Date: 2017-08-02
From: Riga Shelter Tent Site

To: Glen Brook Shelter Tent Site
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

8/2Riga Shelter Tent Site to Glen Brook Shelter Tent Site9.7 milesTotal miles:  1512.7I was up very early this morning, as I wanted to watch the sunrise. The Honeymooners had told me that the sunrise view from the shelter was reportedly spectacular. I left my tent at 4:45, found a not completely uncomfortable rock to sit on, and prepared to watch the show. A slight touch of orange was in the sky when I got there, and I quietly watched as it grew in the sky. Brad and Nicholette joined me after a bit, and the three of us shared the moment when the sun came up. It was magnificent. I realize that there is a sunrise there everyday, but that fact failed to diminish the beauty of the moment. With the sun up, it was time to prepare for the rest of the day. As in the last several states, Massachusetts asks hikers to only use established camping areas. There was one such area, 9.7 miles away, and the next one was over 24 miles ahead, which certainly wasn't happening.  There were also three mountains to climb within that 9.7 mile stretch, so I figured on a pretty short day, although strenuous day. It sort of worked out that way. The climb up Bear Mountain was pretty standard fare. The way the climb went, you kept thinking you were near the top (it looked just around the corner). I finally decided to stop anticipating and just walk until the summit arrived. When I did get there, I was greeted by a large stone observation monument, made of unmortered stone. I scrambled to the top and enjoyed the view before heading down the mountain.  As promised, the northern slope.of Bear Mountain is very rocky and very steep.  I took my time and didn't have too much difficulty. It was a bit like a Chinese puzzle, where each new rock face had a solution.  I remembered to "stay to the left" at one particularly steep, slick spot, and was able to get past that area by holding onto a tree and doing a controlled slide to a lower ledge.  Three times I opted for the sit down and slide on your butt technique, which, while perhaps a bit undignified, can be quite effective.  Gravity and I stayed within sight of each other, and we both made it down in fine shape.  It was then on to Massachusetts.  The woods as I entered my next state, had a thicker, older feel than was the norm in Connecticut.  There was green moss on the trees and rocks, and the trail followed a large stream for over a mile.  There were numerous small waterfalls and pools in the stream.  It was darkly beautiful and reminded me a bit of something out of the Lord of the Rings. The trail eventually left the creek and started upward.  About a mile beyond, I came to another, much smaller stream.  It was a pretty spot, and I decided to take an early lunch. The weather was warm and muggy, so I also took a brief nap after I ate.  Thunder began rumbling in the distance as I started up Rand Mountain.  Massachusetts AT took a page from the playbook of her sister states, and the climb up Rand Mountain was quite rocky and steep, with many of the large, sloped boulders that can be so easy to slip on.  I felt refreshed from food and nap and made good time up the mountain. Thunder continued to rumble, but it was distant and no rain fell.  I wanted to try to get past Rand and Everett Mountains before the potential rain slickened the rocks.  The top of Rand consists of a half-mile of semi-exposed ridgeline which provided great views of the valley below,  as well as views of areas where rain was already falling. The trees were short pines, not much taller than I am.  A pleasant piney odor filled the air, and there were lots of birds. I crossed the ridge rather quickly, as I did not want to be there if the storm chose to close in. I made it down Rand and almost immediately started up Everett  (say it fast, and it almost sounds like Everest, a slightly more ambitious climbing project). To digress a moment: hiking the AT is the equivalent of hiking to the top of Mount Everest and back down the equivalent of sixteen times. We climb up and down lots of hills and mountains.  A light rain fell briefly as I started up Everett, just enough to make all of the rocks wet and even slicker than they normally are.  While short, the ascent was quite steep and challenging.  Clambering over the numerous sloped boulders reminded me of Southern New York.  I reached the top and sat on one of the concrete foundation pads that used to support a fire tower.  I was joined by Furprittius and his friend, Violet.  I knew I would like Furprittius by the Bob Ross t-shirt he was wearing. I loved watching Bob Ross years ago, and saw him create hundreds of "happy, little trees." Although in no way an artist, I do try to incorporate Ross's spirit in the scenery I create for my model railroad. I asked Furprittius if he were a fan or if he just happened to pick up the shirt at a yardsale.  He was a big fan. He had completed a sobo thru hike in 2013 and was out hiking today with his friend, Violet. We had a great chat about our favorite television artist and about hiking.  Being a long distance hiker himself, he was not surprised when I enthusiastically and gratiously accepted the orange he offered me.  Gravity showed up just then, and he got an orange as well.  After a bit more conversation, we parted ways. Gravity and I hiked together down Mount Everett  to the Guilder Pond Picnic Area. The AT parallels Mount Everett Road most of the day down the mountain.  The road was gravel and smooth. The AT was rocky and rough.  You just have to love this trail. The two thoroughfares converged at the picnic area, which provided two wonderful benefits. There were numerous bottles of water labelled for thru hiker use on a picnic table. There was also a solar powered privy, the first I have ever seen. I decided to make use of this high tech marvel and listened to the quiet whirring of some composting machine while I pooped.  The privy was odorless and quite nice. It must have been running on its back up batteries, however, because the rain returned in earnest while I was occupied. Gravity and I walked in a heavy thunderstorm the remaining half mile to the camping area. Instead of being upset that the rain hit before I got to camp, I decided to be very happy that it waited until we were off the mountains. It was only lightly drizzling when I set up my tent and had stopped completely as I cooked supper.  While surprisingly strenuous,  today was a pretty short day and for the first time in a great while, I was in bed before it got dark. Everything in my tent was nice and dry, and I was soon warm and snug in my sleeping bag. It was a very full day as I find myself in my eleventh state.  It's time now to go back to sleep and be ready for tomorrow.