Date: 2018-06-08
From: Limestone Spring shelter

To: MA 41 Egremont, MA
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: few clouds

We were both excited this morning knowing we'd be hitting some big milestones. 1500 miles, Two Clicks would be entering his home state and I'd be entering familiar territory from going to school in Westfield and a ZERO! It was nice being the only two in the shelter too because once we get up we don't have to worry about being quiet!We hiked the 0.5 blue blazed back to trail and swore at the steep climb the whole way. We rolled down the ridge then began the climb up Bear Mountain, the second bear Mountain we've climbed. This one was a lot harder than the Bear Mountain in NY but still nothing too crazy. It was a great view from the top and really, truly felt like New England hiking which got us excited.We had three bigger climbs to do today and Bear Mountain was the first. We descended into Sage's Ravine which was a really cool place! A river ran down the middle with steep drops leading to numerous swimming holes. We eventually hit the MA border! 1500 miles of hiking have led me back to what I would consider my second home. Having had gone to school an hour from the trail for just under 4 years has definitely made MA a more welcoming and more familiar state for me. I was pumped to hike up from Sage's Ravine to Mt Race where I had done a day hike with my former teacher, colleague and current friend Mike Tryon.This morning I had a strange inkling he may have been lying about working today. I texted him jokingly saying that I'd see him at the top of Mt Race and knowing his sly ways, he admitted that he was indeed hiking to the peak to meet us! I got up to the top after a long slow incline with some sweet views along a ridge for about 0.5miles. It really felt more like home hiking ridges with views to wilderness and few cities.At the top I waited for both Two Clicks and Mike to show up. About five minutes later, when Two Clicks and I were sitting, Mike peaked the mountain with two signs reading "Homebound" and "Two Clicks." Unreal hahahaha. Mike had hiked roughly 7.5 miles to this peak in honor of our day hike we did two years ago. It's like we were reliving those days when I was just thinking about the AT. Now, I had hiked here from Georgia and couldn't believe it. That trail Mike had showed me did in fact go all the way to Springer! Crazy!We drank some Michelob Ultra, Mike's favorite drink, on top of the mountain. He also packed out hoagies, nutty buddy's and a bunch of other snacks we craved. It was a great lunch!After lunch we descended Mt Race, then began our final major climb for the day up Mt Everett. Or was it Mt Everest? Probably the latter. Man was it steep! Only a quick 0.7 miles up to the top but the gain of nearly 1000' caused us to feel every step. My muscles felt great after the completion. The three of us then began the descent down to the car from Mt Everett. Funny thing was that a girl named "Happy Feet" from MA has been following our hike. Shes hoping to do the AT next year and is currently attempting the Long Trail in VT. She had messaged me a day before with a picture of two baggies hanging from a tree. One was for each of us! She had left us some trail magic that had a Snickers bar (a double I may add) and a note wishing us well.Thanks Happy Feet! We've never met her but it was super cool of her to do that on her day of hikingAfter finding the trail magic we stopped at a shelter to leave a note marking Mike's hike today and his kind offer to take us back to his place and allow us to zero there! Weirdly enough, the shelter was built on his birthday just in 1986! Crazy coincidence!When we got to the car, Two Clicks and I pushed on 0.9 past the car to MA 41 where Mike drove around to meet us. It was a great hike and Mike ended up doing right around 15 miles today which was impressive! MA gave us some good climbs to start on!We drove, windows down, on the back roads of Egremont to Great Barrington. It's funny being back out here as I had done a few hikes while at school and a bunch of us from the Blandford FD drove out to Egremont two years in a row to support their fire department for a steak dinner fundraiser. The wind and sun felt great! We made a quick stop in Great Barrington to check for a few things we needed but no luck. We ended up driving to the Barrington Brewery for late lunch early Dinner.This place has special meaning to Mike and I. When we had last done Mt Race, we stopped here afterwards and chatted with an older couple part of the mug club at the bar. We had told them of my plans to hike the AT when I was just starting to prep and now here we were, two years later and 1500 miles in successfully hiked to MA. The bartender helped us figure out who they were based off description and we ended up buying them tokens for a beer each as well as leaving a card with a note hoping they'd remember! It was awesome! Thanks to the bartenders (Tina and Matt) you guys were great. Also good luck to Matt on his preparation for thru hiking the AT too!We drove into Westfield and showered, did laundry, and hung around. Eventually we met up with Mike's Dad for a bit and then grabbed food and returned to eat and watch the movie 'Sully.' I didn't get to bed until 1am! Crazy! But I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's day off and relaxing.