Ice Glen

Last fall, October 16th to be precise, I posted some pictures of a bridge over the river and trail I found at the end of a dead end road. Across the bridge were some railroad tracks and across that some trails led into the woods.

Well a week or so ago I learned the rest of the story.

Looking for a place for a family outing, my wife suggested a hike in a spot she had found about named ice glen. It was in the 90s so any place with the name "ice" had to be appealing. It was outside of Stockbridge down a side road with a bridge leading to the trail. At first I couldn't figure out where it was until we started talking directions I discovered that it was the trail on the other side of the tracks.


Waling up a steady incline into the wood it just seemed to be getting warmer, until the shade made it darker and the



until the rock walls appeared and the trail dropped into a narrow ravine. The walls of stone were actually huge rocks piled that created deep caves in the walls, vents into the deeper earth.
Passing each cave the temperature dropped and a cool moist air seemed to pour out. The moisture feeding the green foliage and cool air feeling like an air conditioner.


Some of the steep walls were covered in moss and ferns and small plants clung to the sides well anchored almost like a terrarium .


The trail moved up and down through the rocks with the caves at the base somewhat ominous in what nocturnal wild life might be within. The base seemed almost like a stream bed, which in the spring I expect it is. Draining into the underground caves and cascading down to the river we crossed over.

The writeup said that snow could sometimes be found into the summer. I can imagine that, though the steady heat of the past few weeks eliminated that chance.

An amazing sight and experience, so removed and quiet and cool yet so close to the "beaten path" .

One never knows what is at the end of a trail.