View Full Version : Massachusetts Mid-State Trail
buckwheat
12-15-2008, 18:07
Has anyone here hiked this trail? What was the experience like? Is it comparable to the Mass section of the AT? Easier? Harder? All opinions solicited.
Cheers,
Buckwheat
I'll answer since no one else has. I've only hiked the southernmost 3 miles of the Midstate Trail. It's very easy here. It runs over Mt. Wachusett in the center of the state. I've skied the mountain, and it isn't too big. Shouldn't be a very tough hike. The northernmost part of the trail I've also visited, doing some paint blazing on Mt. Watatic, though I'm not sure if that's in Mass. or New Hampshire.
I've read elsewhere on line that the Midstate Trail has sections which are overgrown and not well marked, but that's just hearsay, especially since I don't remember the source.
Toolshed
12-15-2008, 20:47
Used to live a couple of miles from Wachusett and ski the auto roads at night. Have done a few sections of the midstate trail. Hiking is pretty easy. Some boggy areas, lotsa mosquitoe's in the summer. Otherwise easier than the AT.
It's easier than the AT but not as well marked
I don't know anything about the Midstate Trail, but there's some really nice hiking on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail a little bit further west in MA. I've almost half of it, and it's well-marked and maintained and pretty easy to follow (there's an excellent guidebook that you can get). It has some extremely scenic sections, too (Mt. Tom, the whole Holyoke Range, Mt. Grace, Crag Mountain, etc.).
buckwheat
12-16-2008, 16:29
Thanks burger. I didn't know about that trail. Looks like it's probably a better N-S Massachusetts trail.
Cheers,
Buckwheat
I agree with Burger... I was just on the holyoke range yesterday... really beautiful.
Well, I for one, have done the Mid-state trail end to end. I didn't think that the AT in Mass was difficult, and the Mid-state trail is easier than that. The only mountains are Watatic and Wachusett.
No established overnight sites and just a few shelters, but usually without water. So, it's suitable for day hiking rather than backpacking.
Low Impact
12-16-2008, 20:16
Here's the deal Buckwheat -
I've "thru-hiked" the Mid-State trail two times - once NOBO and once SOBO. It's a fairly easy trail. There are two major mountains - Wachusett and Watatic. Both climbs get a little steep in sections, but are not very long. Other than that it is really just gradual ups and downs - but mostly flat.
The Midstate Trail is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH easier than the MA section of the AT.
As of the past year, trail crews have been out re-marking the trail. On the few short section hikes I've done in 2008 - the trail has been VERY well marked, so I think Nolan's infomation may be a bit outdated.
If you go onto www.midstatetrail.org you can order the most recent guidebook, which has tons of INFO and is set up like the AT Databook. It's not really a great site, but it does the trick.
If you do go ahead and "Thru-Hike" I'd suggest hiking without a resupply. Hitching in this part of the state isn't as common as it is in the Berks, so grabbing a ride into town could be especially hard. I'd also suggest bringing a tent for sure - as there are only a few shelters on the trail - all of which are ODDLY spaced out.
I live about 3 miles from the trail on Rt. 56 in Rutland. This is right around the half-way mark. If you are planning on heading out and need a place to crash, a place to shower, or want to mail a supply package and have me get it out to you on the trail - PM me. We can work something out for sure. Hell, maybe I'll even hike it with you.
Enjoy man - the Mid-State is an awesome trail. I love it and plan on hiking it a 3rd time at some point.
Right now, both the Mid State Trail and the Wapack Trail that it connects to at the New Hampshire state line have been hit bad by the recent ice storm. Wachusett Mountain is closed until the trails can be cleared, and Windblown Ski Area on the Wapack Trail may not open at all this year because of blowdowns.
Right now, both the Mid State Trail and the Wapack Trail that it connects to at the New Hampshire state line have been hit bad by the recent ice storm. Wachusett Mountain is closed until the trails can be cleared, and Windblown Ski Area on the Wapack Trail may not open at all this year because of blowdowns.
That's bad news for Windblown. The AMC beginner xc ski group that I instruct often go there if the conditions are better than those at BC's Sargent Center. Thanks for the info.
That's bad news for Windblown. The AMC beginner xc ski group that I instruct often go there if the conditions are better than those at BC's Sargent Center. Thanks for the info.
From the windblownxc.com website:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your response to Al's message (below) is astonishing! And so heart warming. It seems like all of you would make up an army of volunteers. And we so appreciate your offers. The truth is, Al says he has worked in the woods for over 40 years with chain saws and tractors and this time he is truly afraid to go into the woods. This is a bigger job and more dangerous than you can imagine. We are arranging to bring in big logging machinery to clear the trails. After they have gone through, we probably will take you up on your offers to help with the finer work. It won't be for several weeks though. We'll keep you posted.
A message from Al:
Friday December 12, 2008
Dear Skiers and Snowshoers,
Returning to our beautiful hilltop homesite today, I felt like Ashley Wilkes in "Gone with the Wind" coming home to Tara from the war, passing burned out plantations and a devastated landscape. Nature, not human passions provided the destructive power this time. An inch and a half of ice has brought down uncountable numbers of trees, filling trails with impassible amounts of debris, downing power lines, and damaging buildings. It is difficult to assess the total amount of damage because of the danger of falling ice and tree limbs. From what I can see from our house to the Warming Hut and the Ski Shop, it is ten times the damage caused by the great ice storm of 1998. Cleaning up will be costly and time consuming. I do not know when or if we will be open this season. In twenty-four hours our trails went from being the best ever to being the worst ever.
Toolshed
12-17-2008, 20:09
From the windblownxc.com website:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your response to Al's message (below) is astonishing! And so heart warming. It seems like all of you would make up an army of volunteers. And we so appreciate your offers. The truth is, Al says he has worked in the woods for over 40 years with chain saws and tractors and this time he is truly afraid to go into the woods. This is a bigger job and more dangerous than you can imagine. We are arranging to bring in big logging machinery to clear the trails. After they have gone through, we probably will take you up on your offers to help with the finer work. It won't be for several weeks though. We'll keep you posted.
A message from Al:
Friday December 12, 2008
Dear Skiers and Snowshoers,
Returning to our beautiful hilltop homesite today, I felt like Ashley Wilkes in "Gone with the Wind" coming home to Tara from the war, passing burned out plantations and a devastated landscape. Nature, not human passions provided the destructive power this time. An inch and a half of ice has brought down uncountable numbers of trees, filling trails with impassible amounts of debris, downing power lines, and damaging buildings. It is difficult to assess the total amount of damage because of the danger of falling ice and tree limbs. From what I can see from our house to the Warming Hut and the Ski Shop, it is ten times the damage caused by the great ice storm of 1998. Cleaning up will be costly and time consuming. I do not know when or if we will be open this season. In twenty-four hours our trails went from being the best ever to being the worst ever.
Wow!!! I used to XC/BC Ski at Windblown. I really like the place. I hope they get back on their feet again.
buckwheat
12-17-2008, 20:15
Yea,
The ice storm really did a number. I drove over to Leominster just to see what it was like and barely got into it before deciding it was just too dangerous to even drive on the roadways. Trees were bent over almost double all over the road. Like driving through an ice tunnel. I tucked tail and turned around and scooted the hell outta there.
Homer&Marje
12-18-2008, 08:46
Have not hiked the whole mid state trail yet. But my father and I did manage to complete (almost) the Wapack trail in a dayhike this summer,I believe they are considering it a northern extension . 17 miles from Watatic to Miller State Park. Absolutely fantastic hike and I will be doing it again probably incorporated with a few days on the mid state.
Here's the link for pictures taken along the road up Mt. Wachusett:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33410709@N08/sets/72157611210594159/show/
Wow. I had no idea of the devastation - and that's at the SOUTHERN edge of the damaged area. Windblown must be unbelievable.