What we’re about
This is a hiking group for people who, like me, take life at a slow and steady pace. I love the outdoors, travel and hiking. Like the tortoise, I keep a steady pace and always get there in the end. Hikes will be mostly medium-length ( 2 - 6 miles) with elevation gains of under 1500 feet and a pace of book time +50%. Older people who have slowed down, younger folks who are just starting out, people who are overweight and want to get moving, people who are recovering from an injury, people who occasionally like to stop and take pictures or smell the roses...anyone who wants to take things at a slower pace. Hikes and other events take place all year round and in various locations!
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Gummere Woods Loop in GraftonGummere Woods And Marsters Preserve Trail, Grafton, MA
Come for a peaceful morning walk along Lake Ripple in Grafton! Some interesting history and nice views. Loop is about 2.5 miles, but we may add a little detour. Trail may be muddy at times, so please wear sturdy boots or shoes. There may be a few low stream crossings. Weather says partly cloudy and mid-70s. Dress in layers, bring water and a snack. I always use hiking poles.
Great hike for kids - please do not add them as guests, but mention in the comments.
Leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome.
Bring bug spray and sunscreen...and stay on the trail, as this area is known for poison ivy.
Trail map HERE.
Read about the Grafton Land Trust HEREOver the years, Gummere Wood has been home to multiple farms, a bustling tearoom, a little cabin and the first dam built on the Quinsigamond River. When you pull into the little gravel parking area by the Wheeler Road trail head, a wide trail welcomes you into the woods and alongside the water. This is the main trail, which leads you along the lake shore and to the Marsters Preserve area further south. To your immediate right is a stone foundation and steps, and according to the Grafton Land Trust, that foundation and those steps are what’s left of a 1920s tearoom named Bridgenook. The Marshall Family, who lived on the land during the early 20th century, opened the tearoom to entertain commuters while they waited for the next trolley to Worcester. Near the Grafton Lions Club, is a black oak tree that the Massachusetts State Forestry Service estimates to be approximately 225 years old, one of the oldest in the state.
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Tortoises roam free (and always will!) but MeetUp still charges a fee! If you’d like to contribute, here’s where you can send a donation! Thanks!
PayPal: julie.chilton@yahoo.com
Venmo: @Julie-Chilton-3
CashApp: $JulieChilton23 - Trustees of Reservations Event: Experience Beaver BrookBeaver Brook Golf Course & Restaurant , Haydenville , MA
THIS EVENT REQUIRES OUTSIDE REGISTRATION! You MUST register at THIS LINK in order to attend. Registration is free.
Experience Beaver Brook
Beaver Brook Golf Course, Williamsburg/Northampton
Thursday, May 15 | 4:30 – 6:30PM
Experience Beaver Brook firsthand and discover its incredible conservation opportunities. Join us for guided walks from 4:30-5:30PM, followed by light refreshments and remarks at 6PM, including a special address from Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees.
The event is free, but advance registration is required.CLICK HERE to read more about this event and to register.
Scroll down the page to see the registration link.From the Trustees of Reservations: Help us revive the Beaver Brook watershed, restore natural systems, and create new recreation opportunities. Situated along Route 9 in Williamsburg and Northampton, the Beaver Brook Golf Course has been manicured and manipulated, impacting the floodplains and native habitats of the valley. In partnership with Hilltown Land Trust (HLT), we’re working to purchase and transform 288 acres of floodplain, wetlands, and forest into a dynamic hub for conservation, community, and recreation. With your support, we’ll restore the land and provide rich opportunities for accessible public recreation, ecological restoration, and community engagement.
There is also a virtual event on April 16; feel free to register if you'd like to attend.
AGAIN - YOU MUST REGISTER WITH THE TRUSTEES AT THIS LINK TO ATTEND. IF YOU ONLY RSVP ON MEETUP, YOU WILL NOT BE REGISTERED.
- Announcement - Weekend in the BerkshiresTanglewood, Lenox, MA
NEW! Ticket sales for Jacob’s Pillow are open. I am in Level 4 - Orc Rear Seat Location: Row V Seat 5. This is considered an “accessible seat” which I can use because I use a walking stick for balance. Another member has purchased the “companion seat.” From experience, the seats in the mezzanine have better sight-lines than the orchestra. (They’re cheaper, too.) Link is below!
Once you are committed to going (you’ve reserved accommodation, bought a ticket, etc) let me know and I will move you off the waiting list.
There has been a lot of interest in this weekend! The AirBnB where I am staying (25 Houstonic St in Lee) appears to be full, but if you click HERE you will see that there are still many places on AirBnB available nearby. This is high season in the Berkshires, so rooms go quickly and are at a premium.
There are also several hotels/motels in the area. And October Mountain State Forest is only a 10 minute drive from Tanglewood. Click HERE to reserve a campsite or yurt. (Heads up - the yurts are NOT in great shape!)
If you would like to arrange car-pooling or share a room or campsite, I suggest you comment here with your contact information and what you are looking for, and then communicate with each other off of MeetUp.
Once we are closer to the time and people have firm plans, I will get everyone's contact info and make a shared doc for phone numbers, where everyone is staying and updated itinerary.
This is an announcement for people who like to plan ahead!
Every summer, I spend a weekend in the Berkshires to soak up music and dance and do some hiking, kayaking or museum-visiting. This year, I will be there from Friday, August 8 - Sunday August 10. I am staying at an AirBnB in Lee. There are many places to stay - some simple, some luxurious. There is also camping at October Mountain State Forest, which has flush toilets and showers. Accommodations tend to fill up during the summer (even the campground) so I wanted to put this out now.
My tentative itinerary!
8/8: Friday Eve - Concert at Tanglewood.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
LALO Symphonie espagnole
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, From the New World8/9: Saturday afternoon
Either a hike, or kayaking, depending on the heat.
Rainy day plans: Maybe the Edna St Vincent Millay or Norman Rockwell Museum
Saturday evening:
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company Dance Company at Jacob's Pillow.8/10: Sunday afternoon
Brunch and afternoon concert at Tanglewood
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Samy Rachid, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Camille PÉPIN Un Monde nouveau (American premiere)
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, ScottishFor Tanglewood, I always sit on the lawn and buy tickets at the gate. I arrive a couple of hours early and bring my picnic (with wine!) and a lawn chair and blanket. If the weather is really awful, I get a seat in the shed.
Tickets for Jacob's Pillow will go on sale to the general public April 10. They are not cheap, but this is truly world-class dance and I have never been disappointed.
No need to RSVP right now - as I said, this is just an announcement, in case you want to plan ahead. Feel free to drop me a note with any questions.
CROSS-POSTED WITH CULTURE VULTURES.
