August 27th, 2018, Vermont and Massachusetts
My goal today was to get near the towns of North Adams/Williamstown for resupply. I had carried five days of food from Rutland and today was day five. I had just enough food for today and a few snacks for the morning, if needed.
The trail went up to a few nameless peaks and down to a few roads and rivers on my way. As I was climbing down to a good sized brook for water, it occurred to me that, since Maine, all the stream and river crossings have either been simple rock hops or various types of bridges. There have been no more actual river crossings. In Maine, the river below would have been crossed on foot.
Everywhere else so far has bridges—perhaps because these states are closer to populated areas and are more heavily used.
And the trail in southern Vermont continued the muddy pattern of the past two days, only a little more intermittent now. This area must be perfect conditions for mud and beavers, because they have plenty of both. In one area the beavers had created what looked like an infinity pool—very stylish.
Late in the day I crossed the border with Massachusetts. On one side was information marking the start of the Long Trail into Vermont.
On the other side was the marker for Massachusetts. I passed a number of NOBO hikers who were excited to be hitting Vermont, their 12th state. It is number four for me.
You would think crossing state lines would be fairly transparent—with no real changes in scenery. But somehow there was a rather quick shift to different type of rock and some new plants that I hadn’t seen in Vermont:
There was this bendy sort of pine tree. I think this is the same pine I’ve seen, but smaller and contorted because it’s on a mountain top.
And a three-lobed leaf; maybe sassafras?
And what may be a mountain laurel?
All of these showed up within a mile or two of crossing the border.
Just a few miles further I came to North Adams where the trail passed through town.
I walked to the grocery and picked up a few things to hold me over to my next planned stop in Dalton, Massachusetts. Dalton, just over a day’s hike, has a Walmart and community center with showers so I plan to spend at least a half day there.
Also, for the first time I can remember, I had phone service walking around town so I was able to call home and chat while I walked. I headed out of town and back to the trail. It was getting late and the sun was almost down. Once in the woods, it gets even darker. So I stopped just outside of town at the first place that seemed suitable.
The day had been hot and the evening was still warm. I put on my headlamp and started to set up camp. I didn’t feel like putting on bug repellent right before bed so I just battled mosquitoes as I worked—but when your hands are busy the mosquitoes win. Mosquitoes haven’t been a problem until very recently but there seem to be a lot more from southern Vermont to Massachusetts.
Then several times during the night fast moving trains came through town. I was quite far from the tracks but the slope of the land seemed to send the sound straight up to me. And they had no problem blaring the horns as they passed through town.
And in between trains I listened to a pair of owls dueling for hooting champion of the week. The night reminded me of the movie My Cousin Vinnie. If you’ve seen it, you may remember what I mean. If you haven’t seen it, you should.
And, sleep issues aside, here are a few of the beautiful things I noticed along the trail today.
