Daily Miles: 18.4, Total Miles: 1,618.0 An eat and run out of Williamburg MA and back to the trail. Steady climb got me to the Vermont border, 11 states down and 3 to go! This is also the southern terminus of Vermont’s Long Trail and I met my first hiker intending to thru-hike this trail. The Long Trail overlaps with the AT for about 100 miles. Another sunny day, probably the best weather on this leg of the trail. The…
Daily Miles: 9.6, Total Miles: 1,599.6 As I left the shelter this morning, I passed by the campsite with the distressed beagle. While barking, the beagle clawed holes through the mesh screen of the tent – the master was not happy. A good uphill push got me to Mt Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491′, and the state’s first wilderness park. Opening day for the lodge and thinking of maybe breakfast but they weren’t yet ready for business….
Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 1,590.0 I got an early start and a nice downhill walk before being stopped by a long train at a RR crossing just before entering Dalton MA. Crossed the Housatonic River once again and strolled through the small town of Dalton on roads and sidewalks for a few miles. Tempted to stop for a snack but not much opportunity, may be better up the trail. Just after leaving town, up and over North Mountain with…
Daily Miles: 20.5, Total Miles: 1,568.5 It started raining as soon as I got out of my tent this morning, sprinkles until mid-morning then cleared up. All the moisture made the exposed tree roots, which cover much of the trail in places, extremely slippery. I walked by several ponds today with the largest being Goose Pond. Water was fortunately plentiful and I was grateful on a warm afternoon. I had to break out my headnet for a few hours when…
Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 1,548.0 I got a ride back to the TH with Joe, a local shuttler. A clear, warm day combined with over 4k vertical feet made for lots of sweat and frequent water refills. Good viewpoints today of the Berkshires, Massachusetts countryside and farms. I passed by several lakes and over boardwalks through marshy areas. Leapfrogged today with Casper and two other northbound thru-hikers – they started in mid-February. Just before I got to the Shaker…
Daily Miles:0. Total Miles: 1,528.0 I think I nodded off just after 7:30pm last night. Slept soundly but awoken by noisy birds about 6am this morning. After a relaxing morning, I had a great breakfast of poached eggs over hashbrowns at KB Eats. I picked up my resupply box and new Brooks Cascadia shoes. After a visit to the local co-op grocery store and a nice nap, I decided to take a double zero here. in celebration of 500 miles…
Daily Miles: 24.9, Total Miles: 1,528.0 Unlike my late arriving, noisy neighbors tenting nearby, I was up early and quietly got ready for the uphill push back to the AT. The next stretch included some good views of the Taconic Range from Lion’s Head, Bear Mountain, the highest peak in CT, and Mt Everett, the highest peak in the Southern Taconic Mountains. In the meantime, I also finished Connecticut and crossed into Massachusetts. I finally dropped down and crossed MA…
Daily Miles: 22.7, Total Miles: 1,503.1 I continued my northward journey through Connecticut along the picturesque hills and Housatonic River Valley. A really nice morning with a few good viewpoints before dropping down and crossing the Housatonic River. Another short detour into the pretty (and pretty old) Falls Village for coffee and lunch, an all-day breakfast burrito. I could really get used to this kind of hiking! I crossed the river again and enjoyed the quite impressive Great Falls with…
Daily Miles: 28.5, Total Miles: 1,480.4 I used the same taxi service to get a very early start at the TH out of Pawling NY. First, a short climb in the woods, a walk through open cow pastures in a farming area, and next, the pretty Swamp River Boardwalk. Back in the woods, up and down the rest of the morning, leaving NY and entering CT. I finally reached the large Housatonic River. I opted to take a short detour…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 1,451.9 I’ve trained myself to wake up early but no problem this morning. The train running through the center of town woke me up even earlier. Had a good rest, though, as it rained most of the day. I checked out a few bakeries but settled on French toast and bacon at a nearby cafe. Finished drying my gear and, in the absence of an outdoor shop, bought some all-weather duct tape at a CVS…
