Mount Greylock Preparing to Open for Visitors
ADAMS, Mass. — The roads to Mount Greylock will open for the season on Saturday, May 16.
Sperry Campground opens on Friday, May 22, and Bascom Lodge is expected to open on Saturday, May 23.
Mount Greylock Advisory Council got an update last Wednesday on opening the campground from and clearing trails Trails Supervisor Rebecca Barnes at the Greylock Glen Visitors Center.
The tenting campground has new grills, picnic table, solar-powered toilets and more. The lean-tos are being repaired and will be completed by opening day. They are getting new roofs, new staining, and some log replacements and floor replacements.
Department of Conservation and Recreation staff are working on winter cleanup by removing debris and making sure the campground is safe for use.
The Visitor Center on Rockwell Road recently installed new solar power lights in the parking lot that Barnes said will improve safety and nighttime access for programs.
There will be construction coming up at the Visitor Center with the installation of a new heating system; access to the center will be available while they are working.
As for trails, Barnes said they did start clearing blowdowns from the roadways and trails adding that it didn't seem like a bad winter with only around 10 trees coming down. As they are also cleaning culverts and drains, she added porcupines are currently quite active right now.
Last year, some of the fallen spruce trees were milled into lumber that in turn became picnic tables, or other uses. The tops of the trees were turned into wood chips that were used to lay out around the exposed roots on trails, and Barnes said there is still a lot leftover that will be used again this year for that purpose.
There are also trees down on the Moser Farm Loop and it wasn't clear whose responsibility it is whether — Greylock Glen or DCR. In town's lease with the state, the glen is supposed to be taking care of the trails but Barnes said DCR will help if they have the availability. There is only one person and it's not safe for only one person to go out and cut trees, she said, and it might be good for them to get someone else to help.
While clearing they did notice a new culvert washout on Rockwell Road. Currently there are culvert issues at the lower end of Rockwell Road and on Mitchell Brook which have been coned off and with funding secured they plan to have those repaired next spring. The culverts were deemed safe for normal travel for this year and there will be weekly inspections to make sure they are safe.
It was mentioned that a portion of Notch Road has buckled around 100 feet and it has been blocked off to prevent cyclist accidents. There are plans to have it addressed this year with new paving.
Chair Heather Linscott noted the erosion on Cheshire Harbor Trail and how much deeper it has become. Barnes said it's not a priority right now but will be fixed in time.
In other business, the outdoor center is currently looking for seasonal workers, needing six positions filled for the summer and children's mountain biking classes will be taught by Alison McGee.
Linscott also spoke about replacing the privies on the Deer Hill Trail as there is a need for a bathroom there for the hikers and other visitors. The board agreed to her suggestion to write a letter of support to DCR as long it is approved by all members before being sent.
The board is seeking a meeting with Paul Fahey and Mackenzie Greer of DCR's legislative and partnership affairs office to clarify the council's formal role, how advisory input can be built into projects, and how to improve transparency and communication between Boston/state-level decision makers and them.
Members are also looking to connect with other groups and advisory boards to learn from them.
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