Date: 2021-06-06
From: Father Tom Campsite

To: Bascom Lodge
Miles today: 8.19
Weather: few clouds

So the Father Tom campsite is so named in honor of a local Catholic priest who provided shelter for hikers at St Mary of the Assumption parish in Cheshire. Father Tom was an avid hiker himself, but passed away in 2018, so the community has established this site to continue to provide support for hikers for years to come. The Polish Hermit came by at 4:45 and dropped off coffee for everyone, so the day started early!Still dealing with this stupid cold and knowing I had only an 8 mile, 2500 foot climb on the docket for the day, plod plod plod was my plan.  I hiked the first mile then took a short road walk back to last night¢s gas station for a coffee and also to buy another Gatorade to pack up to the top of Mt Greylock.  As I was leaving Grumpy Cat rolled in to get loaded up for the day as well.  The hike was steep but wasn¢t too strenuous or technical and I even caught a breeze from time to time depending on which side of the ridge I happened to be on.  I didn¢t stop for more than 30 seconds for some water breaks as I climbed and by 10:30 I had reached the summit where the mountain is topped by a war memorial erected in the 1930¢s and the Bascom Lodge near by. I climbed up the tower to check out the views from the top but got the evil eye from a couple who didn¢t appreciate my well earned hiker perfume that had accumulated over the last four days of hiking. So I didn¢t tarry and went back down, leaving them to deal with my fumes. I have a much more full appreciation for the Pigpen character in Charles Schulz¢s Peanuts comic.  I use to identify more with Charlie Brown due to my large, bald head.  I guess I¢m evolving.Sitting in the shade at the base of the tower a day hiker struck up a conversation with me. He is planning a though hike in 2023 and was very interested in what I was carrying. Being that I had two hours to pass before I could check in, I unpacked my bag and gave him the rundown. I also realized I could (and probably will) shave another 1.5 pounds from my kit from extra clothing I don¢t really need.Shortly after that the guys I stayed with at Father Tom¢s arrived and I sat with them while they had lunch at the lodge. I waited to eat myself and do a late lunch/early dinner as they were open for service until 4:30 and I wasn¢t interested in their $39 dinner sitting at 7pm. Later I had hot dogs, chicken salad and a 20 oz beer, so I didn¢t go wanting. Once checked in I got cleaned up and did shower laundry then took the wet stuff outside to dry while I called my parents.  Then I started reading a book on Grierson¢s Calvary Raid during the Vicksburg campaign in the Civil War.  Paint drying to some, interesting to me!A section hiker named Swede checked in later in the afternoon, he¢s out doing a 600 mile tune up in preparation to hike the Colorado Trail in July.  He thru hiked the AT five years ago (I don¢t know how that¢s possible when he looks to be 20) and had some good advice to share about the hike in front of me in New Hampshire.  I¢m still trying not to think too far ahead, planning even two or three days out makes my head hurt.  I¢ll likely get going early tomorrow and pass up the 8am continental breakfast here as temps will again be near 90 before two days of stormy weather arrive.  I will probably do a half mile road walk to a grocery store mid morning for a light resupply to take me into Vermont.  Hard to believe that I should cross the 900 mile mark by week's end and that I¢ll still have nearly 1300 miles to go!