The shortest day of the year Sunday got us out to the Keystone Arches to explore the beauty of this largest roadless wilderness hiking from Chester thru Middlefield and Becket.  We hiked on the historic Pontoosuc Turnpike where stage and sheep traveled from the Hilltowns to Pittsfield on the rugged first road.  At the 65 foot tall stone arch we followed the original Western Railbed to the “gator” arch rarely seen where we watched beavers  in their usual place along the West Branch of the Westfield River. A shout out to all the engineers who waved us on with good wishes for when the days are long and warm!

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