Miles Hiked Today - 20.4
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1573.5/2,193 (71.75%)
Berkshire Lakeside Lodge (1553.1) to Dalton, MA (1573.5) - hotel stay at Econo Lodge
Total ascent - 2,883’
Total descent - 3,087’
Total states completed- 10/14
**No Rain - Really warm day. High - 85. Low - 65.
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“All your strength, all your power, all your love - everything you got”
A really solid 20.4 mile day today. The course was flatter than recent segments - so it was a good day to push longer. I only started around 7am - that resulted in a late afternoon finish (4:30pm). The town I’m in now - Dalton, MA - is really spread out. At the conclusion of the hike - I was 2.2 miles to my hotel. I was shot - and had no desire to walk the additional mileage. I tried Uber, Lyft, taxi service - nothing in the area. I was about to walk it - when a car pulled up in the lot next to me. I walked over and asked the guy if he’d give me a ride. He was very nice and brought me over to the hotel. I offered to pay him - he refused any money. He said: “You’re working hard out there - it’s the least I can do. Good luck down the trail”. There’s good folks out there!
I lost my mosquito net on trail today. I’ve been lifting up the front portion so my face is exposed (can see and breathe better). I’ve found that as long as I keep my ears and neck covered - I don’t have many problems. I guess at some point the net must have got caught on a tree limb. By the time I realized it was gone - it was too late. I wore my rain jacket the rest of the day (I just put the hood on and used it sort of like a poncho). The mosquitoes, bees, gnats, flys, etc are getting so bad - it’s really hard to go through the day without the headnet. When I got into town - I went on the hunt for a new one. Walmart, Dicks Sporting Goods - no luck. I ended up walking another 4 miles this evening. I decided to try a couple alternatives. I bought a fishing net and also bought a poncho that I plan to just cut off the hood. Hopefully one of these options will work.
I’ve been having so much trouble with my shoulder/upper back lately - I decided to buy a foam roller. I’m hoping I can work out some knots this way. I figured it’s worth a shot. I rolled tonight quite a bit and will do it tomorrow as well. I might end up carrying it with me a few days to see if it helps. It’s the cost of a dinner - so parting with it won’t be a big deal.
About 175 miles to Hanover, NH. Hanover is the start of the toughest 250 mile segment of the AT. My goal is to get as much rest and nutrition as possible as I work my way to NH. This means I’ll be looking for hotel stays along the way. I just sleep better and eat better in towns. There’s no hiding deficiencies in NH. It’s where the kidding around stops - I’m planning to do all I can now to be as strong as I can when the 4,000’ climbs start.
26 miles left in Massachusetts. I’ll be in Vermont on July 4th. A couple big climbs left in MA before I hit the border. I’m planning a lesser mileage day tomorrow because of a big climb and expected rain all day. Hope to be coming to you live from a dry tent tomorrow night!
As the woods starting drying out - the course became nicer
Top of a big climb
One of many small bridge crossings
Walking into Dalton
View from Warner Hill
Early morning
2.5 miles to the finish
Walked 1.5 miles on city roads at the end of the day
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