Out There

Spring Forward, Falls Ahead
by Cynthia Saunders

Even on the springiest of days, it can be hard to make time to get out. Much easier, unfortunately, is getting swept up in your day-to-day routine. In the face of all this productivity, however, it seems important to do something you truly love for its own sake. For me, nothing melts my stress away like a leisurely stroll through the woods. So, now that we’re officially into spring and these deep drifts of New England snow have begun thinning out, I recently decided it was time to grab my best hiking partner, Mike, and catch some local waterfalls at their fullest, starting with the Cascades in North Adams.

The Cascades are the perfect side trip for somebody who wants to get the serenity of a walk in the woods without devoting a full day to the trek. From the trail’s origin at the end of Marion Ave. to the base of the falls, it’s a leisurely twenty minute stroll up a gentle incline. Of course, if you’re like us and you’ve recently purchased a new digital camera, the trip might be a little longer. I kept stopping to photograph quintessential March moments—you know, places where the river had melted tunnels and grooves into ledges of ice, or vibrant rows of green moss topped the topsides of snowy logs. Mike, on the other hand, was in the mood to experiment with some unusual action shots; with a little imagination and some careful framing, we had fun making ourselves look like more than just your average hikers.

The falls themselves were beautiful and gushing, just as we had hoped, and we paused there for some tasty Cup and Saucer sandwiches carried up from downtown (although future Cascade hikers be on the watch: I understand Brew Ha Ha will be located within walking distance soon enough.) All in all, it was a relatively simple hike; neither one of us ever broke a sweat, but we still got what we came for—some fresh air, some great shots, and a quick reminder of just how close spring really is.

So, while I’ve got you thinking about waterfalls, let me put a few more locales on your mental map: there are the Windsor Jams in Windsor, Wahconah Falls in Dalton, and Tannery Falls in Savoy, just to name a few. So, while all the water is rushing down, I say go rush up to watch it. Or, on second thought, don’t rush. Take a lunch. Take a date. Take some pictures. Most of all, take your time.