Ritzhikes

Where: Westfield River When: 7/23-7/24, 2005 With: Chip, Dave We'd set aside this weekend some time ago for a Stupid adventure. The destination and activity were left undecided, though most bets were on a reprise of the annual kayak adventure in Connecticut. As the date got closer, I sent out another message to see if anyone was still interested in going. Chip responded immediately that he was on board. Xeth took a bit longer to reply and after a brief exchange of emails he bowed out, citing a heavy work schedule. Dave waited even longer, then sent a "So, are we going?" message. The Connecticut river trip was closely linked to Xeth and I didn't feel it was appropriate to go there without him, so I began to consider alternatives. Somehow I got the idea of a return to the Westfield river, but with mountain bikes. I knew Dave & Chip both had the bikes, and I'd wanted to ride in the area along the river for some time. I figured we could park at the usual spo...

Where: Flat Mountain Pond Trail When: 7/9-7/10, 2005 With: Chip This year's edition of Andy's week at the Hidden Valley Scout camp in Gilmanton NH began on the Sunday of a three day weekend (the Independence Day holiday was Monday), so I had an idea to drop him off and then run into the woods for a quick overnight. I recruited Chip to join in the trip and began researching places to go. The area just north of the camp (the Belknap Range) seemed like an interesting possibility for a destination. Very close by, and lots of area to explore. I'd run up Mt. Major for a dayhike after last year's drop-off and figured I could use that route as my entry point. The trail to the top of Major continued on over Straightback Mt., then disappeared into the wilderness. I searched the internet for info, looking for maps and descriptions. I also posted an inquiry on a New England hiking forum (Views From The Top) seeking advice. The responses I got indicated the area offered lots o...

Where: Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, NH When: July 3-9, 2005 With: Andy & the Scouts (and Chip) Andy's final year at Boy Scout summer camp, and the end of his Scouting career. When it was time to join up again in the fall, he decided he'd had enough. Interesting side note: Andy's Scoutmaster asked me during the summer to help plan a fall hike for the troop in the White Mountains. I put together plans for a trip to the 13 Falls Campsite in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, but had to just pass them along with my apologies when Andy left the troop. I used the drop-off at camp as an opportunity to get in a quick overnight in the Sandwich mountain range, just north of Squam Lake, and I invited Chip to join me. I don't remember if Donny came along that year and rode up with us, and I have no pictures from the camp. The only photos were taken at home, before our departure. In the first one, Andy is flipping me off behind my head! More photos

Where: Westfield River When: 10/16-17/2004 With: Chip & Dave I was looking for an early fall hike (something with trails and backpacks) and initially suggested the weekend of September 11-12 to Chip. That seemed fine, but Jane reminded me that we had a friend's birthday party to attend on the 11th, so we rescheduled to October 2-3. I was thinking it would be just Chip & me and we'd go north to the Whites, but we sent out invitations to the other BUMS anyway. Seth responded quickly that he'd be interested so the destination shifted south and west, to the Alander Mountain area. We'd tried to hike there last spring, but foul weather cancelled that trip. Dave also signed on for the adventure and we were all set, until my brother Bill contacted me the week before the hike to confirm he'd be visiting that weekend. Crap! I'd forgotten about Bill's visit. I told the other BUMS to go without me, but instead a new date of October 16-17 was proposed. I chec...

Where: Collinsville, CT When: 7/24-25/2004 With: The Stupids I'm not sure who initiated the preparations this year, but the usual flurry of emails and phone calls secured a mutually agreeable date for another edition of the Farmington River Trip. A few brief suggestions of other destinations and activities were quickly dismissed in favor of a return visit to Collinsville to see if Jack was still waiting for us. Jack, for those who haven't read last year's write-up, was a huge bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey. The amount consumed on that trip (2/3 of the bottle) had had a significant influence and as we packed to leave the campsite we debated what to do with the remainder. In the end we decided to hide the bottle at the campsite and leave Jack in Fate's hands. It was now time to head Back to Jack. A month or so prior to the trip we got news that altered the focus of our gathering. Chip announced he was dealing with some serious personal issues related, in many ways, ...

Where: Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, NH When: July 4-10, 2004 With: Andy & the Scouts Andy's second year at summer Scout camp. I drove him up, then just came home. At the end of the week, Jane came with me to get him and we visited Weirs Beach for lunch and the arcades before going home. More photos

Where: Mt. Greylock When: 03/24/04 With: Solo For my traditional birthday vacation day I considered either a fishing trip to the Westfield River or a hike up Mt. Greylock. I wound up tossing the gear for both activities in the car and headed west toward Greylock. I'd seen an indication on some maps of a shelter in a ravine on the eastern slopes but none of my information sources (maps, trails guides, etc.) seemed to agree on its existence. On some maps it appeared at the terminus of a dead-end trail from the summit. Other maps didn't even show the trail and trail guides made no mention of it at all. I figured I could get in a nice hike and make a side trip to check it out to see if it might have potential for a future trip. I also had tentative plans for a camping trip in the southern Berkshires (Mt. Alander) the following week and wanted to check out the ground (i.e., snow) conditions. So, west I drove, following the Pike out to Lee and then travelling north on Route 7 up...