499. MA NET - Amherst/Granby: Hornets on the Line

When wondering where to plant a hornets' nest along the M&M/NET Pete suggested either finding an actual hornets' nest up in a tree or a buzzing power line to represent one symbolically. Given our time and distance constraints, the former seemed pretty unlikely, so we opted for the latter! This was especially convenient since there was a power line crossing just about 1/2 mile east of Harris St. along the Amherst-Granby border. Harris St. goes south from Bay Rd. just before reaching the Belchertown border, so this would be on the "quieter" eastern side of the Holyoke Range - away from the "buzzing crowds" of the Notch where quite a few other boxes may be found. And since Bay Rd. basically parallels the northern slope of the Holyoke Range, it's just a hop, skip and jump in your car to get from the bears on the west side of the range to the hornets on the east! (or a rather long walk over Long Mountain!;-)

Anyway, to find this box, go east from the trailhead parking on either side of Harris Road following combined markings of the M&M/RFT/NET. Head past the brown and yellow stripped gate on a flat sandy pine trail and bear right with white when the red-orange blazed Robert Frost Trail goes left. Ascend a sandy hill, and just after reaching a height of land with the "buzzing" power lines now visible ahead, stop to curtsy to a white birch queen on the left side of the trail with a thin white attendant lady-in-waiting on each side of her. Then proceed 8 steps more along the trail and look left to see a tree with a sharp elbow jutting out from its bent arm about 20 some steps away. Look under the left side of its twisted root behind a birch parchment scroll to find what all the "buzz" is

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