I would not call myself a hiker, although I enjoy walking my dog in the Hawley State Forest. I found much to like and learn from in the 10th edition of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s “Massachusetts Trail Guide.”
The book was compiled and edited by writer/photographer John Burk, who will appear soon at the Dickinson Memorial Library on Main Street in Northfield.
Burk’s guide is comprehensive. It offers more than 400 pages describing trails in our state, many of them in Berkshire and Franklin Counties (including a couple in my backyard forest). Fold-out maps affixed to the inside cover supplement many of the verbal descriptions.
Burk admits that his many descriptions and maps don’t quite manage to cover all of the trails available in our state. But they should satisfy most hikers.
The book begins with a substantial introduction introducing the longest trails, the general terrain, and the weather in Massachusetts — noting of course that terrain and weather can vary widely.
The most useful section of the introduction for the novice hiker like me is the summary of trail safety and etiquette. Burk also manages to touch on what one should carry when hiking, what one should wear, and how one can identify various hunting seasons.
He goes on to discuss walking/hiking/climbing trails in the six main regions of the state — the Berkshires; the Pioneer Valley and vicinity, including most of Franklin County; central Massachusetts; the areas north and west of Boston; and southeastern Massachusetts and the islands off the coast.
He provides mileage for each trail and estimates how long it will take the average hiker to traverse it. He also gives a rough idea of how difficult each trail may prove.
Difficulty is again addressed in a useful addendum to each section that lays out easy, intermediate, and challenging hikes for readers. I found a few not far from here I may try soon (in the easy category, of course).
All in all, the “Massachusetts Trail Guide” is a handy volume to have in the house and on the guestroom bed table.
Burk will discuss “How to Take a Good Nature Photograph” and answer questions about the Trail Guide at the library on Tuesday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
The library’s gallery currently offers a coordinating exhibition of Burk’s “Images of New England’s Landscape, Wildlife, and Seasons.” His photographs will be on display at the Dickinson Library gallery through the end of May and are available for sale. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Friends of the Library.
Tinky Weisblat is the author of “The Pudding Hollow Cookbook” and “Pulling Taffy.” Visit her website: www.TinkyCooks.com