Mid State

[AA]

I didnt want to derail the thread started by Jisch regarding an epic ride weekend but the Mid state trail suggestion got me thinking. I have always wanted to ride the whole midstate. Other than Wachusett are there any other section off limits to bikes? I think that it would be doable in 2 days with the 1/2 way point at Barre falls (seems like a good place to camp).

Anyone interested?

[steve_b]

You are aware that the Midstate trail is 92 miles long? ??? I personally couldn't do that distance on trails in 2 days. Especially as technical as it is in spots.

[Body2Big]

Yes my groin knows all about those technical spots :'(

Shawn

[AA]

Actually I think it is 95 miles long ;D 17 miles are pavement and I'm sure there would be additional road miles to get around Wachusett. I've done from Rt 2 to Watatic & back in one day. I'm not sure how tough the southern section is.

[Jisch]

Count me in if its on the weekend of Aug 19th ;D

Sounds like a great adventure. My biggest concern would be breakdowns, which would be killah. I would love to do this as a group. I've never ridden 47 miles in one day, never mind two in a row, but I'm fairly confident I could handle it. I've done 29 miles of tough up and down near Pisgah in NC, if I had an hour lunch break or so, I could easily have done another 15.

John

[Quo Fan]

Hmmm... I would need to put that motor I've been thinking about on the bike, then figure out how to interface it with the current drivetrain...

Oops, just thinking out loud. ;D

[huff'npuff]

Hmmm... I would need to put that motor I've been thinking about on the bike, then figure out how to interface it with the current drivetrain...

Oops, just thinking out loud. ;D


My neighbor had one that would spin the rear wheel. It ran on gas,and was called "CHICKEN POWER" ....what else,huh ? lol * Now if I just knew where he got it.......*

[slapheadmofo]

Anyone interested?


;D I'm in (as long as kinda slow and steady works for you guys!)

We've done Watatic to Wachusett (bases not peaks) a few times, takes us about 6 hours including a pizza break at my house at the halfway point. Wachusett and the conservation land just south of it need to be skipped. There's also a small section in Ashburnham that is posted foot travel only, Same situation where you need to rejoin the trail after it passes over Crow Hill in Leo SF. I'd be willing to try to get 'day passes' for those sections though - I think we'd be okay.

From riding Barre and that area, it seems that it get's a little less hilly as you head south, but I'm not at all familiar with it from there on down.

I'd guesstimate you'd end up with somewhere closer to 70-75 miles of trail riding when it's all said and done, with a few hours of road riding mixed in there somewhere. Sounds awesome!

[AA]

I'm pretty sure that my wife would be willing to provide support like; drop off, meet w/ camping gear & supplies, & pick up at the end of the route. I'm booked the next 2 weekends but after that I would like to do a couple of day rides to see how feasible the distances are.

[slapheadmofo]

That sounds like a good idea. Be nice to do the whole thing a little later in the season when it cools off some. That would leave plenty of time to scout everything out.

Who's familiar with middle and southern parts of the trail?

[Jisch]

Later in the year also means less daylight.


John

[steve_b]

Who's familiar with middle and southern parts of the trail?


I ride the end section of the Midstate that's in Douglas SF every week. Down in the southern part of the state, there's only small climbs, but pretty technical in spots. The section between the two Nemba cedar bridges is almost constant rock garden for 1/2 mile. ;D There's another really technical section in the middle of the park. It's all rideable, but slow going. I will buy you a beer (or two) if you can clean both of the 2 sections without a dab somewhere. 8) Once you get down towards the southern trunkline trail it becomes fast and easy. It alternates between fireroad and quad trail, with a 1/2 mile or so of tech. singletrack again as it joins the Coffeehouse loop. Then it's doubletrack to the border and the junction with the North - South Trail. I can show anyone who is interested this section, along with some other prime singletrack in Douglas. There's loops from 2-5 hours there, all on separate trails.

[slapheadmofo]

Later in the year also means less daylight.


John



True, true. But there still more hours of daylight than I think I can put in on a bike in a day. :)

[DAVID J]

Temple mountian in N.H. to Wachusett Inn is a brutal,8 hr epic.What I've done in the past is stash a lunch at Watatic,the 1/2 way point.Its a fairly easy ride to organize.

[Kilroy]

I had thought of trying to do this myself, but I never figured to find anyone, nevermind more than one person, crazy enough to try.

I have ridden some of the northern sections (Rutland state park)...some good sized Hills. I have ridden all of the sections of in douglas State park, and no I can't clear the section south of Rt 16 without dabbing or, "stylish dismounts".
I currently cant ride trails, busted ankle but I have been taking my old mtn bike road riding 3-4 times a week 20-36 miles a clip.
I am not sure if I could finish the whole trip but I would be willing to try....

When the midstate leaves LSF and goes to Hodges, would that section be pretty much all road? just wondering.

pm if serious

Kilroy

[slapheadmofo]

Temple mountian in N.H. to Wachusett Inn is a brutal,8 hr epic.What I've done in the past is stash a lunch at Watatic,the 1/2 way point.Its a fairly easy ride to organize.


Oh man, we did an out and back up Temple then south on the Wapack on a 95 degree day a few years back.
Brutal is right. :'(

[slapheadmofo]

When the midstate leaves LSF and goes to Hodges, would that section be pretty much all road? just wondering.



You can get from LSF to the parking lot at Mt Wachusett by trail. Actually, that's one of my favorite sections - a few miles of really nice, pretty techical singletrack. To access it though, you need to climb up a fireroad on the Crowe Hill side of rt31 that's very clearly marked 'Foot travel only'. We usually walk the small amount of trail in that area that's inside LSF (too steep and nasty to ride anyway) until we rejoin the Midstate where it comes down from the top of the ledges. It leaves the park at that point and is legal the rest of the way to WaWa to the best of my knowledge.

After that I think you're right - all road (or shuttle) to Hodges.

[AA]

After that I think you're right - all road (or shuttle) to Hodges.


I'll look on my topo maps again tonight, I thought it was a mix of trail & road. I need to buy the "official" midstate map.

[storkula]

Sections I've done:

Temple to Watatic a few times. Nice views and beat you up good.

Watatic to Wachusset a few times.

Intervale Rd thru Barre dam falls to Rutland State forest.

And Douglas State forest (Tri-state trail) north on the midstate, Not sure how far I went since it was years ago.

It would be awesome to do the whole thing, but two days would be tough. Midstate trail miles always seem longer than the normal mile. Well to me anyway, but I'd give it a shot :P

[storkula]

Last year I did some driving around to find the next closest access point to get back into the midstate after Wachusett. Here's what I remember:

At the base south of Wachusett Mt the trail is posted off limits to bikes on Westminster Rd and I think the next trail head is on Thompson or Goodlow Rd which was also posted off limits marked as a bird/wildlife santuary or something.

The next spot that I found was off of Rt62 down a dead end road (don't remember the name), but it was mostly side roads & doubletrack that at the time was swampy and wet from beaver damage that lead to Rt68 near the Intervale rd trail head. From Intervale rd on to Rutland state forest, it seemed to be good singletrack.

Anyway hope that helps.

[onionhead]

Actually I think it is 95 miles long ;D 17 miles are pavement and I'm sure there would be additional road miles to get around Wachusett. I've done from Rt 2 to Watatic & back in one day. I'm not sure how tough the southern section is.




I live across from the trail in Douglas (border of CT and RI). It's very rocky, rooty, and tight in this area. Not too hilly. Typical New England stuff.

North of us in Sutton and Oxford, I'm not too sure. I think it heads up on some gas-lines, fire roads, or old farming roads. If the trails I'm thinking of are the MidState, it's definitely some 'faster' riding than what I have here.

[onionhead]

I ride the end section of the Midstate that's in Douglas SF every week. Down in the southern part of the state, there's only small climbs, but pretty technical in spots. The section between the two Nemba cedar bridges is almost constant rock garden for 1/2 mile. ;D There's another really technical section in the middle of the park. It's all rideable, but slow going. I will buy you a beer (or two) if you can clean both of the 2 sections without a dab somewhere. 8) Once you get down towards the southern trunkline trail it becomes fast and easy. It alternates between fireroad and quad trail, with a 1/2 mile or so of tech. singletrack again as it joins the Coffeehouse loop. Then it's doubletrack to the border and the junction with the North - South Trail. I can show anyone who is interested this section, along with some other prime singletrack in Douglas. There's loops from 2-5 hours there, all on separate trails.


I may have to catch up with you Steve... ;) I ride the Oxford/Sutton side of things all the time. (up by the gas-lines, the Beagle club, and the fire-tower.) That section goes down to Webster center, either near Indian Ranch or 395. There is some real fast stuff down that way, but there are also a TON of trails that are not mapped, and I have no idea where they go.

[steve_b]

Sure, let me know. I haven't had a chance to follow the Midstate further North out of the park yet. It's on the list of places to check out. Along with W. Millbury. It would be cool if you could somehow connect the two via trails.

[onionhead]

I know how to make that happen, with about 1/4 mile of road riding. ;)

It's been years since I've been in W.Millbury, and it was on a sled at the time, but I know it can be done. If you're familiar with the fire-tower in Oxford, there are a few trails that dump you out on Central Turnpike. You'd cross, and dip down behind Singletary Rod and Gun. There would be a max of about 1/4 mile of road riding.

Either that, or I can point you to where the MidState goes back into the woods after leaving the DSF, which is up by "the other" Whittier Farm (without the silo's). Probably about 1.5 miles of road riding if you leave from the fire-tower area. Probably 3-3.5 miles if you leave from where the MidState actually hits the road.