There’s active logging going on here.
We don’t stop hiking because we get old – We grow old because we stop hiking.
— Finis Mitchel
Today is our last walk on the Midstate Trail for the season. Starting tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future, the forecast is for temperatures well into the 80s and higher. That precludes Waldo and my continuing until sometime in September, when it will be once again cool enough for us to finish this trek. Until then, we’ll have to walk when, where and as we can in the coming heat.
Today, though, is a fine day for a walk in the woods. The high temperature will be in the 60s, the winds are light, the sky cover scattered and the ground dry (except in places). Christine once again drops us off where we start. We’re at the Parker Cemetery, we’re we stopped 2 days ago, and we head south on Coldbrook Rd. In less that ¼-mile, the trail heads off to our left into the woods and the 21st century is left behind (except for my cell which I keep in my pocket until needed). The trail is embedded in foliage – ferns, small bushes, weeds and new-growth deciduous trees. It’s dense enough that Waldo, up ahead at his self-assigned position at the lead-end of the leash, is almost swallowed in green.
After less than a mile, we come across a large grassy field of grass. On the left side of the trail are 2 granite benches, bearing the names of Rolf Larson and Bob Elms. Rolf and Bob were 2 of the people responsible for the development of the Midstate Trail. The granite slabs that comprise the benches are large and heavy. The nearest road is almost ¼-mile away and I have no idea how those stones were brought here – it must have taken a lot of manual labor. Aside from the grassy field, a small pond and some trees on its edge, there is not much of a view. I have no idea why so much effort was expended to put the benches at this particular spot. On the other side of the field, the trail is once again absorbed by the forest.
After around another mile, we come across a two-rutted dirt road, Pine Plain Rd, and continue down that. Not far down the road is a sign that reads, Caution, Active Logging in Progress. I don’t see many pines on either side of the road, and the oaks, maples and birch are all less that one-hundred years old (judging by the diameter of their trunks) and it doesn’t look to me like prime logging country, but that just shows my level of ignorance about such things. After a half mile or so, we come across downed logs, trimmed and ready for transport, on the side of the road. There is some heavy equipment off in the manmade field to our right, including a large chipper, but most of it, I can’t identify. Just past the logs, we are met by a large semi, drawing a closed in trailer, that takes up most of the road. Waldo and I step off the road and let him pass, waving as we do. The trucker waves back and continues on his way.
Just past the place where we met the truck, the trail takes off to the left and heads into the bush. After a short distance, we cross over a wooden walk that covers some swampy ground. There are places on this trail that appear to be not much more than a path worn into the ground by passing boots. And then there are other places, like here, where some not insignificant effort has been put in to maintain the path.
Not very far at all from the walkway, we cross the Mass Central Rail Trail. This piece of the rail trail , Christine and I walked along a few years ago and I don’t recognize it. I recognize the line on the map that represents it and I know we walked it, I just don’t remember the country or having crossed the Midstate Trail when we did. But I know we did. At the intersection is a stone bench with Midstate and Mass Central Rail Trail etched on its side and a granite pillar with Mass Central Rail Trail engraved on it. Small world… Much to Waldo’s dismay, there are a few bikes that pass us in the short time that we’re there. We even pass a woman walking her dog.
A stone’s throw from the intersection is the large parking lot, just off Rte 122, where we left our car. There is a porta potty where the trail meets the parking lot. I’m pretty sure that it is there for those who use the Mass Central Rail Trail, because it is used more than the Midstate Trail. Today’s walk: 5.45 miles in 2:42 and 412 feet of elevation gain.
I water Waldo and we get in the car to go home. After having come so far, I’m feeling a little disappointed we won’t be able to continue for a few months. I’m also feeling quite happy that we have been able to make it halfway before being forced to take a hiatus. That was looking pretty doubtful while we were scrambling over the New Hampshire granite at the beginning of the hike. Once fall comes, I’m pretty sure, now, we’ll be able to finish before the first flying flurries of winter. For now, though, it’s home to my recliner and Waldo to his balcony.
I just have to figure out how to get any significant walking done, in the next couple of months, without baking in the heat.
The Central Mass Rail Trail.