Date completed: 5/8/2021
Miles: I went from Penwood State Forest in CT though all sections up to the Notch Visitors Center in Amherst, MA. I ran the two most northern Ct sections and Sections 1-4 in MA multiple times.
Base: Westfield, Ma
Describe the NET: Very scenic. Slightly technical with a good amount of climbing
What do you love about the NET? It’s challenging
Photos taken by John Torrone
Date completed: 3/22/2021
Base: Avon, CT
Miles: Hiked all of the metacomet trail and spent my remaining miles trail running at rattlesnake, ragged, penwood, and the rt.44 trail.
Describe the NET: Flat with more sloping, technical parts at distinguished parks, lush with evergreen, beautiful.
What do you love about the NET? I love revisiting trails and getting to know the different wildlife around.
Advice for NET hikers: Always bring water
Trail Story:
After completing the winter Saranac 6er in NY, I came back to CT excited to tackle our own trails in snowy conditions. I started the second week of January and went into the last weeks of March. I greatly enjoyed finding beautiful features of CT along the way, and having a better understanding of how the towns along the trail fit together.
Stefan finished the Hike50 Challenge in just one visit! On June 2nd, he ran the 62 mile MUT (Metacomet Ultra Traverse) with a group of CT trail runners. The run took him 19 hr and 52 min to complete! Photo @ Ragged Mtn. Submitted June 15, 2018.
Pradeep S. of Manchester started hiking the trail when it was covered in snow. Having never run or hiked solo before, Pradeep was nervous initially, but the fear made him focus on what he was doing in the moment. He felt a wonderful sense of disconnect from the outside world when he went into the woods and soon began loving the solitude the New England Trail had to offer.
Sara and Lilith S. were our first hikers to complete the Hike50 Challenge! Sara grew up hiking on blue blazes with her late uncle and used the challenge as a way to share the experience with her 8 year old daughter.
Hiking for these three is a family affair. Jess, Nathan and Zach have section hiked all of the NET in CT and are looking forward to exploring the MA sections this summer. To keep track of their progress, they use a highlighter to color in each section of a map they hung up in their kitchen! Photo @ Mt. Higby. Submitted June 6, 2018
For Darin, Mary and Scarlett the Hike50 Challenge was a family affair! This adventurous trio earned their points by hiking, staying overnight at the Cattails shelter, and by thanking our adopters for their trail work. Scarlett currently holds the title of youngest Hike50 participant! Photo @ Millers Pond, Durham, CT.
“Try it once and you’ll be back for twice.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Thank you Peter for joining the challenge! Photo @ Tariffville Gorge, Simsbury, CT.
A fractured tailbone didn’t stop this intrepid adventurer! After suffering a fall Frank returned after weeks of healing to make sure he completed the Hike50 Challenge on the NET! Photo @ Section 16 in Erving MA, north of Rt. 2.
Nothing can keep Suzanne off the trail! She started her challenge when there was still several feet of snow on the ground, hiking 6-8 miles every time she went out with her hiking group. The challenge for her has been a great way to get old-timers and newcomers to join together for an adventure.
Photo @ Stratton Mountain, Northfield MA
