Date: 2018-06-22
From: Sage's Ravine campsite

To: Route 7 mile 1520.6 Great Barrington
Miles today: 14.2

It was a nice night of sleep. Super quiet here and the only disturbance was the mouse trying to climb the outside of my tent just before I dozed off. I'd seen him on a log near my tent last night while I was eating. The mice here on the trail seem bold to me. I made oatmeal for breakfast and packed up. I said goodbye to River at 6:15 after hanging my still wet laundry on my pack to dry as I hiked and headed down the hill to the trail. Goldie Locks had left before me and was just leaving the stream when I arrived to filter water before crossing it on the log footbridge. I'm excited to be in Mass.It's carving out to look like a 14 mile day with 3 mountain climbs. Mt Race, Mt Everett and Mt Bushnell. But as I walked thru Sages Ravine I could only focus on that. It reminds me so much of the Whites. The sound, view and smell. I completely enjoyed the small waterfalls and eventually crossed over and up away from the stream. Today water will be scarce as many small streams and springs have dried up. But the sobo section hiker in camp last night said that there will be plenty of trail magic water as the issue is well known. I climbed Mt Race and enjoyed the views for a few minutes before heading up trail to Mt Everett which was more challenging. It was a steeper longer climb to the top of this 2602' summit. I was getting nervous about how much water I'd had to drink since the ravine. The descent took me a while and it was a workout for the knees. I just about finished my water and I had one more mountain to summit. I passed by the blue blaze trails to Hemlock and Glen Brook shelters, committing myself to the 14 miles and all 3 peaks. As I hiked I happened to see near my feet 2 slivers of wood perfectly positioned as a cross. They were smaller than toothpicks but reminded me that God is with me out here. I found it comforting. I crossed a dirt road and headed back into the woods for another tenth of a mile where I knew I'd emerge at a parking area with picnic table and port-a-potty. I saw the picnic table first. On each end sat a giant thermos of ice cold water. Chained to each thermos were a dozen additional gallons of water. Instant relief! There was a couple at the table and they waived me over as soon as they saw me. Trail angels Jimmy and I Believe ( she thru hiked in 2014 and he has a YouTube channel and interviews thru hikers). They had fresh fruit, chips, macadamia nuts, soda and all kinds of goodies. I sat and enjoyed some cherries, a kind bar, some macadamia nuts and of course a root beer. I had such great conversation with them and other hikers that sat down. Fogg and Goldie Locks enjoyed a respite too. I waited for River but left before she arrived after filling my water bottle and giving an interview for Jimmy's channel. These trail angels are from TN and are here helping hikers. Their kindness brought me to tears before I departed. I put Jimmy's number in my phone so I can call them when I'm down south. I tackled the last of the peaks and then the terrain was finally kind to me. I popped out of the woods at a road crossing and saw Jimmy and I Believe in their truck. They jumped out, took my pack and set out a chair for me handing me a cold bottle of water. I drank it down and grabbed my essentials bag and slack packed another 1.7 miles with Goldie Locks when she arrived. At Route 7 I thought I'd grab my pack and hitch to the community center 5 miles away but instead Jimmy gave us a ride while I Believe waited at the road for another hiker. I got checked in and paid $7 to use the facilities. It was 5:45 and they close at 8:30. I gave River a text update and then made my way to the women's locker room for a hot shower. I hung out in the lounge area for a while snacking out of my bag, drinking a Snapple raspberry iced tea from the vending machine and charging my phone. I was walking across the field looking for the tenting area when River arrived. She thumbed a ride in time to have a 45 minute window to use the facilities and shower. I set up my tent on a somewhat level tent pad in the woods then cooked my dinner under the pavilion in the field where River and Goldie Locks joined me. There was a wild bunny nearby, just adorable! The sun set behind the community center building and it was quite a nice evening. I ducked back inside the woods and River and I hung our food bags on a cable that was strung for a ropes course. I tucked myself in and realized I'm on a little slope but it will have to do. It's already dark in the woods.