MEETING TIME AND PLACE: 1 p.m., Monday, December 18, 2023. Meet at the intersection of Linseed Road and Rocks Road, West Hatfield, Mass. 01088. We will meet at the end of Linseed Road (it becomes a gravel road) where it meets Rocks Road (which does not have a street sign identifying it as such, but is shown on the map). Please park on the side of either Linseed Road or Rocks Road; there is no parking lot. Please note there are no restroom facilities available.
Please use 262 Linseed Road, West Hatfield, Mass 01088 for a GPS address, which is near the intersection with Rocks Road, our meeting place. However, some GPS units don't show the above GPS address correctly, so please use the driving directions below,
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From Northampton, proceed north on Routes 5 and 10. After passing the River Valley Market and entering Hatfield, look for the R.K. Miles Hardware store (on Routes 5 and 10), which is located at 21 West Street, Route 5, West Hatfield, about ¼ mile past Interchange # 26 (old exit 20) for I-91. Only a few hundred feet past R.K. Miles, make a left hand turn on Linseed Road. Proceed approximately two miles to its end where it intersects with Rocks Road, where we will meet. (About 3/8 of a mile after turning onto Linseed Road, please keep to the right where Linseed Hill Road comes in on the left to meet Linseed Road.)
DESCRIPTION OF WALK: The walk to the Chestnut Mountain Christmas Tree farm will be about 1 ½ miles (a total of three miles round trip) on Rocks Road Road, then onto Mountain Road which goes through the Chestnut Mountain Christmas Tree Farm that is located in a lovely valley that offers a nice view of Chestnut Mountain. (The website for the Christmas Tree Farm is: https://www.chestnutmountaintreefarm.com/). From Mountain Road we will then take Rocks Road back to our cars.
WALK CONDITIONS: As mentioned above, we will be walking on gravel roads. While the roads do have auto traffic, it is very limited. The pace will be moderate. Please wear comfortable boots, a rain jacket, hiking staffs if you use them, and bring water and snacks.