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Tuesday–October 19, 2021
Trail Day–242
Trail Mile–8.9/2419.5
Remaining Miles–198.3
Location–Stratton Pond Shelter (549.7), then to USFS-71 (558.6)
A cold night in Stratton Pond Shelter, mid thirties, but we all slept soundly. Rain came in shortly after I bedded down on the wooden platform. Never heard it!
Slim Jim prepared a fine hot Mountain House meal for me last night, then this morning, hot coffee and oatmeal.
We’ve a long, hard climb ahead of us today, up and over Stratton Mountain. Cold, windy, the climb. Snow and hoar frost everywhere on the summit.
There’s an old fire tower at the very top. Slim Jim & Kitchen Sink make the climb–while I rest in the warming sun, out of the wind, down below. The great view, the photo from there, was taken by Kitchen Sink.
These Green Mountains of Vermont are nowhere near as rugged as those to the north. Consequently, the ascents and descents aren’t as difficult. No more straight up and down boulders and ledges to deal with, just lots of not-so-scary elevation change. No matter, I take another hard fall today, stumbling through the mud and rocks. Seems I’ve broken my left hand–again. I’m able to grip my trekking pole okay, though. So, deal with it old man – HIKE ON…
Adversity causes some men to break;
others to break records.
(William Arthur Ward)
