Western Massachusetts Tacomas

I think of you every time I have been through there.

 

Wonder why there is no school zone flashing sign in that section.

 

The Pomeroy side is actually a little better. It is still supposed to say "While Children are Present", but at least it's clear that it's a 20 for only those 600 ft and they have 35 MPH signs beyond that. On the Williams side, they are trying to enforce the entire 1/2 mile section 24/7. That's my beef with them.

They don't have to do that, they can do just a sign, but the signs they have aren't legal. They have to state hours or say "while children are present."

 

Yeah, not right.

 

@DrFunker

I just called October Mountain and the answering machine said the OHV trails are all closed until further notice. I wonder if they're going to keep all the gates closed this season? I'm headed out west for some errands and was hoping to get to the SF as I never made it out last time I was hoping to. Did you hear anything like this?

 

Wow. Have not heard that. I did notice quite a few trees down in there the last time I went. Wonder if they have some serious clean up to do. If you were just coming out to explore, try Beartown too. Nice trails in there also. Go in from the north side though, there is a gate house from the south and they will charge you to go in from there. Or you could go a bit further up and hit the Savoy s.f. Fun stuff in there too. May be slightly wet with all the rain we just had.
I heard May 5th for many places opening up. Will have to check into the Oct. Mtn. situation.
Thanks James.

 

@js312 You have any input on James's question above?

 

Whitney Place Rd. has no gate so you can always go through the center of the forest that way. Most of the other trails/roads do. Whitney Place Rd. is about half normal dirt road, half unmaintained--wouldn't take anything less than a Subaru Outback through the worse section. Ashley Trail also has no gates. That one is much worse. The wheelbase on a DCLB is a little much for that trail--it's the worst end of where I dare to take my truck.

I don't think Savoy has much for gates, though it's been a few years since I've been there.

 

I made it out there today, fun!

I started down Washington mountain road heading east from its west entrance into the forest. I stopped when I came across a stream.

Then I headed north to Whitney place rd and took that to Country rd. There was some opening near one of the reservoirs that looks to be where people tool around.

I'm definitely glad I took the time to get out there. So many streams and waterfalls!

Thank you both for the heads up @DrFunker @js312

 

Glad you made it out James. Come back again when you can stay a little longer.
Are you into fishing?

 

I've never gone up Washington Mountain Road. Tried from the other direction once but couldn't get to it because of all the gates.

It's labeled the same as Ashley Trail, so I suspected it was in rough shape.

 

To be honest I have minimal experience wheeling. It was a bit more rough than the stretch on Whitney place. The stream I hit wasn't deep at all, but considering I was solo and, again, have minimal experience, I turned around in favor of getting in over my head.

I saw three other people in the forest. The first guy said he had gone up Washington mountain and that it looks more challenging than it actually is, and that all the stream crossings are pretty shallow. He was in a grand Cherokee, I think his buddy had a Nissan truck.

 

I tried coming down through there from the other side last fall. I got to a bridge that looked sketchy so I turned around too.
Wonder if it is the same crossing?

 

Maybe we should try going up from the other side. I'm cautious of where I go on my own in case I find something I can't get out of. That and turning an 18 ft long truck around on a narrow trail isn't fun.

 

I am up for it.

 

I never hit a bridge. I dunno why I didn't snap a pic! I stopped about 1/4-1/2 mile in when I came to the stream. I almost walked over to scope the trail beyond the stream. From what I could see it looked narrower and had bigger rocks than what I had encountered already

 

Narrow is about the only thing that bothers me. Hate worrying about whether or not scratches are going to buff out later.

 

New wheels, tires, and seat covers today! Hope everyone's Wednesday was as good as mine lol

 

Sounds like you guys are having fun out there! I wish we had more places like that to explore out here

 

Id go on a little adventure. In the berkshires.