Dugan
New member
Participants: Jade with Carmen, Dugan with Dugan four-legs, and two new victims KenC and rocksnrolls
Yeesh... while everyone else is working on finishing the M-M sections once, I've volunteered to begin doing them twice! This was a make up day for Jade who missed the original Day 5 outing on 10/15/2005 (the day of the great pumpkin flood). Jade claimed to be ill; however, methinks the rains and flooding had something to do with her reluctance.
We met, late (sorry!). I'm guessing everyone waited for me since Jade told them I usually pack communal home baked goodies. We got the dogs sorted out - Dugan four-legs fit nicely into KenC's dog-barrier equipped wagon - the gear packed, then headed north. Truly east, since this section of the north-south running trail actually runs east-west.
Unlike the original day, we didn't have to immediately don rain gear. In fact, it didn't rain all day - a rarity on our M-M sections. However, the autumn leaves fallen on the ground posed their own difficulties. They can be slippery to step on, and seem to have a knack for piling up in the trail bed, thus obscuring the footing for the unwary hiker. I racked up a total of 3 falls yesterday sliding over the leaves.
As we headed up-up-up the first hill, we soon found the viewpoints much more revealing than they'd been on Day 1. Good and bad: we could see the surrounding countryside, but we could also see the numerous hills we'd be traversing. As we reached the dips in the ridge line, Dugan took it upon himself to amuse the group with repeated mud wallows. We reached the top of Norwottuck and stopped for a snack break. We shared the summit with a large troop of Boy Scouts. A few were curious about the dogs - no Jade, Dugan is NOT a long-haired Chihuahua!
We reached the visitor center only to find it closed due to water problems. Thanks to KenC's earlier information, we did not count on water here. He'd warned us that they'd been having problems with contamination of their water supply. We began the climb up Bare, shedding layers as we went, though not enough to match the name of the hill. On the summit of Bare, Dugan four-legs tolerated being snapped and snarled at by a Boston Terrier whose owner refused to control her dog, or acknowledge that there was a problem with the dog's behavior. Luckily for her dog, someone else in the group grabbed its collar and moved it away because I was getting ready drop my pack on it.
Jade listened to me vent for a few minutes as we headed down Bare, then my good mood was restored as Dugan pulled out all the stops for a truly spectacular mud wallow. The mud wallows were mainly large deep puddles, filled with leaves and topped by ice. For this particular wallow, Dugan decided to stomp on the ice. He began circling - what's the point of a good wallow if the water isn't stirred up - but apparently that didn't stir it up enough because he began digging at the leaves until the water was incredibly brackish. Then, with a big stretch, he plopped himself down in the muck with a huge grin. Somewhere in there he was plunging most of his head into the water because when he came out he had leaves plastered to his face. Carmen had the good sense to stay clear.
After Dugan was satisfied that he'd gotten good and stinky, we began ascending Hitchcock. KenC filled us in on the removal of the tower remains last winter. We stopped at the top for lunch, shared treats among the dogs, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. SOMEONE selflessly, or perhaps that should be selfishly, volunteered to carry the remainder of the communal treats.
We kept on going over the numerous bumps of the Holyoke Range - KenC said that someone calls them the Seven Sisters... and their Ten Cousins! We all cleared minor blow downs along the way. There were none throughout the day that posed much of a problem. We eventually reached the Mt Holyoke Summit House (closed for the season). We spread out in the sun on their porch for one last snack break. We lolled about in the sun as Carmen kept watch through the porch railings. We stirred ourselves to begin the last mile or so to the car.
On the way down, we were treated with views of the now-infamous and much-considered Hockanum Flats. Even from the heights it was easy to tell they were still flooded, though not as badly as on 10/15. Judging from the height on the trees, I'm guessing the water depth could've been as much as 3-5 feet in places. In accordance with KenC's advice, Jade sent an email to the Berkshire AMC to see what other people do to complete the M-M when the Flats are flooded.
We reached the cars and said our goodbyes to Jade as she headed off. I ferried the guys back to their cars - KenC good naturedly volunteered to be crammed in the backseat of my Forester, covered with gear and dog. After getting everyone to their cars we finished off the hike with a stop at Atkins farm for hot beverages and sweet treats.
And as for the SOMEONE that absconded with the communal treats still safely packed away - please enjoy and don't worry about returning the container.
And now... Day 6, approximately 20 miles, scheduled 11/25/2005 - anyone want to walk off Thanksgiving dinner?!
Yeesh... while everyone else is working on finishing the M-M sections once, I've volunteered to begin doing them twice! This was a make up day for Jade who missed the original Day 5 outing on 10/15/2005 (the day of the great pumpkin flood). Jade claimed to be ill; however, methinks the rains and flooding had something to do with her reluctance.
We met, late (sorry!). I'm guessing everyone waited for me since Jade told them I usually pack communal home baked goodies. We got the dogs sorted out - Dugan four-legs fit nicely into KenC's dog-barrier equipped wagon - the gear packed, then headed north. Truly east, since this section of the north-south running trail actually runs east-west.
Unlike the original day, we didn't have to immediately don rain gear. In fact, it didn't rain all day - a rarity on our M-M sections. However, the autumn leaves fallen on the ground posed their own difficulties. They can be slippery to step on, and seem to have a knack for piling up in the trail bed, thus obscuring the footing for the unwary hiker. I racked up a total of 3 falls yesterday sliding over the leaves.
As we headed up-up-up the first hill, we soon found the viewpoints much more revealing than they'd been on Day 1. Good and bad: we could see the surrounding countryside, but we could also see the numerous hills we'd be traversing. As we reached the dips in the ridge line, Dugan took it upon himself to amuse the group with repeated mud wallows. We reached the top of Norwottuck and stopped for a snack break. We shared the summit with a large troop of Boy Scouts. A few were curious about the dogs - no Jade, Dugan is NOT a long-haired Chihuahua!
We reached the visitor center only to find it closed due to water problems. Thanks to KenC's earlier information, we did not count on water here. He'd warned us that they'd been having problems with contamination of their water supply. We began the climb up Bare, shedding layers as we went, though not enough to match the name of the hill. On the summit of Bare, Dugan four-legs tolerated being snapped and snarled at by a Boston Terrier whose owner refused to control her dog, or acknowledge that there was a problem with the dog's behavior. Luckily for her dog, someone else in the group grabbed its collar and moved it away because I was getting ready drop my pack on it.
Jade listened to me vent for a few minutes as we headed down Bare, then my good mood was restored as Dugan pulled out all the stops for a truly spectacular mud wallow. The mud wallows were mainly large deep puddles, filled with leaves and topped by ice. For this particular wallow, Dugan decided to stomp on the ice. He began circling - what's the point of a good wallow if the water isn't stirred up - but apparently that didn't stir it up enough because he began digging at the leaves until the water was incredibly brackish. Then, with a big stretch, he plopped himself down in the muck with a huge grin. Somewhere in there he was plunging most of his head into the water because when he came out he had leaves plastered to his face. Carmen had the good sense to stay clear.
After Dugan was satisfied that he'd gotten good and stinky, we began ascending Hitchcock. KenC filled us in on the removal of the tower remains last winter. We stopped at the top for lunch, shared treats among the dogs, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. SOMEONE selflessly, or perhaps that should be selfishly, volunteered to carry the remainder of the communal treats.
We kept on going over the numerous bumps of the Holyoke Range - KenC said that someone calls them the Seven Sisters... and their Ten Cousins! We all cleared minor blow downs along the way. There were none throughout the day that posed much of a problem. We eventually reached the Mt Holyoke Summit House (closed for the season). We spread out in the sun on their porch for one last snack break. We lolled about in the sun as Carmen kept watch through the porch railings. We stirred ourselves to begin the last mile or so to the car.
On the way down, we were treated with views of the now-infamous and much-considered Hockanum Flats. Even from the heights it was easy to tell they were still flooded, though not as badly as on 10/15. Judging from the height on the trees, I'm guessing the water depth could've been as much as 3-5 feet in places. In accordance with KenC's advice, Jade sent an email to the Berkshire AMC to see what other people do to complete the M-M when the Flats are flooded.
We reached the cars and said our goodbyes to Jade as she headed off. I ferried the guys back to their cars - KenC good naturedly volunteered to be crammed in the backseat of my Forester, covered with gear and dog. After getting everyone to their cars we finished off the hike with a stop at Atkins farm for hot beverages and sweet treats.
And as for the SOMEONE that absconded with the communal treats still safely packed away - please enjoy and don't worry about returning the container.
And now... Day 6, approximately 20 miles, scheduled 11/25/2005 - anyone want to walk off Thanksgiving dinner?!
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