AMC Fall Gathering 2009

The Berkshire Chapter hosted AMC Fall Gathering 2009 over the October 16-18 weekend at Becket Chimney Corners YMCA Camp, 748 Hamilton Road, Becket, MA 01223 www.bccymca.org.

Please check out our collection of photos taken on Friday and Saturday. Check back often as we will be adding more photos. If you have photos you’d like us to post, please contact our webmaster.

Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA Camp was a wonderful host. Our accommodations were comfortable, and the food was GREAT! Due to the cold nights, some of our unheated lodging guests upgraded to heated lodging. What a terrific, welcoming place!

Braving an unpromising weather forecast, participants and volunteers brought fantastic energy and enthusiasm to Becket. We had 145 weekend attendees, and 92 day attendees, for a total of 237 people! We’re told that this is a new record.

The fall foliage was gorgeous. We had wonderful outings and programs throughout the weekend: hiking, road biking, top rope climbing, flat-water paddling, trail work, Noble View tours, Friday night Jeopardy, Saturday and Sunday yoga, Friday and Saturday evening campfires, and a non-denominational Sunday morning service. Many participants also enjoyed the Alpine Tower, High Ropes Course, Low Ropes Course, indoor climbing wall, and the lakeside sauna.

Happily, the rain held off on Saturday, and almost all of our activities went off as scheduled, except for our flatwater paddle trip on Upper and Lower Goose Ponds. We even added a hike to Upper Goose Pond, because many of our Saturday hikes were full.

Saturday also included some fantastic presentations:

• “It’s Not About The Hike” – a wonderful and inspiring audio-visual presention by Nancy Sporborg and Pat Piper
• The Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts – by our Appalachian Trail Committee members
• Paddling the Connecticut River - by Wendy and John Sinton, authors of The Connecticut River Boating Guide – Source to Sea

Saturday night’s contra dancing with David Kaynor and friends was a blast. Over 150 people danced, socialized, and had a wonderful time. And once the dance was over, a bonfire at the Amphitheater kept things going until after midnight.

Weatherwise, Sunday was a different story. Snow began falling in the morning, with a winter storm warning in effect. Our leaders canceled the Monument Mountain hike and the road bike trip, and (no surprise!) no one was interested in mountain biking. We still managed to have fun, though. A hike to Bob’s Way was added, so that folks who weren’t inclined to flee because of the weather would have an activity, and Pat Stevenson offered a fascinating Mt. Everest Base Camp presentation in the dining hall for those who wanted to stay warm and dry.

The door prizes and the Maine Woods Initiative raffle, both spearheaded by Cath Benoit, were a big hit. Many thanks to our generous donors. Please give these folks your business!

Adventure Medical Kits adventuremedicalkits.com	(6) Light & Fast First Aid Kits
Appalachian Mountain Club Joy St, Boston, MA outdoors.org	Two-night-stay for two at Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins or Medawisla Lodge and Cabins, Greenville, ME AMC River Guide Maine AMC’s Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Connecticut Discover Cape Cod Discover Martha’s Vineyard Quiet Water New York Catskill Mountain Guide Massachusetts Trail Guide
Arcadian Shop Route 7, Lenox, MA arcadian.com	Kayak Rental
BJ’s Wholesale Chicopee, MA	Air Compressor (2) 4-Pack Cutter Insect Repellent (2) SwissGear Elite Series Biking Hydration Pack
Wendy Barbour Southwick, MA	Handmade earrings
Bascom Lodge Mt. Greylock, North Adams, MA bascomlodge.net	Overnight Stay With Dinner & Breakfast For Two
Baystate Health Systems Springfield, MA baystatehealth.com	Cash Donation Two women’s “Rays Of Hope” sweatshirt, size “L”
Black Diamond blackdiamondequipment.com	All Season Trekking Poles
Bromley Mountain Peru, VT bromley.com	One All Day Ski Lift Ticket, no restrictions
Canterbury Farms Becket, MA www.canterbury-farms.com	Four Trail Passes
Catamount Ski Area Hillsdale, NY catamountski.com	2 Ski Lift Tickets
The Colonial Theater Pittsfield, MA thecolonialtheatre.org	Two Theater Tickets – any show
Gary Ensor, Attorney South Hadley, MA	Hiking the Grand Canyon (2) Cross Stitch kits Pacific Outdoor Pneumo Dry Sack – 25 Liter Teton Grill Co. Fire Wrangling Gloves Picnic Time Wine Tote Fleece Blanket
Friendly’s Wilbraham, MA www.friendlys.com	Gift Certificate
Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home Manchester, VT www.hildene.org	Five Sets Of Passes For Two For Admission To Cross Country Ski The Trails Or Tour The House And Grounds
Hilltop Orchards Richmond, MA hilltoporchards.com	Cross Country Ski Or Snowshoe Trail Passes For 2
Howe Caverns Howe’s Cave, NY howecaverns.com	Family Pass For Cavern Tour and Underground Boat Ride
Emily King - Silver Essence Jewelry Becket, MA silveressencejewelry.com	Handmade earrings
Mountain Hardware mountainhardware.com	Scrambler Backpack Women’s ‘Aludra’ Beanie Men’s Synchro Jacket w/Conduit Softshell
Noble View Outdoor Center Russell, MA nobleviewoutdoorcenter.org	Two-Night-Stay for Seven
Northampton Athletic Club Northampton, MA nohoac.com	One Month Membership
Norman Rockwell Museum Stockbridge, MA nrm.org	2 Passes
Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area Northfield, MA www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/ccski.asp	(2) Trail Passes for Two, including snowshoe or cross country ski rental
Patagonia Boston, MA patagonia.com	Women’s R1 Jacket Men’s Nano Puff Jacket Men’s Capilene Zipneck undershirt Women’s Capilene Zipneck undershirt
Jayne Price Chicopee, MA	Commemorative AMC Fall Gathering Quilt
Randall Farms Rte 21, Ludlow, MA randallsfarm.net	Gift Certificate
Trader Joe’s Hadley, MA	Selection of Trail Mix, Granola and Energy Bars and Reusable Tote
Zoar Outdoors zoaroutdoor.com	Zipline Canopy Tours Pass For Two

Thanks once more to our donors, and to our many volunteers and participants. You all contributed to a wonderful weekend!

To our Worcester Chapter friends – see you in Fall, 2010! We’re already looking forward to your Fall Gathering.

Regards,

Deborah Levine and Rob Robertson, Co-Chairs
AMC Fall Gathering 2009