AT section first timer questions

imported
#1

My wife and I are planning a 50 mile segment for her 50th birthday this year. We will be in Massachusetts, hiking from Cheshire to Buel road. Are there any topi maps available that have the AT overlayed on them? I have a trail map but not a decent size for detail. Is a detailed map necessary or is the trail well marked? Map and compass required? Also anyone know of a transportation service that could meet us at the end of the trip and get us back to the starting point? We are doing a lot of reading and a lot of training to get ready, but any additional advice is appreciated

PJ

#2

Hi! PJ & Wife,

The trail is very well marked with 2"x 6" WHITE Paint Blazes, and every so often you may encounter a Wooden Sign with information. A compass isn’t really required, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, VA has maps and data concerning the trail.

The trail is very noticeable just from the use of it.
Happy Birthday to the wife, and enjoy your hike.

Gorp-Gobbler “Thru-Hiker in 2018 (or) Bust”

Gorp-Gobbler

#3

Oh, I forgot. One mile north of Lake Buel Road is Mass. 23 that goes into Great Barrington. Peter Pan Bus Lines run daily each way between NYC and Williamstown, Mass. You might be able to arrange a ride somehow with them.

Gorp-Gobbler

#4

The local bus services in the western part of Mass are run by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority

http://www.berkshirerta.com/

They do have buses that run from Great Barrington to Pittsfield to Adams (passing by Cheshire on the way) that might help you out, but you’d have to see how the schedules run.
They might still require a little bit of walking or finding a ride on the ends (to get from 23 as mentioned above into Great Barrington and Cheshire itself is just off of 8, but the AT crosses the road so perhaps you could get dropped off there and hike back into town.

Also - since it looks like it involves 2 or possibly 3 different buses, you might consider parking where you want to end and taking the buses to the start, then hiking back to the car. That way you’d get the ride over with and not risk getting done too late on a given day to get a ride to your car.

Billy