LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Members of DCR told the Mount Greylock Advisory Council that in most cases vehicles longer than 22 feet will no longer be allowed to traverse the roads to the summit.
"I think overall everyone will be pleased with the way this came out, and it will fix a lot of problems for us," Mark Jester, mountain district manager for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, said.
The councilors at their last meeting had talked about concerns they had with school buses and other long vehicles navigating the tricky summit roads. They drafted a letter to the state that contained safety concerns as well as maintenance worries with larger, heavier vehicles using the narrow road.
"We want people to be able to travel safely. With the steepness and all of the curves, it is difficult and unsafe," Jester said. "You go around a blind corner and here comes a bus over the top of you."
Jester said the letter had an impact and that DCR is making changes to parks throughout the commonwealth that have similar problems.
"The letter the council sent was great and really got the ball moving," he said. "The commissioner was involved in several meetings."
Vehicles longer than 22 feet will not be permitted and that means buses, trucks and recreational vehicles. Exceptions will be made for service vehicles.
Jester said they now have to get the word out. Signage has been placed at the bottom of the mountain, but they still need to reach out to schools and tour groups.
Becky Barnes of DCR said the schools all knew this change was coming as it has been a problem for years. She said schools will have to transport children in several smaller vehicles or transport smaller groups, which isn't a bad thing.
"They will not be surprised," she said.
Council member Isaac Herrmann urged DCR to reach out to Dufour Tours, which provides school bus transportation for the majority of schools in the county.
"The busing companies need to be targeted," he said. "It is great to get that information to the schools but they aren't always in control over the buses they get."
Barnes clarified that buses can still park in the bigger lots at the base of the mountain.
Council member Heather Linscott felt that maybe this should be the only place students can be dropped off, and that the students should ascend the mountain the old-fashioned way by foot.
"What example are we setting to have the kids bused up the top of the mountain? It just seems wrong," she said. "Maybe the buses should just go to the Visitors Center ... call me old fashioned."
Council member Joseph Rogge understood Linscott's sentiment but noted schools have to be totally inclusive and need to be able to provide access for all students, including those who may have mobility restrictions.
Catalano added that a typical school day may not accommodate a full hike to the summit although he liked the idea of more people actually hiking to the summit instead of driving.
The new policy goes into effect on Saturday, May 21, when the park roads open for the season.
In other business, the council had concerns over the Sperry Road campground that has been closed for two years.
"It is a big part of what people do on the mountain, and it is sad that such an important resource has been closed for two years," Catalano said.
Barnes said the problem is that new toilets need to be installed but this is a pretty difficult project with environmental concerns to consider. She said there are endangered species that have to be worked around along with funding shortfalls and supply issues.
Jester said they hoped to have the work complete by July but this looks unlikely. He said, realistically, the campground will be closed for another season.
Linscott had a concern over the backcountry sites with shelters. She said the ones she has used recently do not have toilets. Which she found troubling on a recent hike.
"There were like 15 or 16 Boy Scouts down there camping, and it just seemed terrible that there was no privy," she said. "Then you think how good does a 14-year-old dig a cat hole?"
Barnes said it is on the list of things to do but again cited budgetary constraints and supply issues
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation Scholarships
LUDLOW, Mass. — For the third year, Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation (BWPCC) will award scholarships to students from Lanesborough and Hancock.
The scholarship is open to seniors at Mount Greylock Regional High School and Charles H. McCann Technical School. BWPCC will select two students from the class of 2024 to receive $1,000 scholarships.
The scholarships will be awarded to qualifying seniors who are planning to attend either a two- or four-year college or trade school program. Seniors must be from either Hancock or Lanesborough to be considered for the scholarship. Special consideration will be given to students with financial need, but all students are encouraged to apply.
The BWPCC owns and operates the Berkshire Wind Power Project, a 12 turbine, 19.6-megawatt wind farm located on Brodie Mountain in Hancock and Lanesborough. The non-profit BWPCC consists of 16 municipal utilities located in Ashburnham, Boylston, Chicopee, Groton, Holden, Hull, Ipswich, Marblehead, Paxton, Peabody, Russell, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wakefield, and West Boylston, and their joint action agency, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC).
To be considered, students must submit all required documents including a letter of recommendation from their school counselor and a letter detailing their educational and professional goals. Application and submission details will be shared with students via their school counselors. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 19.
MMWEC is a not-for-profit, public corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created by an Act of the General Court in 1975 and authorized to issue tax-exempt debt to finance a wide range of energy facilities. MMWEC provides a variety of power supply, financial, risk management and other services to the state's consumer-owned, municipal utilities.
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more
Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Bella Kotek Sunday completed a Berkshire County sweep at the State Bowling Championships at Bowlero.
click for more
Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
click for more
Hoosac struggled to get into rhythm on the offensive end until Joey McGovern got the 3-ball working. McGovern finished the game with 21 points including a triple in the fourth quarter that cemented him in the record books. It took him nearly the whole game but he was able to join the 1,000-point... click for more
Pittsfield High's Eliza Mullen won state title and in the giant slalom and slalom, winning the former discipline by 1.6 seconds and the latter by nearly 2.7 seconds.
click for more