Bear Adventures on Mount Greylock

Might a bottle of Paul Michel Super Soft hairspray and 2 rueben sandwiches be enough to stop a raging bear? Might outrunning a torrential thunder storm stop us from getting wet? Might we still be lost today if a friendly local didn't pick us up in his flatbed truck? Read on to find out.

We left Albany on Sunday for the highest peak in Massachusetts, later than expected, but hoping to drive half the mountain and climb the rest. When we got there, a desk clerk at the visitors center apologized that the road was under construction and closed for the weekend. Still, it was hours before sunset and we were jonesing to see the summit and view.

The first quarter mile was easy. We traversed a grassy road that gradually gained in altitude half way up. The thick woods were dense with white granite rock and trickling streams. Verdant moss grows thick on the main path making it slippery but beautiful. At times it was difficult to know which direction to take. Mount Greylock may be the state's most popular hiking destination but the dozen or so trails are very poorly marked.

Suddenly, the noise of breaking branches and falling debris catches our attention. I stop dead in my tracks, scan the environment and concentrate on an abnormally black mass in the distance. City slicker beckons me to forget about it and continue. He jokingly proclaims it to be a madman after us rather than a bear.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, baby bear comes bouncing down a nearby tree and the black mass turns into Mama bear. Baby bear is now on his hind legs surveying our intrusion. The entire Berenstain Bears collection is no more than 100 feet away. City slicker is shaking in his shoes (as am I) and belts out an ear-piercing shout to show dominance in the situation. The bears don't budge but we sure do. We tear into the climb praying the beasts don't follow.

10 minutes later, city slicker loses his precious Maui Jims and we backtrack for the expensive pair. No luck in finding his polarized fashion statement and he's dripping in sweat from the humidity. I giggle in secret. City slicker is not a happy camper but it's getting late and other climbers are passing us on their way down.

Finally, we reach the top. We plunge into our reuben sandwiches and admire the 3,491 foot view. Mount Greylock rises above the surrounding Berkshire landscape with dramatic views as far as 90 miles away. It's Massachusetts' first state park with a summit in the National Register of Historic Places for it's collection of CCC-era buildings and a 93-foot tall granite Veterans War Memorial Tower. A portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail even crosses the summit.

Clouds are building in the distance and neither of us are prepared for rain so we head back down. What happened next was almost as frightening as confronting the bears. But, you'll have to wait until tomorrow because it's back to work for me...