None of us felt up to a major hike and it fell to me to select a suitable location. A quick scan through some guidebooks and I pick out the Rose Ledge Trail near Northfield MA. The description of the Rose Ledges, cliffs some 50-80ft in height sounds intriguing and the loop hike being only about 3 miles with under 1,000ft of elevation gain seemed about right for three work weary hikers.

The trail is one of many at the Northfield Mountain Recreation Area. This 1,500 acre park is owned and operated by Northeast Utilities. Some 700ft beneath the mountain the company have carved out a massive cavern several football fields in area and ten stories high in order to house a stored water hydro-electric plant.

During periods of low demand the plants turbines use electricity to pump water from the Connecticut River to a 300 acre resevoir near the summit. Then, when demand is high the water is released again and drive the turbines generating electricity. Aside from the power lines there is little evidence of the operation and there is little environmental impact.