Date: 2007-08-03
From: Mark Noepal Lean-to

To: Sherman Brook Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Gray GreylockI slept until 10 and took my sweet time getting out of camp. As I was leaving, Spock and Lunar showed up for a break. They made fun of me for starting so late, but man I needed sleep. I got back on the trail and started the rest of the climb up to Greylock, the highest point in Mass at 3491ft. The forest changed back into spruce/fir and I felt like I was climbing roan mountain in VA. I got to a pond and found an abandoned pump house on the other side. I walked over to it and found it unlocked and empty. You could totally camp there right on the pond. I pushed on and summited Greylock to find no views due to a thick haze. You could barely see the town below. Supposedly you can see the white mountains from there, but not today. I ate lunch with Lunar and Spock and hung out on top for a bit. It was kind of eerie up there since there was roads and a lodge on top, but everything was closed for renovation until 2009. It felt like a ghost town. A few day hikers had walked up there though. I left the summit and descended down to 3000ft then ridge-walked to Mt. Williams when I started to hear thunder. I kept going and got to the next shelter which was .3 off the trail. I decided to push the 3m to MA2 and hopefully beat the storm. The trail steeply dropped almost 2500ft down into North Adams. My knees were acting up a bit on me causing some pain. When I got to Phelps Ave, an ice cream truck was driving by. I flagged him down and got an eclair. I felt like a kid again standing on the side of that truck trying to decide what frozen deliciousness I would have. The thunder was getting closer and it was slowly starting to rain. I walked .3 down MA2 to the stop and shop and the skies opened up as I entered the parking lot. I ran under the roof, still dry, and sat and watched the storm roll through. I couldn't have timed it any better. There was marble sized hail and intense lightning. I sat and talked with 2 southbounders and then went inside for a small resupply. I got an avacado, some asiago cheese, and a lipton, just enough to get me to Bennington, VT. I also pillaged the salad bar and the olive bar for dinner. As I sat on the bench eating it started to rain again. Lunar was there too and when the rain let up we headed back to the trail. Lunar and I walked the 1.8 to a campsite as more thunder began to get closer. We picked up the pace a bit and about 1 min from the campsite it started to pour again. I got to the site and hung my tarp, but got soaked head to toe as I was doing it. Once under my tarp I changed into my dry shorts and got set up for the night. When the rain stopped I walked over to where lunar was setup and gave him what was left of the first 1L wine carton. I still had another unopened. Then I went back to my hammock and sat and read a bit before falling asleep. Tomorrow I cross into Vermont! I'm super excited!Today's StatsStarting Point:Mark Noepal Lean-to Ending Point:Sherman Brook CampsiteMileage:11.2Elevation Gain:2420ftElevation Loss:3780ftHiking Time:6:29Weather:Hazy hot humid, intense evening thunderstormsPain Factor:3