A Visit to Mt. Greylock

I had hoped to do a four-day bicycle tour with the highlight being a stay atop Mt. Greylock, in western Massachusetts. Work problems made that impossible, so instead I loaded my bike onto the back of the car on Saturday, Septemer 10, 2006, drove to Mt. Greylock, parked in the visitors center near the base of the mountain, and rode up from there.

(Click any image to view a larger version.)

The Ride Up

It's mostly uphill!

The summit of Mt. Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. The Rockwell Road runs up the southern spine of the mountain, with the visitors center being about a half-mile from the bottom. The first mile or so (closer to two miles if you start from the very bottom instead of at the visitors center) features some fairly steep parts. In a few places, I found myself in the lowest gear my bike offers (about 23 gear-inches) and mashing the pedals.

A beautiful day for a ride. On the way up, the temperature was in the mid to upper 70's. (By the way, I usually ride with a helmet but forgot to bring it.)

After that beginning, the road becomes one of mostly rolling hills for a couple of miles. There is even a short, steep downhill section. Then the slope turns upward as you head up Mt. Greylock proper toward the summit.

What can you do with a large tree stump? Art!

There are several places along the Rockwell Road where you can get a nice view to the west. As you can see, it was a hazy day.

Mt. Greylock is criss-crossed with trails, including the Appalachian Trail.

The Trail cuts across the Rockwell Road in several well-marked spots.

The Trail goes right to the summit of the mountain.

I made it!

Next: At the Summit