Date: 2010-08-26
From: Campsite past Cheshire 

To: Wilbur Clearing Lean-to
Miles today: 9.6

8/26 2Campsite to Wilbur Clearing Lean-to9.6 milesShelterLast night I awoke from nightmares, confused. My dream had followed me. As I woke a little, I realized the barking and howling was real. What sounded like nothing more than an unhappy cocker spaniel was probably in reality a coyote. I listened as it circled my campsite, heading north while giving me a wide berth. I got the distinct feeling it wished I wasn't there. I must have camped in its territory or on a regular route.  It kept up the racket as it moved up the mountain. In ten minutes or so it shut up, having cowed me suitably. I fell back asleep. In the morning, sunlight peeped fitfully through the clouds. I had great hopes for a nice day, but prepared the pack for rain to be safe. As I headed uphill for my six mile climb of Greylock, I walked into a dark cloud. It was sixty degrees out but damp and windy. I shivered and walked faster to generate heat. At the shelter I stopped for water. The sun, the glorious sun, it came out as I treated my water. I grinned. Sunshine for the summit!  I got underway again with dapples of light decorating the ground where it found its way through leaves. The closer I got to the top, the better the air smelled. Balsam scent filled my nostrils. I inhaled deeply, wishing I could take the smell with me. The ground was very muddy after all the recent rain. Despite the long ascent, I found the going easy. Nowhere was it very steep, and there were human size steps available. The rocks and roots I stepped on were slick, but none presented a sheer face to me. At the summit I walked into Bascom Lodge expecting a restaurant. What I found was a pay at the counter cafe. The food, however, was fantastic. I had a thick tomato soup served with grilled sourdough toast, a huge Caesar salad with avocado and tomato, a blt, and a single delicious dark chocolate chewy cookie. And a couple of cokes to wash it down. I looked at my map and realized that I didn't have time to walk to North Adams tonight. The next lean-to is only 3.3 miles from the summit. The town is 6.3 plus the walk to the town. At two pm, that would put me in town well after dark. So, reluctantly, I decided to have a short day and end at the lean-to.  The decision left me with unaccustomed time to gawk from the summit. My final impression of Greylock: gorgeous and windy. Mosquitos seem scarce so I'm set up in the shelter tonight with section hiker Tom. There's a college group bonding noisily in the tenting area. I'll be very happy for my earplugs tonight. They came down and asked to use the shelter firepit. Nobody else wanted be the one to deny them, but I gently said that I was a thruhiker and wanted to get to sleep by dark. I feel a little bad but I really didn't want to suffer through hours of eighteen year old ivy leaguers singing kumbaya, telling ghost stories, and undoubtedly leaving the fire burning after they left. Or maybe  being uncharitable. But at least I'm freshman free. The other three people here thanked me for saying no. My initial plan is to bypass town tomorrow, since I have more than enough food to get to Bennington. But there is an all you can eat Chinese place. We will see if I can resist. My willpower is low when it comes to food. I'm moderately concerned that I won't be able to find lodging so I'm going to make some calls tomorrow as soon as I have a signal again. By the time I get to Bennington I suspect I will really want to do laundry and spend the night in a motel room.