Mohawk Trail State
Forest
September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2010
This years Annual Western
Mass. Geocachers Picnic and Pig Roast will be held at
Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont
Mass.
Here is some information and
history about Mohawk Trail State Forest that you might like to
know.
A
clear, cold river cascades through Mohawk Trail State Forest along
a rocky streambed. One of the most scenic woodland areas in
Massachusetts, the state forest offers visitors a taste of real
wilderness in a rustic setting. Over 6,000 acres of mountain
ridges, deep gorges and tall old-growth trees support a diversity
of plant and animal life. 56 wooded campsites are available
seasonally, and six overnight log cabins are available year-round.
Discover miles of rivers and streams for excellent trout fishing, a
swimming area, and a day-use picnic area. The state forest is
located along and named for the Mohawk Trail a historic Native
American foot path that connected the Connecticut and Hudson River
Valleys. Sections of this route are open for hiking today as the
Mahican-Mohawk Trail.
Mohawk
Trail State Forest is specifically known for its trees. A total of
612 acres (248 ha) of the state forest is classified as
pre-settlement old growth by researchers. Trees approaching 500
years in age have been confirmed. Most of the extremely old trees
are Eastern hemlock. Other species reaching significant age include
yellow and black birch, sugar maple, red spruce, and northern red
oak. Specimens of examples of all these species exceed 300 years in
age and numerous trees of a dozen species surpass 200
years.
Trees
over 150 years old in Mohawk are very common. In addition to the
old growth, Mohawk Trail State Forest currently boasts 18 of the
tall tree champions for Massachusetts state
champions.
However,
many of these champion trees are not conspicuously large in girth.
They have grown exceptionally tall in the rich, moist, protected
ravines of the central Berkshires. Note that what is being
described are champion tall trees, which are not to be confused
with official state champion trees. The latter are based on
weighted measurements of girth, height, and crown spread to arrive
at composite scores suggestive of overall size. Most of these
tallest trees are between 100 and 200 years old and are properly
classified as second growth. Among the tall tree species, the white
pine stands supreme. As of the end of the 2006 growing season,
at least 81 eastern white pines reach heights of 150 feet or more
and 5 surpass 160 feet (49 m).
The
Mahican-Mohawk Trail and the colonial Mohawk Trail road to the
lower meadows both pass through some of the tallest of the pines.
The Mahican-Mohawk Recreational Trail passes through some of the
old growth as it climbs the Todd-Clark Ridge on the north
side.
The
tallest accurately measured SINGLE tree in the New England grows in
Mohawk Trail State Forest and measured 168.5 feet (51.4 m) in
height at the end of the 2006 growing season. The tree is
named for Mohawk dignitary Chief Jake Swamp.
More
Information, Including Camping details can be found on the Official
W.M.G. listing HERE that can not be placed in the listing on
Geocaching.com
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Please
put this listing on you watch list to be notified of future
updates!!! |
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Please make your reservations
for camping ASAP. Mohawk Trail State Forest Sells out very fast. It
would be great to try and get as many Geocachers in sites 36-56 as
possible. Sites are now filling up by Geocachers, and I am keeping
a running list of who is where as they come in
HERE.
If you
are bringing any pets ie.. dogs, cats, horses, PLEASE make sure
that you have any and all rabies tags on them and any
paper work on you. These rules are
strictly enforced at Mohawk Trail State
Forest.
If you do not have them you will be
asked to leave if you can not furbish them in a timely manner. This
is a State Law.
Do NOT bring any Alcohol OR Beer.
This is a state law and extremely enforced. If you are caught with
any you will be asked to leave.
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Plans in the works
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Plans set for the Picnic
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- Smokey Bear & Signal the Frog (T.B.
TBKZGD
)
- Pig Roast
- Official W.M.G. Picnic Shirt
- .gpx trail map of Mohawk Trail S.F. for
your GPS
- F.T.F. caches
- The Wishing Well (game)
- Best Geocaching Campsite (game)
- Rubber Duck River Race (Game)
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- KidCaches
(rules)
- Coloring Contest
- Camp Fire
- Geocaching
- Meeting Friends
- Camping
- Pot Luck Lunch's & Dinners
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