20s and 30s Mid State Trail Section Backpack

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 5 - Vigorous
Trip Leader(s): Celeste Venolia, Michael Glicksman
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP:https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN000001jxsz
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Join us for a one night backpack southbound on the Midstate trail, spending the night at Muddy Pond Shelter! On day 1, we will hike around 8.2 miles with about 1,200 ft of ascent and descent from Rt 119 to Muddy Pond. On day 2, we will hike around 10.3 miles with around 1600 ft of ascent and descent from Muddy Pond to Redemption Rock. We will be aiming for a moderate pace as this trip is meant to be accessible to relatively new backpackers who are comfortable with Fall overnight temps (20s-ish) and 8-10 miles days . Some highlights along this section of trail in addition to Redemption rock and Muddy Pond include the Crow Hill Ledges and lovely views of surrounding ponds from small peaks like Mount Hunger.
Participants must have their own sleeping pad/bag that they have used in similar overnight temperatures, and a pack that comfortably carries their own food, water, and gear. Water along the mid-state trail (i.e. lower elevation near farms/towns) cannot generally be guaranteed to be safe in relation to pesticides and other human contaminants that filters and other water purification methods do not remove, so participants should be prepared to carry at least 3 liters of water on Day 1. Leaders will coordinate caching water near the campsite.
Among approved participants, we will coordinate a carspot/carpooling, make a plan for bear safe food storage based on gear currently owned by the group collectively, and confirm plans for shelter (i.e. how many people are bringing tents/hammocks or need to find a buddy to tent with in case the shelter is full).
What is the Midstate trail? It's a 90.6 mile trail in Central MA that came together in its current form by the late 1970s. It shares a Northern terminus with the Wapack trail in NH and a Southern terminus with the RI North-South trail. Learn more here .
To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out.

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!