♪ >> THERE ARE DAYS IN NEW ENGLAND THAT ARE SO CLEAR, COLORFUL AND PERFECT TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WANT TO VISIT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
AUTUMN SPARKLER IN THE PIONEER VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AS A PIECE OF NATURAL POSSESS AS ITS -- PIZZAZZ AS IT GOES SOUTH.
EVERY TREE IS IN DENIAL OF THE BLEAK MONTHS AHEAD.
>> A POCKET OF PARADISE.
>> EVERYBODY IS HAPPY HERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PRESSURE.
>> WHERE IS THIS?
IT IS THE TOWN OF HARDWICK, EAST OF THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR ON THE FAR SIDE OF WORCESTER COUNTY.
♪ >> CRANBERRIES GROW WILD UP AND DOWN THIS RIVER VALLEY.
>> YOU COULD SAY THE SAME ABOUT HIS FAMILY, OWNERS OF CLOVER BILL FARM.
>> THE FAMILY BOUGHT THE FARM IN 1888.
WE ARE NOW FIVE GENERATIONS STRONG HERE.
>> TODAY AND HE SON ARE HOLDING IN A BUMPER CRANBERRY CROP.
YOU WILL NOT SEE ISLANDS OF CRIMSON IN THIS.
THE CRANBERRIES ARE DRY HARVESTED.
>> I CAN’T WILL YOU ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF DRIVE PICKED VERSUS WET.
IT IS UNDER 10%.
DRY BERRIES GET A PREMIUM PRICE.
>> HE SAID THEY HAVE A LONGER SHELF LIFE.
FOR THE INITIATED -- THEY PRAY -- THEY TASTE GOOD OFF THE VINE.
>> DON’T GIVE ME THAT FACE.
[LAUGHTER] >> THE WORD TART WAS INVENTED FOR RAW CRANBERRIES.
>> THINK OF THE ANTIOXIDANTS.
YOU WILL NOT GET A COLD FOR A MONTH.
>> GOOD STUFF.
>> CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY FOLKS COME INTO THE PARK AND I ASKED IF THEY HAVE HIKED THE MOUNTAIN AND THEY SAY EVERY YEAR.
>> I MEET UP WITH THE RANGER.
TODAY WE HIKE THE WHITE DOT TRAIL, THE MOST DIRECT UP TO THE SUMMIT.
>> USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TWO HOURS TO GET TO THE SUMMIT AND THE SAME AMOUNT DOWN.
>> THE NAME MEANS A MOUNTAIN THAT STANDS ALONE.
IT SEES 100,000 HIKERS A YEAR.
>> PEOPLE PERCEIVE THIS TO BE THE MOST CLIMBED BEHIND MOUNT FUJI IN JAPAN.
IT RECENTLY CAME TO LIFE NEITHER MAY BE THE MOST CLIMBED.
THAT MIGHT BE MOUNT TAI IN CHINA.
>> HIKERS AND FEEL SIX STATES ON A CLEAR DAY.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
>> WINTER CAN BE FICKLE IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OF THE BERKSHIRES.
ON THIS VISIT WE ARE GREETED BY A POTPOURRI OF PRECIPITATION.
SNOW, RAIN AND MORE IN THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS.
THE RAIN DOESN’T BOTHER HER SHE.
34 LAMBS WERE BORN.
>> EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A FEW DAYS IN THE UPPER 20’S.
THIS MORNING THERE WAS JUST, NICE AND WARM, SO EVERYBODY WAS DRIVING OUT THERE.
♪ >> THE BOUNTY OF THE BERKSHIRES COMES FROM THE LAND.
ONE WAY TO PROTECT IT IS TO FEED PEOPLE LOCALLY.
SHE DOES, RAISING 400 SHEEP ON THESE 400 ACRES OF WOODLAND, SWAMP AND FIELDS.
>> NO HORMONES.
IF AN ANIMAL IS SICK IT IS BETTER TO LET THEM GO.
I WOULD SAY ANY ANIMAL BORN HERE HAS A GOOD LIFE.
>> HER LOVE OF ANIMALS IN THE LAND COMES FROM HAVING GROWN UP ON THE FARM IN NEARBY LEE.
>> I GOT INVOLVED IN THE OUTDOORS.
I GOT A HORSE AND I UNDERSTOOD AND MAJORED IN ZOOLOGY AND ECOLOGY.
>> MANUAL LABOR WAS NOT FOR GIRLS ACCORDING TO HER FATHER.
>> AT AGE 50 I BOUGHT THE FIRST TRACTOR.
I AM GOING THE FIELD AND SEE EVERYTHING.
EVERY ANIMAL IN THE BERKSHIRES.
>> HER LIFELONG PASSION FOR HER BACKYARD HAS LED HER TO CONSERVE 800 ACRES.
IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE’S SOULS, SHE SAYS, TO SEE ANIMAL.
>> THEY COME HERE TO SEE THE BEAUTY.
YOU CAN STILL FIND IT BUT IT IS NOT THAT MUCH ON THE R