East Mountain Retreat

4.30. I found the hostel last night. It's about 5 miles outside Great Barrington, but only 1/2 mile off the trail. A real bed, hot shower, and washer and dryer for $13! My first shower in 15 days. Lois Rose, the owner, is a very nice lady. The retreat is just that; 3-4 houses on a mountain where people come to meditate and reflect on whatever it is that moves them. Her website is at http://www.eastretreat.org.

Lois has an affinity for hikers, and I suppose anyone who is in tune with nature and it's just her way of giving something back. She had a small sign on the AT marking the trail to the retreat, but the Appalachian Trail Conference made her remove it. Is the ATC another bureaucracy that has lost its way?

5.04. I've rethought the above hasty comment about the ATC. Two days ago I met a thru hiker on his second consecutive AT thruhike and he set me straight. He explained that the AT has to protect it's boundaries or anyone and everyone would be posting signs and other stuff on the trail. Makes sense. He also gave me an idea that might solve Lois problem and I will pass it on to her.