09 BACKPACK NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT and MASSACHUSETTS APPALACHIAN TRAIL

September 8-17, 2009

Andy Buttles, back from two years in Brazil, and I drove to North Adams, Massachusetts to backpack the Appalachian Trail from the Hudson River to Vermont a distance of 188.7 miles in three sections. Our plan was to hike north across Massachusetts 72.7 miles in four days. Next we would shuttle south and backpack north across Connecticut 69.7 miles in four days. Our final leg was to backpack north from the Hudson River in New York 46 miles in 3 days to Connecticut. If successful Andy would have completed all the AT except from Damascus, Virginia to Springer Mountain, Georgia. I would have completed the entire AT.

We started 10.7 miles into Massachusetts below Great Barrington in a mosquito infested swamp. It was warm and humid so we both struggled getting adjusted to the trail and our backpacks. We completed the planned 18.5 miles getting into the Shaker Campsite at 6:15 after hiking 10 hours and 10 minutes. A nice couple was there but we were soon joined by four south bound through hikers and then about dark by a noisey Princeton freshmen orientation group of 10. We woke up to a cool breezy 54° day and hiked 18.7 miles in 10 hours and 15 minutes. We see toads almost every step, a few frogs, many orange newts, some garter snakes and chipmonks. The third day we had light rain and cool weather to backpack 16.9 miles in 9 hours and 25 minutes. On Saturday September 12 we awoke to 42° a misty rain and it warmed up as the day progressed. We hiked 18.5 miles in 10 hours and 10 minutes.

We are both beat up as we limped into the Berkshire Community Club in North Adams before retreating to the Great Barrington Travelodge. We were revived somewhat by the ale and dinner at the Berkshire Brewing Company next to our motel. Back in our room I am concerned when I see Andy's raw toes on both feet and the swelling left ankle. Andy thinks he can complete the next section so we resupply our packs and ready ourselves to continue tomorrow morning.

We park Andy's Camaro at South Egremont Road and drive south to NY-22 where we start north again. We both struggle with sore feet and low energy levels. We meet a large family group of friendly Hispanics backpacking south. We struggle through 15.1 miles in 7 hours and 46 mintes about 4 miles short of our plan. It isa obvious we will require 5 days to complete this section. The days are getting noticeably shorter and we are in bed by 7:30 or 8:00 each night. On Monday we stop short at 3:50 after 13.7 miles. We camp at Silver Hill Campsite which has grass, a cooking pavillion, privy, a water pump and beautiful stars. As we are climbing into our tents for the night we are startled by three elderly women from San Diego, CA backpacking north with headlamps. On Tuesday we continue north and are doing reasonably well untill we clear the mountains and descend to US-7. The Hoiusatonic River Bridge is closed to foot traffic so we are detoured along CT-112 and Dugway Road for about 3.5 miles. This is a big problem because it routes us around a food stop that we need because we are one day short of food. The road walking almost cripples Andy with his swollen left ankle. We backtrack half a mile into Falls Village to find some food. The place is deserted except for a tiny package store (liquor store). We were able to buy a cold beer and soda and the man took pity on us and made us meager beef sandwiches for our supper. We backpacked about a mile up into the mountains and stealth camped beside the trail near a spring as it was nearly dark. We backpacked 18.2 miles in 10 hours and 37 minutes. Andy wasn't sure he could continue due to the damage the road road walking did to his ankle. We discussed our options and decided to wait until morning before picking one. Bouyed by the fact that we had only 24.6 miles to go and his ankle was slightly better after a rest. Andy decided to continue as long as he could. We aimed at 13.7 miles for the day which we completed by 3:50. We realize we can finish this section tomorrow because we will exit the mountains in a few miles and then have a long flat stretch. We decide to pack it in and come back next year four four easy days to finish New York. We finish the 10.7 miles by 12:26 and revel in the pleasures of sitting down with a back rest, fresh water and drinks with ice and real cooked food. The drive home was a pleasure with the recovery process in progress.

Andy and I backpacked 9 consecutive days covering 142.7 miles in 80 hours and 49 minutes for an average of 1.62 miles per hour.We climbed 17,779 feet in thirty climbs of 200 feet or more while descending 17,049 feet. I spent $184.60 for lodging, food and drink, gas and tolls.

Despite the many problems this was a very successful backpack and I look forward to finishing the AT next spring.

Daily Data

						Cum	Elev	Up	Down	Trail
Day	Sep		Activity	Miles	Location	Miles	Feet	Feet	Feet	Hours	Temp	MPH	Cost
1	8	Tue	247390	917	Backpacking	142.7		17779	-17049	87.82		1.62	$184.60
		5:47	Drive		Columbia.MD
			Drive		US-29 north
			Drive		I-70 east
			Drive		I-695 east
		6:36	Drive		I-83 north - PA line	47.3
			Drive		I-81 north
		10:05	Drive		I-84 west - NY line	270.3
			Toll		Hudson River Bridge								$1.00
			Drive		Taconic Parkway north
			Drive		NY-82 north
			Lunch		LaGrange,NY Pizza Express - pizza,ice tea								$6.75
		12:26	Drive		US-44 west - CT line	370.0
		12:39	Drive		MA-41 northwest - MA line	379.7
		1:00	Drive		Plant car in Great Barrington,MA	392.1				7.22		54.33
			Drive	40.2	MA-2 2.6 mi w to Williamstown - Time 7:20	432.3
			Shuttle		Andy's (C) (410) 562-1832 Dan © 443 535-7483
			Gas		Lenox, MA Getty	13.3	gal						$34.50
			Motel		Travelodge - Room 103							each	$37.02
					400 Stockbridge Road
					Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-2340
			Supper		Berkshire Brewing Company - Ale, fish & chips								$23.50
					Backpack S Egremont Road to MA-2 N. Adams 72.7 miles
2	9	Wed
		5:50	Up,pack&eat		Great Barrington Travelodge
		8:05	Shuttle		S Egremont Road		700
			Backpack	1.8	US-7 (PGLM3.3E;M.1W;M.8E)	1.8	700
			Backpack	0.9	Housatonic River (R )	2.7	720	20
			Backpack	2.0	Homes Road	4.7	1150	430			sunny
			Backpack	0.5	Missed turn						warm
			Backpack	0.6	East Mt (w)	5.3	1800	650
			Backpack	1.9	Tom Leonard Lean-to (w.2E)	7.2	1540	-260
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	1.1	Lake Buel Road	8.3	1150	-390
			Backpack	0.9	MA-23 (PGLM 4W;L.1E)	9.2	1050	-100
			Backpack	1.4	Blue Hill Road	10.6	1550	500
			Backpack	0.8	Benedict Pond (Cw.5W)	11.4	1620	70
			Backpack	0.6	The Ledges	12.0	1820	200
			Backpack	0.7	Mt Wilcox S Lean-to (Sw)	12.7	1720	-100
			Backpack	1.8	Mt Wilcox N Lean-to (Sw)	14.5	1950	230
			Backpack	0.6	Beartown Mt Road (w)	15.1	1800	-150
			Backpack	3.2	Fernside Road (w)	18.3	1200	-600
		6:15	Backpack	0.3	Shaker Campsite (nw)	18.6	1000	-200
			Camp	19.1			-1800			10.17		1.88
			Supper		Chicken pasta Alfredo,coconut cream pudding		2100
			Rehydrate		2 cups each of tea,noodle soup,hot chocolate
3	10	Thu
		6:01	Up,pack&eat		2 banana oatmeal packs
		7:15	Backpack		Shaker Campsite (nw)	18.6	1000				54o
			Backpack	1.8	Jerusalem Road (w)	20.4	930	-70
			Backpack	1.1	Tyringham Main Road (PO.9W)	21.5	1800	870
			Backpack	1.9	Webster Road (w)	23.4	1650	-150				toads
			Backpack	2.4	Goose Pond Road	25.8	1500	-150			cool
			Backpack	1.9	Upper Goose Pond	27.7	1483	-17			breezy
			Backpack	0.8	Upper Goose Pond Cabin (CSw.5W)	28.5	1483	0
			Backpack	1.2	MA Pike	29.7	1400	-83
			Backpack	0.1	Greenwater Brook (w)	29.8	1400	0
			Backpack	0.3	US-20 (POGLM.5W;L.2E;M.3W)	30.1	1400	0
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	0.8	Tyne Road	30.9	1750	350
			Backpack	0.5	Becket Mt	31.4	2180	430
			Backpack	1.8	Finerty Pond (w)	33.2	1900	-280
			Backpack	2.3	County Road	35.5	1850	-50
			Backpack	0.2	Bald Top	35.7	2040	190
		5:30	Backpack	1.6	October Mt Lean-to (CSw)	37.3	1930	-110
			Camp	18.7			-910			10.25		1.82
			Rehydrate		2 cups each of tea, hot chocolate		1840
			Supper		Beef,potato,pistachio pudding
		Day/				Cum	Elev	Up	Down	Trail
Day	Sep	Time	Activity	Miles	From	Miles	Feet	Feet	Feet	Hours	Temp	MPH	Cost
4	11	Fri
		6:03	Up,pack&eat		2 Peach oatmeal packets
		7:20	Backpack		October Mt Lean-to (CSw)	37.3	1930				46o
			Backpack	0.7	W Branch Road	38.0	1960	30
			Backpack	1.5	Pittsfield Road (POGL5E;M1.8E)	39.5	2000	40
			Backpack	2.0	Stream	41.5	1950	-50			light rain
			Backpack	1.2	Blotz Road	42.7	1850	-100			cool
			Backpack	0.7	Warner Mountain	43.4	2050	200
			Backpack	2.7	Kay Wood Lean-to (Sw.2E)	46.1	1860	-190
			Backpack	0.3	Grange Hall Road	46.4	1650	-210
			Backpack	2.1	CSX RR	48.5	1199	-451
			Backpack	0.6	MA-8 (M: POGLM.3W)	49.1	1200	1
					Milltown Tavern - fish & chips,ale								$19.20
			Backpack	1.0	Gulf Road	50.1	1180	-20
			Backpack	3.9	Crystal Mountain (E.2Cw) - blackberries	54.0	2100	920
		4:45	Backpack	0.2	Crystal Mountain Camp	54.2	2100	0
			Camp	16.9			-1021			9.42		1.79
			Rehydrate		2 cups each of ice tea		1191
			Supper		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa verde,4 Oreos,apple
5	12	Sat
		5:30	Up,pack&eat		Mixed nuts,M&Ms,raisins
		6:31	Camp		Crystal Mountain Camp	54.2	2100				42o
			Backpack	0.2	Return to AT	54.4	2100	0			misty
			Backpack	0.4	Gore Pond	54.8	2050	-50			rain
			Backpack	2.5	The Cobbles	57.3	1850	-200			cloudy	garter
			Backpack	1.1	Hoosic River R	58.4	950	-900			warmer	snakes
			Backpack	0.6	MA-8 (L .2W; GM.5W)	59.0	990	40
			Backpack	0.8	Outlook Avenue R	59.8	1350	360
			Backpack	2.9	Old Adams Road	62.7	2350	1000
			Backpack	0.9	Mark Noepel Lean-to (CSw .2E)	63.6	2750	400
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa verde,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	0.6	Jones Nose Trail	64.2	3150	400
			Backpack		Notch Road, Rockwell Road		3290	140
			Backpack	2.2	Mt Greylock (RLMw)	66.4	3491	201
			Backpack	3.2	Notch Road	69.6	3400	-91
			Backpack	0.1	Wilbur Clearing Lean-to (CSw .3W)	69.7	2325	-1075
			Backpack	2.1	Pattison Road	71.8	900	-1425
		4:41	Backpack	0.9	MA-2	72.7	660	-240
			Shuttle	18.5	Orange juice - 16 oz		-3981			10.17		1.82	$1.49
			Motel		Travelodge - Room 103		2541
					400 Stockbridge Road
					Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-2340
			Rehydrate		Water, ice tea
			Supper		Berkshire Brewing Company - Ale, chicken burrito								$29.00
					Backpack NY-22 to S Egremont Road 69.7 miles
6	13	Sun
		6:00	Up,pack&eat		Great Barrington Travelodge
		8:44	Backpack		NY-22	72.7	480
			Backpack	0.2	Hurds Corner Road - large Hispanic group	72.9	480	0
			Backpack	5.0	Leather Hill Road	77.9	750	270
			Backpack	0.4	Wiley Shelter (Sw)	78.3	740	-10
			Backpack	0.2	Duell Hollow Road	78.5	620	-120
			Backpack	1.0	Hoyt Road, NY/CT Line (POGM3.3W;M1.5W)	79.5	400	-220
			Backpack	0.7	CT-55	80.2	580	180
			Backpack	1.1	Ten Mile Hill	81.3	1000	420
			Backpack	1.0	Ten Mile River Lean-to (Sw) - IL couple	82.3	290	-710
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	0.2	Ten Mile River (Cw) - rivers confluence	82.5	280	-10
			Backpack	0.7	Trail to Bulls Bridge .2E Parking (GM.4E)	83.2	450	170
			Backpack	0.7	Schaghticoke Road	83.9	320	-130
			Backpack	1.7	Schagticoke Mt	85.6	1331	1011
			Backpack	1.2	CT/NY Line	86.8	1250	-81
			Backpack	0.4	Indian Rocks	87.2	1290	40
		4:30	Backpack	0.6	Schagticoke Mt Camp (Cw)	87.8	950	-340
			Camp	15.1			-1621			7.77		1.94
			Hydrate		2 cups each of tea,hot chocolate		2091
			Supper		Chicken broccoli pasta,chocolate pudding
		Day/				Cum	Elev	Up	Down	Trail
Day	Sep	Time	Activity	Miles	From	Miles	Feet	Feet	Feet	Hours	Temp	MPH	Cost
7	14	Mon
		6:18	Up,pack&eat
		7:33	Backpack		Schagticoke Mt Camp (Cw)	87.8	950	950
			Backpack	1.9	Thayer Brook	89.7	900	-50
			Backpack	1.0	Mt Algo Lean-to (CSw) - IL couple	90.7	655	-245
			Backpack	0.3	CT-341 Schagticoke Road (POGLM.8E)	91.0	350	-305
			Backpack	2.8	Skiff Mt Road	93.8	850	500
			Backpack	0.7	Caleb's Peak	94.5	900	50
					1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	0.7	St Johns Ledges	95.2	480	-420
			Backpack	0.5	River Road	95.7	425	-55
			Backpack	2.3	Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to (CSw)	98.0	440	15
			Backpack	0.4	Stoney Brook Camp (Cw)	98.4	460	20
			Backpack	2.0	River Road (w) - young blond,tall dark guy	100.4	1000	540
		3:40	Backpack	0.8	Silver Hill Camp (Cw) - 3 ladies SD,CA	101.2	700	-300
			Camp	13.4			-1925			8.12		1.65
			Hydrate		2 cups each of tea,hot chocolate		2225
			Supper		Mexican rice,ham,pistachio pudding
8	15	Tue
		6:12	Up,pack&eat
		7:07	Backpack	0.8	Silver Hill Camp (Cw)	101.2	700
			Backpack	0.9	CT-4 (POGL.9E)	102.1	650	-50
			Backpack	0.1	Guinea Brook	102.2	750	100
			Backpack	0.1	Old Sharon Road	102.3	750	0
			Backpack	1.2	Hatch Brook	103.5	880	130
			Backpack	0.7	Pine Knob Loop Trail	104.2	1150	270
			Backpack	0.4	Caesar Brook Camp (C )	104.6	760	-390
			Backpack	2.2	Carse Brook (w)	106.8	810	50
			Backpack	0.1	W Cornwall Road (POM2.2E)	106.9	800	-10
			Backpack	1.1	Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to (CSw)	108.0	1075	275
			Backpack	0.9	Sharon Mt Road	108.9	1150	75
			Backpack	0.3	Mt Easter	109.2	1350	200
			Backpack	1.2	Sharon Mtn Camp (Cw)	110.4	1200	-150
			Backpack	2.8	Belter's Camp	113.2	770	-430
			Backpack	0.4	US-7	113.6	520	-250
			Backpack	0.9	CT-112	114.5	500	-20
			Backpack	2.0	Dugway Road	116.5	500	0
			Backpack	0.5	Falls Village		530	30
			Dinner		FV Package Store - beef sndwch,LT beer,Snapple								$6.00
			Backpack	0.5	Iron Bridge over Housatonic River (POM.5E)	117.0	510	-20
			Backpack		Housatonic River Road		650	140
		5:44	Backpack	1.1	Spring (w)	118.1	750	100
			Camp	18.2	Trailside by spring		-1320			10.62		1.71
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple		1370
9	16	Wed
		6:11	Up,pack&eat		2 peach oatmeal packets
		7:30	Backpack		Spring (w)	118.1	750
			Backpack	1.2	Prospect Mt	119.3	1475	725
			Backpack	0.7	Trail -Limestone Spring Lean-to (CSw.5W)	120.0	980	-495
			Backpack	0.1	Rand's View	120.1	1250	270
			Backpack	0.8	Billy's View	120.9	1150	-100
			Backpack	2.5	US-44	123.4	700	-450
			Backpack	0.7	CT-41 (POGLM.8W) Salisbury	124.1	720	20
			Backpack	0.2	Plateau Camp (Cw)	124.3	800	80
			Backpack	1.5	Lions Head	125.8	1738	938
			Lunch		1/4 lb. cheddar,2 tortillas,salsa,4 Oreos,apple
			Backpack	0.7	Riga Lean-to (CSw)	126.5	1610	-128
			Backpack	0.6	Ball Brook Camp (Cw)	127.1	1650	40
			Backpack	0.6	Brassie Brook Lean-to (CSw)	127.7	1705	55
			Backpack	0.5	Undermountain Trail	128.2	1820	115
			Backpack	0.2	Bear Mt Road	128.4	1920	100
			Backpack	0.7	Bear Mt - highest in CT	129.1	2316	396
			Backpack	0.7	CT/MA Line	129.8	1800	-516
			Backpack	0.1	Sages Ravine Brook Camp (Cw)	129.9	1360	-440
			Backpack	0.6	Sages Ravine (w)	130.5	1340	-20
		3:50	Backpack	1.3	Laurel Ridge Camp (Cw)	131.8	1750	410
			Camp	13.7			-2149			8.33		1.64
			Hydrate		4 cups tea, 2 cups hot chocolate		3149
			Supper		Beef,potato,butterscotch pudding
		Day/				Cum	Elev	Up	Down	Trail
Day	Sep	Time	Activity	Miles	From	Miles	Feet	Feet	Feet	Hours	Temp	MPH	Cost
10	17	Thu
		5:30	Up,pack&eat		Mixed nuts,M&Ms,raisins
		6:40	Backpack		Laurel Ridge Camp (Cw)	0.0	1750
			Backpack	1.8	Race Mt	133.6	2365	615
			Backpack	1.1	Race Brook Falls Trail (Cw.4E)	134.7	1950	-415
			Backpack	0.7	Mt Everett	135.4	2602	652
			Backpack	0.7	Guilder Pond Picnic Area R	136.1	2050	-552
			Backpack	0.4	The Hemlocks Lean-to (Sw)	136.5	1880	-170
			Backpack	0.1	Glen Brook Lean-to (Sw)	136.6	1885	5
			Backpack	0.6	Elbow Trail	137.2	1750	-135
			Backpack	1.7	Jug End	138.9	1750	0
			Backpack	1.1	Jug End Road (w.3E)	140.0	890	-860
			Backpack	0.9	MA-41 (POLM 1.2W)	140.9	810	-80
		12:26	Backpack	1.8	S Egremont Road	142.7	700	-110
			Shuttle	10.9	S Egremont Road to NY-22		-2322			5.77		1.89
			Lunch		Mom's Café - minestroni,hamburger,ice tea		1272						$14.40
		2:44	Drive		NY-22 south
			Drive		I-84 west
			Drink		McDonalds - milkshake & BBQ wrap
			Drive		I-81 south
			Drink		McDonalds - ice tea
			Drive		I-83 south
		8:10	Dinner		Cracker Barrel - chicken & dumpling, ice tea								$11.74
			Drive		I-695 west
			Drive		I-70 west
		9:35	Drive		US-29 south to Columbia,MD	362.7
			248307