Date: 2003-08-18
From: Brassie Brook Lean-To

To: Jug End Road
Miles today: 12.3

I'M HOME!!! Yup, it only took 4 and 1/2 months, but I've made it this far! Okay, so I'm not in Salem, but I am in MA as I write this tonight. We got up late this morning...it was so chilly last night that I was pining for my thermolene and my 20 degree sleeping bag. When the alarm went off this morning, not one of us wanted to get out of our sleeping bags. We finally managed to, although Randy had breakfast in bag first. I knew I needed a hot breakfast, so I boiled water and had oatmeal and a mixture of hot chocolate and chai tea. I felt much better when I was done. Gerri had lost her sports bra and couldn't figure out where it was. When Viking (who'd arrived later last night) came up from his tent, Gerri asked him to lift up his shirt...he did, but only a little. She said "higher!"...he did. She finally got him to lift it up to chest level, then she said "Okay...I just couldn't find my sports bra, and, not that I'd think you had it..." It was so hilarious...or p!erhaps it was one of those "I guess you had to be there" moments. I had a good laugh, though. Pushing Up Daisies and Flatlander came in right about then, and said they'd heard me laughing, so came to the shelter. They took a privy break, we discussed where we might be going today, then they and Viking and Gray Matter left. We got our stuff together and were on the Trail at about 9:00. We started up Bear Mountain, the first of three climbs today. When we got to the top, there was a large pile of rocks from which we could get a great view. We took pictures there, then continued on. The descent from Bear Mtn was very steep, rocky and in some places, slippery. It took us awhile to get down, and we were really glad we hadn't tried to hike it last night...it would have been treacherous in the rain. We made it down, then very soon, we entered our 11th state, my home state of Massachusetts! I couldn't wait to get to where we were taking our first break. For four years, I had attended Rites of Spring at a camp near Race Mountain, and had always gone out near the Trail at Bear's Den Falls, to sit and think or sew or...sometimes to just sit. Anyway, I wanted to go there...I just couldn't believe that I was going to be there as part of my thru-hike. The spot I used to go to is! a small rock outcropping which overlooks a valley. Behind it, the falls race down the mountain. It has always been a special place to me, since I discovered it, and I was happy to be able to share it with my Trail companions. After a fairly leisurely break there, we continued on. When we neared the summit of Race Mtn, we were rewarded with some of the most spectacular views...we really haven't seen much in that way since PA. It made me wish I'd done more exploring of the Trail in all the times I'd been out there! The descent from this mountain was also steep, rocky and slick, although a little less so. It still had taken us awhile to get up and down the two mountains. And we still had one more to go before we got to the "easier" hiking for the day. We headed up Mount Everett...it was a steep climb up a rocky trail/stream/trail. Yikes! We were glad that we were climbing it and not descending. We stopped at the top for a break, which was broken up due to...you gu!essed it, more rain. You'd think we'd had enough by now, but apparently, it ain't so. We put our pack covers on and quickly started down. Thankfully, it was a fairly easy descent...nothing like our up. We got to a shelter, but by that time, the rain had stopped. We still had to rethink our day, as the terrain was really slowing us down. We chose to stop near a road crossing where there was a spring. We were doing the "easy" stuff now, so we could go faster...till we hit the ridgeline of Jug Mtn. More rock climbing...over every part of the ridgeline. By the time we got down, it was about 7:30. We barely had time to set up camp before dark. We went to get water, and met some SOBOs on the way back...D Bone and The Squirrel Master. They offered us a beer and we chatted for a few minutes. Then we wished them well and went to our camp to have dinner. I'm in my tent falling asleep trying to write this...it was a tiring 12 mile day. I'm glad to be home, though, if only for a little while. :) P.S. My road crossing time and place are changing. The new time is 1:00 pm. The new place is .9 mile east of Tyringham, MA. I don't have a map to be able to give directions, but my Seester can let you know that info. You can reach her at my home number. Sorry about the change...the weather and terrain have set us back, unfortunately.