Howdy, you fellow trail mix aficionados and fellow sufferers of the “pre-dawn-alarm-is-this-worth-it?” blues! This weekend, your friendly neighborhood Missoula misfit (that’s me!) is gearing up for a Mount Greylock adventure that promises to be equal parts breathtaking views and questionable life choices (namely, the 4 AM wake-up call). But hey, ain’t that the Montana motto? Embrace the absurd, chase the sunrise, and hope the coffee kicks in before the mountain kicks your butt.
Now, I’m no seasoned Appalachian thru-hiker (yet!), but this three-peak tango with Mt. Williams, Mt. Fitch, and the big kahuna himself, Mt. Greylock, has me giddy like a squirrel hopped up on fermented acorns. Picture this: crisp mountain air tickling your nose, boots crunching on frosty leaves, and maybe, just maybe, a sunrise that paints the sky in hues that make Instagram weep with envy. Okay, maybe that’s wishful thinking, considering the sun usually sleeps in longer than I do on Saturdays. But hey, a Montana dreamer gotta dream, right?
The plan is simple (at least in theory): conquer the peaks, snap some envy-inducing pics (even if it’s just of my breakfast burrito because sunrise is a no-show), retrace my steps like a boss, and hightail it back home before my cat starts plotting my demise for abandoning him to the tyranny of kibble refills. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy… right?
Okay, maybe not. Remember that time I tried to kayak the Bitterroot with a rogue squirrel as my only companion? Let’s just say things got… interesting. But hey, that’s the beauty of Montana adventures, isn’t it? You never quite know what’s gonna bite you in the proverbial boot until you’re knee-deep in mud and wondering if that distant growl is a bear or just my stomach rumbling for more coffee.
So, wish me luck, you lovely bunch! Here’s to hoping for clear skies, trails that don’t require spelunking skills, and a sunrise that makes me forget the unholy hour I set my alarm for. And if you don’t hear back from me by Sunday… well, let’s just say I might be busy convincing a park ranger that squirrels can hold their own in a mountain goat race. (Safety first, always, except when squirrels are involved.)
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a backpack full of granola bars and a headlamp that makes me look like a slightly deranged cyclops. Onward to Greylock! (And hopefully back again. Fingers crossed… and maybe duct tape, just in case.)
P.S. If anyone wants to send a search party equipped with tranquilizer darts and extra coffee, I won’t judge. Just sayin’.
Boneshakerbike 
Your Thoughts