Date completed: 10/13/2021
Home base: West Hartford, CT
Miles: I hiked 17 hikes on the NET this year (so far!) totaling 119 miles (so far!) Some hikes were repeats (Timberlands is a favorite) and some were even moonlight hikes(Castle Craig in Meriden, Rattlesnake in Farmington). All were in CT this year…need to get back to MA soon!
Advice for NET Hikers: Follow the blazes and you’ll never know what wonders you will find!
Date completed: 10/9/2021
Home base: Westfield, MA
Miles: Completed MA sections 1-14 and CT sections 1, 2, 6, and 17-21 as well as multiple repeats of MA 1 and 4.
Describe the NET: Easy and accessible with a few good lookouts. Unfortunately, more road walking than hiking at times.
Trail Story:
We completed MA sections 7-9 in one day and actually found it enjoyable! Good views with elevation gain.
Date completed: 10/25/2021
Home base: Meriden, CT
Miles: Hiked 52.4 miles. Not sure what the sections translate to, but did several loops of Seven Falls, Bear Hill, did Higby a few times, Mount Pisgah, the Metacomet from Route 15 to Edgewood Rd, the northern-most section of Metacomet down West Suffield Mountain.
Trail Story:
Last year I hiked the whole Mattabesset trail and this year I repeated some of that and decided to finish off what I haven’t done of the Metacomet. I live in Meriden, so I really like being able to hike close to home and it’s always funny to me to walk from one major road to another through the woods.
Date completed: 10/23/2021
Home base: Litchfield, CT
Miles: I live in CT and completed the whole CT NET, so now I’m chipping away at MA. Completed a series of out and back hikes in various parts of MA, including the Royalston Falls area, Mt Grace, Wendell State Forest, Mt Holyoke, and Mt Tom.
Trail Story:
I enjoy section hiking long-distance trails like the NET and AT because you can string together a bunch of adventures to create a big adventure. And there is a definite satisfaction when you complete a walk across an entire state.
Date completed: 10/04/2021
Home base: Belchertown, MA
Miles: I hiked along sections 7-9 in MA at least once a week since January!
Trail Story:
This is the third year I wanted to reach 50 miles on the NET and the first year I actually did it—in fact, I have done 100+ miles so far. I needed an excuse to get outside and exercise and this helped me to do that.
Date completed: 10/04/2021
Base: Easthampton, MA
Miles: January 2021 = MASSACHUSETTS ONLY section 1, 2, part of 6, 8 9…..24.8 miles
Feb 2021 = section 10, 11, part of 6 many times…..14. 5
March = parts of 6 many many times (we live VERY close to Mt Tom!!) ….21 miles
April = parts of section 6, 11, 13…..24 miles
May = section 14, 12 small section, 15, 5……..12.5 miles
Sept = section 6 entire ridge Mt Tom……4 miles
October = section 7 Bare Mountain…. 5 miles (and October just began!)
TOTAL MILES 105.8 so far and we still have two months to go! Yippeeee
How would you describe the NET? Absolutely Varied and Gorgeous = the New England Trail, a real gem, worth fighting for and hiking on.
Trail Story:
We absolutely LOVED section #15 in MA…it was so gorgeous! Lots of water, ponds, birdlife, interesting terrain. We want to go back and swim in Wendell State Forest. A gem! We didn’t even know anything about this area, we love it!
What do you love about the NET? I love all of the birds that we see and wildflowers. I always learn something new on the trail, so lucky to be able to experience it.
Advice for NET Hikers: Go at your own pace, always. Enjoy the journey, and keep exploring!
Date completed: 10/02/2021
Miles: We hiked the entire Metacomet and part of Mattabesett and Menenkatuk, also points for posting photos.
Base: Brookfield, CT
What do you love about the NET? There are so many different terrains….hills, roads, rocks, grassy fields, slight bushwhacking, mud, dark pine forest, new growth birch, wildflowers…
Advice for NET Hikers: Just go do it and bring snacks.
Trail Story:
After many years of not hiking I set out in Sept 2020 to start again and completed the AT through CT into NY. I then set out to complete all the blue blazed trails in CT which led me to the NET hike challenge. I am currently at 290miles of BB trails completed and hiked every single weekend through Sept 2021. I first hiked the AT in CT in 4th grade and was an avid hiker for many years, mostly getting out on my local trails or the AT in other states if I was close. I’ve also hiked at Glacier nat part and in Yellowstone and they are magnificent, but I really love walking all over the state I live in and seeing the plants and rivers and towns that make up the state I grew up in.
Date completed: 10/04/2021
Miles: I hiked on sections 7-9 throughout the year.
Base: Palmer, MA
Trail Story:
I went from “dadbod” to “radbod” by completing 50 miles on NET.
Date completed: 09/21/2021
Miles: I hike, I love Farley ledges and Seven Sisters. This is not hard to do!! I did try Section 18 this year. That was new.
Section 17, 18, Long Mt Norwattuck, Seven Sisters, Hermits caves, Mt Grace and little Grace. I doubt I am done for the year. At 64 points that I have remembered to track, but still will find more paces to go.
Base: Worcester, MA
Advice for NET Hikers: Start with some recommended trails and branch out from there.
Trail Story:
Farley Ledges and Hermit Caves. We were at the trailhead and the neighbor engaged us in conversation. I hope I relay this accurately. His family has a history of giving back. His property borders a very popular spot. In an effort to preserve his and the other neighbor’s property AND allow people like us to enjoy the wonderful area these property owners worked with officials to set up a small parking area (on their property) and sign up the trails. Sometimes you hike and wonder “who set this up?” In this case, I met the who. And I am grateful to him and everyone else that helps make trails available to us all.
Date completed: 09/16/2021
Miles: I hiked 50 miles on the following Sections: 2, 5, 6, 8,16, 17 MA, and 20 CT.
Base: Shelburne Falls, MA
Describe the NET: The New England Trail goes from point A to B. Often one needs to carpool to complete a section or reverse the path doing half of it (as in this time of covid). The trails of MA and CT have some wonderful hills, mountains, rock scrambles, flatlands, etc. to meet the hiking abilities of many hikers.
What do you love about the NET? Every place takes one to beautiful places and views throughout MA and CT with a variety of hiking challenges.
Trail Story:
I belong to a number of hiking groups and normally hike only with groups covering lots of Ma and CT lands. I am delighted whenever the leaders have posted one of the New England trails since this is my challenge not theirs. This year I needed to end my challenge early as I am going to California soon. I surprised myself by setting up some private hikes with a few friends on the NET so I could accomplish this challenge before leaving the area and to show them some other beautiful areas. My favorite hike is Section 20 CT – I hiked this area 5 times!
