Date: 2019-08-06
From: Pawling, NY

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

10 states down, 3 to go! It seems like just last week I was in VA. The mid Atlantic and northern states really have flown by and I can¢t believe I will be back in New Hampshire in 10 days or so. Since Harper¢s Ferry, I have averaged 17.5 miles per day. I averaged under 14 for the first half of the trail. I¢m feeling good mentally and physically. The miles and days seem to just melt away at this point.New England has been a lot of fun so far. I haven¢t seen hardly any rain and have got to visit areas that I have never seen before despite living here my whole life.Connecticut was short (about 50 miles) and I flew through it, spending only two nights in the state. There were a couple very nice flat stretches along rivers and I got burgers and watermelon at a trail magic stop the second day. Besides that, Bear Mountain was a beautiful view and the bugs were really bad (I¢m talking 20 bugs swarming around your head bad) but it wasn¢t particularly memorable.I heard a lot about MA being an easy state and it lived up to its reputation. Clean, wide trails and nice campsites and shelters. I stayed in Great Barrington and then the trail went directly through the towns of Dalton, Cheshire, and North Adams. In MA you walk through some neighborhoods and even someone¢s back yard - it didn¢t feel very remote but was a really fun state with a lot of great people. To say I¢ve been shown kindness by strangers along the trail would be an understatement. So many folks have helped me along the way and a couple trail angels in MA really stood out. Papa Joe lives in Great Barrington and gave me a free ride to and from the trail head. He also left water for me and other hikers at a trailhead in a particular dry stretch and gave me fuel when I was out and had no idea how I¢d get more. He gives rides to hikers constantly during the summer and asks nothing in return, a truly awesome guy. Tom Levardi lives in Dalton, MA and has been letting hikers sleep on his lawn for 40 years. He provided me and four other hikers not only a place to stay but also cheese and crackers, snacks, and coffee and donuts in the morning. He even let my cousin park in his yard. I¢ll be sure to send cards to Tom and Joe as well as many other trail angels after this is over. There were a few highlights in MA - I got to stay at one of the more unique places in the trail, the Upper Goose Pond Cabin. The cabin was donated to the AMC for hiker use and is only a half mile off the trail. There were two caretakers, Maggie and Sara, who gave me the lay of the land and made everyone pancakes and coffee in the morning. I got there early in the afternoon and decided to take a half day so spent the rest of the day swimming, reading and hanging out with other hikers on the porch. It was a great place to spend the afternoon and watch a sunset from the docks. I also met up with my cousin Tyler and uncle Jim for Mt Greylock, the highest peak in MA. Greylock was the biggest mountain I climbed since VA and you can see 5 states from its peak. It is a historic mountain for many reasons but is pretty commercialized with a road up to the summit and restaurant near the peak. It was great to have Tyler and Jim along for the journey and we spent the night in Williamstown. Jim even got me my own hotel room and a full resupply while Tyler brought me new shoes, bug spray and soap. Thanks for the support guys! I crossed into Vermont on Sunday and did 60 miles in 3 days to make it to Manchester. In VT, the AT coincides with the Long Trail for 105 miles until it splits east toward Hanover, NH. Vermont has certainly felt like I¢m back in the wilderness again - few road crossings, rough trail, and no cell service. It¢s been nice after being in more developed areas for a while. I¢m staying at one of the more we¢ll known hostels on the trail, Green Mountain Hostel, tonight and probably taking a zero day tomorrow here. Next up, my brother Zack will join for Killington and then on to Hanover, NH! -Kevin ¢Crypter¢ -Kevin