Date: 2003-11-12
From: route 20

To: the birdcage (dalton, mass)
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: mist

i am pretty sure that in order to be a resident of the town of dalton, you have to be a member of the dalton smoker's alliance. you have to smoke or you can't live here. this is what i have gathered just from the brief time i've spent in the convenience store and from the few people i have met. it would appear as though every single person in this town smokes. i am glad that i don't live here, because just don't think that i could get into smoking.i was eating breakfast at the birdcage this morning when a kid walks into the house and told me that he was my ride to the trail crossing at route 20. last night i decided that i would pick up the trail 19 miles south of dalton and hike north back to town- carrying only a small daypack. it is called slackpacking and seems to be a great way to travel. i got my stuff together and craig gave me a ride to the trailhead. he is quite a character. quite a talker. cusses like a sailor. smokes like a chimney (he has to- he lives in dalton, after all). drives like a maniac.i was glad when craig dropped me off at the trail. good kid, but i think i could only take him in small doses. i threw my so very light pack onto my back and started hiking at nine o'clock. it was slow going at first and i had a little trouble finding my rhythm. all of the roots, rocks, and leaves were very slippery from yesterday's rain.   i would take a step forward and slide back two. plus, it was unusually warm and muggy. i didn't know if i would ever get into the groove.i finally did find my stride and started making tracks. i could definitely get used to the whole slackpacking concept. without the weight, the hiking is so much easier. it almost seems effortless.can someone tell me what spider it was way back when that decided to add the rule to the spider's handbook stating that all spiders must weave one string of their web across the trail- at face level? i would really like to know what genius of a spider came up with that idea. it is rather brilliant and rather annoying as well. all day i walked through strand after strand of silk. always just the one strand, always at face level. how do i go about getting that rule stricken from the official spider's handbook? who do i need to talk to? do i need to get a petition? or, is it as simple as just filing the proper papers? i am now making it my goal to see that this issue gets resolved. i'm sick of these spiders and their single strands of web. who are they kidding? do they actually think they are going to catch a hiker with that one strand? or, are they even trying to? probably not. it is probably just a cruel joke on their part. well, if that is the case, then they are doing a great job. all i can say is- enjoy it while it lasts you little spiders. enjoy it while it lasts.the sun finally found its way through the clouds and fog around midmorning. it came out and said hello for a little while before retreating again. i did enjoy it while it was out. it burned off some of the humidity and made for some great hiking.i stopped for a short break at the october mountain lean-to at 11:15. a little over seven miles in just over two hours. not bad. i'm telling you- slackpacking is king in my book.the terrain was fairly flat for the rest of the day. i cranked out 19 miles in six hours. not bad for a day's work. is hiking really like work, though? i'd say not. sometimes, but not really.it was kind of fun walking north for the day. but, tomorrow i will resume my southbound trek- carrying my so very heavy pack.