Date: 2005-06-23
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

hey hey..5 .. or 6 days ago I started heading south.. just to switch things up a bit. Started heading south from Killington, VT and missed my buddies (webb, chino, diesel, and dewd) by only a few hours.. oh well. The walking was good through Vermont. The climbs are all very gradual.. hardly notice you've climbed to 3,800 feet until you see a summit sign letting you know your elevation. Just about every summit has a firetower as well.. providing some awesome 360 views.. just remember to hold onto your hat when you climb to the top because as soon as you get above the trees you're in 30-40 mph winds.. Vermont is also wilderness.. like.. you don't cross a road every 5 miles.. you go distances of about 20 miles and sometimes if you're lucky you might cross a dirt road.. much different than the road filled trails of pennsylvania, new jersey, new york, connecticut, and massachusettes that I had become so used to. Also.. there's moose droppings.. everywhere.. but no moose.. yet.. anyway.I made it out of Vermont and back into Massachusettes yesterday. Now I'm prepared to climb Mt. Greylock then stroll through Cheshire, MA and finish off the day in Dalton, MA at the "birdcage". The birdcage is a guys house in Dalton who likes hikers and invites them to stay at his house.. everyone said it's an awesome place.. guess I'll find out tonight. Tomorrow, after leaving Dalton I'll be hiking south to where I had hitched north where I will again ride north on rte. 7 to get back on the trail at Killington. From there I head into New Hampshire and prepare for the infamous White Mountains. It's so exciting to know that in only a few days I'll be in the Whites.. well above tree line.. exposed to high wind, tough hiking, and unpredictable weather... I think I oughtta get my polartec tights sent back to me before I find myself in the middle of a snowstorm on top of Mt. Washington. For the past two days I've had a fever that comes and goes as it pleases.. it's really annoying and makes hiking suck. But right now I feel good and the weather is great.. 65 degrees.. clear blue sky. I'm ready to walk. So, now that it's 11:45 I've got 22 miles to hike.. Can't wait to be home..Recently, many people have taken time away from their lifes to help me in every way they could. I would like to thank these people.Sandy, in New Jersey took me out to eat.. Thank you.. the hamburger was amazing and the book you gave me has been really nice to have in the evenings.Borden Powers.. your timing in New York at the Graymoor Friary was perfect. I can't imagine a more friendly person than you. Thank you for taking me to pizza.. (some of the best pizza I've ever had) ..and thanks for your insight into what life is all about.. incredible.Pete and Melissa.. first of all.. thank you for the ride into Cold Spring, NY on a very hot and humid day. Secondly.. many many thanks for the kick ass food that pete grilled up. I think about that burger every day. Also, thanks for the shower, the great music, the air mattress and your great personalities. Couldn't dream of anything better.Rob, Kate, Charlotte, and Moxie.. Thank you for the trail magic cooler you left at the road crossing in New York.. That was a great way to end a 30 mile day. Also, thanks for all the work you did in trying to find me.. (the notes and letter at the PO). And, of course thank you for finding me. My stay at your house was amazing. Thank you so much for everything.