Day 9 (August 7th) - Candyland

Late start out of Dalton (we had to wait for Angelina's sub shop to open to pick up our lunch to go) and a hot sticky morning as we climb back up into the woods.

For some reason this area of Massachusetts is very hiker-friendly.  Turns out that Dalton has two different AT hostels that put up thru-hikers for free and provide rides, bicycles, mohawk haircuts, donuts, etc. A little to the south, hikers stay at a giant blueberry patch owned by the Cookie Lady.  Further along the trail we met the Candy Bar Man, handing out sweets and granola bars to all he met. Tomorrow our destination is the famous Upper Goose Pond Cabin with a generous pancake breakfast. It feels like we're traipsing along the board of Candyland.

Good views and berries on Warren Hill.  A rare miscalculation puts us at our evening's destination, October Mountain Shelter, a little early...

How can this be? It should be another mile and a half!

...which is wonderful! At the shelter we meet two northbound thru-hikers, Bluefoot and Toad, both from Brooklyn. What are the odds?

Deb produces an excellent dinner tonight, cold soaked ramen noodles with an exquisite sauce made from leftover parmesan-peppercorn salad dressing from Jacob's and some submarine sandwich toppings that she was clever enough to ask for "on the side"... clever, clever, tasty, tasty.