Jul 16 - Vermont

DAY #119
START LOCATION: Goddard Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: $tratton Pond $helter
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 19.3
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,630.7
MILES TO GO: 548.4

It was a nice night, but extremely humid. We awoke to condensation all over. Smokestack's down sleeping bag got wet and most stuff outside my bug screen was damp. It wasn't too bad. It was a gorgeous morning. We chatted with some nice folks over breakfast and hit the trail by 8:45.

Our departure time was later than we'd hoped (big shocker there huh?) but we felt confident in making our goal of 19 miles to Stratton Pond. The morning was cool, but still very humid. After a quick stop up the Glastenbury Mountain observation tower, we were on our way in earnest by 9AM. We had two shelters early... one at 4.3 mi and then another 4.6 after that. This was nice. It broke up the morning and got us some good early water and food breaks.

The real fun hiking began after our second break. There was a 4 mile stretch of almost all mud. It was slippery and very dangerous, but a lot of fun. Smoke was making dirt bike sounds with his mouth as we'd jump over mud puddles or bank around them near the dry edge of the trail. He got a bit overzealous on one lot bridge and dropped his foot down hard into the muck... showering his right leg in mud. Lots of fun.

We hit some nice trail magic at Stratton-Arlington Road... Some was the water left by Panda on Thursday that my Dad (trail name: Dogfather) had purchased. It was super. Panda left some special water and some soda hidden in the woods.'i poked around but couldn't find it. It was ok though... Another trail angel left tons of soda there. So, between that and the water, we were golden.

Our last 6 miles of the day consisted of a 3 mile, 1,500' climb up Stratton Mountain. It took us just shy of 4,000'. We moved really well up there. It gave us time to have a nice break with Jean, the summit caretaker. Our 3 mile push down the mountain was nice and smooth considering the steep grade. Smoke and I were quoting "Goodfellas" and just as I was saying "Karen! Where's the money Karen!!", I rolled my right ankle and collapsed to the ground like a Jenga tower. I was ok, so it was a moment of hilarity for Smoke. It was for me too. Thank god there were no rocks or mud where I landed.

We are staying near Stratton Pond at it's namesake shelter. The Green Mountain Club (GMC) charges a $5 fee to stay here, which is kind of lame, because the shelter is nothing special, but eh, I'm sure the money goes to good use. Still, it makes me wonder what the "Green" really refers to in the GMC... The trees or the inside of their wallets.

Pushing into Manchester tomorrow for resupply and a trip to the outfitter. Smoke's shoes are crapping out. It should be a fun day.

-natedog