Barry's Late March Visit

I went up to Arunah on Friday but the clouds rolled in when I finished setting up my scope.
I made it through the snow with little trouble. The top of the hill has dried out some more.
I stayed for the day on Saturday but the clouds returned late afternoon so I packed up and
left just after sunset.

The snow at big curve had softened up some but I made it back through.
There is alot of debris around the top of the hill that will keep us busy in the coming months.
The outhouse was untouched by falling limbs but the shower stall was not so lucky. The telescope shed was free of mice. The decon was still untouched. The stovepipe will need to be replaced as it has rusted out just outside the wall allowing some ash to fall to ground and singe the grass.

I spent part of the day Saturday watching about 50 robins looking for grubs, a sure sign that spring has arrived. I have attached a couple of pics.
Barry

Winter and Spring in a Standoff

No longer winter on the hill, but not quit spring on Arunah Hill. I just depends where you are standing. It's high mud season on the lower driveway... It' passible, but watch out for some serious washouts. I don't advise going up to the hill alone at night right now. There are some DEEP washouts that can grab even a 4 wheel drive vehicle, and one wrong turn and it's mud up to your axle.

Past the brook it's still winter... over a foot of snow at 'the big turn'. As you approach the top of the road, it' starts to clear and firm up. The clearing is a bit muddy, but mostly snow free.

I don't think the road will be passable by the April workday, but we should be able to hike up and get lots done.

As for a Messier Marathon next weekend, as long as the dry weather holds up you can at least set up at the lower field... just watch out on the driveway. See the red circle in this, the rut is 10" deep!

-Ed

March 8, 2009

No workday this month, but I visited the hill today to show some film students around Arunah Hill. Three grad students from Massachusetts College of Art and Design are making a short video of "The Hidden Hills" of Western Mass. They are having a good time touring the Berkshires and enjoyed seeing our Gaertner Telescope and admiring the fine craftsmanship to the Timber Frame Pavilion. I don't know how much of Arunah Hill will make the final cut, but we may see the students back for Arunah Hill Days.

Today was a warm spring day and Mud Season has hit Trouble Street and is starting to hit our gravel road. The Sugar House down in Worthington had a booming brunch business going, and the Sugar Evaporators on Rt nine were all on a full boil.

-Ed