Date: 2018-08-26
From: Congdon Shelter, VT

To: Wilbur Clearing shelter, MA
Miles today: 17.1

On trail at 6:35 this morning. Sun coming up through the trees. Looks like a great day. Trail was very good throughout the day. Two high mud holes made me think how to get around them with the best way just bushwhacking through the woods. Several vistas on the way but all were overgrown. At 12:50 I came to the border and plunged into Massachusetts. I thought about smearing mud on the Vermont sign but I was so happy to leave the state I forgot. Two young women asked me to take their picture in front of the signs. This was the beginning of the Long Trail for them. The Long Trail is concurrent with the AT for over 100 miles then continues northward to the Canadian Border. I've been seeing a lot of people heading north on the LT. Leaving the Long Trail there should be fewer hikers. Also, Nobos on the AT only have around six weeks to get to Mt. Katahdin so we are seeing fewer and fewer of them. The mountain closes October 15. I continued on the trail pressing to get into town. There was a long rocky drop but after that all was fine. It became humid again it seemed. I was sweating pretty bad. I stopped at a stream to rinse off and wash my hair. Its a town day and I need that fluffy look. I shaved last night. I got into town around 3 but went the wrong way. I knew what was in both directions but I thought I was going to a new store. The map does not have North arrow on it and I disoriented myself. When I realized my mistake I turned around and headed back. Round trip, I wasted a mile. Then I went the other direction and came to Super Stop and Shop. I was here six years ago. I should have remembered. I got a few items to make it to Dalton on Tuesday. I went outside and packed it away except for the big Italian sub. I took that out of the plastic container and placed it in a grocery bag. On the .4 of a mile back to the trail route I ate the sub while walking down the busy highway. It was luscious. At the red light I re-caught the trail route and headed up through an old residential neighborhood. It was about 4:30 p.m. Many of the homes had Old Glory displayed. The street got steeper and steeper. It was hot and I was sweating pretty good. I was hoping the Italian sub, the Coke, and the Powerade I consumed would all remain in place. Suddenly the trail turned left into the woods. All was safe. Earlier I looked up at the mountains on this side of town and thought the trail probably does not go up to the top...but it did. The trail climbed for about two miles but was well built and had many switchbacks. I was soaked in sweat. Just before 7 p.m. I came to a vista overlooking North Adams. The sun was low, offering a few hints of sunset colors. The mountains all around the city stood tall and were tinted with haze. Calamity came by, a Nobo. We talked for 15 minutes. He hopes to reach Katahdin the first week of October. Calamity headed north and I headed south taking one last look at the developing sunset. The woods seemed dark after watching the sky but my eyes adjusted quickly. I came to the Money Brook Trail to Wilbur Clearing Shelter. I went .3 to the shelter, got water, then quickly set up a short distance away. 7:45 p.m. I can hear the wind and an owl. A big difference from the cars and motorcycles in town. Tomorrow Mt. Greylock and Saddle Ball Mountain early. They are the last 3,000 footers until somewhere in the Shenandoahs. A good day today.