Last January break over MLK weekend, I had the chance to escape from comfort and camp at Mt. Greylock in western Massachusetts. The weekend was beautifully warm and comfortably cold. The views were spectacular. My hike began early afternoon at the Haley Farm Trail. From there I twisted my way up the western side of the Berkshires towards my campsite.
My hike was not terribly long, a total of about 8 miles round trip. The experience of sleeping in the cold, amongst the snow burdened trees and blowing north wind is why I went.
I brought along snow shoes and my hiking sticks to combat the snow and ice. My shelter was merely a lean-to with a tarp wrapped strategically to block the wind while I slept. 
The night was quiet and the temperatures hovered in the teens that night. I brought a hand cranked radio to listen to Prairie Home Companion on the radio. The turning of the handle helped keep me warm.
The air felt good. It felt different than the air found in the house. This air had a smell of cold in it and bit my cheeks while I laid quietly in my sleeping bag.
I enjoyed the experience and plan to take more winter excursions. There is plenty of beautiful places in New England and winter is a perfect time to see the slender side of wilderness.
If you choose to visit this part of our state, winter is the perfect time to do so because the view of the Hopper is the best. In spring and summer, the hopper is sheltered by millions of leaves while in winter, the trees are stripped bare leaving behind a glorious picture. I stood for several minutes and admired the view. I felt really small.
The night was quiet and the temperatures hovered in the teens that night. I brought a hand cranked radio to listen to Prairie Home Companion on the radio. The turning of the handle helped keep me warm.
The air felt good. It felt different than the air found in the house. This air had a smell of cold in it and bit my cheeks while I laid quietly in my sleeping bag.
I enjoyed the experience and plan to take more winter excursions. There is plenty of beautiful places in New England and winter is a perfect time to see the slender side of wilderness.
If you choose to visit this part of our state, winter is the perfect time to do so because the view of the Hopper is the best. In spring and summer, the hopper is sheltered by millions of leaves while in winter, the trees are stripped bare leaving behind a glorious picture. I stood for several minutes and admired the view. I felt really small.
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