The Mount Tom Range has been described as an "island of biological diversity," an important landmark, and an ecologically significant rare species habitat in Massachusetts. The Mount Tom Ski Area, at the heart of the mountain, was the largest private unprotected parcel.  Its protection has been a key objective of conservationists and others concerned about the future of this Connecticut River Valley landmark.

View a map (PDF  - 270K) of the property.

A Conservation Partnership
On July 30, 2002, 359 acres of the former Mount Tom Ski Area were purchased by The Trustees of Reservations, the state's Department of Environmental Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Later this year, the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club will purchase 22 acres at the base of the ski slopes, including the ski lodge, a wave pool, and other improvements at the foot of the mountain.  The Club plans to operate a summer camp and other outdoor programs to introduce the next generation to the wonders of natural areas like Mount Tom.

The 73-acre parcel acquired by The Trustees includes most of the hill known as "Little Tom," located between the base lodge and Interstate 91. The property is a relatively undisturbed natural area that offers invigorating hiking, stunning views of the Connecticut River Valley, and a fascinating educational experience in the unique geology, ecology, and history of the Mount Tom area. To be named Little Tom Mountain, this new property of The Trustees of Reservations will offer parking, a new network of trails, maps, and activities that will help visitors enjoy the mountain.

A Geological and Ecological Gem
The Mount Tom Range is part of an unusual traprock ridge system extending fifty miles through Massachusetts and Connecticut. Its specific blend of soils, elevation, moisture, land-use, and forest succession supports a host of rare plants, and provides active springs and vernal pools that are home to many specialized species of salamanders, frogs, crustaceans, snails, and insects. Fully three quarters of the state's native species of reptiles and amphibians are found on the mountain. Moreover, the mountain supports a diversity of microenvironments: glades, wetlands, hollows, steep valleys, and exposed rocky balds. All of these factors combine to make Mount Tom one of the most important and ecologically significant localities for rare species in the state.

Scenic Landmark
Mount Tom is also an integral part of the scenic landscape that defines the central Valley. The mountain offers invigorating hiking, spectacular birding, and a place to escape the pressures and stresses of everyday life. Its history tells a fascinating story, from its geological beginnings in the continental rifting that created the ancestral Connecticut River Valley 200 million years ago, to its use in modern times as a tourist destination with its mountain houses, amusement park, and ski slopes.

Help Us Finish the Job!
In order to purchase Little Tom and enable the state and federal purchases to proceed, The Trustees borrowed $300,000 that must be repaid.  An additional $220,000 is needed to cover transaction, start-up, and first-year management costs for what will become the 93rd property of The Trustees of Reservations, Little Tom Mountain.   A fundraising campaign is underway to meet the $520,000 goal. Your donation will help us to establish this new reservation for the Connecticut River Valley.

Making a donation

• By Mail: Please mail check payable to The Trustees of Reservations, and include your name, address, daytime phone, and email address (if applicable), to:
  
  Mount Tom Protection Project
  The Trustees of Reservations
  5 Strong Avenue, Suite 4
  Northampton, MA 01060
  
  
• By Phone:  Call 978/921-1944 x1861 to make a donation using a credit card.
  
  
• On-line:  To make a contribution online, please click here.
  

Become a Volunteer!
We also need enthusiastic volunteers who can help out at our Connecticut Valley Office, at special events, or host an informational gathering for friends and neighbors in your home. If you have special skills or talents that would advance our work, please let us know.

For more information, please contact:

Pamela Barnes
Director of Western Conservation Campaigns
413/587-0716 x12
pbarnes@ttor.org