Summer fun unfortunately involves summer risks, with possible injuries and rescue missions. But a few simple suggestions could save a lot of effort and considerable money.
Take a couple of weeks ago, when a young man was hiking along the Appalachian Trail in Williamstown over Pine Cobble and twisted his ankle. He had a cell phone and soon had the Massachusetts State Police on the line. Within a few minutes, police and fire departments were involved, along with a search and rescue team and a state helicopter.
Although the hiker at one point could be clearly seen while on the rocky ridge, it took some time for many people and agencies to find him and bring him down for treatment.
It was fortunate he had a phone, but it would have been better to hike with a friend, and it would have been better to have remained in place after contacting help.
A few days later, a man and woman, both above 60, drove up the newly rebuilt Notch Road in the Mount Greylock Reservation and parked at the turnoff in midafternoon to walk down a narrow, bumpy and slippery trail to see Money Brook Falls. All trails on the 12,500-acre state reservation - in fact virtually all wooded trails in the Berkshires - require strong feet and sturdy shoes, as well as a detailed map. They never reached the falls, as they did not follow the trail, and again, it took quite a few people to find them.
Now, those were all harmless endeavors gone wrong, but
All of the above cases were from unfortunate choices or carelessness and should not have happened.
Even worse is when children are allowed to put themselves in harm's way. Just the other day, I saw a boy operating a riding power mower with no adult in sight. And to compound the danger, he had a smaller child riding between his legs. Other cases see tots just learning to bike zooming around busy streets.
Did I ever engage in any of the above? Yes, starting with my first firecracker when I was around 5, which I held much too long after lighting it. And then I dove from a bridge 8 feet into a shallow stream when I could not swim. Another time, when cutting bean poles alone with an ax, I hit my ankle. And at 12, I was clocked by a state trooper while doing around 35 mph on my new bike on a steep hill.
In any event, do as I say, not as I did.
Golf tournaments
Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown and Mount Anthony Country Club in Bennington, Vt., will be among the courses staging their annual member-guest tournaments July 10, 11 and 12, and let us hope the sun will shine.
Waubeeka owner Jim Goff of Denver will be among the competitors at the course he and wife, Jody, bought early last year, and the Williamstown native will also see the changes he is making at Waubeeka.
Goff engaged Mark Mungeam of Uxbridge to oversee major changes, which will include a major practice area and the rebuilding of several holes.
At Taconic, Williamstown's other golf course, which dates back to 1896, major updates were begun two years ago and will be completed this year. Taconic's member-guest took place this past weekend. The next major event at Taconic will be the women's member-guest July 14.
Waubeeka's Ladies Member-Guest Tournament will take place the following week July 19. The annual Williams College Alumni-Guest Tournament is so large that it will be held at both Taconic and Waubeeka courses July 24 and 25.
Summer sports programs
The Berkshire Rowing and Sculling Society is offering a variety of programs at Onota Lake in Pittsfield. Harriet Cuyler, BRASS vice chairman and coach, said the first weeklong middle school youth camp will be July 6-10 and the second will be Aug. 17-21. Times are 8:30 to 10 a.m. Call 413-442-7769 for details.
PGA Life member Leo Reynolds and Joan McDonald, head pro at the Golf Course at The Equinox, will offer junior golf camps July 13 to 16 and Aug. 17 to 20. Contact Reynolds at 802-384-3110.
USTA tennis programs will be held at the Russell Field Courts in Adams from July 7 to Aug. 6 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Call tennis pro John Clarno at 413-743-7534 for details.
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