All of this chilly weather we’ve been experiencing lately is warming my soul — for it’s about this time of year, when the calendar turns from September to October, that Mother Nature sprinkles magic dust across the land.
From South Deerfield’s quaint peak of Mount Sugarloaf to the dignified vistas of the Quabbin Reservoir, the region garbs herself in rustic beauty.
At dawn, the sun rises over a Jurassic landscape: Mist drifts up from frost-covered leaves; dewdrops fall from amber trees.
It’s absolutely my favorite time of the year (followed by winter, of course, which comes in at a close second).
Right now, the nights are cold and the days are warm-ish. And when a full moon rises and fog rolls in off the cooled Connecticut River, it’s like a scene from Washington Irving’s gothic classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” comes to life. I’ve watched this wonderful autumnal transition begin to take a grip on the waning days of summer over the last few weeks while driving into work through the backroads of southern Franklin County.
Alas, I have yet to experience it fully: I haven’t yet laced up my hiking boots and set out intentionally on one of our region’s wonderful trails.
I intend to change that travesty this weekend.
In honor of that intention, which will hopefully be fulfilled by the time you read this column over a steaming cup of coffee on Monday morning, I’d like to present three of my favorite local trails, which are particularly beautiful around this time of year.
As the premiere glacial kettle pond in Sunderland’s idyllic Mount Toby State Forest, Cranberry Pond receives a fair amount of traffic from local fishing enthusiasts. But most of the activity is centered at a boat launch off Reservation Road. It’s a lot quieter amid the trees while hiking the forest’s extensive trail system. A path that’s especially close to my heart is that which circumvents the lake. I have fond memories of hiking there with my wife, Brianna, in the wee hours of the morning, when the mist is as dense as the leaves covering the pond’s untouched surface.
In my few years of life (I haven’t yet reached 30), I’ve been blessed to experience some pretty incredible sights — I’ve stood on a chimney overlooking the city of Vienna, Austria; watched a red sun burn into the desert heat of Bahrain; taken in the brilliant color of blooming Japanese maple trees in Japan; walked through Red Square in Moscow, Russia — to name a few. By far, Mount Sugarloaf is the fondest vista of them all. Just across from Mount Toby, Mount Sugarloaf is a quaint treasure. In particular, I most cherish the view of the Connecticut River from a hard-scrabble trail around the back of the mountain. There’s one particular spot, not far from a little bench, where the maple trees frame the sparkling river just right, which never ceases to take my breath away.
Especially around this time of year, it’s a slice of heaven that’s been preserved right in our backyard.
No fall-themed trail round-up would be complete without a metaphorical visit to Chapel Falls in Ashfield. The stairway-like falls step down through nature’s ballroom, which has been decorated by the seasonal trappings of dried pinecones and brilliantly painted leaves. It’s easily accessible and a perfect oasis to escape from busyness for a little while. When you’re there, perhaps you’ll see me, lost in thought and the beauty of nature, as seen in the rectangle of my camera’s viewfinder.
After all, life is too short to waste indoors and there’s nothing quite like fall in New England. Thus declared, I lay down my pen and turn off the computer. All of this reminiscing has gotten me into an autumn state of mind.
Andy Castillo is the features editor at the Greenfield Recorder. He can be reached at acastillo@recorder.com.