Appalachian Trail (day 68) - Mark Noepel Shelter to Congdon Shelter / mile 1613

Day started with ascending Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusets. Built in 1930s Bascom Lodge was standing near the top with accomodation for hikers, unfortunately I was here too early for breakfast. Another interesting feature was a 93 foot tall tower built in 1931 as a war memorial.

After a short snack break I've started the descent to town of North Adams, on my way down I have seen another momma bear with a cub! Cub got scared and ran away immediately and momma followed it looking concerned. At this point I saw more bears on AT (8) than I did on PCT (7) and I still have a while to go! I do enjoy the bear encounters though, I only wish they were not as quick and unexpected so I could take the camera out before it's over!

I've arrived at North Adams at 11 AM, there was a great trail magic set up by a local church along the road with sodas, snacks, fruit and first aid items, it also had a bin to empty the trash. I've visited the local supermarket to top up my resupply for next couple of days and have hot food, today's choice was a whole roast chicken.

Climb out of town was quite long but soon enough I've reached the Massachusets - Vermont border and so started the 12th state of the trail. For the next 100 miles AT would overlap with the Long Trail which was even older than Appalachian Trail and was the original inspiration for it!

Unfortunately the first couple of miles of Vermont were really muddy, overgrown and not well maintained but the consolation price was a couple of interesting beaver ponds along the way. I've arrived at the campsite just before 7 PM and got joined here by Shepherd and his.. German shepherd called Lucy. Shepherd was hiking the Long Trail, he has completed AT few years ago. It was Lucy's first night on trail so I was expecting all kinds of things to happen at night but I opted to stay in the shelter despite of it.

A good day overall and I'm excited to be in Vermont as the landscape should start changing from now on.

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