Date: 2018-06-12
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: clear sky

Real feel of 27.5 because of my stupid mistake. After almost 1600 miles, I finally left my GPS at the shelter I stayed at last night. It was bound to happen once but man I was hoping it never would. I set my GPS out on the ground typically where it can view the sky and send out the signal in the morning letting my family, a few friends and Abby know I'm up and where I'm starting. Well, I totally forgot I set it there and hiked 2.5 miles down to the road at Dalton, MA. I cursed like a sailor for a solid minute and really contemplated my options. Leave it, hope someone coming north from the shelter would bring it or haul my ass up the mountain to get it. It was a nice day and I was feeling alright so I became a SOBO hiker for a bit heading towards the shelter. This is where my trail running shoes came in clutch. I was hauling and had left my pack down at the bottom. Luckily, I had made it only about 2 miles and met up with a Flip Flopper named Bear Chaser. He had grabbed it and was heading downhill when I met him. I thanked him so much and told him I'd pay him back! I turned around and headed back down hill into Dalton for some breakfast and a quick resupply. A 4 mile mistake!In town I got just a few things at a gas station for resupply then headed to Juice and Java for breakfast. Us hiker trash hung outside and I drank an iced coffee, breakfast sandwich, a Gatorade and two donuts. I treated Bear Chaser to breakfast for his help this morning and we enjoyed the warm sun for the morning.I then hiked out of Dalton and into Cheshire, MA after a 6ish mile up and down on a ridge. In Cheshire, we walked through town again and by this time it was noon! Of course I had to get more town food! Right on trail there was a shack that sold food. I sat with other hikers named Hawk and Head Over Heels as I devoured a chocolate milkshake, a few chili hot dogs and another Gatorade. Full enough to turn calories into miles on the long climb up Mt Greylock. I left here around 1230 and started the climb. We ascend Greylock for roughly 8 miles. A slow, fairly gradual climb that eventually reaches the top. I had done this hike before but in the winter and only on a tiny portion of the AT so it was great being up here now!Unfortunately, the restaurant on top was closed! No famous Greylock Egss Benedict for me! I guess I can't be greedy because I had eaten twice in town but it was a bit of a bummer. The views were great here though and the top was full of people who had mainly driven up. I was still able to fill my water and get some awesome views before hitting the trail again to descend just a bit to the shelter for the night. Roughly 3 miles down hill I got here and it was eerie. There were 4 tents set up but nobody here! Multiple hikers had commented in the shelter book that they were there a few days ago too. I joked with Two Clicks that they were full of dead bodies so eventually I had to check. I announced multiple times to see if anyone answered but no voices-- so I opened one. Nobody in them and no dead bodies but there was some gear in them! Creepy to be honest but I zipped it back up and walked away. Hopefully we don't have any issues with the mystery owners!7 miles from the border of VT and excited to hike the Green Mountains which ive never done!P.S: Thanks for following Hank! Hope this gives some insight into the hike but should you have more questions feel free to email me at philipsheehy217@yahoo.com. Good luck in your prep for the hike next year!