Day 1 – Hike #3 Slackpacking Massachusetts

Day 1 – Slackpacking the Appalachian Trail from Sheffield Egremont Road to MA Route 23. This 10.2 mile hike had a gain of 2,100 feet and a loss of 1,750 feet.

Coffee and an Egg & spinach casserole kicked off the day. We were all on time and in the van, ready to head to our drop-off, in Sheffield. The hike started off rather flat, and the sun quickly warmed us.

The first ascent was steep and rocky and reminded me very much of the first hike I did with my husband on the AT. The moment you think the hill is done and it flattens out, a new hill appears. The trail was rather rocky, and a few areas required some strategic foot placement, but otherwise, it was a great first day.

The guides and other hikers were much more knowledgeable than I expected. Many of them are very experienced AT hikers, ironmen, cyclists, medical professionals…. super impressive. It was great getting to know them better as we climbed, then climbed, then went down, then back up, over and over again.

Great weather, great ladies. What more could you ask for?

What I Learned

• My 16 liter backpack is too small
• Bog Boards – protect the marsh/trail and give us a safe place to walk
• Hotbox – when people sit in their hot car, roll up the windows, and smoke pot (this can be found in a Whole Foods parking lot).

Highlights

• I feel good after my first 10 miles
• Trail Magic is pretty cool.
• I drove to the REI in West Hartford to get a larger backpack, hoping to make sure my experience is the best it can be as the days get longer and harder.