Final M-M hike

Friday, September 16, 2016
Start: 200 Harris Mountain Road, Granby, MA
End: 153 Packardville Rd Pelham, MA 01002
Miles: ~6.7

I started at the Harris Mountain trailhead around 8:30am. I hiked through the woods for a bit, crossed Bay Road, and then did some small ups and downs. I emerged onto Orchard Rd and Federal St. There was over a mile of road walking along Federal and then over two miles of road walking along Gulf Rd. At Gulf and North Gulf Roads, the trail reentered the woods for maybe half a mile before arriving at Packardville Rd at 11:15am. I hung out and read my book until my ride came to pick me up at 11:45am.

And just like that, I've hiked from Connecticut's Long Island Sound up to New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock along the Menunkatuck, Metacomet, and Metacomet-Monadnock Trails.

M-M overnight hike, day #1

Friday, September 9, 2016
Start: Cross St/Rt 2 - Farley
End: Fall Brook shelter, MA/NH line
Miles: 25.4 (with ~6,700 ft elevation gain)

I started out at 8am from Cross St. I climbed Rattlesnake Mountain, Hermit Mountain, and Stratton Mountain. I stopped for lunch around 11:30-12 at the Richardson Cabin. It had a beautiful view with Mt Monadnock in the distance. It had two picnic tables and a Porta - potty,  as well as two tent pads, a cabin that sleeps ~6, wash tub for dishes, a laundry line, and a fire ring. Unfortunately, the only water was in a 5 gallon jug locked in the cabin so I couldn't resupply here. I then climbed over Little Mt Grace and Mt Grace, where there was a fire tower at the summit.

I stopped briefly at the Mt Grace Shelter from 3:15-3:30pm, which recently had a new roof installed since the past one was leaking. Initially I thought there was no water source but as I left, I found the small creek and resupplied there before heading out towards the Fall Brook shelter 9 miles away. I passed by Richards Reservoir inside Warwick State Forest on my way to the shelter, and used an old road walk portion of the M-M to cut off 1.3 miles of the new M-M trail so I could arrive at my evening's destination before dark. I arrived at the shelter by 7:15pm. While there is no privy, there is a water source for the shelter, though it is stained orangey brown by the dead pine needles that have fallen into it.

I've had a nice, relaxed dinner of a Rice Side, Cabot chedder, fruit snacks, cool ranch Doritos, and Oreos. And it turns out Rice Sides will cook quite nicely if you dump them into a freezer bag, add the boiling water, and let them sit for maybe 20-30 minutes. It's a super easy, no-mess way to make that kind of dinner. It left me with no pot to clean which made me happy.

I've decided to sleep in the shelter as it might rain tonight (also, there's nowhere to tent not on a sharp downward slant with rocks). It's pretty nice and no one else is here. There's a porch and two bunk beds, each bunk able to hold 2 people (so 8 people), in addition to a loft with another sleep area accessible by wooden ladder.

Tomorrow, I'll hike from here to Mt Monadnock (~18 miles). On the way, I'll hike directly through Troy and I'm hoping to enjoy some Thai food in town for lunch!

M-M overnight hike, day #2

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Start: Falls Brook shelter, MA/NH line
End: Mt Monadnock summit (+ hike down to ranger station)
Mileage: 18.15 (+2.6 miles down the mtn) (with ~5,000 ft elevation gain)

I started out this morning from the shelter around 7:15am. I had a good sleep, with the shelter all to myself. I quickly crossed over into NH. The first few hours were relatively relaxed with few elevation changes. I had a nice chat with a fellow in a pick-up truck on a dirt road in backwoods NH. Like he said, there was one running stream before Troy. After filling up with water, I summitted Little Monadnock Mountain (1883') before descending into Troy.

I stopped in Troy for lunch at Thai Bamboo; they kindly filled my water bottles before I left. From there, it was 6.9 miles to the summit of Mt Monadnock.

I hiked up Gap Mountain (1840') and saw the first people on the trail since I'd started - two adults with two children around 6 years old. From there, I descended to NH 124. After crossing the road, the trail began its uphill climb to the summit. I didn't see other hikers until I crossed the Cart Path, near the Halfway House site and joined with the White Arrow trail.

I made it to the summit by 4:45pm. I managed to time it so that there were only three other people at the summit. I was able to get my picture taken by another hiker but didn't have to contend the with people in the background. It was very windy and there were storm clouds in the distance. 

After summitting, I headed down the mountain using the White Dot/White Cross trails, arriving at the ranger station at 6:15pm. My ride was already there and ready to go!

Thru-hike of Menunkatuck Trail

Thursday, September 1, 2016

I left work and drove down to Renee's Way in Madison; there is a parking area there with access to the Rockland Preserve, which has connecting trails to the Mattabesett Trail. A few weeks ago, I submitted a request to the Madison Park and Rec department for a tent platform reservation on Rockland Preserve. If you don't get a reservation, you don't have permission to park overnight in the lot and can be towed.

Upon my arrival, I realized I did not know exactly where the tent platforms were. Unfortunately, there was no signage within the Preserve to indicate location, nor was it noted on their map. I ended up doing a 20 minute loop, half in the Preserve and half on the Mattabesett, and found a tenting area sign directly on the Mattabesett. There was a map posted on the Mattabesett that showed the general location of the tenting site. For reference, the tent platforms are off of the Red trail, behind the big rock, off to your left, between the main body of the Preserve and the Mattabesett. It is also on the Mattabesett, after the Lone Pine Trail split and before the additional connector.

After I found the tent platforms and privy, I set up my tent and settled in for the night. I was glad I'd brought extra water as there was no water source nearby. Based on maps, it appears there would be water available from Coan Pond, further into the Preserve.

Friday, September 2, 2016
Start: Rockland Preserve, Madison, Mattabesett Trail
End: Chittenden Park, Guilford, Menunkatuck Trail
Mileage: 16.7 (+0.8 for side trail to town green)

I was up at 6am, packed up by 6:30am. I decided to head back to my car at Renee's Way, since it was a 5 minute walk. I left most of my backpacking gear in my car and packed up a day pack. I was on trail by 6:50am. I hiked approximately a mile of the Mattabesett before the branch off of the Menunkatuck Trail began. From there, I walked.

Near the beginning of the trail, it crosses through a number of areas used for off-roading; it seemed to be things like Jeeps rather than ATVs. I'd heard gunshots earlier the night before and I walked by the entrance to the Guilford Sportsmen's Association a mile or so into the hike. As do many local trails, this one crosses through a portion of Cockaponset State Forest and then along into the Timberland Preserve. After a time, the trail brought me through many open fields by the East River Preserve; I saw people out walking their dogs. 

Fields of East River Preserve

The trail walks by what I presume to be the East River; it was excessively muddy and brackish. Around here, I also started seeing... snake worms. They're worms that actively crawl over ground, looking rather like snakes. I've seen these in the woods where I grew up, on the shoreline in CT.

After traveling through a few more fields and a very brief climb up to a lookout, the trail emerged onto Clapboard Hill Road, across from the Guilford Riding School. From there, it was entirely road walking. 

View of a Long Island Sound inlet from Clapboard Hill Road

The walk meandered along Tanner Marsh Rd, Boston Rd, Lovers Ln, Stone House Ln, across the grounds of the Henry Whitfield Museum, down Old Whitfield St, across the train tracks using the pedestrian bridge,down Seaside Ave, and finishing by Field Rd with a brief boardwalk out to the beach and Long Island Sound.

Henry Whitfield Museum

I do believe this was the first time I ever followed a blazed trail up and over rail road tracks via a pedestrian bridge...

Along the way, I walked by what appeared to be a space-age condominium complex.

It was a good idea for me to bring double the amount of water I usually would require. I encountered a very stagnant pond (with things enthusiastically growing on the surface), a brackish river, and saw one pond with decent water, though it was a few tenths of a mile off trail. Thankfully, the last ~3 miles were all road walking and I stopped at a gas station for drinks.

All said and done, the hike was quick and easy. I started on trail at 6:50am and could have arrived at Field Rd by 1pm. Since my taxi was set for 3:30pm and couldn't come any earlier, I went to the town green, had lunch, and read for a while before heading to Chittenden Park.

 And just like that, I've hiked from Long Island Sound to the CT-MA border using only Blue Trails. With only a few more hikes, I'll complete a Blue Trails hike from Long Island Sound up to Mt Monadnock. 

M-M day hike

Friday, August 26, 2016
Start: 153 Packardville Rd Pelham, MA 01002
End: Spear Library, Cooleyville Rd, Shutesbury, MA
Miles: ~10.75 miles

I started from Packardville Rd around 8:30am. It was foggy and overcast when I started, though it was sunny and blue skies by the time I finished. I followed the trail along past some radio towers and walked until I hit Amherst Rd. Then I road walked up Amherst Rd and onto North Valley Rd and then entered the woods again. After ~1.5 miles of woods walk, I road walked a good portion on Shutesbury Rd before entering the woods before Rt 202. Then I had a long woods walk paralleling Rt 202 which utilized old logging roads. After a number of miles, the trail emerged onto Town Farm Rd. At that point, I called the taxi that was going to pick me up and let them know that I'd be an hour earlier than anticipated, if they could pick me up early. I then followed that out to Prescott Rd which turns into Cooleyville Rd and walked up the road to the Shutesbury library. I arrived at 12:30pm. My taxi arrived by 12:35pm to return me to my car at Packardville Rd.

Overall, the hike was enjoyable. The blazes were much more consistent than in past sections and the terrain was relatively easy. I brought along a lot of extra water, rather than risk dry creek beds or trying to filter from stagnant ponds. I also mapped the route beforehand and sent it to my phone so I could follow along using GPS.

New England Trail: Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Part 2

Friday, August 5, 2016

Start: Rising Corner Rd, Agawam, MA

End: Westfield St, West Springfield, MA

Miles: 5.91 miles (7.29 miles according to GPS, including some backtracking)

I dropped my car at the CT/MA line around 9am and started hiking. I hiked along some woods roads, including through the Agawam Bowmen Club's property. The mosquitoes were overly enthusiastic for the first half of my hike. I sorely wished I'd brought my headnet.

After crossing over Southwick St/Rt 57, I started hearing distance gunshots. As I hiked, it got progressively louder, until it was loud enough I was concerned for my safety and proximity to live ammunition. I checked on my phone after I started feeling scared and saw that it was the Agawam Revolver Club, not some random people shooting off guns in the woods. Despite that assurance, I still felt unsafe hiking while it sounded like guns were being fired a hundred yards away. I would highly suggest signs be posted at the beginning and end of this portion, noting the proximity of the firing range. Additionally, perhaps adding some reminders signs along the trail nearest to the firing range.

The trail was relatively easy to follow until I got to the Springfield Underground Reservoir. The blazes there were scarce and I walked back and forth along a section of trail until I determined that I should, indeed, walk past the big sign on the gate arm saying "No trespassing," despite no blazes being visible beyond the gate. I then wandered through the fields, trying to follow the trail based on where grass/plants were more beaten back or walked on. I eventually found my way to where the trail reentered the woods.

Not too long after that, the trail heads down towards the Westfield River, where it parallels it for a time. I missed the trail split here, as the blazes indicated a right hand turn of the trail and the wide, packed dirt trail turned to the right. I followed it for a few tenths of a mile before using my GPS and realizing this trail couldn't be the M-M because it should be turning to cross over the river and it wasn't. I went back to the trail split and tried unsuccessfully to find the trail. So I began following the river bank, figuring I'd see blazes eventually. After a few dozen yards, I saw white blazes close to the bank and rejoined the trail. However, this section of the trail was severely overgrown with prickers and large leafy plants between waist and head height so the going was very slow. Thankfully, this portion of the trail was small; I came to the place where the trail crosses the river and waded across. The water was fairly high (knee deep) compared with the last time I saw it (ankle deep) since there'd been rain recently. I arrived at Westfield St by 12pm and met my shuttle there for a ride back to my car. 

NH AT day hike

Saturday, August 6, 2016
Start: 19 Mile Brook Trail Head
End: Rt. 2/Gorham
Miles: 15.4 (+3.6 miles on 19 Mile Brook trail, +0.6 miles for water) (19.6 miles total)

I ascended more than 5,000 feet in the course of the day and still managed to average over 2 MPH. The weather was nice overall. There were some passing clouds and perhaps 5 minutes of rain but overall, there was more blue sky than not. It was relatively humid at lower elevations but nearer the peaks, the breeze was cool and crisp.

I started my day's hike at 19 Miles Brook Trail Head, heading out by 10am after leaving home at 6am to drive there. I did the 19 Mile Brook Trail in record time, climbing 1900' of elevation over 3.6 miles in 1.25 hours. I swung by the Carter Notch hut (3388') for water and a break, then climbed up to Carter Dome (4832') and Mt Hight (4675'), then down to Zeta Pass (3890'), up South Carter Mountain (4430'), Middle Carter Mountain (4610'), Mt Lethe (4500'), North Carter Mountain (4530'), down to Imp Shelter and campsite (3120'), up to Mt Moriah (4000'), by Rattle River Shelter (1260'), and then down to Rt 2 (760'). I practically flew from the shelter to the road, doing the 1.9 miles in under 30 minutes.

On my way up Carter Dome, I met Sharine; she's a newbie section hiker from DC. She'd never done backpacking before and was trying to hike from Pinkham Notch, NH to Caratunk, ME. I'd met her on her first day out. I gave her a breakdown of Southern Maine and tried to pass along some tips I had for AT hiking in general. We hiked together for maybe 15-20 minutes, chatting all the while. It was really nice to slow down and connect with a fellow section hiker on my day hike.

When I stopped at Imp Shelter and campsite for water, I found a group of 5 guys in their late teens by the water source. They were eating nuts and fruit and throwing the shells and peels all over the ground, within 10 feet of the water supply. One of them had just finished eating a can of stew and started asking if he could just throw the can into the woods; one of his friends noncommittally said that was probably not a great idea. On my way back up the side trail, I stopped in to discuss this issue with the caretaker. She looked angry and said she'd take care of it; she started down the trail to talk to them as I hiked back to the AT.

When I arrived at the Rt 2 parking lot at 7:30pm, I realized that my plan to hitchhike back to my car probably wouldn't work; people were leaving Gorham, not driving towards it, and the sun was going to set within half an hour. I tried to hitch for maybe 10 minutes and only saw one car pass by. I decided to go by the White Mountains Lodge & Hostel and see if they were available for a shuttle. As it turns out, they were and I was able to be back to my car by 8pm, no muss or fuss.

This section connects my north and south section hiking pieces; I've now hiked from Monson, ME down to Pearisburg, VA. My next hike on the AT will be in September/October, down in VA, TN, and NC. Until then, I'll content myself with local day and overnight hikes along the M-M trail, and maybe another visit to the Whites!