Saddle Ball Mtn

[Jay H]

Just south of Greylock's summit and north of Jones Nose is Saddle Ball mtn, the 2nd highest peak in Massachusetts...

I thought I'd check out the folliage by hiking from the visitor's center on Rockwell Road, through the interpretive trail through Bradley farm to get to the Northrup trail. Hit Rounds Rock which has a fabulous view and hike over Jones Nose (check, another Nose off the Nose list...) and hike to Saddle Ball mtn. I had no intention of actually hiking further to greylock so I made a loop of my hike today by using parts of the Hopper Trail to the CCC Dynamite trail and the Woodason Spring Trail to get back to my car.

A total of around 12 miles and a nice cool hike. It was definitely breezy and I'm sure the summit was chilly and windy as it always is... People were definitely out enjoying the folliage, the parking lots were pretty full.

Some pictures from today:

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/20101009_SaddleBallMtn

Jay

[masshysteria]

Wait till Columbus Day, Jay. They'll have the Greylock Ramble , where over 2000 people will hike up the Cheshire Harbor Trail, not to mention the hundreds of others that will drive up. Not a day to look for solitude on Greylock.......

Might I suggest this, if you're looking for waterfalls, as an upcoming trip;
http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/571192914lzCpRO

Either come up from S. Williamstown or the Hopper Trail to the Sperry campground. The Hopper Slide parallels the March Cataract about 100 yards to the north.

Or more in your area of expertise, bike from Lenox to the Glen in Adams, climb the Thunderbolt to the top and then wack down the side of the Hopper to the falls.......:eek:

[Jay H]

I know Tmax and I hiked past the trail to March Cataract, but I don't remember now if we made the long out and back.. I think we had a long day over Williams and Fitch and then Greylock and didn't feel like adding 2ish miles to the hike. I shall have to go back although in hindsight, would of been a good trip for today...


Well, I'm glad I did it today than Monday, but then I'd be safe anyway cause I don't have Columbus Day off anyway. :)


Some other peaks I'd like to do around here, well, actually not really around here, is Dorset Peak in VT (NE100)...

Jay

[Jay H]

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_16299805

I can't imagine what 2000 hikers will look like or to hike through. I have never hiked the Cheshire trail up Greylock but I hope it can handle it...

And NYer's go haywire when 20 people hike the same peak... :)

Jay

[masshysteria]

Cheshire Harbor is very wide, yet eroded so many people tomorrow will twist an ankle. The problem in my opinion is that once the CHT gets to the Rockwell Road, the route to the top is via the AT. Unless they walk up the road to the summit, but I would doubt that, given the auto traffic that day.