Day 2 – Hike #4 Slackpacking Massachusetts

Day 2 – Appalachian Trail – Dalton to Cheshire 8.2 Miles with a gain of 1,604 and loss of 1,798.

We were scheduled to do our longest mileage today, and based on the bad weather, the guides moved the days around to hike our shortest day instead, which was 8.2 miles. I had my Frogg Toggs waterproof rainset, a new backpack with raincover ready to go, and I was feeling quite optimistic. I had looked at the weather last night and saw the impending rain, but decided that I would wake up with a positive mindset, knowing if I could do my best to stay dry, and not get injured, it would be a great day.

When we exited the van at Dalton, it was a downpour, which continued for the entire morning. My Frogg Toggs were keeping me dry, but I was getting hot as I climbed and climbed and climbed. I became my own little sauna. At one point, I was climbing a large rock and heard a tearing sound but didn’t think much of it. I looked like a big wet pregnant Smurf. So of course everyone started calling me Smurf, which quickly became my trail name.

It wasn’t until my adventure into the privy that I noticed my Frogg Toggs were ripped entirely at the crotch. Yep, fully exposed (picture at bottom), and all the ladies were pleased to learn I had clothing underneath. My trail name quickly changed from just Smurf to Flashy Smurf.

We also started to walk in a bit of structure, with Linda (Barb’s sister) behind the guide, followed by Pam, then me, and then Bad Pam. We had to figure out a way to differentiate the Pam’s, and on day one, “Bad” Pam started putting those songs in your head that you can’t get out (Dana does that in our office quite often) which is precisely why she became “Bad” Pam.

As the rain continued, and we had some fun rock hop creek crossings, I realized I was right in the middle of the Pam Sandwich. Yes, when you are hiking for hours and hours in the rain, you come up with crazy things.

We ended our day at the delicious High Lawn Farm enjoying homemade ice cream and lots of cows.

What I Learned

• Yes, you can learn lessons while peeing in the privy (read the wood picture)
• Barb, is a wetlands biogeo chemist, phd, oceanographer
• Tori, one of our guides, taught us about many plants, including Goldthreads, Wood Sorrel, Indian Cucumber and Starflower. We also learned about reishi, a mushroom that has cardiovascular and immune benefits and a Red Eft (a creepy little orange lizard, see below). Check out Tori’s website http://www.thewildernessguru.com to keep learning and learning and learning. She is amazing.

Highlights

• I don’t hate hiking in the rain. Actually, if you have the right gear (just like snowboarding or skiing), it’s quite beautiful. The sound of the rain hitting the trees, and the moving water.. just heavenly.
• The cilantro lime dressing was divine with Chalula (my fav hot sauce).