Wanted: Virtual HitchHikers for Single Mom Solo Westward Ho! Road Trip - Part 2

So, my brave virtual hitchhiker crew! We are on our way! You have boosted my travel spirits with your enthusiastic Go West! comments and impressed and comforted with your map reading and folding know-how (thanks, Vera, for your leadership!).

As you'll recall from Single Mom Westward HO! Part I, Boston to St. Louis Stop One is Mt. Greylock, at the Berkshires border of Massachusetts and New York. For the non-mountaineers out there, Mt. Greylock, at 3,491 feet (pretty average, as real peaks go), is the highest peak in Massachusetts and part of the 12,500 acre Mt. Greylock State Reservation. The Appalachian Trail passes over Greylock's summit on its way from Georgia to Maine. My plan: arrive early afternoon for the 3.4 mile four-star Hopper Trail hike from Sperry Campground parking lot - enough of a hike to soothe the soul, feed my trekking yearning, and tire the body in a happy, healthy way; not so grueling as to leave me spent at the start of my adventures. Practical, wise approach.

So...the hurry-up long distance drivers among you are smirking now, I sense it. You're rolling eyes at my lolling, make-time-to-see-the-trees (and cows) journeying style. Well, smirk away. In fact, use that trusty mileage guide on your New England map (got that map open yet, men?) and tell us just how short a hop this is, will you? A mere 150 miles, Needham to Greylock, door to trail -- no bathroom break, gas refill, virtual dog walking, or candy snack needed (though we'll be craving Rob's circus peanut stash later for sure). As Indiana Shanna might speak for me, with extra emphasis, if I ask really nice: 'tough snot, virtual buckos!' Let's see you keep up my pace and heart rate on the hike to the summit. Then, just maybe, I'll let you throw a few 'whimpy lady driver' complaints my way. Until then, mix your gorp, swap those warped dockers for hiking boots, and go extra heavy on that bug repellent. Oh, yeah! Summit views here we come!