Great Barrington, MA
8/16/1999 ~ Great Barrington, MA (7.2 miles hiked)
OK, this time I'm really done. I've had a revelation: I'd rather have a job and all the comforts of home than live outdoors. There is great freedom on the trail, and I'll certainly miss that, but I now know why man came out of the forests into the cities.
I've been wet for a week, as has all my gear (the stuff that really needs to be dry is only slightly damp). I could probably deal with that for a little longer, but what I can't handle is descending piles of slippery wet rocks. I wiped out several times coming down Jug End, and I keep having these visions of hurting myself and being unable to get off the mountain on my own. I ended my hike at the Corn Crib on U.S. 7 near Sheffield MA. I celebrated by having a nectarine (OK), a plum (good), and a peach (maybe the best I've ever eaten) and some Berkshire Pumpkin Ice Cream, which was great. It's also something I've never seen before, but pumpkin works really well for an ice cream flavor.
I have nothing but respect for people who can hike the whole trail. I can't imagine the mindset necessary to do six months of what is very difficult hiking (any of you west coast people with your big mountains, I challenge you to hike 100 miles of the AT and then tell me it was easy). Ultimately what got to me was the deprivation, but make no mistake, the hiking is very hard. It's tremendous work, and it's virtually constant.
I've walked about 400 miles of the AT and I'm proud of that, but I'm not sure I'll be able to finish the trail. I don't want it badly enough for one thing. For another, I'd have to do sections over time, and I think that might be harder than thruhiking. You have to start cold every time, and by the time you get into it, it's time to go home.
Anyway, best of luck to all the great people I met. Hikers seem to have better dispositions than any group with which I've ever had contact. Thanks again to all the people who sent me cards, letters and stuff. It means more out here than you can imagine. I've also learned that I don't hate the East, I just hate Washington. The people in rural areas out here are just as terrific as midwesterners. Of course, I've never been to Boston, the largest city in New England, so it's hard to make a gross generalization, as always. I do love NYC though.
Today, I'll be taking a bus to Pittsfield, MA then an Amtrak train to Springfield, MA then another Amtrak train to Washington.
