Wildcat and I hiked out of Goose Pond this morning after an awesome pancake breakfast.  We’ve hiked to the next major road crossing and I have now logged 500 miles on the A.T. this summer. Yippee!!!!!

Here I am celebrating at the road crossing.  Spiced rum hits the spot after hiking all morning.  (It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.)

  
We’ll be hiking some bonus miles today and tomorrow.  And there’s one more night on the trail.  That will be my last chance to converse with fellow hikers before I head off the trail in Great Barrington.

Hike Statistics:
Miles from Hanover, NH – 200+
Total miles on the A.T. – 500 +

Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. – Winston Churchill 

Hiked into Upper Goose Pond today with Wildcat.  The trail here in western Mass is generally pretty good and we’re making good time.

The cabin here is awesome and the pond is gorgeous.

   
   
I’ll be making 500 miles tomorrow and have one more night on the trail after today.  I’ll make it to Great Barrington by Monday for the end of my trek.

Hike Statistics:
Day #19 section 2 (#47 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 640.7
Miles from Hanover, NH – 198.5
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 19.1
Total miles on A.T. – 493.3
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.4
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.5

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. – Walt Disney

I spent the evening in Dalton, Mass yesterday. I stayed at Tom Lavardi’s place and camped on the lawn.  I’m on the way to  October Mountain shelter; another 11+  miles today.  Only 2 more nights on the trail after today.

Hike Statistics:
Day #18 section 2 (#46 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 631.9
Miles from Hanover, NH – 189.7
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 36.3
Total miles on A.T. – 484.5
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.5
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.5 

The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all. – Walt Disney 💐

I’m back on the trail after spending yesterday with Nat in town.  I’m currently in Chesire, Mass having just hiked down off Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts.  Nat and I missed the view because of the fog.

  
Andrew asked for some pics of the trail.  Here are some on top of Greylock and coming down into Cheshire.

I decided to hike far today.  I’m at Tom Levardi’s in Dalton, Mass.  It’s 23.6 miles from Williamstown were I spent the night.  I’m here with Wildcat eating at the local pub.

Hike Statistics:
Day #17 section 2 (#45 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 620.3
Miles from Hanover, NH – 178.1
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 47.9
Total miles on A.T. – 472.9
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.5
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.5

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. – Buddha 🌸

I’m taking another zero day today.  I’m kind of forcing myself to take a day off.  One of the mistakes I made in VA was pushing too hard.  I’m not really doing any “neros” this section, so a day off before the final leg should help get me recharged.

Nat is driving out from Boston to see the sights around here with me.  It should be a fun day.  Here’s a view of the mountains from near my motel.  I’ll be hiking up there tomorrow.

 
One of the things that hikers ask each other on the trail is what hike they are doing.  Some are NOBO AT hikers, SOBO AT hikers, Long Trail thru-hikers, flip-flop hikers, section hikers, or overnight hikers.  I had trouble at first explaining my hike.  But now I’ve got it down.  I tell people that I’m a “500 mile flip-flopping long ass section hiker“.  They all immediately understand and the usual response is, “nice.”

I’ll add more later when we visit around town.

Nat and I visited Mass MoCA and the Clark Art Institute.

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead. – Benjamin Franklin 📢