Date: 2004-08-30
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

I¢m so tired and wet¢¦but I finally hiked again. This journal WILL BE SHORT! I just groped through 2 miles in the dark in pouring rain after my flashlight died¢¦ugh. I¢m beaten down and soaked, frustrated, and to top it off there is no room left in the shelter. So how about I touch on some nicer parts of my day. This morning I packed up and set out to finally leave Rob and ¢The Bird Cage¢. I cannot believe I did it :-) . There were 10 of us and a dog in the mini-van and the ride up was less than comfortable. I now know ¢Underhill¢ and ¢Knuckles¢ in a more personal way than before the ride¢¦but we made it to the summit of Mount Graylock. Upon arrival everyone piled out. We went to take a picture on the rock wall¢¦I tripped and slammed my shin into the wall. After the picture, blood still trickling, I went to say goodbye to Rob. It was hard. Rob has been like a trail Dad to me. I gave him a hug, smiled, and thanked him. He then quipped ¢I don¢t care you hurt your leg ¢ you¢re not staying with me tonight¢. After a goodbye to ¢Underhill¢ and ¢Knuckles¢ who are slacking today, I said goodbye one last time to Rob and joined ¢Pop Tart¢ to eat lunch in the lodge atop the mountain. Everything felt weird as we finally began to hike around noon. My knees hurt and my legs were unsure. Pop Tart had taken 4 days himself¢¦we were both rusty. Pop Tart actually started March 3rd and took 6 weeks off to hitch to California. It was fun to hike with someone else who knows how to stop and relax during the hike. As we walked we talked about our hikes and who we knew. We also talked about reconciling God and science. When it seemed conversation could get no deeper¢¦we discussed women. Still, it was nice to talk to Pop Tart. Early on we talked to a cute group of 4 ladies very interested in our hike. We also met a nice couple as we descended. After just over 2 hours, and with sore knees, we had covered six plus miles to Greylock¢s base where we entered the town of North Adams. We decided we could walk to a store for a soda. At a house right on the trail I asked a man where the nearest place to find some cold coke would be. He told us to wait a minute and come back with a4 cold cokes a moment later. After thanking him profuselyl, we sat to snack in the shade. The cold coke was wonderful! Before I was ready to go Pop Tart hiked on. I glanced at my data book and finally set out to leave. My last 6.5 miles would be far rougher. As I walked uphill alone out of town, I felt tired. My body had grown use to not hiking and the mud seemed to hold me in place. Despite a lovely brook on my side I was trudging along slowly. I fought for 2 miles and finally collapsed on a rock to take a much needed rest. As I did I stressed about miles and lack of money. Normally I know such worries are silly, but today it did not register. Before I rose from my break the rain started. With the rain the mud worsened and the rocks grew to be treacherous. Slowly I hiked on, until I reached a sign welcoming me to The Long Trail. It also marked the beginning of Vermont. For 100 miles the Vermont Long Trail and AT share the same course. I had little time to reflect on any of this though; the rain began to fall in droves. Frustrated, I pushed through ankle deep mud with the daylight dimming. Soon I needed my flashlight to guide my water-filled path. I drearily pushed on through the night, frustrated. Then my flashlight died. I had just put in new batteries :-( . For a while I used the last remnants of dusk to guide me. I tripped and slid numerous times - ugh! Before long my only light was coming from occasional lightning. I was frustrated, tired, and ready to reach the shelter. I would live to claim that I responded to the wet darkness well. I would love to tell you I prayed and trusted God to guide me. In reality, I was half on the cusp on praying and half on the cusp of cursing. I did both. I walked aimlessly trying to decipher the black silhouette before me. I cried out numerous times, but no one heard me. Finally I somehow tripped and guessed my way along the trail to the sign for the shelter¢¦only 0.2 more mild left. The shelter trail was even less clear and muddier. Finally after another half hour I arrived. A kind girl ¢peanut¢ leant her headlamp to me. The shelter is full so I just set up my tent. I¢m wet and grumpy and missing the Bird Cage. I think it¢s time for me to go to sleep now. (Deep in my head I know I need to try to stay positive). I hope to write better things tomorrow.God Bless, BEATBOX   ttt