I set up a shuttle for July 12 before I realized that Tropical Storm Fay was inbound to the Hudson Valley and Berkshires the day before. The weather reports for July 11 looked ominous all week so I didn’t even pack for a Saturday hike. Waking up this morning, though, I figured out that I might have a small window to hike a short distance before checking into my hotel in Great Barrington so I left my condo as early as I could (0900). To get to the closest AT Trailhead in that area, I drove two and a half hours on I-91, US-202, US-20 and MA-23. It rained most of the way but the sun made an appearance by the time I started my hike (NOBO) from the parking lot on Main Road in Tyringham (1135). It was muggy (temps in high 70s with high humidity), buggy and slippery (dew or raindrops on all the bushes, muddy) but I felt fortunate to actually have a chance to finish the AT in Massachusetts over this weekend. In the first mile, I climbed up a rather steep incline to the summit of what I later learned was Mount Baldy. I had to be cautious in my footing almost all day - there were LOTS of rocks and roots. Even from the balds at the top of the climb, there weren’t any views all day - that was good, though, because it helped me to I just focus on trying to keep ahead of the weather. I passed four people: a couple (Dad/Daughter?), an old guy with a cool Foreign Legion cap and a young guy who was eating his lunch on one of the balds. Right after that, the trail went right back downhill (to a gravel road crossing). For the rest of the section, the trail terrain was generally level (except for the pesky rocks). I made very good time and reached my turnaround point (Goose Pond Road) earlier than I’d expected. Started my backtrack immediately - I’d already watched the sky darken twice before and heard the wind picking up. On the way back to Tyringham, I met 10 Thru hikers (including the young guy who I’d passed on the outbound). Almost none of them were very talkative and most didn’t seem to be hiking together or even aware of each other - weird social distancing COVID-19 “Bubble” dynamics, I guess... I also passed the Dad/Daughter hiking pair and talked to them - they had hiked almost the exact hike I had in the opposite direction but were finishing with a swim in Upper Goose Pond (that sounded nice). The Dad laughed at me for all the sweating I was doing but I noticed he obviously had the same issue - he had shed his shirt completely and (with his short shorts) seemed almost to be hiking au natural (*shudder*). Started thinking the guy was really her boyfriend... Made great time to my car and finished my hike by 1515. The signs said the section was 4.3 miles but I had some residual steps from undercounting in MA previously so took the credit for the higher AT mileage. Got in the car and headed west (using MA-23) - I saw some monster CB clouds towards the south and the rain started within 10 minutes of starting the engine. Feeling pretty lucky (not too sore or tired) as I rolled into town. Checked into the Mountain View Motel (again) in Great Barrington at 1545. Ate dinner at Koi Chinese Restaurant (next to the hotel) at 1715 (done at 1800). Watched "Westworld" (1973 Movie) and read before bed (2200). Now hoping for nice weather tomorrow to wrap up the AT in the Bay State! AT Today = 4.70 miles / Grand Total AT = 1603.96 miles
