On a sunny Memorial Day, Bruce and I arrived at the trailhead at Dalton MA at 11:05 AM.    We were the only car there, but as we went uphill we saw another car below us arrive and park.  Our route was on the Appalachian Trail heading south for three miles, then back for a six mile round trip.
     We climbed up and over three knolls, then over Tully Mtn (which some books say is 2035 feet and others say is 2085 feet), then up and over three more knolls, then over a large rounded knoll which I will call North Warner Hill, then up to the summit of Warner Hill (2050 feet). 
     Since we went back the way we came, we climbed everything twice except Warner Hill.  This means we climbed five low mountains and 12 knolls.
     A bad ice storm in December 2008 had caused large numbers of blowdowns and broken limbs on trees, but since this was the AT a great deal of trailwork had been done to make the route passable once more.  In fact, this trail was almost as good as new.
     Due to sufficient rain this spring there were some intermittent streams along the way which were very useful for a hiking Welsh terrier such as myself.  Once we went over a couple of knolls which form buttresses to the north of Tully Mtn, the rounded dome of Tully Mtn was hardly noticeable; from the south it is much steeper.  The reality is quite the opposite of all the maps.  The maps make Tully Mtn look steep on the north and gradual on the south.  In fact, the reverse is true.
     In time a couple from Connecticut caught up and passed us, the people that we had seem park after us.   Along our route we saw violets and a couple trilliums, several spring peepers, and a toad.  We startled a spruce grouse.  On the trip back we saw a wood frog.   The forest consists of maples, oaks and beeches, with some cherries and birches thrown in, and a few white pines.  In one damp area there is a stand of hemlocks.   Near Warner Hill there are some old stone walls and apple trees. 
     Finally we came out of the forest onto the bald, fern covered slopes of Warner Hill.  We arrived at the summit at 1:12 PM.  The couple from Connecticut were there, but soon left.  We had lunch and enjoyed the views.  From the top there is a great view of Mt Greylock off to our right.  To our left we could see parts of Pittsfield and the Taconic mountains beyond it.  In front of us we could see the wooded slope of Tully Mtn. 
     There are plenty of comfortable boulders on the top to rest on.  We noticed some high blueberry bushes and a few butterflies.  On a nearby tree we saw a hummingbird. 
     We left the summit at 1:55 PM and were back out at 3:49 PM.  It is a very enjoyable hike and a good one to go on when other trails might be in bad condition from a rough winter.

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