Date: 2018-06-13
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

More and more I think of this hike as a walk from food spot to food spot. Two Clicks and I woke up and headed down the remainder of Greylock towards North Adams, MA. When the trail walks through a town, how can you avoid trying to find a place to eat?? Well we did! I got into town first and while waiting for Two Clicks (Two Clicks and I don't hike together very often by the way. Many people assumed we did but we typically only hike together when there are landmarks like a state line or when we're headed into town. Otherwise we meet for lunch typically and then see each other at camp at night.) I was talking to a local. When Two Clicks got there I had gotten the inside scoop from the local named Steve who recommended Stop and Shop down the road. We walked the quarter mile away and each got a drink, two donuts and, yes mom!, a cup of fruit. It was a good start to the day!While eating at the grocery store I had turned on my phone. Low and behold, Mike Tryon had texted me. He told me that he had phoned a friend in nearby Florida, MA who he had deliver some trail magic to the trail. They had hung it on the back of a sign in town. Two Clicks and I, stuffed with food, went and found it! It had 6 donuts, 2 honey buns and 2 packs of trail mix. Awesome! Thanks Mike and friends! We devoured the donuts then saved the other snacks for later. I just wish I had turned my phone on sooner!We hiked up out of North Adams and when we hit the VT border, we officially hit the Long Trail. The Long Trail through Vermont is the first of its kind and the place in which Benton Mackaye got the inspiration for the AT while standing on top of Stratton Mountain. Being the original long trail, it too has white blazes that mark it's path. Therefore, when the AT- marked with white blazes- joins it they become one trail for approximately 105 miles up into VT. There, the AT veers East towards NH while the Long Trail continues north to Canada. When they split, both trails are still marked with white blazes so we have to be careful to make sure we take the right Trail! At the border of VT we therefore began hiking the LT and AT over a few mellow climbs throughout the day. I can see why they call it Vermud! There was a ton of mud around. A mudders paradise!Shortly after the border we also hit the 1600 mile mark. There was no sign or anything. A slightly ambiguous milestone that we all know we passed but don't really care! We know we're getting closer. The remainder of the day we hiked in the moderate temperatures as rain came on and off. I managed to get through all of MA in nice weather and I'm very grateful for that! Camp tonight was full with 5 thru hikers from Georgia and two flip floppers. We had gotten in early around 430 and had a nice relaxing night and got to bed early! Good, these mountains are tiring me out!P.S: I apologise to those that may look for my journal daily. Through the mid Atlantic I was so close to bigger cities with good reception but now as I hike into more remote areas I have limited service. I'll continue to post them nightly if I can but some nights it won't happen. Sorry about that, but thanks for reading!