Date: 2007-08-05
From: Crystal Mtn Campsite

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 20.4

Today was a great day to be hiking in the New England Mts, clear skies, excellent visibility and temps that were not too hot. It was an ideal day to hike up and over the highest mountain in MA.The first half of the day was ridge walking into Cheshire, MA. The afternoon was spent entirely climbing up and over Mt Greylock. It involved a 7.7 mile ascent up the south ridges to the summit, followed by a 3 mile ridge walk down the north ridgeline. Finally, there was a steep 3 mile downhill run into North Adams, MA. This was the first mt over 3,000' since VA.Mid-way up the mt I stopped for water at the Mark Noepel Lean-to and past 6 folks I stayed with at Tom's house who were slackpacking the 23 miles from N Adams back to Dalton. I'd had the option to join them but decided not to; seems to me i've come this far without slacking so why start now. Besides, by thw end of the day i'd have covered the dame ground they did but won't have to hitch hike back to N Adams, and i'd have done it in the traditional way. As I told one of them earlier, I wanted to do a traditional N-to-S thru hike and that meant carrying my pack the whole way, and I have a bit of a stubborn streak that would keep me humping northward with my pack when others were walking southward carrying only a water bottle.I arrived at Bascom Lodge on the top of Mt Greylock about 3 PM. The lodge, war memorial tower and access roads are all closed this summer due to road reconstruction so I wasn't able to see inside. My friend Tom at work who thru hiked the AT in 1988 worked many summers here at Bascom Lodge and I instantly saw why he liked it so much. The view was wonderful. The top of the mt is fairly open with sweeping vistas in most directions. The spruces and firs are mostly small trees and stunted and gnarled from the high winds giving the mountaintop a more northern feel than expected by its relatively low elevation (3,491'). I spent over an hour on top enjoying the view and walking around the lodge and just wish that Tom could have been there too. The visibility was excellent and I could see peaks in VT and NH ahead of me on the AT, as well as peaks behind me that I had already climbed, as well as points in NY and CT. It was a wonderful afternoon spot that I hated to have to leave.I had a fairly quick hike down to the side trail to Wilbur Clearing Lean-to but didn't go in because I didn't need water and wanted to make town before dark. The last 3 miles down to N Adams was steeply down the whole way and my knees were jello by the time I reached the outskirts of town. There were several fine views along the way down overlooking town and the trail in southern VT where I will soon be walking. Glastonbury Mt was prominent on the horizon but will take me a few days to reach it. I walked into the Chimney Mirror Hotel about 8.00 PM just after sundown, not having been successful in hitching a ride the 3 miles from the trail along Route 2. Fortunately they had rooms available and I'll meet Mom and Dad here tomorrow afternoon. After a quick dinner at a nearby caf© I went to bed immediately. It had been a long and tough day on the trail, but an excellent day none the less.