Mt. Tom State Reservation

Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010
Time: 10:10 am
Where: Holyoke, MA
What: Hiking the M&M Trail

After consuming mega-calories during the Thanksgiving holiday, a trip to Mt. Tom State Reservation was welcome relief for my family and me. Though not as beautiful as it was in October (the last time I was there), the park gives hikers better vistas of the Pioneer Valley when its trees are bare. The starkness of the mountain forest and the crunchy, leafy paths offer a different kind of beauty. After exploring the Eyrie House (a mountaintop resort that burned down years ago) ruins and enjoying the view from the summit of Mt. Nonotuck, we eventually found the M&M Trail and began our descent. This part of the trail, which traverses the Seven Sisters Range, is moderately challenging and follows a ridge that offers endless views of the Connecticut River and surrounding towns. The thing I love most about hiking is that I forget all my worries when I have to focus on my footing (especially when it's rocky and steep!). I was able to clear my head, burn calories, and, most importantly, spend time with my family. Looking forward to going back again soon--probably with snowshoes and a thermos of hot coffee.