August 9, Bascom Lodge - mile 1567.3
Tonight I have spent more than I should have to sleep inside the lodge on top of Mt.
Greylock, Massachusetts' highest peak. A simple bunk with linens & a shower cost me
$38 here but, encouraged by my wonderful hubby, I decided to spring for it as a treat
after the tough day of getting here. Today was the hottest day yet of this record heat
wave - & what do I do??? I climb the tallest mountain in the state, 7 1/2 miles uphill (plus
five this morning downhill?. WOW, it was tough! But I made it. I ran out of water just in
time to refill at the shelter 3 miles below the summit. ...except when I got to it, the stream
was dry. Almost make me want to swear, it did. But just a bit later, I came across
some pools of water in another former stream, so I filtered enough to get me to the top,
even though its color was dark brown. it tasted fine, & I'm sure it was just tannin-stained
but the color was a bit un-nerving.
Well, it certainly is beautiful up here. There's a war memorial on the very summit, & I
think there's a staircase to the top. but I don't have the energy to climb it tonight. If it's
open in the morning when I leave, I'll probably go up, but for now the view from here is
nice.
