Date: 2021-05-15
To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 53.7
Weather: scattered clouds

My wife and I drove down the day before my drop-off and stayed in a motel. The motel's wifi password was "Adventure", which I viewed as a good omen, well, it was much better than "Disaster" or "CrashAndBurn". After a delicious deli lunch in Kent, CT, we hugged after taking the requisite "1st day going back to school" pictures before I headed out on the trail. It wasn't until I got to St John's Ledges, with a short but steep descent, that I was reminded that I was no longer in Mendon Ponds Park where I do my training. Still, I arrived at the shelter where I met One Eyed Jack and newbie hiker Frank.Tuesday began with a flat start along the Housatonic River. At Guinea Brook, the water was raging, and I wondered "how the hell are people getting across? I don't see any bodies flowing downstream!" Truth is, they weren't crossing, and my Guthook app noted a detour back to the road and around. Then there was a short lemon squeezer between rocks. Looking in the logbook at the shelter, I found an entry from my last hiking partner during my 2019 AT hike. The day after I left, he hooked up with another hiker. I felt jilted! "Huh? After 5 weeks, I meant nothin' to him!" That two-timer!Wednesday was another in a series of days with wonderful weather, as I was awakened by the sound of woodpeckers and birds. Moving along the trail that morning, I met a wild turkey hunter. (Actually, in his camouflage outfit he appeared more civilized than wild.) We chatted awhile, me being very polite (as I always am when addressing someone with a firearm!) Technically, hunting is not allowed on the AT but I decided not to mention it because, as I said, he had a firearm! Later that day, I met my first NOBO thru-hiker, Crypta, who started Feb 17 and looked every bit the part of a fast hiker. Crypta is a professional juggler, but with Covid, he had no gigs to juggle and instead is juggling the demands of hiking.Thursday was a day for milestones, as I passed Giant's Thumb, a unique glacial rock, as well as the 1500 mile marker. I was surprised there wasn't a 1500 mile marker when I arrived, but there was one when I left, made by a skilled artisan - moi! - who chooses to remain anonymous. I had a surprise lunch with Joe, a hiker from CT who I met on the Northville Placid Trail in 2018 and who has been both a good friend and AT mentor to me. Joe drove over an hour to pick me up from the trail so we could share lunch, memories and stories. Thanks, Joe! I ended the day with a short stretch with Colin, a NY Times reporter. I asked if he had written any books, and he said not yet, but I have a hunch that if he ever writes about "Mountain Men on the AT", I will be in chapter 1. Later I met Temple U. student Teddy Bear at the shelter. On Friday, I crossed Bear Mountain, the highest peak in CT, before entering MA. It was bittersweet, because CT's terrain fit my hiking preference - not too high, not too low - and because CT does a great job of trail maintenance. The Sages Ravine in MA was flowing well and a treat to hike beside, but presented a tricky crossing at the end that I was thankful to successfully maneuver without taking a spill. The afternoon was arduous, with two peaks, and left me deflated. However, I met Tom, a 46R from Lake Placid, at the shelter and enjoyed his company. Still, it was a bit unnerving when, at 1015pm, I awoke to two hikers thrashing around in the dark trying to find the bear box to put their food. (I found out today it was Teddy Bear and Colin! - one of many good reasons to finish your hike in daylight!)Today included a descent into Great Barrington for a mail drop and a motel room. The Fire Dept may have to hose me off and fumigate me to make me presentable to the townsfolk. It is a bustling, upscale tourist town on the weekend, and a stark contrast to the trail. Still, the town has its charm. The trail doesn't have a 4 piece jazz band playing in the evening.Overall, I'm satisfied with my slow but steady progress. There are far fewer hikers than I expected, but that should change with time. The gear choices I agonized over are performing as designed. The weather has been great. CT and MA both provide bear boxes at shelters, which is a great convenience to someone like me. We will see what the next week brings.