Thursday May 30, 18.3mi/29.5km

Sherman Brook campsite MA (1596.1) to Melville Nauheim shelter VT (1614.4)

I woke up to a wet tent, so it must have rained last night. But it was a perfect hiking day today, partly sunny and dry! The trail started off very nice…And it had an odd alternative route. No thanks, I’ll stick with the trail that has good weather!About 2mi/3km into the day, we came to the Vermont border. This is also where the 273-mile Long Trail starts. It is an older trail, and was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. The Long Trail (LT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT) share the same path for 105 miles.And of course, there is heaps of mud at the border. Hikers sometimes call this state “Vermud”.There was one distant view all morning, at a power line corridor.And one view at a nice beaver pond. This was a perfect spot for moose, though I looked and didn’t see any.This photo shows the construction of the dam itself. Clever beavers.As usual, there were nice boardwalks to keep our feet mostly dry.At lunch, I celebrated being in Vermont the only proper way, with cheese! Cabot cheese.After lunch, there weren’t many views, but I started noticing the close-up scenery. Some flora:And fauna: (a newt)There was one view, at a high point called Harmon Hill. Looking west, down to Bennington:Then, after a ridiculously steep descent on slippery rock stairs, we crossed highway 9 and the Walloomsac Brook.And there were so many more newts! These spotted orange critters are everywhere, I try not to step on them.The final 2 mile climb up to our shelter for the night was slow. It wasn’t steep, and actually had some nice switchbacks, I was just hot and tired. There was also a neat piece of geology that the trail passed thru, called split rock.I arrived to the shelter at 5pm, to find this cool sign in red letters.There was a group of 5 people at the shelter when I arrived, but most of them departed, hiking south to the road and into town. One hiker remained, and he put on some episodes of a Netflix cartoon, and Bob and I watched too.

A nice relaxing finish to a fairly easy day!

Wednesday May 29, 16.2mi/26.1km

Cheshire MA (1579.9) to Sherman Brook campsite (1596.1) (MA)

It was a lazy morning in the motel, and I had a pint of ice cream and watched old episodes of the Office. We packed up and got a Lyft back to the trail, which went right by a Dunkin donuts.

After eating way too many donuts, we began the long climb up to Mt Greylock.

As we got higher up, these flowers started appearing everywhere.

And up on the ridge, we were at 3000ft/900m elevation, and the pine forests are back! They smell so good.

In what has become a regular occurrence, there were some bogs, and plank bridges to cross them.

The summit of Mt Greylock has an auto road to the top, so there was signage and infrastructure everywhere.

Just below the summit was a cool alpine pond, and the frogs were making so much noise.

Since there is a road to the top, there is also a monument, interpretive signs, and a cafe. Mt Greylock is 3,491ft, the highest point in Massachusetts.

The view from the top was less than optimal.

We walked over to a stone shelter and had lunch. The sun came out!

Then we did the 6 mile hike downhill to town, where I had a package waiting at the post office. And since there was a mexican restaurant nearby, we had to stop and get burritos and margaritas.

The walk out of North Adams was interesting, crossing a bridge with handprints all over.

The river under the bridge looked kind of murky.

And just before reentering the forest, the final quirk was walking up someone’s driveway!

The last mile was gradually uphill in a forest, and we stopped at 6:30pm to camp at a designated site with some tent platforms. The sound of the nearby creek is nice sleeping noise.

Tuesday May 28, 20.6mi/33.2km

October Mountain shelter (1559.3) to Cheshire MA (1579.9) (MA)

It was a cold morning, only 50F/10C, so I started hiking as soon as I could, at 6:45am. It was also a town day, and the prospect of hot food and ice cream got me motivated! The morning miles were almost completely in the trees, so I didn’t get many photos.

The one view, facing west toward New York and the Catskill mountains.

It was still cold, and the temperature never got warmer! So we kept moving, without any long breaks.

We got to the town of Dalton just before lunchtime. It is an old mill town on the Housatonic River.

We are some hot subs at a local shop, and by the time we were finished, a rainstorm had arrived. So, the 8 miles in the afternoon were “umbrella miles”.

My hands were too cold & wet to use the touchscreen very well, so I only took one photo…

We arrived to another town at 4pm, in Cheshire MA. Our planned spot to sleep was at a local church, but it was locked. So, we called a nearby motel for a room, and waited for the arrival of my friend “Aquamira Snotrocket”, who had hiked the AT in 2018. She brought some drinks, some good stories, and the best pistachio cake I’ve ever had! I forgot to get a group photo…oops.

Hoping tomorrow is warmer and/or drier!

Monday May 27, 23.0mi/37.0km

North Wilcox shelter (1536.3) to October Mountain shelter (1559.3) (MA)

Today was a day of familiar ground, as I had hiked much of this part of the trail over the years during dayhikes. It was fun to re-visit Tyringham cobble, Goose Pond, Becket Mountain, and October Mountain. Bob and I left at 7:30am and cruised all morning in perfect hiking weather.

There were some views from farm fields.

On the short climb up to Tyringham cobble, there were heaps of toads and newts.

The view from the top of the cobble is always nice.

After the descent from the cobble, there is a road crossing, and locals have setup a snack stand!

Inside, there was soda pop, candy, gatorade, water, and eggs!

We took a nice long break at a picnic table they had built nearby. Afterwards, there was a few hours of walking in a green tunnel, and I didn’t stop until we got to Goose Pond.

There was also an old chimney next to the pond, I guess there used to be a house here?

There is a cabin nearby that hikers often stay at, which has a resident caretaker who will often make pancakes in the morning! But it was only 1:30pm, so we continued on to the next shelter. After another hour, we crossed the interstate 90 freeway.

Apparently I had just missed some friends, who were driving back to Boston from the long holiday weekend. D’oh!

There was a short but steep climb up Becket Mountain, which had no views.

The last hour of the day was nice walking up on a densely forested ridge, with occasional ponds and beaver Bogs nearby.

We stopped for the day at October mountain shelter at 6pm, and there was one other thru-hiker there.Tomorrow I’m getting an early start, to meet a friend (and 2018 thru) at a town 20miles away. Wheeee!

Sunday May 26, 13.5mi/21.7km

Great Barrington (1522.8) to North Wilcox shelter (1536.3) (MA)

It was another relaxing morning, and Bill made us a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, and asparagus. Then, a group photo!

We packed up and Maureen was kind enough to drop us off at the trail, which was so much easier than hitching. We started hiking at 10:30am, so it was already very warm and humid.

After a sweaty climb, the ridge had a nice breeze. And also this deep, cold ravine to recover a bit of energy.

Bob and I stopped for lunch at a shelter, and because it was a holiday weekend, there were already other campers there. This group of 3 guys had brought an impressive assortment of food, including vegetables, sandwich meat, hummus, and beer! So we swapped stories and snacks for awhile.

The rest of the afternoon we hiked by many small lakes and ponds.

The trail was mostly in a nice pine forest, which always reminds me of the PCT. The mosquitoes were around, but I used some Deet and they stayed away.

We got to the shelter very early, at 4:15pm. But the next shelter isn’t for another 14miles, so we set up and camped.

There are some mosquitoes, so I put on… pants. Which felt weird, but I was bite-free!

Saturday May 25, 0mi/0km

Great Barrington MA (1522.8)

Zero days (days with zero mileage) are great! More sleep, more food, and more people! We are staying at a friend’s of friends house in town, and we caught the bus to the other side of town to the shopping center. The “GB” in hedges was a unique sight.

One of the stores in the shopping center looked like it was having a Saturday festival. Nope, just the queue for the local dispensary! There was even a food truck, and music, and police directing traffic.

We went to the Great Barrington Brewery for lunch, it’s always great food. And solar powered beer!

After some shopping errands at the Price chopper, thrift store, and McDonald’s (milkshakes!), Bob and I went to the local lake for a swim.

The clouds and wind came in by the time we walked there, so I got cold and didn’t go in very deep. But it was still so nice to be in a lake!

We walked the half mile back to the house, where our hosts offered us dinner! Maureen and Bill made some really excellent burritos, with fresh vegetables from their garden. Burritos are basically one of my food groups, so I was super excited!

Friday May 24, 25.3mi/40.7km

Rands view campsite CT (1497.5) to Great Barrington MA (1522.8)

It was nice to wake up in my tent, and be camped up on a ridge, and not down in the damp river valley. The view from our campsite this morning :

After a few minutes of hiking, we came across a rock formation called “Giants thumb”.

And about an hour into the morning, we hit the 1,500 mile mark! For some reason, no one else had made a sign yet, so I spent 15 minutes to put one together.

Most of the morning was walking in a dense pine forest, which was a nice ch of pace. And one random cemetery at a road crossing..

Then… we left Connecticut and entered Massachusetts!

And after another climb up to a ridge, I was in another pine forest. This ridge is over 2,000ft elevation, with three “big” mountains – Bear Mt, Mt Race, and Mt Everett.

Views from Bear Mountain, looking east:

The pine forest was nostalgic of my PCT hike.

And so many streams today!

View from Mt Race:

View from Mt Everett :

Much of the trail in the afternoon was on these nice rock slabs, it was like walking on an alpine sidewalk!

The final few miles to town were in a farm valley, which was swampy and full of mosquitoes. First mosquitoes all trail, so I can’t complain too much.

Just before the road into town, there was a monument to Shays Rebellion. Cool!

We arrived to the road at 6pm, and after 10 minutes got a hitch into town. Great Barrington is an expensive resort town, and probably full on a holiday weekend, so we were lucky that Bob had some friends in town. We are camping in the nicest shed I have ever seen, it’s great! After we shared a wonderful dinner and wine with our hosts, it’s bedtime..

Thursday May 23, 21.4mi/34.4km

Stewart Hollow shelter (1476.1) to Rands view campsite (1497.5) (CT)

It was so humid when I woke up this morning. I usually don’t camp by rivers for that reason (among others), but it was nice to be in a shelter during last night’s brief rainstorm. It was an easy start to the day, as the trail followed along the Housatonic River for another 2 miles.

Most of the morning was in a forest, going up and down some hills. There wasn’t much to see, just an occasional creek.

Crossing on flat stones, because there’s no bridge.

Just before lunch, we got to Split Boulder. The trail squeezes in between two massive rocks, almost like going up a chimney!

We stopped for lunch at a shelter, and I ate quickly, since I had to make it to the Post office by 4:30pm, with still 8 miles to go. The trail was again mostly in a green tunnel all afternoon, but it gave some nice flowers to look at.

And there was one view!

And of course, the PUD (pointless up and down) over this small hill.

After descending out of the forest, the last mile to town was thru some fields, and had cool views.

And I walked by a fancy looking school along the way.

I arrived to the Post office just before 4pm, and my package hadn’t arrived yet! The lady working there was super nice, and offered to forward it when it finally arrived. Perfect! I met Bob at a local restaurant for a burger, and then we hiked on another hour. On the way out of town, we passed by the waterfall for which the town is named.

It was a nice evening to hike, and mostly uphill.

We got to our planned camp spot at 7:30pm, and setup under some trees, next to this amazing view.

This is looking north, into Massachusetts and the southern Taconic mountains! We are so close to real mountains again!

Wednesday May 22, 19.7mi/31.7km

Wiley shelter NY (1456.4) to Stewart Hollow shelter CT (1476.1)

We woke up in New York, hiked a mile, and entered Connecticut!

It was a peaceful walk following rivers all morning. First, the Tenmile River…

Then, we passed the confluence of the Tenmile and Housatonic Rivers.

And a few miles later, crossed the Housatonic on a historic covered bridge into a small town.

The small convenience store had all the usual hiker foods, plus ice cream, snacks, cold drinks too. I bought all the new england foods I could find. (They didn’t have maple syrup, Moxie, lobster, or Papa Gino’s)

Getting back on the trail was an effort, being stuffed full of food. And doubly so with a big 1000ft/300m climb up to a ridge. But once I got up there, I found an occasional view to keep things interesting.The trail alternated between terrible sharp useless rocks, and smooth walking surface. About half the time of each.The final view of the day, before an insanely steep downhill…This was the descent. For 500ft of vertical drop, “stairs” were built to get hikers down the cliffside. Looking down:Looking back up:It’s hard to show steepness in a photo. At least the trail made up for that section, ending the day with a 2.5mi/4km easy walk on an old dirt road. And views of the Housatonic River the whole time!I got to the shelter at 5:30pm, and relaxed and enjoyed my beer that I had picked up this morning. Bob arrived 30 minutes later, along with two other hikers, a section hiker from Germany, and a SOBO from Missouri. I expected more people here, but I’ll take the nice quiet evening!

Tuesday May 21, 25.6mi/41.2km

RPH shelter (1430.8) to Wiley shelter (1456.4) (NY)

It was perfect sleeping weather last night, and probably my best night of sleep all trail too. Immediately after leaving the shelter, there was an encouraging sign… Katahdin is getting closer!

It was a warm and dry sunny day all day, with just enough breeze to keep the bugs away.

And the trail was like a carpet! No rocks either.

I passed an enormous old tree, I’m not sure it’s age or species.

There was an option to stop at another deli today, but I had too much food in my pack already, so I opted to skip it. Shortly after, there was another interstate crossing.

The I-84 looked very familiar… it leads from Boston to New Paltz & the Gunks (rock climbing).

Today had many little ponds and streams. Some weren’t drinkable, but nice to look at.

And one decent sized lake, Nuclear lake. It was named for a former plutonium research facility located nearby, that closed in the 1970s. Yeah, its probably not drinking water either!

There was one significant viewpoint today…

And a nice shelter stop for a 2nd lunch!

Near the shelter, these little red flowers were blooming everywhere.

Bob caught up and we hiked on down the hill. At the next road crossing was a massive tree, the Dover Oak. It is the largest oak tree on the AT, with a circumference of 20ft/6m, and estimated to be over 300 years old.

The rest of the day was in a valley, and we were in fields, marshes, and even residential areas.

Hi cows!

Bob found some trail magic in one of the fields!

There were some train tracks, and this train actually had a passenger stop. It is famous for being the only spot on the AT directly served by public transit. You can ride straight to downtown Manhattan!

Just before camp, the trail went back into the forest, and there were all these rock walls that it went thru. I had been seeing them all morning toady, and all yesterday too. Strange.

We arrived to the shelter at 6:15pm, kind of late, but it was a long day for mileage. There was one other hiker there, Eagle Wings, he had started at Harpers Ferry and was heading north.