| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Fisher Hill, Mt. Hunger, Crow Hills , MA |
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 | Trails: |
Midstate Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 13, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the large, dirt, Mt Watatic parking area at about 6am and was the only one there; room for a couple dozen maybe. No cars at the Redemption Rock parking area at 4pm. The parking area was dirt and looked pretty muddy; room for maybe a dozen cars. I got a Lyft between the two for nearly $30. 15mi road walk otherwise :P Small, easy stepover somewhere around the trail's crossing of Oakmont Avenue. Large duck under blowdown along a rock wall about 30min later. Mid-sized blowdown that you have to go around about 10min after that (this is also about 15-20min south of the powerline swath so is in-between North Common Rd and Bathrick Rd). Very small duck under in the vicinity of Wachusett Village Inn. A widowmaker about 10min later as you near the town of Wachusett as the trail parallels the brook. A small stepover blowdown just south of Crow Hill, right before you cross Keyes Brook, and a small-mid sized duck under/leaner about 10-15min before coming to Rt 140. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There were maybe three or so legit water crossings. All were elevated and might be considered slightly tricky but nothing unsafe or undoable by White Mtn standards. The most difficult was the first/northernmost north of Muddy Pond Shelter (Phillips Brook? Brown Brook?) where there was rope tied to help you across, but not terribly well (not the best height, too thin, and not taut). Stepping on submerged rocks I believe and some big steps. Poles in addition to the rope could be helpful. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Midstate Trail is marked mainly with yellow triangles with hikers and "Midstate Trail" written on it but also occasionally has yellow triangular blazes and other odds and ends marking the trail. The markings are relatively consistent but I wouldn't say always that frequent. Overall, I would not describe the trail as difficult to follow though there were a few overgrown parts that, especially with snow on the ground, additional markings wouldn't hurt. Large stepover/straddler blowdown (very) roughly 1mi south of the Wattatic Parking on Rt 119. Large, not yet de-limbed blowdown, somewhere around the general vicinity of the trail's crossing of Rt 12. Small blowdown about a half hour south of Muddy Pond Shelter that you can straddle. Small trivial stepover just south of the trail's crossing of Oakmont Ave. Large, old duck under by a rock wall about a half hour south of this. Small, but not yet delimbed blowdown that you've got to go around a short distance north of where the trail comes to the fields Schenk Farm Conservation Area. Very small leaner in the vicinity of Wachusett Village Inn. Large, old widowmaker above the trail as the trail parallels Smith Brook south of Wachusett Village Inn. Mid-sized stepover between Crow Hill and Kelsey Brook. Small-mid sized duck under about 15min north of Redemption Rock. I think that there are trail signs at major junctions but I do not recall specifics other than to say that the trail was definitely signed at jcts with the Crow Hill trails. Jcts came with maps as well. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for both hiking dogs and those just looking for a stroll mostly too. The one section that is rougher than non-hiking dogs will probably want to avoid is around Crow Hills which is steeper and rougher. At least one section (Somers Corner) requires dogs to be leashed. |
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 | Bugs: |
Snowfleas |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Apologies for another ridiculously late trail report...
A traverse of (most of) Section 1, 2, and 3 of the Midstate Trail. I traversed from north to south, starting at the Mt Wattatic Parking on Rt 119 having already hiked the portion of trail over Wattatic. I'm sure it's all a muddy mess now, but at the time, it was a miserable slog through a couple inches of very wet snow! I learned that my waterproof boots are no longer waterproof by any stretch of the imagination! The trail was a bit difficult to follow through a brushy area around Fisher Hill. I imagine that this needs cut back in the summer though may be much easier to follow without snow on the ground as well. I think this may be a reroute of the trail. The trail deviates very slightly from where it shows it is on Gaia just before it crosses Rt 12. I am not sure where the blue-blazed connector the guidebook talks about is. I forgot to look for it and there's two connecting trails shown on Gaia, one that is 0.5mi (the guidebook says it's less than 0.2...) and the other being 0.3mi but being much too close to Muddy Pond Shelter...if anyone knows where it is and can speak to it, I'd appreciate it! The trail also deviates more significantly, though briefly, from the route shown on Gaia between Oakmont Ave and Bathrick Rd where it swings west and touches North Common Rd at its easternmost point. The trail has its little ups and downs but is generally pretty flat. The one section that was rougher and actually surprised me was on the south side of Crow Hill where its steep and very rocky, almost to the point of what one might call easy scrambling :P If redlining, note that there are other trails on Crow Hill you may want to add into this traverse. Gaia ha me at about 20mi, 2000ft of gain, 9hr49min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-14 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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