We tried to find the false start to the east face of the Hoosac Tunnel.
I’ll admit it was a bit of a struggle trying to locate it. I wouldn’t call it a “hike” but it sure was a task. Mud and sliding rocks provided a bit of difficulty in trying to locate the false start.
When I think of “life” at the East Portal I think of the Deerfield River that runs just to the right of the tracks. You can’t miss it. If at first you do not see it, you will hear it. It’s loud and calls for your attention. For a moment it was relaxing to just stand there and listen to the rushing water.
I didn’t think too much about the vicinity otherwise. Just rocks under my feet, branches snapping with each step, getting caught in twigs, talking over the sound of the river.
But I quickly discovered another form of nature and life beside the East Portal.
Ticks.
Two be exact.
If I hadn’t seen the first one on my white shirt (why did I wear white knowing we were about to encounter mud?), we never would have seen the smaller one crawling on my pants.
A big thank you to Erica for saving me when all my brain was telling me to do was run around and cry in a panic.
On the bright side:
We found the false start.
–Cassie