A Walk up Minnechaug Mountain

There may not be spectacular mountains to hike in western Massachusetts, with the state having only  three peaks over 3,000 feet. Nevertheless, there are still some beautiful areas for hiking, and many  with summit views. At less than 1000 feet, Minnechaug Mountain in the Pioneer Valley is an easy climb with many rewards. The Minnechaug Land Trust oversees this property. Their website provides a nice map that shows the various hiking trails.

Kiosk for Kathy's Trail

Oak leaves on trail.

Our original plan was to start at the VFW building on Main Street in Hampden. However, on Sunday there was a Turkey Shoot going on so there was no parking available. Fortunately there are a couple other access points with a second parking area off of South Road. Although there is a sign on the right hand side of South Road, about a mile up from Main Street, which identifies the Land Trust property, we somehow missed it and ended up driving all the way to the end of the maintained portion of the road before turning around. With a more careful eye, we found the entrance which leads to an open field. There is a small kiosk with a wood bench in front. After parking, we crossed the field and found the beginning of Kathy's trail which is in the far left corner. The trail starts out with a moderate climb.  For the most part, the blazes on the trees were easy to follow although, in certain spots, the fallen leaves made finding the path difficult.


This is definitely not a wilderness hike, evidenced be the occasional beer can that had been thoughtlessly tossed on the ground. Newly deposited litter bothers me, but I find it interesting to come across items that have been abandoned decades, or centuries ago. There is plenty of that on this trail as well.

Remnants of old wagons and farm equipment

The resilience of nature - in particular trees, is demonstrated in the photos below.

A little iron? No problem, I'll just grow around it.

Lightening can't kill me.

An old vine looks like it has become part of this tree.

Although getting to the top is ultimate goal when climbing a mountain, half the fun is taking the time to observe the often overlooked things along the way. Fall is a perfect time to find fungi and lichens. The internet can be a great resource for making identifications. Using the USDA's Field Guide to Common Microfungi in Eastern Forests and their Ecosystem Functions (Ostry, Anderson, O'Brien) I was able to make the following identifications.

Smoky Polypore (Bjerkandera adjusta) on dead birch

 

Artists' Conk (Ganoderma Applanatum)

After about a half hour, we turned left onto the Algonquin trail where the climbing becomes a bit  steeper, but it was only a short distance to the summit where we found plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view.

Tuesday of this week was National Take a Hike Day, and with this being a very mild November I am confident that there are still many good hiking days left before winter. I encourage everyone to explore the conservation lands in their own towns. Just be sure and wear bright colors as hunters may be out there as well.