Sections 12 and 13 of the Metacomet-Monadnock trail, which traverse the Pelham Hills, can easily be combined into a single day hike. This is a fairly easy six mile segment of the trail. There are only two significant ascents and virtually no lost climb. Limited parking is available on the north side of North Valley Road, under the powerline, in Pelham.

The hike begins with a steep ascent, for a short distance, up the powerline. Soon, the trail turns left, W, into the woods and continue NW over level terrain before beginning the climb to the top of Mt. Orient. A steep rock scramble brings you to the southern edge of a ridge where you are rewarded with a spectacular vista of the Holyoke Range to the south.

Continue a gentle climb to the summit of Mt. Orient, 292 meters - 957 feet. The remainder of section 12 is a gentle downhill walk along the west flank of Poverty Mt. On the way you will cross wet areas on bog bridges and pass next to many old stone walls before reaching Pratts Corner Road. Currently, (June 2000), there is logging along the trail leading to Atkins Reservoir. The trail may be rerouted along the road.

The area around Atkins Reservoir, which is part of the Amherst water supply, is now posted. Thus, the M-M trail follows the old route up and over the January Hills.

Follow Market Hill Road southeast. Just before Nurse Brook turn left and cross a feeder stream on a wooden bridge,

The return trip (yellow route on the maps) can be accomplished with a minimum of climb. Follow Shutesbury Rd. SW to its junction with Still Corner Rd. Go south on Still Corner Rd. until you reach the north end of Atkins Reservoir. Continue clockwise around the reservoir on January Hills Rd. and Cushman Rd. to a triangular intersection with Pratts Corner Rd. Just beyond the eastern point of the triangle, look right, S, for the gated entrance to a unpaved a jeep track, Fales Rd. Follow this track uphill, parallel to Dean Brook. Bear right at the first fork and then left at the second fork in the road. The road levels off, passes through a boggy area, then crosses the M-M trail. Continue right and downhill along the east flank of Mt. Orient. It rejoins the M-M trail at the south end of the ridge. Follow the M-M trail back to North Valley Road.