Date: 2009-08-22
From: Massachusetts

To: Connecticut
Miles today: 0.0

So there I was...sitting down after an exhausting day. It was getting dark, and I had put in 32.5 miles when I started to cook my meal at the shelter. The last 2.5 miles was a tough climb up Mt.Greylock, and the last thing I wanted was trouble. So I am sitting at this table near the shelter, when a shadowy figure scampers across the ground, brushing my foot. At first I think I am imagining things because I am so drained, but all of a sudden I turn around and look at my pack behind me. It looks at me, very brave, as if it was taunting me to get up and do something. At first I am calm, but panic sets in when 2 more run across the table inches away from my hands. The army of mice had strategically planned an attack, and the war had begun! My weapon of choice: a broom I found in the shelter. Their weapon: astronomical numbers. With broom in hand I wait for a clean shot. I shine my light on a pair of reflective green eyes. WHAM! Kill! Me: 1 Them:0 I soon realized that even if I tried to kill all of them, it would do no good, so I finished my meal, and placed everything, food and all, in a bear box 200 yards away. Did I feel defeat? No, at least not until the middle of the night...the darkness had crept in as the sun cascaded down, and soon it was the middle of the night. I was in a relaxed, lethargic state, when something tickled my chest in the middle of the night. At first, I thought I was dreaming again, but all of a sudden, I realized that a lone infantry mouse was on top of my sleeping bag! When I became aware of his presence, I took action, flinging my arms up simultaneously causing him to fly through the air! I heard him hit the ground outside, and the headlamp was turned on a few seconds later. I surveyed the rest of my area, and with my eyes widening and a heavy jaw, I gasped to find that mice were all over the place! Ahh! This was my first bad encounter with mice on the trail, and for the rest of the night, I was in and out of sleep flinging mice off me. I didn't get much sleep, but it was another experience I can check off my list now. I don't really know who won the battle, but next time I will be ready! In other news...I finally made it to Massachusetts! I pulled 3 really big days so I could take a zero day in Dalton at a place called the Bird cage. This guy Rob opens up his house to hikers, and it is a cool place to spend a day or two. Also, there is a hurricane headed this way and yesterday I got caught in a severe thunderstorm on top of a ridge, which was not fun. It was pouring, and I was running down that mountain like I was on fire! I made it down, and all is well now, but this weather in these mountains can go from bad to worse in minutes. I would have loved to post some videos and pictures this go around, but the library here wont let me, so I decided to do a little creative writing instead, I hope you enjoyed it! After tomorrow I will be headed for Connecticut. I am feeling well, and today I plan on eating A LOT! Last night I went to an all you can eat buffet. I decided to weigh myself before and after on a scale, and in less than 2 hours I had gained 9 pounds! I weighed the most I ever have last night, and it was awesome! Anyway, things are good, and hopefully next time I will be able to post some pictures and videos! Happy Hiking!