Mount Prospect via Pattison Road(Mount Greylock State Reservation, Berkshires)

Headed to the Berkshires after work today to re-visit a peak I'd hiked before-but from a different route this time.  Although dwarfed by some of the surrounding peaks in its range, Mount Prospect is a prominent peak in the northern Greylcok Range, rising to 2690 feet and boasting some decent views to boot.  I would be hiking today from the north, taking the Appalachian Trail up to the Mount Prospect Trail and then onto the summit.  I parked in the small parking lot for the Appalachian Trail along Pattison Road(Elevation 1000 feet) and headed south into the woods, with the sounds of gunshots ringing through the woods.  Not to worry, this was only near the start of the hike and soon went away altogether.

 The AT as always, is well marked,climbing steadily up Mount Prospect's northern slopes, as it passes through watershed property before arriving in the Greylock Reservation.

The trail gets a bit steeper as it nears a trail junction at a small high spot on the ridge and the first view point on Prospect. 

From just over 2500 feet-roughly 1500 feet higher than the trailhead-is a great view reaching from the SW to the NW over much of Williamstown.

 

The view is quite nice, stretching across Williamstown to the Taconic Ridge.

 

From the view point, I continued south/ southwest on the blue blazed Mount Prospect Trail for just under a mile to the true 2690 foot summit, which is marked with a giant rock cairn.

 

While the summit is unfortunately wooded with no views, there is another view to be enjoyed in a small clearing about 1/4 of a mile further south on the trail, nearly 300 feet below the summit.  This view is not quite as broad as the earlier view, but still unique, facing west.  To the right is the ridge of Stony Ledge, with Brodie Mountain's north ridge just beyond, and the long Taconic ridgeline of Misery Mountain in the distance.

 

After enjoying the views, I turned back, climbing back up to the summit and continuing north with the sun shining bright and a light breeze to boot.

I really enjoyed the hike back, taking my time and enjoying the conditions.  The descent off Prospect's north ridge on the AT is deceptively steep and more rugged than I had remembered going up.

A great afternoon in the woods, hiking 6 miles with about 2000 feet of combined ascent.