Parading to Tanglewood: A Sunrise Gathering at Bousquet Mountain
Image credit: Marc Rosenthal
Parading to Tanglewood: A Sunrise Gathering at Bousquet Mountain
Yo-Yo Ma’s We The People week begins with a sunrise gathering at Bousquet Mountain.
We begin the week by welcoming the sun, a reminder that music reconnects us with nature and each other. Participants will hike (or take the chairlift) up Bousquet Mountain and join a special experience led by Passamaquoddy musician and educator Chris Newell, with Tanglewood musicians (some with alphorns!), Nipmuck flutist Hawk Henries, singer Jennifer Kreisberg, and Berkshire-area artists including Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis, Ida Mae Specker, Shelsy Rodriguez, and spoken-word artists from Multicultural BRIDGE. When the sun has risen, we will share coffee, pastries, and conversation. This event is produced in partnership with Mill Town, Bousquet Mountain, and Berkshire Natural Resources Council.
After the gathering, participants are invited to plant seeds together at Roots Rising's Farm and Education Center in Pittsfield.
“The purpose of my musical life is to find and share wonder and awe. When we welcome the sun, we experience awe and wonder; we are reminded of the fundamental reasons why we make music and gather together, and of the gratitude we feel for one another and for the planet we share.” — Yo-Yo Ma
Sat, Aug 1
Hike and chair lift operation begin
Hike and chair lift operation begin
Final hikers begin and final chair lift ride
Final hikers begin and final chair lift ride
Arrive at Bousquet Mountain summit
Arrive at Bousquet Mountain summit
Summit event begins
Summit event begins
Hike Description
Participants should be prepared for a moderate mountain hike involving sustained uphill walking, uneven terrain, and variable trail conditions. Appropriate footwear, water, and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. While no technical climbing experience is necessary, participants should be comfortable walking for an extended period and navigating natural trails. Each hiker is encouraged to arrive early enough to proceed at a comfortable pace that allows ample opportunity to enjoy the landscape while still reaching the summit in time for the scheduled event. The trail will be lit and volunteers from the Berkshire Natural Resources Council will join staff and Ski Patrol members from Bousquet Mountain to assist participants along the route. The vertical rise of this hike is approximately 750 feet, and the distance is approximately 2/3 of a mile in each direction. The length of time it will take to reach the summit will vary depending on ability, and we recommend allowing for between 20 and 35 minutes in each direction.
