By: Marigold Averill
As the weather is getting colder and the sun is starting to set earlier and earlier, it can be so hard to spend time outside. These past couple weeks, my motivation and positivity has taken a dive in the dump. But, as my Mom reminded me, I simply need to get outside. On Friday morning, I decided to go hike Mount Norwottuck. It was that beautiful Friday where the temperature was perfect and miraculously, the sun was out. Despite having a class that afternoon, I “forced” myself to get outside and enjoy the weather. My mindset completely changed after getting some Vitamin D and exercise in the woods.
Last year, I was heavily involved in the Outing Club, a club at Umass focused on all things outdoors. Hiking for me is an adventure, a challenge – but more importantly, it's a huge stress reliever. Simply just being outside in the fresh air is a reminder for me that I don’t need to be as stressed and anxious as I am.
Being outside in natural light has huge benefits for anyone who suffers from seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that affects people during particular seasons of the year. I find myself feeling especially disconnected from nature the more time I spend on my phone — which can be a lot. According to Harvard University, “exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation”.
Though I tried to continue the streak of going on at least one adventure a week, I found it extremely difficult to do with this year's schedule. It may seem like a lot of work to carve out some time to enjoy the outdoors, but it is always always worth it.
Some mountains/hikes I have really enjoyed around Amherst so far:
Mount Holyoke Summit House
The Mount Holyoke Summit House is an incredible hike. I have done this trail more times than I can count. It’s very short – about 2 miles out-and-back. It’s a rather steep trail, but the view is so worth it. The summit gives you a look at all of Amherst and Northampton, along with the Connecticut River. Do this hike with your friends! It also can be a beautiful sunset hike, just make sure you time it so you aren’t hiking back in the dark (I learned this the hard way).
SugarLoaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain can be hiked via road or trail. I have done both, and love both for different reasons. I have hiked Sugarloaf as a sunrise hike via trail, and it was absolutely stunning. The trail is not too difficult, but if you’re not feeling a more intense hike, walking up the road is also a great way to reach the peak. This is another great hike to do with your friends, especially for a picnic or sunset hike.
Mount Norwottuck
Mount Norwottuck is a bit more difficult – just about 3.5 miles. It is another beautiful hike and the view is so worth it. I have done this trail as a sunrise hike, as well as just during the day. It can be steep at parts, but a great adventure and not too challenging. There are also other trails around Mount Norwottuck that don’t reach the peak but are beautiful flat trails that parallel a river.
Bare Mountain
I have only hiked Bare Mountain once, as a sunrise hike. It was a beautiful hike and I would love to do it again. It is only about 1.1 miles out-and-back and is not too difficult. Steep at parts, but not a huge challenge. This is another mountain on Mt. Holyoke Range and I would definitely recommend you check it out!