Miles Hiked: 3.3
I woke up to more rain at the Wilbur Clearing Shelter. As the father/daughter pair packed up we struck up a conversation and Glassman showed them his glass artwork. Glassman carries with him a case of some necklace pendant/ keychain/ cocktail stirrers/ artwork. The father purchased one of the necklace pendants for his daughter. Glassman and I took a lazy morning, packed our bags and read "The Hobbit". (Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Rain...Late morning...reading...less hiking.) Mid-morning a day-hiker named Sightseer stopped in. He had begun thru-hiking twice but had been forced to stop before he completed the hike. He loves to take pictures and lives nearby, so it is his Saturday morning habit to climb up here and photograph the mountains and trail. He still dreams of the day when he can thru-hike. After talking for awhile we all decided it was time to hike on. He went on ahead of us.
It was cold and it was pouring rain. We met a man with his dog who thought they were going toward the summit of Mt. Greylock, and we helped him to get turned around again. Then we met Sightseer on his return hike home and he handed Glassman a note and kept going. We opened it and it said "Glassman and Fugitive, It was good to meet you. Here is some cash so that you can enjoy lunch at the lodge on me. Best of Luck, Sightseer." Tucked in the note was $25!! Even though it was still cold and raining our spirits felt a millions times better.
The summit of Mt. Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. At the summit there is a lighthouse-like tower, built to honor Massachusetts Veterans of War. It is 94 feet tall. It was built in 1930-1931. We stopped in at the lodge and enjoyed a hot meal courtesy of Sightseer! (And used the glass sale from the morning to top it off with desert!) Thank you, Sightseer, for the generous Trail Magic.
After getting warm again, and having front row seats of the storm getting ever worse outside the window at our table, we decided to buy bunks in the lodge and hike out tomorrow. After taking hot showers and hanging up all of our wet clothes, we sat in the lobby in front of the fire and read more of "The Hobbit". Halfway through the chapter two others pulled up chairs and listened also. It was a fun, impromptu story time. We spent a couple of hours chatting with them before turning in for the night. Just after sunset (see the pic below) the storm picked up again and the wind raged through the night. I am glad that I decided to stay inside a heated room tonight.
View North of Mt. Greylock
Massachvsetts Veterans War Memorial Tower
The ground floor ceiling of the tower
Bascom Lodge at the Summit of Mt. Greylock, as seen from the tower.
Stairs inside the tower, with Glassman looking down
Finally, the clouds cleared for five minutes during sunset. All of us inside the lodge rushed to the windows to enjoy the view.
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