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 📢

It’s been an eventful day and a half since my last post.  I crossed into Massachusetts this afternoon coming into North Adams / Williamstown.  I have now hiked through Vermont on the A.T.  Yeah!

I ended up hiking with “Wildcat” yesterday.  It turns out he’s the Trail Chaplain embedded on the A.T. by the Methodist Church.  We had a ton in common.  He’s also the second Triple Crowner that I’ve met.

 
We passed a large beaver bog that was amazing,

  
and met “Dixie” – from Alabama.  She’s hiked all the way from Georgia.

  
Best of all, Wildcat helped me dress the one blister I’ve gotten.

(Sorry for the gross medical photo. 💉)

I’m in Williamstown tonight at a motel.  It’s nice to be dry and clean.  🚿  My brother Nat is visiting from Boston tomorrow.  I’ll be back on the trail at  Mount Greylock in 2 days for the final 50 miles of my journey.

Hike Statistics:
Day #15 section 2 (#43 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 596.6
Miles from Hanover, NH – 154.4
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 71.6
Total miles on A.T. – 449.2
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.3
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.4

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self. – Benjamin Franklin ☕️

It’s 2 weeks on the trail this section and I will spend my last night in Vermont today. I hiked up Harmon Hill this morning and it was one of the most difficult climbs I’ve done this summer.  It was 1,000+ ft up over about 3/4 mile.  The view of Bennington from up here is awesome.

  
I’ve got lots of more miles to cover today, 13.1 total, so it’s back to the trail.  I’ll be at Seth Warner shelter tonight.  Tomorrow it’s on to town – North Adams / Williamstown.

No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true. – Walt Disney