Troop 54 returned to the northern section of the Midstate Trail for the first time since 2010. This trail is very well-blazed and has a guide book with great detail.
We had nine Boy Scouts and three leaders participating. Four of our Scouts were on their first backpacking trip (and everyone lived). The weather was unseasonably warm for this time of year; most of us hiked in short sleeved shirts during at least part of the day.
We started in Ashburnham and hiked about 6 miles each day, crossing the top of Mount Hunger. Our hike ended at the trail shelter in Westminster. View our actual trail as recorded by ASM Keith MacNeal's GPS unit:
Trimble Outdoors - map and notes uploaded by Keith MacNeal
GPX file
MappingSupport
Although our youth had reserved our trailhead parking and the trail shelter in advance, Troop 1 from Harvard, Massachusetts was at the site when we arrived. They made room for three of our Scouts in the shelter, leaving three to sleep in the open by the camp fire.
For dinner, the Scouts had planned a trail-friendly meal of Chicken Alfredo, using dry and canned ingrediants. The Scouts were able to balance the large pot on lightweight Pocket Rocket stoves to prepare the meal.
This was our troop's fifty-ninth consecutive month with at least one overnight camping trip.
Narrative originally posted on Trimble Outdoors by Keith MacNeal:
A relatively easy trek through the woods on a section of the Midstate Trail. The trail is well marked with yellow triangle blazes. With fallen leaves obscuring the trail at this time of year, it was good to have the blazes.
The trail goes up and over Mount Hunger where you'll have a nice view of Mt. Watatic and Stodge Meadow Pond. There are a few road crossings, but for the most part you feel like you are in the wilderness. Muddy Pond has a well used trail shelter with a fire ring. We retraced our steps for Day 2.
