Sunday, May 1, 2016

Mt Watatic-Ashburnham, MA















Phew we are all over the place with this blog but I loaded all the pictures from my cell to various posts and have been trying to find the time to sit and tell the tails that go with them.
We are totally out of order but this adventure took place last Saturday April 23rd.
I have been reading about the Mid-state trail for a while. I joined their FB page and the sites are great. It is a trail that runs from the Rhode Island state boarder to the New Hampshire Boarder. You can also continue into each state but for now I would like to just try and see as much of these 92 miles as I can.
I stated my Saturday early with a drive to New England Backpacker in Worcester. I was curious about this little independent store and I would be able to buy the Mid-State trail guide there.
I have been looking into a few more pieces that would help in future adventures like a backpacking trip I am going on in June. When I got there they had the stove I decided to buy and at the same price as big box stores. I would rather give my money to an independent place so I got it. Sadly I couldn't complete my cook package there as the pots were few and expensive so I moved on with just that and some maps.
I decided to head to Ashburnham and hike Mt Watatic. Seemed like a nice little Saturday walk. I left the Cape in the rain but here I just happened to be driving into more and more sunshine and blue sky as you can see.

This is part of the Mid-State so it was a double dip for me. There is a little parking lot that fit 8-10 cars but that was full and just as many spilled out and parked on the side of Rt 119.
 


The trail in was busy. It was a beautiful Saturday so I expected it. The trash was a little of a bummer too. This was just ion from the lot and it seemed as if the little pond was overflowing the path so we took the stepping stones in.




The trail was pretty straight up and had a lot of little creeks so cross and rocks. I even got to stand in the quiet and listen to a woodpecker at work.



I will say the Summit took me totally by surprise. The view on the way up was okay but more just admiring the woods. Once I came out over the top I was shocked to see a beautiful double summit with views for miles. I could faintly make out the Boston skyline, I could bee Mountains in Nh and the ski slops of Mt Watchussett.






After soaking that in for a while. I decided to move on. I avoided the people as best I could in the photos but they are everywhere. 4 people even sat on the Cairn at the 1st Summit. Really asshole?
I took the path less traveled on the way down. It was a more gradual decent and I only saw about 4 people which was nice. It also had many cairns which I love.




Geek that I am I was so excited to see I could walk to New Hampshire in 4 miles. I didn't have the time or supplies to add that little 8 mile gaunt onto my trip so I just kept heading back to my car.
Wait I just prove read this post and noticed NH .4 mile POINT!!!! Crap I would have done that.
Another trip for another day I guess.

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Race Results

09/07/07 Main Street Mile 11:44
05/18/08 YPD 5k 52:57 17:05
06/14/08 Walpole Village 5K 35:27 11:26
06/21/08 Mashpee Fun Run 34:21 11:05
07/19/08 Mashpee Woodlands 36.49 11:52
08/10/08 Falmouth Road Race 1:29:31
08/25/08 Women Running Wild 35:40 11:30
10/25/08 Mashpee Firefighters 37:47 12:10
05/02/09 Cape Abilities 5K 34:59 11:17
05/17/09 YPD 5K 36:41 11:50
08/09/09 Falmouth Road Race 7mi 1:37
10/31/09 Mashpee Firefighters 5K 37:15 12:00
09/11/11 Main Street Mile 12:31
10/29/11 Screech to the Beach 5K 39.13 12:20
08/12/12 Falmouth Road Race 1:34:24 13:29
05/18/14 YPD 5k 44.25 14:17
06/1/14 June Jog 4mi 1:04 16:00
08/17/14 Falmouth Road Race 1:42:04 14:35
09/27/14 Girly Girl 5K 37:24 12:02
10/26/14 Pell Bridge Run 4mi 48:41 12:10
11/27/14 Turkey Trot in VA 5K 35:22 11:23
12/06/14 Jingle Jog 5K 34:42 11:11
03/29/15 Thomas Guinta Memorial 5K 34:14 11:03
04/19/15 St. Margaret's 5K 31:11 10:21
05/17/15 YPD Blues 5K 34:58 11:17
06/07/15 Newport 10 Miler 1:56:09 11:36
06/20/15 Mackenzie's 5K 33:55 10:54
08/17/14 Falmouth Road Race 1:33:51 13:24
10/31/15 Screech at the Beach 36:19 11:40
5/20/18 YPD Run to Remember 37.37 12:08
9/19/18 Falmouth Road Race 1:35:06 13:35