Bear Mountain, NY to North Adams, MA

Day 3, Monday, August 30

Shenandoah Campsite to Morgan Stewart Shelter, 9 miles

Today is a long, short day. I leave Shenandoah Tenting site at 7 AM. Overnight the breeze stayed and kept things comfortable, but the lower I descend into the valley below, the warmer it is getting. It is almost 72 degrees and the humidity is high. The cool front that was supposed to push through last night apparently stalled north and west of here. Today’s weather includes a chance of thunderstorms.

I reach Highway 52 by 10:30 AM and meet several Southbounders near the road crossing. The recommend the Mountain Top Market Deli to the right at the next road crossing, so the deli it is. I’m dragging this morning anyway. I’ve already downed two quarts of water and I need more.

It’s a hot walk out the highway past the quarry, but I can tell this is the place the minute I arrive. I order Peppercorn turkey and cheese, chips and the giant Pepsi. First “real” food I’ve had since Saturday night. I can’t eat my entire sandwich, so I wrap half of it for supper tonight. After an hour I will myself back on my feet for the hike back to the trail. I’m not going to make today’s miles. It’s too hot and my feet hurt too much. I stop every thirty minutes for a fifteen minute break.

I must have grabbed the wrong pair of hiking shoes when I left home. One of my shoes is cutting into my heel. I carve out a piece of the back of the shoe with my knife and cover the inside with duct tape to create a little more room for my heel. Hopefully that will help.

I make the Morgan Stewart Shelter by 2:30 PM. I could hustle another 7.8 miles to the next shelter, but I’m through for the day. I’ll have plenty of time to clean up, wash clothes (they reek!), and rest my blistered feet. I wore new socks today…not a good idea. The shelter has a well at the bottom of a hill in front of the shelter. It’s not far, but my feet are struggling with any distance today. I walk down and back a couple of times to get water. I make one final trip down to pump water from the well and shower off.

Three NOBO section-hikers come in after 4 PM. I had passed them hiking toward the deli as I hiked back to the trail earlier today. They’ve been out for four days and will finish at the next road crossing tomorrow. They are from Great Barrington, Mass, just north of here. Two of the three, including “Evergreen” still live there. One, “Motion”, now lives in Washington, DC. They are good company for the evening.

When I tell them about my mail-drop that didn’t show up in Bear Mountain, they offer to give me one of their fuel canisters for my stove. They’re finishing tomorrow morning anyway and won’t need it. I am most appreciative. Trail magic!

It starts raining at 3:30 AM.