Welcome!  Please CONTACT US with any questions about events.

Tusi and Nira

Nira at niraharper@gmail.com   &    Tusi at ritachild@hotmail.com

Wednesday Hikes. Nira and Noor will lead Wednesday hikes or walks, usually at 1:00 or 1:30 pm. Details will be posted over the listserv.

Sun. Jan. 1.  Hike Bradley Sanctuary.  Meet at 1:00 to hike a one hour loop by the beautiful Nichols Brook in Williamsburg.  

Sun. Jan. 1. Winter Calendar Planning.  Meet at 3:30 over Zoom to plan the calendar.  Wear a party hat and bring your ideas for winter adventures.  

Sun. Jan. 8. Walk at the Arcadia Audubon.  Join us at 1:00 pm for cake and ice cream, a Happy Birthday song, and, perhaps, a party game at Acadia Audubon in Easthampton on 127 Combs Road to celebrate Mary Messick's special day before beginning an hour (or so) long walk on the relatively flat surrounding trails.  Please let us know if you will be joining us by replying to the email that will be sent out several days before the event.  Hope to see you there!

Sat. Jan. 14.  Nature Trail Hike on Mt. Tom, Easthampton. Moderate uphill hike from Bray Lake to the Nature Trail (via Kay Bee and Keystone Trails), then back down via the same route. Takes about 2 hours, the first 30 or so minutes of which is steady uphill but not steep.

Sun. Jan. 15. Fitzgerald Lake Creek Walk. Meet at Cooke Ave. Parking Lot (the old Moose Lodge) at 1:30. . Hike lovely trail, meandering near the Fitzgerald Lake Creek and then to the damn and lake. Follow the Lathrop Trail to the West Trail to the Pine Brook Trail to the Lake and back. About 1 3/4 hour. LIGHT spikes MAY be helpful, but not necessary. Dogs on leash welcome. Thanks for your RSVP: Janet undefined jgu4579@gmail.com, (845) 866-7822.

Sun. Jan. 15. Book Group.  We’ll be discussing The Secret to Superhuman Strength (graphic memoir) by Alison Bechdel 5:30 – 6:45 over Zoom.  

Sat. Jan. 21. Hike at Chesterfield Gorge. At 1:30 pm join Nira and Melissa for hike at Chesterfield gorge from the parking area down the road for about an hour or so. Micro spikes might be needed. Hope to see you there. 

Sun. Jan. 22. X-Country Ski at Notchview.  Meet at Notchview in Windsor at 11:00 am to ski the beautiful trails.  If there’s no snow, we’ll do a hike at another location.  

Sat. Jan. 28. Mt. Tom Hike.  Let's meet at the Visitor's Center at 1:00 pm and hike the Dynamite Trail to the John McCool Trail, returning on the old road. If conditions are favorable, we can stop at the Lookout Tower on the way back. Total length is between 1-1.5 miles, relatively flat/easy hike. (IF there's snow, bring your snowshoes!)  

Sat. Feb. 4. XC Ski Trip to Prospect Mt, VT.  All day, returning by about 4 - 4:30. https://prospectmountain.com/ $23 adult, $18 senior. Please have a negative Covid test that morning if you want to carpool with others.  Carpool from Northampton, leaving at 9:30 AM.  Meet in the parking lot in front of Walmart/Big Lots near the entrance on King St.  178 N. King St. Northampton.  They have a warming lodge.  You can bring lunch or purchase it there.

Sun. Feb. 5. Clark Museum. Hike on the trails around Clark Museum, Williamstown.  Free admission on first Sundays. Visit the museum before or after the hike. 

Sat. Feb. 11.  Hike up Petticoat Hill in Williamsburg. Moderate to slightly strenuous 1.5 mile loop including summit with a view. Trailhead less than a mile from Williamsburg center.

Sun. Feb. 12. Rattlesnake Gutter Hike.  Meet at Rattlesnake Gutter Road trailhead off Montague Rd in Leverett (near the old Dakin Animal Shelter). Detailed directions closer to the event. Easy to moderate 1.5-2 hour hike along the length of an old road now closed to traffic, with beautiful ice formations. We'll be walking at the bottom of the geological "gutter" from a glacial moraine. If the group wishes to, an optional steeper up and back to the top of Rattlesnake Knob can be added.  Hiking spikes or YakTrax are a good idea. Bring water.  

Sat. Feb. 18. Horse Mountain Hike.  Meet at 1:30 pm at the entrance on Cole Rd in Williamsburg, MA. Level loop, about an hour and a quarter. t at 1:00 pm at Bryant Homestead in Goshen.

Very easy walk. Bryant Homestead covers 80 acres and there are 5 pine trees above 150 feet. There is a red maple measuring 106.3 feet and a Hemlock that is 111 feet. PS: it’s around my birthday and I live within walking distance. So I’ll have a cake.  

Sun. Feb. 19.  Book Group. We’ll be discussing The Queen's Accomplice by Susan E. MacNeal over Zoom. 

Sun. Feb. 26. D.A.R. Hike. Easy hike around Lake at DAR in Goshen for 1.5  to 2 hours. 

Sat. March 4. Bulb Shows. Come join us for the annual Smith College and Mount Holyoke College bulb shows on Saturday, March 4^th at 10 am. It is important to arrive on time since the line can be very long. More info on parking will be sent to those that respond. We will spend about 1 ½ hours at each greenhouse. Those that are interested in carpooling should contact me directly. The shows are free, but a $5 donation is suggested for Smith College and a donation box is open for Mount Holyoke College. 

Sun. March 5.  Lyons Brook Trail Hike in Wendell State Forest, Millers Falls. Easy-to-moderate forest loop, approximately 2 hours along Lyons Brook, then a section of the M&M trail with a small but nice overlook. Starts at Ruggles Pond near Wendell State Forest Hdqtrs. 

Sat. March 18. Mass MOCA, North Adams, MA with hiking after at Natural Bridges. 10:15 am car pool from JFK School.  Admission to Mass MOCA  is $20 Adults, $18 Seniors, $12 Students with ID, and $8 Kids (6-16). Passes available at local libraries. To Plan your stay at the museum: massmoca.org

Sun. March 19.  Book Group. We’ll meet in the evening, probably over Zoom, for a book discussion.  Book tbd.

Sat. March 25.  Buffam Falls Hike.  Meet Nira and Melissa at 1:00 pm at N. Valley Rd in Pelham for an easy hike along the beautiful falls. Yak trax might be needed. 

Sun. March 26.  Spring Bike Ride.  We’ll do a 12-15 mile ride. Place and time tbd.  If it’s too cold, we’ll do a hike instead.