“There’s a full moon risin’
Let’s go dancin’ in the light.”
-Neil Young
The Harvest Moon, with its vibrant color and magnitude, encapsulates the illustrious warmth of autumn. Each fall the sun’s southward movement is met by the moon’s northward momentum, joining the two forces in a dramatic embrace.
The full moon nearest to the date of the autumnal equinox each year has been dubbed the Harvest Moon. As the sun and moon achieve equilibrium each fall, with the moon rising just as the sun sets, the sky is ablaze with the grandeur of a moon whose reddish hues and prominent size fill the sky. As its name suggests, farmers have historically welcomed this extended period of light as an opportunity to harvest late into the evening. However, the harvest moon’s fervent allure is one that continues to captivate all who lie beneath its warm glow.
We welcome this Autumn’s harvest moon. The Litchfield Hills, Southern Berkshires & Hudson Valley boast a plethora of idyllic alcoves to enjoy the seductive radiance of equilibrium as the sun and moon come together again to share another Autumnal dance.
Dennis Hill – Norfolk, CT (guided Norfolk land Trust Harvest Moon night-hike)
Bartholomew’s Cobble – Ashley Falls, MA (Hurlburt’s Hill rises 1,000 feet to a 20-acre upland field on the Massachusetts–Connecticut border that offers panoramic views northward up the Housatonic River Valley. )
Stissing Mountain – Pine Plains, NY (a 90-foot Fire Tower at the top is the big payoff for a somewhat steep hike straight up the mountain.)