Noble is the View

So it was the womanly woman's birthday last week. After consulting a few of her lists, I conjured up a nice little getaway into the woods of western Massachusetts to escape NYC's urban madness. I kept it a secret, weathering the poke-and-prod and hint-soliciting from KZ. To feed her curiosity, I left some scraps for her: 1) Noble is the View. 2) Charge your phone. 3) LaGuardia.

Most campsites close in mid-October, but after a series of phone calls, emails, and some written correspondence, I managed to book the Farmhouse (built in 1831) at Noble View Camp, a 360 acre site with trails, beautiful views, cottages, and our farmhouse. It was a short drive away from the M-M Trail, the 116 mile trail that stretches from New Hampshire down to Connecticut. I chose section 6 of the trail, which included a nice hike into the wooded crests and ridges of Mount Tom. When I first talked to Gary, he made sure to note, "It's real rustic. Bring-your-own- water rustic. Gas lights, too." Perfect, I thought.

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

Forgot how much I love wood stoves. As KZ said, far more entertainment than TV could ever offer.

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

Take a hike!

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

From Noble is the View

Hell of a hike. A storm started to blow in, winds gusting and swirling around us during our descent. Word to the wise: If you start your hike at section 6, don't use the animal hospital for parking. Luckily, we were spared a tow.

"When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out." Karen, the Log Lady.

From Noble is the View