Day 10 To Goddard Shleter

One thing that is sure when on the AT is you're overwhelmed with nature. Plants, birds, trees, streams, rocks, lakes, wind, rain, soil, dead leaves is your world.  There are no walls, apart from the shelters  you pass. Today was a day completely in the outdoors.

The forests change depending elevation. At Congdon shelter 2088 ft, beeches,  yellow birch, yellow maple, white spruce, hemlock, sugar maple dominate the landscape. The canopy is dense so there are few scrubs but raspberry and blackberry bushes are flowers promising some good picking in the coming weeks. 

Since starting at Salisbury I seen several types of ground feeling rodents, including chipmunks which dart away.  Red and grey squirrels aren't too bothered and continue their business. Deer bound off and I only see their white tales. On the north slope of Mount Greylock  A small porcupine slowly climbed a tree.

See him?

Bridges over streams are rare. 

But someone got recognized. 

And the trail builders are above finding obstacles just for fun. 

I got this little guy to stand still for a photo.

While today was not long, there were plenty of ups and downs, rocks and roots to keep me going until 6:45 pm

Miles: 14.4

Miles 2016: 121.9

Total AT miles: 1620.7

Day 9 Congdon Shelter

After a good rest. In Williamstown, I hit the trail at 7:40.  But not until I had breakfast of English muffins, butter, coffee with cream and sugar and orange juice complements of the Willow Motel.

I returned to the spot where I left off... The AT Hiker Kiosk. 

It rained hard during the night, which was much needed. The previous 8 days had been very dry and the water sources were drying up. So the humidity was high. Fortunately it wasn't very hot. 

It always nice to see people welcome hikers. That's not always the case. 

Soon I was crossing the Vermont border, my 12rh state on the AT. 

At that point the AT and the Vermont Long Trail join up. The VLT is. 271 miles trail that will split off and go to Canada while the AT goes to Maine. 

I also passed my 100 mile mark since leaving Salisbury CT. 

And I passed the 1600 mile mark for my AT Hike. 

I passed more beaver ponds. They are plentiful in MA and VT. 

I saw my first newt. 

I also found more American Chestnut saplings. Sadly they don't grow very big because of the Chestnut blight that can from Europe early last century. 

I arrived at Congdon shelter and found it full of Scouts. To boot the area was packed with the tents if other hikers. But I found space for my So Long 6 and made camp. Freeze dried beef stroganoff, dried fruit, hot chocolate and a handful of gorp with MnMs for dessert ended the day. 

Miles : 14.1

Miles this trip : 107.5

Total AT Miles: 1606.3

Day 8 A Zero in Williamstown

After 7 days of hiking, while I felt fine,  a day of recovery would be prudent. So I stayed two nights at the Willow Motel. I got my resupply box. But my bounce box with my spare clothes, phone charger, razor etc didn't show up. So I had to go to Radio Shack. They had one.

And after mailing some things ahead I had a good supper of  a local IPA, onion rings and a pork chop at the Purple pub. 

Oh do I mention that Williams College is

Very attractive. 

Day 7 To Williamstown MA

I got off to an early start (6:20) because I would be doing 14.7 miles and climbing over Mt Greylock, the highest peak in Mass. (3491 ft). The climb would be over 2500 ft.

One of the nice things about the Mass AT club is that they maintain info kiosks. They always are worth reading.

When you go into a town like Cheshire, you have to go back to the mountains. Often that means crossing farmland. The contrast is striking. The mountains I the background would soon be under foot. 

Today the trail would not be rugged, only uphill. 

At the top of Mt Greylock is a large monument currently being renovated. 

Since it was lunch time and I had no lunch food, I decided to have some soup and salade at the Bascom Lodge 

After lunch I rejoined the trail as passed Thunderbolt lodge and old telemark ski place. Also good for shelter during storms. 

The hike down Greylock was steep and hard on the knees. But a zero day in Williamstown will hopefully help. 

Miles: 14.7

2016 AT miles: 94

Total AT miles: 1592.3

Day 6 to Cheshire

The next morning, Sunday, I broke camp. It doesn't take much when you're carrying so little.

And it was northbound, always northbound ( the signs do helps when you the compass says east).

This would not be a another long day, only 11.8 miles. 

So in passing through Dalton, an old mill town that used water for power, I decided to have second breakfast complete with 3 iced coffees.  I crave anything cold these days...even in the morning. I sat with some others hikers who had early lunch so I joined them in a meatball sandwich (at 10:00 in the morning). I sat around and set off without them because they were waiting for the local pub to open and their second lunch...liquid one. 

On the way to the town of Cheshire we went over a small mountain called Cheshire Cobble. Cobble seems to be an old word for a bump. 

You often get nice views from them

That afternoon I was met at the entrance of the town by some "trail magic" ... A guy waiting for a hiker friend who offered

me two ice cold orange Gatoraides. 

This town was home to a famous barptist pastor who was highly instrumental in assuring that religious freedom found its way into the Bill of Rights. 

I stayed the night on the floor of the parish center at St Mary's church.

Miles today: 11.8

Miles 2016: 79.2

Total AT miles:  1577.5

Day Five to Kay Woods Shelter

After leaving Upper Goose Pond Cabin, I walked back the .5 mile to the AT and set about getting in 18 miles.  Since I cut yesterday so short (just over 8 miles) I needed to ramp up the distance since I need to be in Williamstown on Monday night. 

Fortunately the terrain was not very rugged. I even had time to use my gorilla to get some personal photos. 

This area is so full of beaver ponds. 

And the Beavers keep doing their masterful engineering. 

Then there was the stop at the very famous "cookie lady."  The small woman offers cookies, water and sodas (for a buck). 

I ended the day at 7:45 pm and camped by the Kay Woods Shelter. It was warm enough that I rolled up my rain fly. 

Miles for the day: 18

2016 Miles: 66.9

Total AT mileage: 1565.7

Day 4 To Upper Goose Pond Cabin

After a really nice night with Lynn and Al at their closed BnB I set off for October Mountain shelter. It was a beautiful morning.

I came across some pastures and has to cross fences with styles. 

But then a small disaster struck. I rolled my left ankle and broke my left hiking pole. Now how do Pitch my tent?  Well that problem was solved later. 

On the way to October Mountain I met a guy bird watching. As I continued down the trail I took a left to the lake and aw this beautiful handmade wooden kayak.  

The bird watcher guy ( named Jim) and I got to talking while I was admiring his canoe. Long story short he convinced me to cut my day short and only hike to Upper Goose Pond Cabin.  The atmosphere was friendly and I met THs Cupcake and Rambo. The caretaker of the cabin took me Lee MA to a hardware store where I jury-rigged a fix to my pole. 

I had a swim in the lake and went to bed happy.

Miles: 8 (plus .6 from Tyringham and .5 to UGPC)

Total 2016 : 59.3

Total AT: 1548.1

Day 3 (117) To Tyingham

After spending the night camped by t the Tom Leonard Shelter I got a good Thru-hiker start at 6:00.  While I only needed to make about 14 miles, I decided to not set a fast pace. It's a good thing too... because I'm not ready for it. I called Cobble View B and B and while they are officially closed, the Lynn the owner has space for me. 

The trail passed through this States forest. 

In spite of the dry conditions. I passed many good streams for drinking water and was tempted to have a swim in this lake.

Portends of Maine where the trail is covered in roots.

Finally at the end of the day I climbed to the top of Cobble Hill and saw the village of Tyringham. 

Miles this trip : 42.4

Overall AT mileage: 1540.1

Day 2 (116) Glen Brook Shelter to Tom Leonard Shelter

Second day out and the beauty doesn't stop coming.

Today I walked through the flowering Mountain Laurels!

There were lots of boardwalks

A 14 mile day turned into a 15 mile day because of poor trail marking. It turned me around and headed me back down the trail. It was .5 miles before I caught the mistake. Thankfully Civi was on her way up. But then she almost made the same mistake (which make me feel less

stupid). But for the second day 15

miles is not bad. But I felt it. 

There was lots of beauty today. 

Day 1 (115) Salisbury to Glenwood Brook Shelter

Hudson dropped me off right where I ended in 2014 at Cobble Rd.

Had a beautiful first day of hiking. This section is supposed to be one of the best best for scenery.

It didn't disappoint. But it was rather rugged. 

There was three major climbs us Bear Mountain, Mount Race and Mount Everett.

Crossing into Massechusets was a highlight... my 11th State on The AT.

I went 13.9 at ended at 8:45 pm. a long day can definitely feel the pounds in my pack and the pounds on me.