End-to-End Challenge

The biennial End to End Challenge is a 1-day hike of 30+ miles, with over 7000 feet of cumulative elevation gain over undulating terrain from Berry Pond in Pittsfield State Forest to the northern end of the Taconic Crest Trail at Route 346. Hikers are supported from beginning to end by volunteers of the Taconic Hiking Club. Participants who successfully complete the challenge will receive a Certificate of Accomplishment and a special “TCT 1-Day” patch. Participants who are club members will also receive the “Bloody Foot” patch. Obviously, this challenge is for very fit and experienced hikers!

End-to-End Challenge - Saturday, May 11, 2024

Date: The next End-to-End Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Registration: On-line registration via Eventbrite opens on March 1, 2024, at 6 AM.

Registration link: Register here REGISTRATION IS FULL

After you register: Required event liability release waiver for registered participants. Your registration is not complete until you print, complete, and submit the liability release waiver.

Starting: The hike will start at Berry Pond in Pittsfield State Forest. The gate at the base of Circuit Rd to Berry Pond in Pittsfield State Forest will be unlocked and opened by a THC volunteer at 5:00 AM to allow participants and volunteers to drive up to Berry Pond. We will assemble at Berry Pond at 5:30 AM, take attendance, have a brief orientation, and then start the hike at approximately 5:45 AM.

Planning - night before: If you do not have the luxury of sleeping in your own bed the night before there are plenty of comfortable B&Bs, Air B&Bs, motels and hotels in the Pittsfield MA area. There will be no camping available, the campsites at Pittsfield State Forest will not open until May 15, 2024.

Planning - Transportation: We recommend that you have a friend or relative drop you off at Berry Pond and pick you up at Rt. 346 to drive you home when you complete the Challenge. If you plan to have someone drive you back to your car at Berry Pond, note that the gates at the base of Circuit Rd will be locked by Park staff by 8:00 PM so you must be there by 7:30 PM.

We feel that it is in the best interest of hiker safety that they do not drive themselves home after a grueling 30+ mile hike.

Check points/Support sites:

As hikers progress north from Berry Pond, check points/support sites along the Crest Trail will be at:

#1 Madden Road, Hancock, MA (5.3 miles)

#2 Mattison Hollow junction (12.8 miles)

#3 Petersburg Pass (20.9 miles) 

Provisions: Water will be provided by the THC at each support site. Snacks like fruit, cookies, etc. will be provided at Petersburgh Pass and at the finish of the challenge, the Rte. 346 end of the trail.

You have the option of having your own small bag shuttled ahead to Mattison Hollow and Petersburg Pass locations. We suggest a small bag (quart-sized zip lock or similar) to stash lunch and/or special food needs. Clearly label your bag by inserting a label with your name and the location for the bag (Mattison Hollow or Petersburg Pass) into the bag, where it will remain visible. Please have your provision bags complete and labeled before you get to Berry Pond. Keep the bags light, especially for Mattison Hollow.

Hikers are free to carry whatever they wish on the trail. The club recommends snacks, beverages, whistle, compass, or GPS, TCT map, iPhone, bug repellant, rain gear if appropriate, jacket, headlamp, and wear sturdy, comfortable, already “broken in” hiking boots.  Most of the trail is wooded and there will be protection from the sun, but a hat is always useful as well as sunscreen. 

Sweeps: THC volunteers will follow the hikers throughout the hike.

All hikers must clear the Petersburg Pass site by 4:00 PM to avoid problems caused by the remaining 8.35 miles of trail and oncoming darkness at 8:08 PM sunset.

Qualifications: Participants must be at least 18 years of age or older. Applicants will be asked to include recent hiking or trail running experience to show they can complete the 30 miles and 7000 feet of gain.

Applicants that participated in the 2022 Challenge need to apply for the Waiting List initially, if a vacancy opens there is a chance that the applicant will be added to the Participant roster.

Trail work: The THC will schedule several trail workdays, usually in the month prior to the End to End. All entrants are encouraged to participate in a trail workday to get familiar with the terrain and trail markings. The dates will be listed on the Outings page of this website.

NO Rain Date: There is NO rain date for this event. 

Refunds: Refunds available until April 11. The refund will be minus the $5.06 Eventbrite fees.

Other: No pets allowed.

Questions: Email us at taconichikingclb@gmail.com (remember - no “u” in club) or use the “Contact Us Here” button below.

Volunteer Opportunities: We have a coordinator in place and some other volunteers have stepped forward. There are still volunteer activities available. Please let us know if you think you would be interested in helping with one of these activities before the event.

Volunteer activities before the event include trail work, assembling the E2E Certificate packets, or organizing food, water, etc. for the check points at Petersburg Pass and the Rte. 346 end of the trail. OR if you want to do something the day of the event please consider these: being a sweep, shuttle driver, driving the hikers supplies from the start at Berry Pond to Mattison Hollow Rd or Petersburg Pass, volunteering and cheering the hikers at Petersburg Pass or the Rte. 346 end of the trail or any other tasks. 

To volunteer or ask a question please contact Abbie or Martha at taconichikingclb@gmail.com (remember - no “u” in club) or use the “Contact Us Here” button above.

End-to-End Challenge 2022 a success!

Finally, after being postponed for two years, a group of trail runners and hikers finished the Challenge on May 14. We were lucky with the weather, partly cloudy with no rain, starting temperature in the lower, mid 60’s. However, the hikers would have enjoyed lower temperatures than the 80-degree afternoon temperatures, no one is used to the unusually warm temperatures yet!

All 18 participants finished! This may be a record. 

This was a fast group of athletes which included a mix of trail runners, hikers that combined running with hiking, and traditional hikers. The group started from Berry Pond in Pittsfield Sate Forest at 5:51. AM. The fastest runner arrived at the end of the trail at 11:58 AM. The last hiker finished at 6:28 PM, which may be the earliest, last finisher in the history of the Challenge. We will not call her slow! 

Congratulations to all of the participants: Lara Comithier, James Grady, Dan Gura, Dan; Tom Hart, Cameron Hastie-Etchison, Seamus Hodgkinson, Quinton Jensen, Eric Kelly, Charity McManaman, Joy McManaman, Jeff Moss, Thomas O'Grady, Tina Palmero, Evan Roberts, Kim Scott, Julie Urbanski, Jason Weaver, and Geoffrey Wilk.

This event would not have been possible without all volunteers that were involved in: planning and organizing, communicating with the participants, keeping the money on track, trail maintenance, publicity, lugging water to Mattison Hollow, sweeping, bringing water, snacks, baked goods, tents, chairs, etc. and good cheer to Petersburg Pass and the finish line at Rte. 346, monitoring participants arrivals, shuttling sweeps, cleaning up, etc. Volunteers included: Walt Addicts, Bob Armao, George Astle, Sharon Bonk, Mike Boucher, Dave Cole, Bill Coyle, Tim Fiato, Tom Hart, Dave Nagengast, Lynne Nagengast, Margaret Parks, Nate Parsons, Cliff Prewencki, Kendra Pratt, Leslie Siegard, Chris Simpson Boucher, and Martha Waldman. A special thank you to Steve Jackson, NYS DEC Ranger, for spending the day with us at the Petersburg Pass Support Site!