Date: 2007-08-01
From: upper goose pond cabin

To: Dalton, Ma
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: broken clouds

EvergreenLarry had to come wake me up for breakfast which was equally as awesome as the day before. I went and packed my stuff then went for a swim. I was tempted to take the canoe out one more time, but I resisted. I managed to break free of the upper goose pond scene around 10 and got walking. The trail went over the mass turnpike then back up to beckett mtn. On my way up I noticed a few small spruce trees and started getting excited. After a couple more miles the spruce got bigger and bigger until I was smack dab in the middle of a new england coniferous forest. I haven't seen trees like that since southern Virginia! The smell of the forest was comforting and the miles went by with smiles. The trail went around many marshy swampy areas, perfect for moose, but I didn't see any. My bestest friend, Ken or Mr. Sweppers, is in the hospital dealing with cancer and has been in there for almost 3 weeks straight. I figured he couldn't get to the forest so I attempted to bring the forest to him. I gathered clippings of the different type of evergreens trees and put them in a baggie. I clipped a piece of fir, spruce, hemlock, and pine as well as some wintergreen, birch bark, and some moss. I hope that lifts his spirits! It's been hard for me to be out here hiking while he is going through these tough times. I want to be there with him. I get to talk to him almost every day on the cellphone and feel like I am there in spirit. At Pitsfield road I went and met "the cookie lady" Marylin and Roy who own a pick your own blueberry farm .2 off the trail. Marylin likes to bake cookies and give them to hikers. After the cookie lady the forest went back to decidious type trees. I got up to warner mountain and got my first look at the mighty Greylock mountain. It stood much taller than the surrounding mountains. I got to the side trail for the kay wood lean to around 8 and decided to push 3 more miles into town. I cruised as the forest got darker and darker. My headlamp batteries were dead so I took out my light up frisbee and used that to hike in the dark. I bet people called in ufo sightings if anyone saw me walking through the woods.I got into Dalton and walked down depot street to Tom Lavardi's house. Tom is possibly the best trail angel on the trail. He lets all hikers sleep in his house or on his lawn and use his shower and bathroom all for free. When I showed up there was about 15 people already there. Yellow bird, a southbounder gave me three slices of leftover pizza and showed me the shower. I took a cold shower and loved every minute of it. I hadn't had a real shower with soap and shampoo since the dover oak with larry, about 10 days earlier. After getting clean, JP and I walked to the beer store and bought growlers of the BBC IPA. We got back and shared our growlers with everyone and stayed up until 12:30. I slept cowboy style on the lawn. There were no mosquitos in town which was a blessing.Today's StatsStarting Point:Upper Goose Pond Cabin Ending Point:Dalton, MaMileage:20.1Elevation Gain:3330ftElevation Loss:3640ftHiking Time:10:43Weather:Cool sunny Pain Factor:3