| July 11 Berkshire Bath Paul tipped to a payphone after a dip in Benedict Pond in Great Barrington, MA on Monday afternoon. He is doing very well since getting back to the trail. He described the atmosphere on the AT as a "good vibe". He is back with old hiking companions, and speaks of little complaining, great attitudes, and more nights in his mosquito shielding clip flashlight tent. Tips has enjoyed good hiking in the Connecticut and Massachusetts area of the trail. Tips met back up with Sleeper just 4 days after he got back, in the super busy Bear Mountain State Park in New York. This was after a night in William Brien Memorial Shelter. He has not yet caught up with Skeletor, although she was only about a day in front as of Monday. Paul summited the first 2,000' peak since Pennsylvania on Saturday. Bear Mountain, followed by Race Mountain, followed by Mt Everett, all seem steep after the lower elevations of the Hudson River Valley. Every hiker coming down off of Bear Rock Falls the day that Tips descended had taken a fall, due to moist rocks from showers. One hiker fell face first, and Sleeper gashed his hand. Paul told me that he learned how to fall safely with a pack on, by falling backwards. He used the cushion of all his gear more than once. Now that Paul has made it back to new England, he told me that he plans to call more often. The theory being that anyone who wants to meet up with him can get in contact with him through this website and his calls. I will not be able to relay any messages next week however (July 14-July 22), because I am going to be on Martha's Vineyard, and do not care to look at a computer monitor during this time. Heh heh. I do plan to meet with my brother sometime in August, when he should be in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, which are three of the best states to walk around in, at least in my opinion. I hope everyone is enjoying summer. Todd |
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