Bare Mtn & Mt. Hitchcock, MA, 8/30

[threecy]

Date Hiked: 8/30

Trails(s) Hiked: Metacomet-Monadnock Trail along the eastern part of the Holyoke Range.

Total Distance: Probably ~2.75-3.5 mi roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Conditions: Dry trail but rocky, party sunny, increasingly cloudy

Special Required Equipment: None

If it weren't for the rocky sections and the vertical deviation, it would be a pretty easy hike. Bare Mountain and Mt. Hitchcock are both about 1,010 in elevation (trailhead is around 530'), but there are low points of around 800' between the two with numerous rolls. Total vertical is around 1,380', took me about 1:40, including a lot of time spent trying to figure out how to keep the flash off on my new camera (I think I could do it a good half hour faster if I weren't messing with the camera). Views are decent - best are from Bare Mountain.

 

[MichaelJ]

Beautiful - thanks!

 

[Mike P.]

Bare is my favorite of the Holyoke's I try & get to Norwottuck & Bare once a year.

 

[threecy]

Ya, Bare was definitely the highlight of that hike - better views than Hitchcock. I do, however, prefer Norwottock over Bare since the view doesn't have the gravel pit in plain sight.