Am considering a multi-day hike on the northern parts of the trail. Does anyone recommend any good trail maps?
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Am considering a multi-day hike on the northern parts of the trail. Does anyone recommend any good trail maps?
Oh, and as it is easily missed, I'm referring to the New England trail.
I am looking for guidebooks, maps, rules and regulations for this trail as well. I have a lot of questions and I'm having a tough time getting them answered.
Where can you camp? Are there designated camping areas, or just find an appropriate place? How is the trail marked? Blazes?
This trail is significantly closer to me than the AT and I'd love to start section hiking something that I might actually be able to finish in a year or so.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trailQuote:
Originally Posted by DBCFlash
Uh..yeah. Thanks John. I have plenty of information about the AT. I'm looking for info about the MMM trail. Not the same trail. But thanx anyhoo...Quote:
Originally Posted by john gault
After replying to you thread, I remember looking at your screen name and thinking, "Hmmm, something's not right here:confused:...I know DBCFlash knows all about how to get maps and such for the AT"Quote:
Originally Posted by DBCFlash
Sorry:o
Np problem John. Just pokin' at you. I just can't get any real information about hiking New England trail. It's about an hour from my home and it would be an awesome hike if I could just get some maps and information. I have gotten some conflicting information about camping. One article says that thru hikers can camp in a low impact way, and another says there is no camping available. The best map I've found so far is a Google map and is far from detailed.
I've been able to find the following, but I'm still looking for more info. It seems that the NET is very much a work in progress, with sections currently not open due to property owners wishing their sections not be published. Would be nice if there were a single map of the whole region, as there is for VT Long Trail and White Mountains. I'm sure in time, there will be.
http://amcberkshire.org/mm-trail
http://www.netrail.org/maps/West_Bra...rail_maps.html
the Conn. Walk Book has a good but outdated map. Mass section really does not have a good map
The CT walk book West or East both have the trail maps. You can also get maps from www.ctxguide.com, ctx has a gps track of the trail which he has placed on topo maps via natgeo software which you can save and print which are pretty decent. There is only 1 or 2 designated camping areas so far along the trail and these are in the southern sections. General words of advice are to LNT camp in areas that are state property i.e. not private land. When you are crossing into or leaving state property it is typically very clearly marked on the trees with black and gold metal discs usually saying the name of the area/forest. I have found it fairly easy to contact the town clerks of the appropiate towns the trail passes through and ask for a permit to LNT camp, please be advised that there is no official permit yet, it is merely permission from a town to camp in its borders on the trail. This is really a technicality in the unlikely event someone would inquire about you, as well as protect your vehicle from being towed etc. If you LNT, don't have a fire etc, chances are you will have no problems at all, especially if your within state/town land and not on private property.
I have done many overnights on the trail within CT, and quite a few 3-4 day trips as well but have not done any of the trail in Mass.
The Connecticut Forest and Parks Association are the maintainers of the CT portion of the New England Trail (also known as the Mattabessett and Metacomet Trails in CT) and the publishers of the Connecticut Walk Book West and East. On their website, they give updates on trail conditions, section closures, rerouting, etc.: http://www.ctwoodlands.org/trail
Here is the website for the New England Trail: http://www.newenglandtrail.org/.
And the AMC Massachusetts Guide has descriptions for the entire Mass section of the NET in segments and detailed maps of the portions traversing the Mt. Tom and Holyoke Ranges.
Try this link http://amcberkshire.org/mm-trail/guide I hiked quite a bit of it in my younger days
check here for references: http://www.newenglandnst.org/Map.aspx
Guthook did a 2009 thru of the NE Trail and has some awesome info
http://guthook.blogspot.com/
Patrick Fletcher sells guidebooks to the M-M trail... He lives in Westfield, MA
Patrick and his crew work to continually keep that guide book updated. Well worth purchasing.Quote:
Originally Posted by GlassSunrise413
Also bookmark this link: http://amcberkshire.org/mm-trail and you will be able to check for updates that did not make it into the book for various reasons.
I met Patrick a few years ago during a trail maintenance day on the MM in Wendell State Forest. I get his e-mail updates regularly as to what is going on with the MM/NEST. Great guy. Hiked out to visit he and his wife when they opened Upper Goose Pond cabin for the hiking season a few years back too.
Oopsie! The link above also links to the guidebook order page.