South Side of Smarts Brook

Rambling through the forest on a chilly spring afternoon.

The Tri-Town Trail is a pleasant woods walk.

The Smarts Brook beaver pond is mostly a meadow now.

Went off-trail for several meandering miles, first to investigate a spruce-topped cliff. Passed this mossy ledge at the base.

Looking up at the cliff, a wild spot tucked in between two old clear-cuts.

Had hoped to find a view up the Smarts Brook valley from the cliff, but any open spots were too tricky to get down to, so I settled for a peek through the trees.

Boulder creature.

From the other side.

Sachem Peak and Jennings Peak from an old logging cut that for some reason has not yet been overgrown with saplings.

Nice view of Bald Knob and several of its view ledges.

Cleaved boulder.

Ascending through a beautiful hardwood basin on the SW side of Black Mountain. There are many large sugar maples in here.

Toppled giant.

Guardians of a chaga tree.

Magnificent forest.

Monarch of the slope.

Looks like rough going up there.

Inviting corridor.

Gnarled oldsters at 2350 ft.

Top of the drainage.

Intricate branch art.

Window view of Stinson Mountain.

Heading down through the hardwood expanse.

Thirty-foot cascade on the tributary brook that drains the basin.

Waterslide.

Three across.

Smarts Brook Cascade, beside the Smarts Brook Trail.