495. MA NET - Southwick/Agawam: Chipper on the Mountain

If you're out to hike the whole M&M or NET in MA, head out bright and early to Rising Corner on Barry St. in the Feeding Hills section of Agawam near Southwick, west of Springfield at the CT border, and just start following the white blazes north! However, if you're just going for this one box (or perhaps including a visit with Susan B. nearby) park by the row of boulders on the north side of route 57 about a half mile or so west downhill from the Agawam/Southwick ridge border, or just a bit further west in the large gravel pull-off.

Follow the white blazes north past the gate on a flat old dirt road, pass an abandoned quarry on the right, and give a wave to Susan B. up on the hill. (You might want to go up and visit her afterwards, if you haven't already done so.) Continue following the white-blazed trail as it turns off the dirt road and contours right up the rocky hill. The narrow trail joins a slightly wider path still curving right uphill. (Watch carefully for this spot if you want to go back down the same way).

Go left at the "T" junction near the top of the first ridge, and continue northbound on the trail. Just before the final uphill push, see a tree on your left that looks like it is feeding on an old metal sign. Take 20 steps off trail at 285 degrees to a white birch with a large rock outcrop behind. Curve left another dozen steps around the left side of the outcrop plus another 6 steps to a pile of rocks near the southwest side of a tall pine. Note how the rocks closest to the tree are placed so as to be able to replace them in similar fashion to keep "Chipper" safe and happy! (Currently he is hiding about 3 rocks down under a reddish stone, and only the rocks nearest the tree are moveable, so don't try moving any others!)

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