A pretty short but somewhat challenging hike up Sykes Mountain for a view of Pittsfield and Lenox.
Since I moved here over a year ago, this “mountain” peak has made up the highest point of the nice view from my house. When I first moved here I thought to myself, I’m going to climb to the top of that peak and for the last year it laughed at me, but I finally got around to doing it and now I’m going to make you do it if you want to claim this cache. When I was up here in the winter the leaves were down and through the trees I was able to see glimpses of a nice view of Pittsfield, I’m pretty sure I saw my house from ground zero.
This cache is winter friendly, sorta. Its actual hiding spot is in a nice and easy place that is winter friendly, but getting to it is not the most winter friendly, lots of snow and icy trails and steep climbing and bushwhacking when I did it.
Finding a route to this may prove to be the most difficult part, go whatever way you want, but I’d suggest parking outside the Mormon church’s gate, N 42° 25.094 W 073° 13.589. Sykes Mountain Road is just a little north, DO NOT go straight up the better groomed trail, it is marked as private property, instead almost immediately veer off to the right and follow an old trail behind some houses and on up to the electrical lines. The road is public land but it’s private on both sides, so stay on the trail. When you get to the power lines it’s all October Mountain State Park area so you don’t have to worry about trespassing. From here you’re on your own, enjoy. Cache is a (clean) peanut butter jar. If you have better coordinates please post them!
10/8/12
Replaced container with a lock & lock and updated the coordinates.