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Short-Cut Routes

ta&idaho

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From NYC I would try to avoid 95 or the Merritt (though I'd prefer the Merritt of the two). If I were going to I-91, I would take the Saw Mill / 684 to 84 to 91.

This is an old thread, but it has good info so I don't mind bumping it. Specific question: what's the best way to get from the UWS to the 91 early on a Saturday morning? (In other words, does the relative lack of traffic change kcyanks' advice quoted above?) Also, coming back into the city on a Saturday night, is the Saw Mill route the way to go?

Thanks for the help...
 

drjeff

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I don't know exactly where it is but we take Route 2 to Colrain Shelburne Rd which then becomes Greenfield Rd before running into Route 112 in Colrain. I know its well before we hit 112. It jumps right out at you high up on the hill on the driver's side when headed north. Don't notice it at all heading South. Last few trips up it hasn't been lit up. Not sure if its my timing or its been shut off.

The flag is tougher to see heading South Bound since you'd have to look back over your Right shoulder to see it. Heading Southbound it would have been maybe 1/2mile AFTER you passed the farmstand/orchard that you go by maybe a mile after you finish climbing the big hill out of Colrain. Also, it hasn't been lit up the last few weeks as I driven by, and NOT just the ice storm week.

Neon flag? I've yet to see that. I do always look at the cool metal mt lion on the top of the hill before Colrain.

The flag is now famous! I'm watching CSI tonight, and I see a commercial for the Army, and low and behold, I see what I'm 99.9% sure is the flag up on the hill off Colrain Road :flag: So off to the army website and a few minutes of hunting later, I find the commercial! The soldier, SPC Shannon Lee Hosmer Davis, is from Western Mass, and I'd bet a decent amount of $$ that it's THE flag in question!

Click on the flash video link in the link below and the flag is right at the beginning, shot from where I'd bet the passing zone begins as you climb the hill just before Pine Hill Orchards

http://www.goarmy.com/for_parents/davis01.jsp

BTW, the flag is the 1st shot in the different video on page 2 of the link also :) :flag:
 

Glenn

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Yeah, I just paused the vid...that has to be it.

OK, now I see what flag you guys are talking about! I had no idea they lit it up. Even rolling by early in the AM, I've never seen it lit up. That's a very cool sight to see that flag up on thill as you're heading north. Furtermore, the snowmobile tracks leading up to the flag are an indication that someone has some big brass.....or a really long track sled. :spin:
 

MommaBear

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Sure looks like it to me! Nice catch. It was really cool to see it lit at night. Haven't seen it lit yet this year thou. :-(
 

MommaBear

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Anyone have a more direct route from West Dover to Magic then 100/30/11? Looks like there should be a backroad that runs more direct.
 

ts01

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Anyone have a more direct route from West Dover to Magic then 100/30/11? Looks like there should be a backroad that runs more direct.

I'm not sure if you mean taking 100 past the part where it's contiguous with 30 and then continuing on 100 north up into Londonderry and then east on 11. If so, you can cut off a couple of miles and avoid traffic once you hit South Londonderry, go right on the first road after the bridge -- Thompsonburg Road -- which will meet up with Rt 11 about a quarter mile from Magic access road; go right on Rt 11 and you're there. A little shortcut not a big one but it all adds up.
 

icedtea

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From rt 103....make a right at the whistlestop...

Stay on Claredon Rd. - Take that to Stratton Rd. - Stratton Rd. to Killington Ave. - Killington Ave. to Townline Rd. - Townline Rd to Rt. 4

Also, has anyone drove the entire length of Wheelerville Rd, it is a pretty cool cruise.
 

MommaBear

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I'm not sure if you mean taking 100 past the part where it's contiguous with 30 and then continuing on 100 north up into Londonderry and then east on 11. If so, you can cut off a couple of miles and avoid traffic once you hit South Londonderry, go right on the first road after the bridge -- Thompsonburg Road -- which will meet up with Rt 11 about a quarter mile from Magic access road; go right on Rt 11 and you're there. A little shortcut not a big one but it all adds up.

Thanks! We'll check it out next trip.
 

JD

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I am confused by traffic coming to sugarbush from 89 on friday nights. Seems like poeple use the Northfield exit? That adds like 16 miles to the trip. Get off in Randolph and take 12A up to Roxbury ferchrisake.
 

icedtea

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Yeah, but not exactly a shortcut.

It's been years since I've been farther than the parking lot at the Bucklin Trail trailhead.

haha, definitely not a short cut. how cool would it be to have a house back there, and just ski off the back side home.
 

wa-loaf

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Then what? I did that once and my GPS took me on some dirt road up the mountain.

Yea, you only want to do that if the weather is good or you have 4wd with snows. (rode up with a guy who had a jeep but crappy tires, he couldn't make it up with only 4 inches of snow) It will save you close to a 1/2 hour if you make it.
 

Abominable

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I stumbled onto this thread (definitely took the long way) but it has some good advice, so I'll bump it, and add one of my own (that I'm sure most everyone knows about).

If you're taking the Taconic / 295 / 22, you can cut the corner of 295 & 22 off by taking Queechy Lake Drive (aka County Rd 30). Saves you a light and can get you around a few cars if you need it. Also, the Backwater Bar right there is a neat spot.
 

ScottySkis

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I stumbled onto this thread (definitely took the long way) but it has some good advice, so I'll bump it, and add one of my own (that I'm sure most everyone knows about).

If you're taking the Taconic / 295 / 22, you can cut the corner of 295 & 22 off by taking Queechy Lake Drive (aka County Rd 30). Saves you a light and can get you around a few cars if you need it. Also, the Backwater Bar right there is a neat spot.
That is a good short cut.
 

steamboat1

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I stumbled onto this thread (definitely took the long way) but it has some good advice, so I'll bump it, and add one of my own (that I'm sure most everyone knows about).

If you're taking the Taconic / 295 / 22, you can cut the corner of 295 & 22 off by taking Queechy Lake Drive (aka County Rd 30). Saves you a light and can get you around a few cars if you need it. Also, the Backwater Bar right there is a neat spot.
Watch your speed going through there. A cop has been hanging out there lately giving speeding tickets. It's a 35mph zone.
 
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