in a calendar month. We won't have another blue moon on Halloween until 2039! See below for more tips on what to find this month in the outdoors.
Information taken from Mass Audubon's website, www.massaudubon.org.
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
August is a wonderful time of year in Western Mass, when the days are still warm, but the nights start to cool down a bit more. While the usual country fairs will be missed this year, there are still plenty of ways to take advantage of all that Western Mass has to offer in the summer. [...]
Recently, Zoar Outdoor was named the 5th best rafting company in the nation by a USA Today readers’ poll. An expert panel chose 15 rafting companies around the country to vote from, and then readers voted, placing Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont at number 5. This is a great accomplishment, not only for Zoar, but for our area too. It shows how [...]
Living in Franklin County, Massachusetts, we don't have to go far to find pristine waters, gorgeous landscapes, and remote places to relax in nature. In fact, we don't even have to leave the county! Check out these local state forests which offer hiking, canoeing, fishing, camping, and more!
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State ForestLocated on West Hawley Road in Plainfield, Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest (pictured right) offers 35 miles of mixed-use trails. Hiking, mountain-biking, and snowmobiling are all permitted activities in the state forest, as long as you remain on the marked trails. You can also relax and fish at Hallockville Pond, where you will find the remains of an old mill. Other remains of the past include cellar holes from abandoned village of South Hawley and a rare fieldstone "beehive" charcoal kiln. More information here.
Catamount State Forest is a part of the former village of Colrain, Catamount. Catamount was the site of the first schoolhouse to fly the United States Flag in 1812. Now, much of Catamount is public land, although part of it is private property so beware of no trespassing signs. The former roads of Catamount are no mostly accessible by foot, mountain bike, or snowmobile. Trails lead up to a beautiful pond, not suitable for swimming, but great for canoeing to its islands. More info here.
Erving State Forest is a beautiful forest and campground located on Route 2 in Erving. The park supports a variety of outdoor recreational activities. You can hike, bike, or snowmobile along the 8-miles of forest roads and trails, go boating, swimming, or fishing at the pristine Laurel Lake, and camp at the easily accessed campgrounds. Camping is $17/night for Massachusetts residents and $27/night for non-residents. Parking fees (only applicable Memorial Day through Labor Day) are $8/day for Massachusetts residents and $15/day for non-residents. More info here.
Also on Route 2/Mohawk Trail, but on the other side of Interstate 91, lies 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, gorges, and woods that compose the Mohawk Trail State Forest. Right along the Deerfield River, there are plenty of great swim spots and miles of river to canoe and kayak. Bring your own tent to camp or stay in one of their cabins. There are grills, a pavilion, and picnic areas on site. More information here.
This coming Sunday, August 4th, 2019 is the 36th annual Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the longest running triathlon in New England! There is still time to register for the race - so come out and challenge yourself on this beautiful course. The course meanders through the back roads of Greenfield, passes through the Historic Eunice Williams Covered Bridge, and features swimming in the Green River. You can sign up as an individual or as a two or three person team. Find out more information on registration and fees at https://www.greenfield-triathlon.com/register.php. All proceeds from the Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon benefit the Greenfield Recreation Department. Over the years, this triathlon has raised thousands of dollars to support programs and events for the community.
After the race, there will be a celebratory lasagna lunch and awards ceremony. Awards go to the overall male and female winners, relay team finishers, and top finishers by age group. There are also two special awards - the Nook Burniske Award and the Patrick Bell Award. The Nook Burniske Award goes to somebody who embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and has contributed to the Greenfield Triathlon or Greenfield sports in a significant way. The Patrick Bell Award goes to the youngest finisher of the Greenfield Triathlon.
If participating in the triathlon is not for you, you can still be a part of the event by volunteering or spectating. The race runs on 80+ volunteers to fill jobs from serving food to site preparation to finish line assistant and more. Register to volunteer here. You can also support the runners by cheering them on from the sidelines. There are several designated parking areas for spectators throughout the course and plenty of great spots to watch and cheer. For specific information on these locations, click here.
If the 2019 triathlon doesn’t seem feasible for you, consider participating next year. The triathlon has a training program for participants that goes for 7 weeks on Sundays from mid-June to the end of July. There is also a free one-day triathlon clinic to familiarize participants with the course and discuss best practices for preparing yourself for the race. It is also a great opportunity to meet other triathletes.
Go to greenfield-triathlon.com for more information. Good luck to all the triathletes!
Photos from Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon / greenfield-triathlon.com
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