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June Bride on October Mountain LbNA #18465 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:wandaandpete
Plant date:Oct 5, 2005
Location:
City:Washington
County:Berkshire
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Found by: Buggylou
Last found:May 14, 2016
Status:FFFFaFr
Last edited:Jun 4, 2021
126. JUNE BRIDE ON OCTOBER MOUNTAIN

A beautiful, mellow one mile round trip ramble on a relocated section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the central Berkshires of MA, with a lovely stamp carved by RTRW.

We actually planted this letterbox quite a while ago, but are only just now getting around to posting it. (Guess we were waiting for October to go along with the name of the area it is planted in!) To reach this scenic and fairly remote part of Massachusetts - we even saw a black bear here while planting! - it is probably easiest to start from Pittsfield. Heading east from route 7 on Williams St, bear right on Mt Washington Rd for 5.6 miles as it turns into Pittsfield Rd. Then turn right on gravel West Branch Rd (right near the house where Mrs Hutchinson used to pass out cookies to AT hikers in the 1970's), and go just over 1/2 mile west to a small parking space on the left at the AT crossing.

Hike south on the AT up the rooty trail, continuing to follow white blazes for about half a mile to the new October Mt. backpackers' shelter. After checking out the shelter area, start heading back the way you came, but stop, still within sight of the outhouse, just south of a U-shaped white birch practically in the middle of the trail. Note "Garv" carved on the beech tree to the left. From "Garv", it is only 3 steps at 210 degrees (south from the U-tree) to a small moss covered rock with a gray lichen spot. (We left a quartz cobble on top and some small pieces of wood in front of it) Tucked underneath in a snug bed is the "June Bride" in her "white attire"! Please re-hide her carefully so that she blends in perfectly with her natural surroundings. She is very close to the trail and would not like to be awakened accidentally!