Tramping: Appalachian Trail

4 days and 3 nights out on the 2000 mile Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. I started out at the highest point in Massachusetts: Mount Greylock, 3.489ft. From there I headed south. Most hikers seemed to be going north so I met a lot of lovely people on the way. The younger ones speeding along with a quick 'hi' the older ones taking time to stop and chat. Some day hikers, some 'section' hikers and some serious 'through hikers' including one who had started down in Florida in January and was heading for Quebec!

DAY ONE

Shadowman shows the way

Looking east from the summit of Mount Greylock

Meadow sown for pollinators near the town of Cheshire

Trail marker

It was 4th of July as I walked through Cheshire and the lawn parties had started

The 'small' ice cream that revived me as I left Cheshire

View north from the Cheshire Cobbles. Mount Greylock in the centre.

As Bill Bryson said in his book title this is 'A walk in the woods'. Or the "green corridor' as one hiker put it. A variety of trees but a lot of them and not many views. However the shade from the sun was a relief. It was 30 degrees centigrade and more. Carrying a full pack up and down the rocky paths was hard work. Covered 15 miles the first day.

Passing a small lake as the sun was dropping low in the sky

DAY TWO

Typical wooden house in the lovely little town of Dalton. Less than ten miles today and with an earlier start I stopped at an air conditioned cafe for lunch and a top up of water. Water supplies were from small brooks near the campsites and not always that inviting. Thankfully the purification tablets tasted fine.

A kid's message on the sidewalk. Typical of the warm welcome hikers get.

Tom's garden. He set out cold water and snacks for passing hikers.

Crossing the railway outside Dalton.

Paddling stop and catch up with shadow man.

Sign for campsite. Composting toilets that smelled remarkably benign. Just don't look down...

Most sites also have an open sided shelter with bunks and a fire pit. Good option in bad weather but no mosquito protection so tents preferred. Didn't stop me getting a good collection of bites through the day!

At night all food (and toiletries) have to go into a bear proof container. I didn't see any sign of the local black bears. Plenty of squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, toads, various birds (some heard and not seen like owls and woodpeckers) and even one snake. Plus some butterflies, moths, beetles as well as the mozzies and biting flies.

DAY THREE

Well signed but I did have my GPS device and Personal Locator Beacon with me. Phone service patchy but the PLB can send texts via satellite so was able to check in with base.