I Called Mount Greylock State Reservation enrte. to the mountain at (413) 499-4262 (here is an alternate # [(413) 499-4263] to inquire about trail conditions due to the torrential rain we had last night 4/26 and throughout the week.
I shared with our contact that our plan was to hike Cheshire Harbor Trail. She mentioned that coming down Gould would be tricky given all the rain we had, as in general it can be challenging to cross the brooks on the trail, and, therefore recommended going back down Cheshire Harbor Trail as well.
A group of 9 of us set off around 9:30 a.m. or so from the Cheshire Harbor Trail Head. On W. Mountain Road in Adams, MA. It hailed for a good part of our hike up. The hike was muddy & wet. Be sure to wear gaiters and water-proof boots are a must. It will feel like you are walking in a stream for a portion of the hike as water runs down the trail (this held true in November when I hiked this trail as well.) I wore my winter books and my feet were perfectly warm on a day when the weather was forecasted to be 50 degrees and it turned out to be a lot colder than that. So be sure to pack the essentials:
For Summer Day Hikes:
The Ten Essentials
Compass
Warm Clothing
-Sweater or Pile Jacket
-Long Pants (wool or synthetic)
-Hat (wool)
Extra Food and Water
Flashlight or Headlamp
Matches/Firestarters
First Aid Kit/Repair Kit
Whistle
Rain/Wind Jacket & Pants
Pocket Knife
Also:
Sturdy Footwear and Extra Socks
Watch
Trash Bag (for trash or rain protection)
Light Plastic Tarp or “Space” Blanket
Guidebook
Insect Repellant
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Gloves or Mittens
Personal Medications
Cord/Rope
Gaiters
Extra Batteries
http://www.hikesafe.com/index.php?page=full-gear-list
We did encounter snow towards the top, however we didn't need micro-spikes or poles (brought both with me though…) as the ground wasn't frozen.
When we summited, we stopped at the top which has composting toilets (not a common amenity at a summit) and then promptly walked down to where we would be able to find protection from the wind to grab a bite to eat. On our hike back to the car, at times it hailed some more; we didn't let that stop us from taking pictures of the Trillium & Fiddleheads etc.
Over all a great hike!
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