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Public Calendar For Prospective Members of Women Outdoors Western Massachusetts
Welcome! Please CONTACT US with any questions about events.
Tusi ritachild@hotmail.com and Nira niraharper@gmail.com
When you participate in an event, you assume the risk as stated here:
Please note that all Women Outdoors trips are cooperative trips led by volunteers. While members are concerned for safety, our experience levels differ and mistakes may be made. There may also be equipment failure, unexpected dangers, or conditions beyond our control (such as weather). There is also an inherent level of risk in many of the activities that cannot be eliminated. Women Outdoors and its coordinators don’t train, screen or certify any of the leaders or supervise the trips. All trips are offered in the common adventurer spirit – where each participant is responsible for her own skills level and safety. Please be sure to verify all of the information above as well as the organizer’s experience and trip plans to your own satisfaction so you can make an informed decision about whether the trip is right and safe for you. Remember that in choosing to participate you are agreeing to assume responsibility for all risks associated with the activity. Women Outdoors trips have an excellent safety record. We ask that you take care to keep it this way!
Wednesday Walks. Noor and others will lead some Wednesday hikes or walks, not every week, usually at 1:00 pm. Details will be posted over the listserv.
Wed. July 3. Kayak on Miller’s River. Meet at 1:30pm at Billy Goat Boats in Orange, MA. This is a quiet water paddle on the Mill River. Billy Goat Boats rents/sells kayaks (also paddleboards, paddleboats and canoes). I will be renting a kayak. You can bring your own boat or rent one yourself. If you are going to rent, make a reservation. billygoatboats.com. Let me know if you are coming.
Thurs. July 4. Potluck, Swim, Games. 12:00 – 5:00 pm at Paula's, 60 Water street in Leeds located directly on the Mill river. You must have water shoes to go in the river. Please PARK on the river side of the street ONLY so traffic on the road does not get blocked. Enter Paula’s yard through the gate that is to the left when you are facing the house. Please do not go down the driveway.
Bring a dish to share and ALL serving bowls, silverware and other items you will need to serve your dish or your own meal. We’ll have a small portable grill if someone needs to cook meat or plant meal.This is a “leave no trace” picnic. Please, no single use water bottles or plastics.
There is an outdoor sink for water and so you can clean your dishes before you go home if you like.
Here is what you might need to bring: folding chair, water to drink, bathing suit and towel, water shoes, bug repellent if you need it, pot luck dish, sunscreen, plate and serving spoon, fork or knife.
Sun. July 7. Chesterfield Gorge Bike & Swim. Meet at 10:00 am at Chesterfield Gorge Trailhead for a moderate ride to the dam. We’ll stop to swim in the beautiful river on the way back. Recommend bikes with wider tires. Trail is hard pack dirt with some rocks and some small hills. Bring snacks, water, bathing suit, sunscreen, water shoes, towel.
Sat. July 13. Swift River Paddle. Meet at 11:30 at the Cold Springs Rd, Belchertown put in for an easy paddle on this scenic river. The water is cold and calm and worth a nice dip if you’re up for it. I hope you can join us.
Sun. July 14. Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival. Join me starting at 11:00 am for this FREE walking event in Shelburne Falls. Homes and businesses set up with musicians on their porches and lawns and we can walk as we like from place to place. I'd like to leave from Northampton at 10:00 am, walk for a while, and then rendezvous for a picnic lunch at about 1:00 pm nearby some entertainment, and then walk again until 3:00. I can help coordinate a carpool if there is interest. The event runs 11:00 am to 6:00 pm so we could adjust the length of stay based on interest. See last year's pics and lineup at shelburnefallsporchfestival.com or on instagram.
Sun. July 14. Bike Ride Florence - Haydenville. Bike ride Florence to Leeds to Mountain Street Reservoir and back via N. Farms Rd. Meet 11:30 am at Florence Paint next to the bike path.
Mon. July 15. Moonlight Swim. Come at 7:30 pm to Musante Beach on the Mill River in Leeds to enjoy the warm water with friends.
Fri. July 26. Bike & Dinner. Meet at 6:15 at the Damon Rd. Parking lot and ride on the bike path to Maple Farms for dinner. Total ride is an easy 9 miles.
Sun. July 28. Walk at Bright Water Bog. New Kestrel project in Shutesbury, located very near Lake Wyola. Latest information is at https://www.kestreltrust.org/blog/ and there's a map at
Sun. Aug. 11. Bike & Swim. We’ll do a 15 or so mile ride to a place to swim. Details TBD.
Wed. Aug. 14, Triple Event at Clark Museum, Williamstown. 4:00 pm hike along the Clark Museum trails with a vista of Vermont Green Mts. 5:00-9:00 pm free admission to Clark Art Museum. 8:10 pm outdoor movie, My Life as a Zucchini, 2017 animated film , Academy nominated. 65 min . You can participate all or either events(s).
Thurs. Aug. 15. Moonlight Swim. Meet at Musante Beach in Leeds to enjoy the warm water with friends.
Sun. Aug. 18. Tully Lake Paddle & Swim. We’ll paddle the river, then paddle out to the lake islands for a swim.
Mon. Aug. 19. Full Moon & Poetry Hike. Gather at 7:00 pm at Mt. Sugarloaf, Deerfield, for an easy ½ hour uphill to a lookout where we can watch the sunset and the full moon rise. Bring a poem to read (optional).
Thurs. Aug. 22. Hike & Swim at Kilburn Pond, Pisgah State Park, NH. We’ll take a one mile hike on a very gradual hill trail to a large, pristine pond for swimming and relaxing.
Sat. Aug. 24. Hike & Potluck in Granby. Easy to moderate hike in the vicinity of Bay Road in Granby, followed by a potluck at Bushey’s house, 7 School St., Granby. Bring a chair, a potluck item and bathing suit for the pool, if desired. Feel free to do hike or potluck or both. FYI: cat and dog at the house. Anyone want to co-host the hike?
Sun. Aug. 25. Rutland State Park Bike and Swim. Bike the Mass Central Rail trail from Barre, MA to Rutland State park for a swim. 11:00 am. Total ride 14 miles -Moderate.
Bring your lunch. Option to meet at Rutland State Park to just swim.
*Note: this section of the Central Mass rail trail is not paved. It is hard packed and gravel. Probably not appropriate for a road bike.
Sun. Sept. 1. Bike Ride Sunderland – So. Deerfield. We’ll do an 18 mile ride with hills on scenic roads.
Sun Sept. 15. Quabbin Area Bike Ride. Please join us for a moderate, slightly challenging 14 mile ride mostly on gravel/dirt roads to explore the lost towns that were flooded to make the Quabbin Reservoir: Dana, Prescott, Enfield and Greenwich. Easier option: Bike in 2 miles to the lost town of Dana and explore. Bike back to start – uphill on the way back. Bring lunch or drive to Petersham country store after (about 4 miles) for lunch. Total trip about 2.5 hours not including lunch Meet at Gate 40 about 4 miles South of the Petersham town green on Rt 32A/Hardwick Rd. - about 1 hour from Northampton.
* Note: This ride is not suitable for road bikes. It requires hybrid or mountain bike tires. Please let me know if you would like to join us.
Sun. Sept. 22. Will Bike 4 Food. Eleven of us are riding 25 – 50 miles, for our 10th year!, to raise much needed funds for the Food Bank of Western MA. If you’d like to support us, go to: https://secure.foodbankwma.org/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=2830&pg=team&fr_id=1120 Thank you.