1st Annual Tannery Falls Winter Run Snowshoe
December 21st, 1996 - Florida/Savoy, Massachusetts

A snowshoe adventure was completed to Tannery Falls and the Balanced Rock in Savoy Mountain State Forest.  Five of us completed the journey, including PH & the Old Goat.  Once all was "said and done", we completed roughly 13-miles in 3:55:54.

 A frozen Tannery Falls in 1996

The Old Goat hanging from the Balanced Rock

Snow, Cemetaries and Sirens

Despite an overall lack of snow in Southern New England, good planning kept us active.  Savoy, with an average elevation around 2000 feet, held it's frozen misery for our second snowshoe venture of the season.  Like X-Country Skiers, we would “find” the snow if it couldn’t/ wouldn’t find us.

The Savoy General Store provided a wake up hot cup of coffee and snacks to fill our packs, which later on provided just enough nourishment for several of us to complete our adventure.  The duration of the run combined with the cool temperatures (19 degrees according to the Old Goat's thermometer) increased our bodies fuel consumption, and those Fig Newtons went quickly.  Of course, the one “non-traditionalist” in the group depended upon his standby “Goo."  It should be noted that he bonked later in the program than two of us.  Says something for technology. 

The initial 550’ climb up Bannis Mountain (2280’) was a crawl through unbroken deep snow.  If you are going to fall when snowshoeing, it is more than likely going to happen when trying to “run” uphill too fast. 

After topping out it was clean running along snow covered Bannis Road, past Borden Mountain (2586’) and those ever interesting old cemeteries Savoy State Forest is full of.  Very rolling terrain, it seemed as though we were always running either uphill or downhill, never along flat sections.

"P’s" warning of the Upper Ross Brook Trail being nicknamed the “Mud Trail” by the motocross group he rides with was unfounded, as we shuffled down it’s frozen rutted spine to the side trail to the Balanced Rock (the more popular Balanced Rock exist along the North Pond Loop Trail, as we who run the Savoy 20 Miler know).  It’s just a short jaunt to the Rock, and well worth it. 

Leaving the balancing act, we had two choices, Tannery Road or the Lower Ross Brook Trail.  None of us had ever been on the trail, any season, so that was our choice.  What an enchanting trail this is!!  

Easily dashing along the bank of the stream, winding mellifluous onward to the junction at the falls themselves.  Our pace shuttled us along the winding stretches of pine laden forest, almost tunneling through the reaches of untouched snow covered trail.  I don’t recall being on such a wonderfully refreshing spirit lifting path.  This will be a definite repeater during the summer months, but already I wonder if the lush green amplitude of summer will be able to eclipse the sparkling frozen blankets of pristine snow of December.  The warmth provided by the tunnels and confines of pine were an unwavering contrast to the icy charging stream splashing along its journey to the falls. 

Tannery Falls themselves are a difficult aim during the winter months.  The trail winds sharply downhill (650’ elevation loss in just a few tenths of a mile!!) at steep intervals along the brook, rumbling roaring water crashes and slices it’s way eroding deep crevasses into the rock that directs the flow.  Sheer drops leave one exhilarated and scared at the same moment, the guided cable along the bank in part offers a modicum of support.  A quick view about half way down the first falls only prompts your excitement.  The muscle burning downhill leaves you at the bottom (1180’), finally able to take in the majestic beauty of one of the falls.  Overhanging rock formations obscure your view but the power and noise resounding off the cliffs leave you overwhelmed.  A short path to the larger falls leaves you totally breathless.  60 feet the water cascades, transformed into one huge sheet of ice the same 60 feet in height, folds and layers from the constant temperature changes, mist and steam rising off the assorted pools located throughout the length of the drop. 

"P" talked freely aloud of hearing the Sirens of Tannery Falls calling his name from these hidden pools, softly whispering sweet nibbles of temptation mixed with the wind.  The only option we had was to re-climb the side of the falls past the source of the tempting and run like heck out of there.  The climb is tough, but easier than the descent as we even found the wooden steps leading back up. 

The Tannery Road / Trail leading us back was unfortunately a little bony and very steep uphill 90% of the way.  It did lend us a look at another of Savoy’s Cemeteries, interesting visits with the history of the people who once lived in this area. 

Lewis Hill Road, another unplowed gem within the forest (much of the roads within Savoy State Forest remain unplowed during the winter months for snowmobile use, these can double for skiing and snowshoeing very nicely), also seemed like an all uphill battle until we reached Adams Road, where the aforementioned Fig Newtons were expired.  Too tired to break additional new trail, we opted for a repeat of Bannis Road. 

Forgotten were the numerous ups and downs and ups again.  Three tough climbs along the road on the way back left us breathing heavy and shuffling slowly until we reached the final hill.  The five of us romped down the mountain alive and clean-lunged from the cold crisp air of Savoy’s Tannery Falls.  A most wonderful area worth exploring, a real hidden gem in the Berkshire Hills, Tannery Falls by way of snowshoeing is an option for those looking for something new.