T+42 Between (more than) two ferns

T+42 (July 10, 2020)

Navigation Report:
Start Point: October Mountain Shelter (mile 1560.3)
Target Destination: House of Trail Angel Tom Levardi (mile 1571.9)

Travel Log:
8:25 Break Camp (mile 1560.3)
8:40 West Branch Rd. (mile 1560.9)
9:25 Washington Mountain Rd. (mile 1562.5)
11:10 Blotz Rd. (mile 1565.3)
11:30 Warner Hill (mile 1566.1)
12:50 Power Lines (mile 1568.8)
1:00 Kay Wood shelter (mile 1569.1)
1:15 Grange Hall Rd. (mile 1569.5)
2:25 Railroad (mile 1571.6)
2:30 Housatonic St. (mile 1571.7)
2:45 House of Tom Levardi (mile 1571.9)

Daily Mileage = 11.6
Total Mileage = 422.7

Commander’s Report:
Contrary to brand, I was up and at 'em early today. That's because the weather report was calling for rain tonight and tomorrow from Tropical Storm Fay. [Wait, we're already on the 6th named storm of the year? That doesn't bode well!]

Looking at the numbers also suggests I was extra motivated. I did 11.6 miles in 4 1/3 hours. That's 2.68 miles/hr, a really respectable average. Granted the first 5 miles was quite flat and lost a couple hundred feet in elevation over the distance. Still, I was clearly trying to stay ahead of the weather.

About a half mile north of October Mountain Shelter the AT crosses West Branch Road. There's evidence of heavy beaver activity here, though it may be subtle. Like this little contraption. Subtle, right?

​Highway Departments use such things in order to keep the beavers from plugging up the drainage pipes under the road. When the beavers manage to do so floods happen and they are a pain to deal with. Persistent little buggers those beavers are, anything less than such a box will be plugged up in no time!

The beavers have managed to flood the area, in spite of the highway department's efforts. They've got a nice little plot here and quite the abode too. Surprisingly, The beavers made their home quite close to land. Actually, they made it right next to the AT. Good pics of a beaver hut can be hard to come by, so I guess these guys must be show-offs building it so close to a human highway.

​I generally like to keep these diaries positive, but I have to share this beef with the world. I find that I get annoyed when planners do bizarre things and today I encountered a doozy. At mile 1564.7 the planners took the trail down and back up a 100' ravine, seemingly to demonstrate that they too have rocks here. Seriously? Just take us 0.2 miles out of the way to save the idiotic rocky climbs!

Yes, that’s the trail on the left

Yep, that’s the “trail”

​Just south of Blotz Rd. I spotted a geosurvey marker. Most of these things are on mountains, so it's odd seeing one in such a location.

​About 1/4 of a mile north of Blotz Rd. is Warner Hill. It has a surprisingly good view of Mt. Greylock to the south.

​Just prior to the peak, there is a field of ferns that one gets to walk through. Not something one does every day.

​A bit over 2.5 miles north the trail crosses a power line cut. This one has glimpses of Dalton down below.

​It's a quick walk down to Kay Wood Shelter from the power lines. After the shelter is a 2.5 mile hike down (generally) to town. I barely remember any of this part as I was charging a heed at full steam in hopes of beating the thunder that I could hear off in the distance.

I arrived at, noted Trail Angel, Tom Levardi's place at quarter to three. We had just enough time to put up tarps around the porch before the weather rolled in.

I scheduled with Tom to stay tonight and tomorrow. He also agreed to provide rides to Walmart (gas canister) and the trailhead Sunday the 12th. I am sleeping on the porch tonight. It will be far drier and less drafty than the tent.

That afternoon Tom provided a ride to two young ladies, with whom I had been playing leap-frog with for the last couple days. They are doing the MA section of the AT. Kudos to them!

I went about busying myself with writing diary entries that afternoon. As soon as the weather broke for a moment, I popped off to grab dinner. I got a Reuben Sub with sweet potato fries. Gluttonous, but glorious!

[Ed. note: I went back there the following day for dinner, despite having other options.]