Alfred J Woodford State Forest
Chittening Pond
Chittening Pond is a small pond in the highlands outside of Bridgewater along Route 20. While the valleys around here are quite flat and lower elevation, this state land is made up of many little hills.
Waterville – Tassell Hill 1907
I pulled the 1907 Waterville Topographic Map as I was curious if any of the logging roads that are on Tassell Hill would appear on the old map. The answer is no.
Mountain Bike Trail from Janis Road to Tassell Hill
While many people hike up to Tassell Hill via Hardscrable Road from the north, another option is to hike from Upper White Road / Janis Street via the Mountain Bike Trail. This is a nice hike, with gradual ascents, though the bike trail has a lot of switch backs but it beats trying to climb over all the downed trees over the very rutted old woods road.
State Land – Timber Wildlife Recreation Water
I have not seen a Conservation Department State Land Marker like this one before, well before the modern DEC logo created in 1970 or possibly earlier.
Taken on Monday January 16, 2023 at Alfred J Woodford State Forest.Mountain Bike Trail
Walking along a narrow part of the mountain bike trail that runs up to Tassell Hill. Most of the trail would be good for cross-country skiing but maybe not this very narrow section.
Taken on Monday January 16, 2023 at Alfred J Woodford State Forest.Filtered Light on Janis Road
The hoar frost on the trees filters the light of the blue skies as I walked along Janis Road on Martin Luther King Day, hiking up to Tassell Hill. While the road is drivable with only a few icy patches, there is something nice about a quiet walk in the woods, observing nature without necessarily motoring.
Taken on Monday January 16, 2023 at Alfred J Woodford State Forest.