Date: 2003-07-20
From: Mt. Greylock Summit

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

The mice remained quite active while we had the light on, including one that climbed up a grate next to my bed and onto my bed, actually touching the back of my shirt! That was it! I moved to the top bunk after that. The temperature was quite cool, which made for great sleeping!Before I went to sleep, I started thinking about things at home, such as a job after the hike, and a place to live. It took me a long time to fall asleep because of all of that thinking. I hadn't done that much on this trip, and I was enjoying it too. I woke up with a headache this morning. Coincidence?I didn't want to get up this morning. I was just too comfortable! But, once I got going, I was ready to be hiking. I had great views again from Greylock summit, and on the way down. The skies were so clear, once again. It was just awesome! On the way down, I met several dayhikers headed up, and told them they could expect great views. I also met a group of about 8 on a 50-mile backpacking trip. They all seemed to be having a great time, and that is good to see. They were surprised Hotdog and I started at Springer. They said we looked "too fresh". I don't know what that means exactly, but I took it as a compliment.We walked off the trail to resupply at a grocery store in North Adams, Massachusetts, and ate lunch outside the store. Again. The people there weren't as friendly as the last time I sat outside a grocery store, in Great Barrington. Maybe they just weren't familiar with the trail. Only 2 people talked to us about hiking.The climb from MA2 to the shelter was graded nicely, except for one steep, rocky section. I must be wearing the tread off my shoes, because I was slipping a bit on the smooth rocks. I used duct tape to try to prevent further wear on the front of my shoes. I'm sure duct tape on my toes won't draw any attention. The shoes aren't falling apart, well, not completely, but I want to prevent a major blowout if I can. In about 4 more days, I'll be in town and will go shoe-shopping.Two milestones today: under 600 miles to go; and another state done. We crossed into Vermont about 3 miles from this shelter. At the state line, we found Snappy and Puff Puff, Chickenfeet and Flanders, and Bree, all northbound thruhikers. I'd met all but Bree previously. I also met two guys who started the Long Trail today. The AT shares the same path with the Long Trail for almost 100 miles, before the AT turns east toward New Hampshire. The two guys didn't make it to this shelter, even though I saw them about 0.2mi back, taking a break at a road. Everyone else mentioned, including Hotdog and I are tenting near the shelter, along with two others. In the shelter are a group of girls/women, but I don't know their destination or group name.I was tired all day today, and my headache lasted most of the day. It wasn't a bad headache, just a litte bothersome, making me a little irritable and not wanting to talk much. After relaxing a bit once camp was set up, I felt better, and we all sat around cooking our dinners and talking. Until the mosquitos pushed me into my tent. They aren't horrible tonight, but were biting just enough that I either had to put on DEET or get in my tent.Coming down Greylock, I rounded a corner, and saw a small critter waddling north on the trail in front of me. It was a porcupine! Hotdog and I went for our cameras, then tried to catch up to it to get a good shot. It went into the bushes near the trail, and I never got close enough to take a picture. Hotdog says he might have gotten it. Very cool though, as I'd never seen one in the wild!I have so many things on my mind, and wish I could just forget about them and think only about this hike. This is an awesome experience, and I don't want to ruin any part of it by thinking or worrying about things that I cannot change right now. There is still a long way to go, and a lot of things to see and do along the way. I guess it just proves that I haven't changed. I still worry about stupid things, and spend way too much time thinking about things and scenarios that may or may not happen. That trait is part of who I am, whether I am hiking the AT or working a 40-hour week. That's something I know I still need to work on: living in the moment. After all, it the only important thing. The past cannot be changed, and the future is not guaranteed. I need to keep that in mind, always. It's a good thing to live by. And hike by.