Into the Tenth State: Massachusetts

Stats: Sunday night 7/10, MM 1517.0

(174.2 new miles, 1525.8 total miles)

It’s been a good stretch, started out not feeling quite right but pushed through and am doing much better now. Out of the rocks in PA, but then into the straight up-and-down hills in New York. Ended on a great note with a Moondog visit in Massachusetts.

Thursday (6/30) the hotel owner drove me to the trail, feeling stronger but still fighting the Revenge. Crossed into New York, lots of rock climbs that went straight up and straight down. Someone who did the trail before said that from this part on was more rural and difficult part of the trail. I can see why.

After 17 miles stopped at Wildcat Shelter for the night. On the way, climbed stairway to heaven, many stone steps, dark like a cave because it is so heavily wooded. Met Highlander, Big Sticks, Rainbow.

Next day was hot and humid, many steep climbs which seems to be the theme for New York, like a yoyo…up, down, up, down. Thankfully not high elevations, though. Hiked 14 miles to Fingerboard Shelter. It rained after I got there, so I stayed in the shelter Friday night with 3 people from Chicago: 2 from Rochelle, and one from Rogers Park. The four of us Chicago-ites were the only ones in the shelter. They had just started hiking a section hike of that part of the trail. One was going south, two going north. What are the odds of 4 guys from Chicago meeting like that?

Bear at the zoo at Bear Mountain Park

Saturday I hiked into Bear Mountain park, lots of people out on the holiday weekend. Also many more stone steps. Stopped at a café for a sandwich. Later had trail magic, Gatorade and apples from a couple from New York who had done the trail. Hiked 22 miles to Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, a monastery where they let us use their baseball field for camping. Got lost on the way there (yes, Maureen, sometimes it’s easy to do!), went about ½ mile out of my way and had to turn back. Missed a right turn, ended up at a friar’s house, he gave me a ride to the field. Met Collin (the guy from England, again!), Big Sticks, Babyface, Mercury, Hamwise and 2 guys from Germany.



Battery Park

Sunday I walked 9 miles to where Derick and Nola picked me up to stay at their house. Went to the store for new water filter, found one at Walmart. They took me through Battery Park, saw the skyline of New York City. The pictures don’t look nearly as impressive as the view we had.

We had time to catch up a bit, and Derick smoked salmon on the grill, really great meal. I got a good night’s sleep (it’s sometimes hard to sleep on the trail). Next morning Nola made a great breakfast for me, then Derick took me back to the trail. Oh, and got a box from Mary of some supplies, will last me until I see her. She has been the best support, I appreciate all she does for me. And I miss her a ton.

Monday July 4^th I hiked 16 miles, saw sign for a 4^th of July party for hikers but didn’t want to stop. After another few miles, met a guy a little older than me trying to use a cell phone someone lent him, I offered my phone so he could call the people to pick him up. He was very determined to go to the celebration, and, well I decided to go with him. Burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, had a huge bonfire and fireworks. About 15 of us, including 8 hikers. Enjoyable but late night and the weather was great, only got about 4 hours sleep. Owner of the house – party giver – had hiked the AT in 1999.

Tuesday it became very humid again, harder to find water. Many places in the book had run dry. Saw a nursery near the trail and stopped there for water. Also had the electrolyte packets Mary sent to me. That Mary, what a life saver she is!

Shingles!!! They were going to re-roof the shelter. Felt at home here :-)

Got to Wiley shelter, about 15 people already there. Squid and Tumbleweed, 3 people from England, met a nice couple from Connecticut who were hiking south for a few weeks. Seeing more southbound hikers, and more flip-floppers who started at Harper’s Ferry.

Wednesday still hot and humid, my legs felt week and I was soaked from head to toe, tired and still not getting the best sleep so decided to go to a B&B in Kent, Connecticut. Good decision…especially after I got lost again. I must have been going too fast with my head down, missed that the white blaze trail went left. I saw a yellow blaze, said met with AT in 1 mile, took that to get back on track.

Once back on the AT, saw a tree coming up between a rock. Wait! It’s the same tree I took a picture of a while back, realized I was going the wrong way. Had to backtrack, and when I did I saw where I had missed the white blaze left turn. Hiked an extra 4 miles with all the backtracking and yellow blaze trail. Called the B&B, had gone only 12 miles but didn’t have any more energy because not enough water. Cooper picked me up, he and his wife Mary ran the B&B. Cooper drove me into town, where I did laundry, ate, and got groceries.

Side story…several years ago, 4 hikers went into the laundromat and stripped to do all their laundry. Owner had cameras and when she checked remotely she saw 4 naked hikers in her place. She called police and they were arrested. After that it took 2 years for Cooper to convince her she should start allowing them to come in again – that’s a big part of the B&B’s seasonal business and the hikers needed her place.

After a really good night’s sleep and a great breakfast, Cooper dropped me off at 8AM Thursday. It was humid again but rained for an hour, felt really good. But, from all the steep downhill walking, my good knee started bothering me today. Hiked 19 miles to Sharon Mountain (or is that Martin, after the author of Grape Hatteras?) campsite. Had to go farther than planned because the shelter I planned to stay at had no water…but neither did the campsite. No way to hydrate overnight.

Looking back at where I've been...

At the campsite, it was hot and sticky all night in the tent even with the flaps open.  Mosquitoes everywhere, swarming, woke up and could hear them buzzing outside the tent, waiting for me. Also heard a loud crash, big tree or branch fell, prayed it was not too close.

Friday morning stopped in Falls Village for breakfast, quaint little town. Came to nice falls, finally finding water more easily on this part of the trail. Got to Brassie Brook shelter, started raining as soon as I set up my tent. Rained all night, 10 hours straight, not easy to sleep. Stayed dry but everything was damp in my tent from the humidity. Wet clothes and socks, everything damp.

Saturday hiked Mt. Everett. Really steep and rocky, and all was wet and slippery from the rains. Lots of rock climbs, but no views because it was so cloudy and foggy, too humid. But on the good side, water was very plentiful after the rain.

Saw a guy coming toward me on the trail who looked familiar, turned out to be Spiderman! He left the trail, but jumped ahead to see someone and was backtracking to where he left off. He was only going a few more days before leaving the trail to head to Rio for the Olympics. It was good to see him.

Hiked 14 miles total to where Moondog picked me up at MA41, mile 1517, for a visit and a zero day on Sunday. Really enjoyed seeing him! He’s doing well, surgery scheduled for later this month. Plan to go back to the trail Monday morning, and maybe visit him again later in the week. Will be trying out new boots, my current boots are about worn out.

All in all it’s been a really good week. I’m tired, and my knees and feet hurt, but I have to say I’m glad to be out here and feel blessed to be able to continue. Don’t have as much strength as I had last month, feeling more fatigued. Mary’s response: “No kidding your fatigued, you’ve WALKED over 1,500 miles!” It still seems hard to believe sometimes. Only 700 miles left - nine states completed, four to go. Wow!

Thank you all for your support and prayers for me and for Mary. We can’t tell you how much it means to us. Please continue to pray that I can finish. Blessings to you all!