Date: 2012-06-29
From: Mass Rt 2

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

Survived the night without problems. Heard people outside a couple of times in the evening, but didn't go out to meet the neighbors. This morning when I emerged the guy who had checked me in yesterday was in and out of the room to the left of me, which was apparently his room as he offered me to come in for coffee. There was also a woman in and out of there, but also in the room to the right of me, which appeared to be her room, and one other person came out of another room and got picked up by a construction truck. I guess the place was more of a weekly stay efficiency than an overnight stay motel.It was already hot and humid by the time I got started hiking. As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, today's hike was up. Pretty much straight up, and steep with it. The humidity is killing me, but especially on the ascents. I got passed by my first Southbounder as I first reached the trail. He started at Mt. Katahdin on May 24 and said he was doing 25 - 30 mile days. Won't be seeing him again!I decided just to take today slow and steady and not worry about how long it took. Overnight options with water are at 3, 6, and 9 miles. With the humidity and steep grade I would need to carry 2 liters of water between each source. I think I mentioned I hate carrying water uphill, but I sure can't hike uphill without it.I lost the trail for a while today, but I was on a decent trail that was headed in the right direction, it just didn't have the AT white blazes. By the time I noticed I really didn't want to go back down the steep up I had already gained. Lucky for me it eventually joined back to the AT. When it did I took a short break. I could hear something rummaging around in the woods, and it sounded too noisy for a squirrel, but a couple of them together or a porcupine can make a lot of noise, so didn't think too much of it. After my break, as I started back up the trail there was more commotion and I just caught sight of the rear end of a bear disappearing off away from the trail.I only made it 3 miles today. By the time I arrived at this shelter to get water I had almost totally drained my 2 liters. I was very sweaty and exerted. My 2pm stop for lunch turned into and afternoon of rehydration and rest. The next 3 miles is also steep uphill up to the highest point in Massachusetts at Mt Greylock. I maybe could have made it up there today, but rationalized staying here by saving the $50 some I would have spent to stay at the bunkhouse there. That and I think I already used up my quota of sweat for the day!It was a nice peaceful afternoon here watching the sunlight play on the leaves, at least until about an hour ago when I started hearing shouts. A little while ago a family with 3 kids and a dog arrived having hiked in from the road about a mile away. They are setting up in the tenting area. I was considering setting up my tent for tonight, but will probably just stay in the shelter now instead. It's been fairly bug free this afternoon, so may be OK tonight. If the bugs get bad and I'm alone here I may even just set up the tent inside the shelter. So far there is no one here but me, but it's still early, I may get company yet.