Spring officially arrived two weeks ago, and the weather actually synced up with the season. When I left work one Monday in late March, it was about 50 degrees out. I knew what I had to do.
I spent the late afternoon reclining, with the sun on my face. Luckily for me, my dentist had me in the room with a west-facing window. Since I was missing such a gorgeous day, I decided to start planning spring and summer adventures while he worked on my teeth.
The melting snow drew my mind to waterfalls. I’d gone waterfall hunting about 10 years ago, stopping at Bash Bish Falls in Dalton and Tannery Falls in Savoy. I’ve been meaning to go back for years, and explore others, as well.
It’s been about 20 years since I last visited Doane’s Falls in Royalston, and I haven’t been to any of these places since I picked up photography. While there’s very little snow now, some spring rains could still swell the streams and make for some dramatic falls this year.
While waterfalls are fickle, some parts of spring are more of a sure thing.
One of my favorite spring hikes is Catamount State Forest in Colrain. The woods are teeming with life with portions of the trail taken over by vernal pools. The sounds of thousands of peepers seem to come from everywhere, bouncing off the trees and hillside. It makes you feel like the world has come alive.
One summer, we lugged an inflatable raft to the top of Catamount and paddled out to an island in the middle of McLeod pond. There, we gathered twigs for a small fire in a brick fireplace and had a picnic before making our way back to shore.
Speaking of watercraft, I can’t wait to get back into the river. When I got my first kayak a couple years ago, I took it out for a trip up the Connecticut from Barton Cove to the French King Bridge. That was mid-April — boating season is only as short as you make it.
Soon, the cove will be full of waterfowl and a fresh hatch of goslings, ducklings and cygnets. I can’t wait to take my son out to see them. He’s two now, and I think it’s about time to get him out on the water.
I’ve got to get back to the stone fire tower on Shelburne’s Mount Massamet, as well. I’d driven up once to interview the lookout for an article about brush fire season. I’ve yet to hike it, however. The view was breathtaking, overlooking Shelburne Falls to the west, and stretching far in every direction. Way off in the eas, you can see Wachusett Mountain — out where I grew up.
My childhood home was close enough to Wachusett that we could see the ski lift’s chairs with our naked eyes. We spent lots of time on those slopes, but we also enjoyed the mountain in the warmer months. We’d drive to the far side and take the Echo Lake trail, which brings you along a peaceful pond just before the trail turns steep and heads up the mountain.
From the top, you can see Boston’s skyscrapers some 40 miles east, but only if the sky’s clear. There are also plenty of picnic spots, as well as a goldfish pond. A short hike away, you’ll find the top of the ski lift and enjoy the northeastern view from one of the lift chairs that hang above the platform. It’s also going to have to go on my list.
While there is no shortage of favorite spots to visit in the coming seasons, I’m always up for going someplace new. If you’ve got a favorite spring spot for a day trip, I’d love to hear about it. Stay tuned!
David Rainville is a former reporter and editor for The Recorder, who now works as a machinist. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, and finding new ways to explore the outdoors. You can reach him at daverain82@gmail.com.