Hikers gear up for 22-mile Tully Trail Challenge this Saturday

ATHOL – After 20 weeks of training, dozens of hikers are preparing to take on the 22-mile Tully Trail loop this Saturday as part of a free community challenge focused on fitness, outdoor recreation and connection.

The Tully Trail Challenge is being organized by Heidi Shortis of Luna Fitness & Wellness, in partnership with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. It will begin with participant check-in between 5 and 6 a.m. on June 13. The self-paced hike follows the full Tully Trail loop through Orange, Royalston, Warwick and Athol.

Shortis said the idea grew out of her own goal of completing the full trail, which she had previously hiked in sections.

“My personal goal was basically from a fitness standpoint,” Shortis said, adding that she expects 25-30 people to join her on Saturday. “I really wanted to get people outside and active in training.”

Preparing for the trail

To help prepare hikers, Shortis developed a 20-week training program that included weekly emails with hiking schedules, stretching and recovery exercises, nutrition guidance and trail preparation tips. She also created a private Facebook group where participants could share updates, ask questions and encourage one another.

“It started out super-friendly, so you basically could go (from) couch to 22 miles,” she said.

The program began with short walks and gradually increased in distance over several months, eventually building participants up to training hikes as long as 18 miles before Saturday’s challenge.

“I really hope the participants come away feeling like, ‘Wow, I did something that I didn’t think that I could do. I had a goal, I worked towards it, and I’m happy with whatever mileage I ended up doing,’” Shortis said.

Among those preparing for Saturday’s hike is Maria Galligan of New Braintree. Galligan learned about the challenge through Shortis, who is her personal trainer, and will complete the hike alongside her husband.

Turning 61 the day after the challenge, Galligan said she viewed the event as an opportunity to prove something to herself.

“I just want the self-satisfaction to say that I did it, that I can do it at this age, and that I can probably do more,” Galligan said.

Although she and her husband had hiked before, Galligan said the trail’s rocky terrain and long distances presented a new challenge, but Shortis’ weekly emails helped make the process manageable.

“It kind of made it easy to train for it, if you’ve never done anything like that,” Galligan said. She said one of the longer training hikes gave her confidence heading into Saturday’s challenge. “That day that we did 18 miles, it really proved to me that we’ve got this,” Galligan said.

Kelly Kemp of Hardwick is also participating in the challenge. She previously ran marathons and half marathons before health issues forced her to stop.

“I remember those days and I miss those days,” Kemp said. “So when I saw this, I was really excited for it, and I signed right up.”

She invited several friends to join her, and the group has spent months training together for the hike.

“This is hard,” Kemp said. “This is not meant to be easy.”

Still, she said the experience has left her feeling stronger and more focused.

“I’m 52 years old and I feel better than I did back in my 20s, to be honest,” Kemp said.

Both participants praised Shortis for the support she provided throughout the training program. In addition to creating the training plan, she coordinated volunteers, sponsorships, donations and checkpoints along the route. Participants will check in before the hike and sign out upon completion, while volunteers provide water, snacks and support throughout the day.

A connection to nature

The challenge is also intended to connect participants with the natural landscape of the North Quabbin region, a goal shared by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. Shortis approached the organization because of its longstanding connection to the Tully Trail and its role in conserving land throughout the area.

“We were thrilled to partner with Heidi because we, too, love connecting people to the land and to each other by providing healthy outdoor experiences,” Community Outreach Associate Caitie Dwyer-Huppert said.

Dwyer-Huppert, who plans to participate in Saturday’s hike, said the trail passes through largely undeveloped land, including state forests, wildlife management areas and privately protected properties.

Mount Grace board member Pam Harty, who also plans to participate, said the challenge offers an opportunity to introduce more people to a region that is often overlooked by visitors from other parts of the state.

“The North Quabbin represents an under-appreciated place to enjoy an unplugged outdoor experience,” Harty said.

Mount Grace Executive Director Emma G. Ellsworth said conservation efforts over the past two decades have helped protect more than 8,000 acres of connected forest and farmland in the Tully region.

“I hope amidst the sweat and blisters they also get the opportunity to take in the breathtaking mountain views, peaceful waterfalls and maybe even see a few cool critters,” Ellsworth said.

Shortis said one of the most rewarding aspects of organizing the challenge has been watching a community form around it, with participants, volunteers, and local businesses stepping forward to support the effort.

If the event is successful, Shortis said she hopes to make the Tully Trail Challenge an annual tradition and potentially develop it into a fundraiser in the future. For now, she is looking forward to meeting many of the participants in person for the first time.

“I can’t wait to put a face to the names that I have been corresponding with,” Shortis said.