We will be hiking into the Sawmill Hills.  Depending on the ground cover (snow?), it is an easy to moderate hike of about 2 hours.  The first part of the hike is up hill and then it flattens out.  It's a beautiful forest with rock outcrops and vernal pools.  Dress for the weather, warm clothes with layers.  Wear hiking boots.  Bring your snow shoes if you have them but they're not required. For more information on the area, go to youtube and enter  "The Sawmill Hills" into the search.  I have a video from 3 years ago on the conservation area we will be hiking in.

Afterwards, we can convene at my house up the road for some lunch, I'll have a pot of soup to warm us up!

We will meet in the rear parking lot of the Art's and Industries building in Florence.  Take 91 North to Northampton Exit.  Make a left onto Pleasant Street, towards Northampton.  Make a left onto Rt. 9, Main Street, Northampton.  Go up past Smith College, keep going past the Cooley Dickinson Hospital and into Florence Center.  At Maple Street (Bird's Variety on left; Pizza Factory on Right) Make a left onto Maple and go to the bottom of the hill, making a right onto Nonotuck.   Go to the end of Nonotuck, The Arts and Industries Building will be right in front of you.  Make a left onto Pine Street, go over the bridge and make a right onto Spring Street.  Make the first right into the Elks lodge parking lot and then make a right into the lower parking lot behind the Arts and Industries Building.  We'll car pool up the street to Avis Circle since there isn't much parking at the trailhead on Avis Circle.