Date: 2011-06-29
From: Bear Mountain Rec. Area/Ft. Montgomery, NY

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 118.4
Weather: broken clouds

06/23: Zero day at Greenwood Lake. Rain came down in buckets for a few hours. Glad I wasn't hiking.06/24: Forecast was for more heavy rain, but time to face the music. Matt of Anton's drove me up to Bear Mountain Rec. Area. Cold, foggy, drippy walk across the Hudson River Bridge, then straight-up ascent. But trail tread is not as rocky now, walking is easier. Short break at Appalachian Market, right on the trail, very clean and well-stocked, better than most everything in GL. Matched pace with another hiker for a short while, enjoyed talking as it made the time go faster. First time on the hike this happened. Thought I might stop off-trail at Fahnstock State Park if the rain was a problem, but the rain never came. Kept on to 1419.0 Shenandoah Tenting Area, 24.3 miles for the day, stopping at 1830. This place has nice big grassy area, privy, and a water pump.06/25: Hiked to Wiley Shelter, mile 1445.7, 26.7 miles for the day. Just enough rain overnight to get the tent wet. Actually skipped a side trip to the deli at 1425.4, those excursions are one of the few enjoyable aspects of this trail for me. While generally the trail is not trying to kill me as frequently now, there still is the use of wide areas of slick slanted rock as trail 'tread'. Such was the case on part of the steep descent after the shelter at 1437.0, just before Pawling, NY exit point. Picked up my box at the garden center that is right next to the trail, got a shower there, and visited the deli that is down the road a fraction. Very refreshing stop. Too bad a steep climb followed shortly thereafter and had me drenched in sweat yet again. Quit for the day at Wiley Shelter. The water pump is broken but good cold water flows out of the ground in the same area.06/26: Hiked to Caesar Brook Campsite, mile 1472.1, 26.4 miles for the day. This turned into a long day due to visit to small market off trail at 1451.2 and then small Citgo mini (micro?) mart at Cornwall Bridge. And also because trail made major effort to kill me at 1462.6 where trail drops straight down, another great moment of reckless endangerment as trail design. Maybe it's just me. Did the 'high water' detour around Guinea Brook and discovered the micro mart just .1 away from the Old Sharon Road turn. Finally into campsite at 2100.06/27: Covered 24.3 miles and tented at Brassie Brook Shelter at 1830. An easier day, trail-wise, as it included one hour break at Falls Village, (which has no pizza joint, contrary to the AT Guide, but does have 'country store' with ice cream, chips, candy), and three hours at Salisbury, which has very good supermarket. Almost took at zero/resupplied there, but really wanted to get over what looked like demanding trail ahead to Great Barrington. Amped up on sugar, motored on to campsite just before very steep up.06/28: This was a tough day. Nine hours to cover the 16.7 miles to get to US 7 and hitch into Great Barrington. And some of that at the end was easy flat walking. Very rocky, slippery terrain, plus lots of sharp elevation change. Thanking God yet again it's not raining. Sometimes spend many minutes deciding safest way to descend just a few feet. Of course the twenty-somethings can just bound along over this stuff. Also most dismaying to watch a trail runner just fly up steep slick slanted rock of Mt. Everett. I get in such an angry mood after hours of this. But I look at it as a sh*tty job that ends in six weeks or so. I think I can hold out that long. Kept my great record going with in-bound hitches, none have taken as long as five minutes including this one. Dropped off at Monument Mountain Inn around 1530. Stayed on the trail for 4.5 days, kind of a record for me :-), my clothes set a record for stinkiness so far. Using the laundry at next-door Comfort Inn by arrangement, also using the computer there. Found out the motel owner will shuttle back to the 7 trail head, good news.06/29: Zero in GB. Weather forecast for the next few days generally looks OK. 4JUL weekend coming, might have to pay $$$ to stay at next lodging?