'Rent a Backpack' Soon to Start at Dalton Library

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Tuesday, March 26, 2024Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Hikers can soon rent a backpack full of beginner hiking material at the Dalton Free Public Library.

Berkshire Family Hikes founder Taylor Staubach said the endeavor will be launched with a hike of the Pines with the town's Open Space and Recreation Committee.

Staubach is still in the process of planning the event but hopes to have it on a weekend in mid-May.

The organization's Uncommon Paths Program was approved for a $648 grant through the Cultural Council in November. The program includes a backpack-borrowing initiative.

The endeavor will allow library card holders to rent a backpack at the Dalton Library at no cost. Hikers can rent the bag for one week.

The pack will be filled with materials a beginner hiker will find useful, including a first aid kit, binoculars, compass, and more. The library will have two bags available.

Although hikers can bring the bag to other hiking destinations in the area, Staubach wanted to find a way to incorporate the Pines into the program because of its accessibility.

"I feel like it serves that dual purpose to really raise the awareness of that property and its newness, and its inclusiveness for all mobilities," Staubach said.

"I also think I'm not opposed to people wanting to take it up to the Appalachian Trail or the Boulders either or even outside of Dalton, but it's really aimed at creating a community initiative to encourage people to get outdoors."

Tags: hiking,

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Friday Front Porch Feature: Luxury on Pontoosuc Lake

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Friday, August 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a private estate right on the lake? Then this might be the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 140 Hancock Road.

This house was built in 2015 and has eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It is 7,494 square feet on a little over an acre.

The house sits on Pontoosuc Lake and includes private lake access and a heated pool with an expansive deck.

The kitchen is equipped with Wolf and SubZero appliances and there is a full outdoor kitchen as well. The property has three additional separated living quarters, each with a kitchen and its own living room.

The house also includes a big garage for multiple cars or more. Included in the garage is your very own elevator that leads to the in-law apartment.

It is on the market for $3,900,000.

We spoke with listing agent Katie Soules and Jeff Astore from William Raveis

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

What truly makes this property stand out is that you simply don't find this combination very often in the Berkshires. It's an extraordinary lakefront setting, incredible scale, and a lifestyle that's hard to replicate. You have the lake, the mountain views, the pool, the dock, amazing entertaining spaces, and the flexibility to accommodate family, friends, and guests. It feels less like simply owning a beautiful home and more like owning your own private Berkshire retreat.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

I'd tell them to stop thinking of it as just a house and imagine what life here could actually feel like. Mornings on the lake, afternoons on the water or by the pool, evenings entertaining friends and family with the mountains as your backdrop. This is a place where everyday life can feel like a vacation and where you can create the kind of memories that stay with you for years.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of the home?

The home has a really special feel, elegant and impressive, but at the same time warm, relaxed, and incredibly inviting. There's a natural connection to the lake and the outdoors throughout the home, so it never feels like luxury for the sake of luxury. It feels like a place designed to be lived in, enjoyed, and shared with family, friends, and plenty of unforgettable moments.

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