Day 3 – Hike #5 Slackpacking Massachusetts

Kim FordJune 10, 2024405

Day 3 – Appalachian Trail – Main Road (Tyringham) to County Road 14 Miles (but ended up 16.5 Miles) with a gain of 3,222 and loss of 2,329.

It was our longest mileage day, and during the debriefing the night before, we saw the elevation map. I would not call today a “Walk in the Park.” I’d call it a toe jamming, rock hopping, upulating 10 hour adventure.

“Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” Marianne said.

The weather was fantastic, and the second we hit the trail, we were climbing and warmed fast. The trail was very rocky today, with lots of ups and downs and tons of stream crossings. It’s very easy to stand on one rock, try to select the next best rock to land on, and quickly realize you made a bad decision. FAIL!

You know how you always have one crazy person in each group? Well, I think everyone in this group has a little cray-cray (crazy) in them. When you’ve already hiked over 30 miles with these ladies, you get to know them a little, and every day more of the cray-cray comes out.

I would assume most people are aware of all the dangers of hiking the Appalachian Trail, but just in case you’re not, I asked ChatGPT:

Hiking the Appalachian Trail can be a rewarding but challenging endeavor. Here are some of the dangers hikers might face:

Weather Extremes: Sudden changes in weather, including thunderstorms, heavy rain, snow, and extreme heat, can pose serious risks.
Wildlife Encounters: Bears, snakes, and other wildlife can be dangerous if not approached or managed correctly.
Injuries: Sprains, fractures, and other injuries can occur due to the rugged terrain, falls, and overexertion.
Dehydration and Malnutrition: Inadequate water and food supplies can lead to serious health issues.
Getting Lost: Losing the trail or getting disoriented can be dangerous, especially in remote areas.
Hypothermia and Hyperthermia: Exposure to cold or heat can lead to life-threatening conditions if not properly managed.
Insect Bites and Diseases: Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease, and mosquito bites can transmit other illnesses.
Poisonous Plants: Contact with plants like poison ivy can cause severe allergic reactions.
Human Threats: Encounters with less-than-friendly people or criminal activity, though rare, can happen.
Waterborne Illnesses: Drinking untreated water can lead to illnesses such as giardiasis.

Proper preparation, awareness, and adherence to safety guidelines can mitigate many of these risks.

Gotta love ChatGPT, but our guide extraordinaire has a great solution to combat Number 5.

First, when you are looking for that tree to take a pee (or whatever you are doing), place your pole pointed in the direction you are walking. No, you don’t want to ever walk the wrong way especially after the stress of navigating potty in the woods.

Second, just hike with me, and you will never encounter a bear. I want to see a bear, and every single hike, I am “Going on a Bear Hunt” and will continue to go on these crazy adventures until I see one.

Third, having the right gear should be on the list. Just ask my husband about the time we came within minutes of running out of daylight in the middle of the forest without a headlamp. Yep, I miscalculated the complexity of the trail, and therefore my time estimate to complete was a little off (hours). This is also a great reason to hike with an amazing group like Adventures in Good Company. They know a lot more than me!

Fourth, and most important, your poles can be dangerous objects. Just ask the person behind you when you are pushing off with the back pole and it slips and almost pokes their eye out. Yep, this happens and is a good reason to keep a good distance between the person in front of you.

It was a long day, and included about 10 hours of hiking. We stopped to visit a cabin for hikers to stay at, had popsicles before our midday climb, and helped out a mom and her daughter on the trail. The day ended with a great dinner, tomorrow’s debriefing, blueberry lemon cake, and some sleepytime tea. What else could you ever want? TO SEE A BEAR DAMNIT!

Today, I have officially logged 50+ miles on the Appalachian Trail!!! Wahoo! Another 100 miles to go to meet my 2024 goal. Who’s in?

What I Learned

A lot of ulating is going on… you have flatulating, upulating, downulating
We are all missing important pieces of gear, but really try to share with each other.
The last couple of miles were filled with questions we each got to answer: your favorite Thanksgiving dish, pie, pizza, hiking shoe, Christmas cookie, and if you could only eat 3 things, what would they be? I think we might have learned TMI here.