NH,VT & MASS- Part 4

Dates ........ Saturday Sept 30, 2000
Miles ........ 7.2 miles
From ........ October Mountain Lean-to
To ............. MA Route 20 near the Mass Turnpike.
Weather ... 28 degF clear, cold morning. Warming to hi 50's in PM.

My LAST DAY ON THE TRAIL for this hike.

I had dreams of a Burger King chicken sandwich when Jim came to pick me up. That, and getting home to all the lovely conveniences I'd done without, to a soft bed and warm house, spurred me to an early start. I packed up, ate a roast beef sub for breakfast, woke Nitta up and hit the trail. Nitta was still snuggled in her warm bag when I left. That girl could sleep through anything.

Finerty Pond was absolutely radiant on this clear sunny day, and the trail around it was covered with fresh moose and bear tracks - but I saw no moose. Last night was my second black bear sighting on the AT, the first being in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park near Saddleback mountain. Maybe when I hike the Maine section I'll see my moose. I was headed home and that is where my focus was today.

The trail headed up from Finerty Pond to Walling Mountain, a 350 to 400 foot climb perhaps. I breezed up the hill like it was level. That is always the way it is on my hikes - the last few days I am in really good shape - just in time to go home. I met a group of four day-hikers on Walling Mountain.

Finerty Pond

On top of Becket Mountain, I met up with Jim Yeich - a retired school teacher, neighbor, AT hiker, trail mentor and all around great guy. He is there to give me a ride home. He had hiked up from Route 20 to meet me and was enjoying a conversation with another hiker at the summit where the old fire tower used to be. It was great seeing him - I knew I really was headed home. He shared his satchel of fruit with us - God, that fresh banana and apple tasted good - then we headed down the hill to the car. Next stop - the nearest Burger King, please. This hike was over.

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