JAY – The Alternative Education classes of Jay middle and high schools took advantage of the autumn weather and climbed a portion of the Bigelow Mountain Range in the Carabbasset Valley on Oct. 7. The group climbed up to the Horns Pond.

After a discussion on leave no trace ethics, the students received a trail hunt list consisting of numerous items to be on the lookout for, including evidence of human impact. Location, observation and descriptions of items in the natural world help students increase their awareness of their surroundings.

The hike led them by a pond where beaver activity was evident, and one returning group even saw the resident beaver. Fall foliage was at its peak in the region, with eyefuls of color from swamp and sugar maple, birch and beech alike.

After sharing lunch at the the Horns Pond lean-to, the group split and some climbed up the South Horn and West Peak.

Total mileage for the round trip hike was about 12 miles for the peak seekers and 8.5 for the others.