Jul 8 - Massachusetts

DAY #112
START LOCATION: US-7/Great Barrington, MA
FINISH LOCATION: Shaker Campsite
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 17.6
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,529.1
MILES TO GO: 650.0

Up at 6AM in our gloriously chilly hotel room. We were in the motel
owner's car by 7:15AM for our shuttle to McDonalds and then the
trailhead. After getting dropped off and enjoying a couple of SEC
McMuffins, we were off into the bush. We were excited because the
temps were going to drop 10 degrees into the mid 80's today. That
ended up being the case. But, the humidity did not let up in the least.

We had a big climb up to Tom Leonard Lean-to and were drenched in our
own sweat. It dripped off my hat brim, my eyelids, my eye lashes, my
elbows, my soul. It was a nice shelter. There was a deep ravine called
Ice Gulch where a spring was flowing faithfully. The gulch was aptly
named... As soon as I arrived to get water, I felt the temp drop like
10 degrees. Haunted I thought? Maybe... But if it's cool down there,
bring on the ghosts.

We chatted with a big group of older day hikers. I even got a bit of
apple trail magic. It was a Golden Delicious apple... Also aptly
named. We hiked another rollercoasting 5 miles to Mt. Wilcox Lean-to.
More sweat dripping. There are two shelters here, one built in the
1930's and the other in 2007. What a contrast. We ate lunch here and
Smokestack dried out his stuff. He was wringing sweat out of his shirt
and socks. Like the other day... It was heinous. With only 5+ miles to
the Shaker Campsite, we took a long break at Wilcox. I even layed on a
shelter bunk and dozed off for a few. It was lovely.

Our hike to the Shaker site was extremely moderate. Ha. It had a big
descent through a new setting for me on the AT... Ferns. Ferns as far
down the steep face of the mountain as I could see. It was really
beautiful actually. I took a couple pics, but my camera was locking
up... Sweat is the suspect.

The Shaker is a well-appointed camping area with some cool amenities
that are typically found at shelters... If you're lucky. It has a
privy, a bear box, tent platforms and a decent stream water source. If
only it didn't come with bugs.

Don't get me started on the bugs. They were horrendous today. We are
up to three species of flying attackers... Deer Flies, Mosquitos and
something new we experienced down by the Housatonic River this
morning... Black Flies maybe? I don't know bugs. I'm a Southern
California guy. But I do know this... They are all evil flesh shovels.
I had bites on my neck, elbow, arms, legs, back, shoulders, knuckle,
temple, even my left palm today. Why not bug repellent you ask? I have
some. But I won't hike with it. Neither will Smoke and other many
hikers. The reason is it melts our plastic clothing. No one wears
cotton or wool, just synthetics. The Deet melts those items. So, most
of us just have to tough it out. A screened free standing tent helps
big time. As I type here at 9PM, I'm surrounded by the airborne legion
with a composite buzzing that reminds me of the World Cup crowd sound.
I can't complain. It's what I signed up for. Plus, it builds character.

Rain in the forecast tomorrow! I haven't been rained on since
Pennsylvania... It's a horrific AT drought.

-natedog