Date: 2017-08-04
From: Homes Road/Hampton Inn, Lenox, MA

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

8/4Homes Road/Hampton Inn, Lenox, MA to Shaker Campsite14.7 milesTotal miles:  1538.2I slept very well in the hotel and woke up at my regular time.  I laid everything out the night before, and with the wonder of air conditioning, all the residual dampness from the previous storm was gone. As we shall see, this was short-lived. We met John and Sherri for breakfast at 7:00.  The hotel had one of those really good continental breakfasts, and I had eggs, sausage, cereal, muffins, and fruit. While I find I don't miss coffee on the trail, it is a glorious addition while in town. Although coffee was readily available in the front lobby, I always like to make coffee in the little coffee makers in the room, because they are fun to use. And people say I am easily amused!  We left for Price Chopper to resupply right after breakfast.  John and Sherri then drove me back to the trail.  I thanked them again for all of their kindness. Thanks, John and Sherri!  I got busy and sorted and packed my food on a large boulder by the trail.  I often have extra food at resupply time,  as many items come in packages of six, and I was only resupplying for four days. I don't mind carrying some extra food, but food is heavy and there is only so much room in my food bag.  I usually leave any extra food in a hiker box, but there was certainly no hiker box on the side of Homes Road.  As if on cue, a portable hiker box arrived in the persons of Pheasant Man, Dozer, and Umbrella Face.  These three young men performed a great sacrifice and helped me eat the extra food I didn't want to carry.  They proudly took one for the team. Sherri had also given me some unbelievably delicious designer cookies to share as trail magic, and these three stalwart hikers were the first lucky recipients of her kindness.  By the time everything was said and done,  I began my hike at 10:15.  My plan was to go 14.7 miles to Shaker Campground. The first mile and a half were very slow as I worked my way up and over East Mountain.  The trail took a sharp turn to the right as it crossed over a large rock face, and I, along with apparently many others judging by the signs of foot traffic and pokey holes from trekking poles, missed the turn.  I found myself on a very narrow, soft dirt ledge with a large, impassable boulder in front and a very steep drop off behind. I ended up taking off my pack, working my way back down the dirt ledge, and scouting out the trail. I soon located the turn I should have made, retrieved my pack, and slowly made it back to the trail. There was a view from the top ridge, and then it was down the opposite side, which was also steep and rocky.  Thunder started rumbling on my way down. The rain began in earnest at noon, and I walked mostly in heavy rain and thunderstorms for most of the next five hours.  Fortunately, the trail was much easier to traverse. The rain slackened for a bit around 1:30, so I stopped and ate lunch. Around 3:00 I found a perfectly placed boulder, sat on it while it supported my pack, and took a short nap in the rain.  As I have noted before, I usually like hiking in the rain, and today was no exception.  I met numerous sobos today, but few people want to stand and chat during a storm. There are no more view pictures today because, one, my phone was put away in storm mode, and, two, there frankly weren't any more views today anyway.  It was still raining pretty steadily when I passed a pond about four miles from my destination. I considered getting out my phone even in the rain but decided the pond looked, well, like a pond. Having many other pond and lake photos, I decided to just push on.  The rain pretty much ceased by 6:00, and I arrived at Shaker Campsite around 7:15. There were several thru hikers and a group of section hikers already there, so I had a bit of a time locating a good spot for my tent. It was during my search that I became acquainted with another type of Trail Angel.  I was contemplating a spot, wondering if it would block a path,  when a gentleman approached me, welcomed me to the campsite,  and told me the spot was just fine. This is how a met Joe, aka Tonto.  Joe is a caretaker, one of about twelve volunteers with the Massachusetts Appalachian Trail Committee, who help out at the shelters and campsites along the AT in the state.  He helps out hikers with advice and assistance, as well as maintaining the physical areas.  He invited me to stay at Upper Goose Pond Cabin tomorrow night.  He said he would be there with the group of new backpackers he is assisting.  The Appalachian Mountain Club sponsors classes for new backpackers.  Joe told me they start with seminars in the spring, and then the participants go on increasingly more challenging backpacking trips.  It sounds like the same concept we used with our High Adventure Group in the Boy Scouts. Rumor has it that there might be pancakes at the cabin in the morning. A special thanks to Joe and his fellow caretakers for all they do to help promote and maintain the trail. He is one of the unsung heroes whose volunteer service help make the AT what it is.  Thank you, Joe, and your fellow caretakers!  I hope I can make a layover at Upper Goose Pond Cabin work as I arrange my hiking schedule so I can meet up with Becky in Vermont.  In less than a week, she'll join me for several days of hiking,  and I am very excited.  Bed time now.  There will be cereal bars for breakfast tommorow with perhaps dreams of pancakes for the day after. I do love pancakes.