Date: 2008-07-02
From: Mark Noepel Lean-to, MA

To: Stealth site .1 past Sherman Brook Campsite, MA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I don't think I budged all nite. It was the coolest nite in a month though, and I slept with my knit cap on for the first time in forever. It was 60 degrees when I woke @ 6 a.m.I knew I had 3 miles to the top of Mt. Greylock, so I was off @ 7:23 a.m. Paul was right behind me. He's done the Colorado Trail and considers the AT gruelig because there are no views, and his pack weighs like 55 lbs too, that's what he said and his next sentence was, "I don't know what I was thinking."There were a few steep places, but overall not too bad. I am excited, however, because I saw moose scat for the first time today! Oh man, I hope I see one!Mt. Greylock has been shutdown since 2007 to cars, the lodge, etc. They ripped up the road and are repaving the whole thing. I stopped and talked to Gary, Allen, and Eric; all road workers, and they said it was supposed to take 3 yrs but they're finishing it in 2 yrs. I told them good job, and hiked on.Right @ the summit of Mt. Greylock, there's this cool 3-D topographic map of the area, showing just how high this mountain is. It's the highest point in MA @ 3,491 feet.There's also a huge tower, made in honor of those from MA that have fallen in war. It was awesome being up here, sunny, warm, light breeze, and an incredible view. I spent 1.5 hrs up here! A good part of that time was spent talking to New Day (who hiked with Persistent and Melk last year in the Shennies), and her 2 sons, B-Rad (thru hiked 2006), and Young Blood. They're all from Virginia Beach and were hilarious to talk to. New Day is a server @ an IHOP...she's got fortitude, you have to, to serve tables there.I also spoke with 4 people out for 1 nite. They had 2 dogs and the people were super cool.So I finally moved on around 10:45 a.m. It's a steep descent @ first, but then turns quite nice. On the way down, I hiked past this certain type of weed, but the weird thing was that swarms of black flies were all over the weeds and would fly up and buzz when I hiked next to them.I met Twiggy and her husband Spock from SC as well as Highlife, a guy who flip flopped last year and couldn't resist getting back out this year. When it's in your blood, it just is you know?You go for awhile and then climb up Mt. Williams, go down, then back up and finally descend down into North Adams, MA for 2 VERY steep miles.On the way down, I met a man from the U.K. Nice man, but I'm worried he got himself lost, because he said he wanted to get back to Williamstown, and even after I told him to head north, he goes, "I just came from that direction, I think I'll go this way." I swear it was a making of an episode of "I Shouldn't Be Alive." All he had was a duffle bag he was carrying. Hope he's ok.The I met 2 awesome women...sisters, Judy (WA) and Danielle (MA). I sat and talked to them forever and it was really great. Very cool women indeed.So I made it down to North Adams, MA, where you roadwalk for a bit. It looked like a nice quiet town.I got to the bridge that leads to the woods, and started my way up...again. It was beautiful, hiking next to Sherman Creek, which is one big-ass creek.I decided to make today a short day and I'll hike into Vermont first thing in the morning. I also talked to people a lot too.So I'm climbing and finally see the sign for Sherman Creek Campsite. I walked up there, but there was no water, and I really needed water, so I decided to hike on.Then, there was a great creek, so I walked across it and found this great stealth site. I could have made VT today if I hadn't blabbed, but now I get to look forward to it first thing in the a.m. The downhills were brutal, and my feet and knees could use a shorter day.Before I forget..does anyone know how Sailor or Rockstar are doing?I'm starving, but that's nothing new either. Good nite..tomorrow I complete my 11th state. It's 72 degrees @ 7:40 p.m. and I'm going to pass out now. By the way, I'm feeling more like my self again, so I'm hoping I weathered that mental\emotional low and it's a thing of the past now.~Certain