The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-07-30

MEASURING THE TRAIL
Five Day Trip of Bennington Green
Mountain Hikers

And how are you liking this Green
Mountain hiking?" Many was the
time this question was asked and al
ways was the answer an enthusiastic
immensely, 'gloriously or some
other similar expression of joy
Yes. every mile of the entire fifty-one
from the Massachusetts-Ve Vermont
state line to Prospect Rock in Man
chester was enjoyed to say the least.
The trail marking expedition of the
Bennington Section Of the Green
Mountain Club over the Long Trail
was tremendous success not alone
for the work accomplished on the
trail, but for the pleasure of the trip
1t was a real hiking trip with all of
the pleasant experiences one might
reasonably expect and free from
many disagreeable things that usual
ly turn up Unexpectedly
The hike actually started from the
state line on July 18th when three
members of the trail committee, G. H.
Plumb, j. l.. Griswold and Charles
Cole started with the baby carriage"
and reeled off the mileage to Ben.
nington. This part of the work was
interesting. The baby carriage" as
We dubbed it consisted of the front
wheel of bicycle with the forks and
handle bars and to which was at
tached q cyclometer. At each mile
on the trail a square metal marker
was put up showing the distance from
the state line and later these will al
so be marked with the distance from
Prospect Rock, the northern terminus
of the section. OF three methods OF
measuring that were tried, namely,
the pedometer. 100 II. line and the
cyclometer, the later was found to be
the nearest correct and the distances
now recorded are very nearly ac-
curate If not quite so and have set
tied, at least in the minds OF those
who went behind the wheel, number
of disputes about those short dis
tances previously recorded for some
parts of the trail.
At nine O'Clock on the 10th the par
ty started on the weeks trip and was
composed of C. p Cooper of Rutland,
vice president of the G. NJ. C., Dr. Il. ].
Paris of Burlington, chairman of the
membership committee and since It's
organization one of the most active
members of the club, w. /. Hare,
Geo. A. Mathers. w. d. Newton and
]. l.. Griswold all OF bennington.
Packs we're toted TO the club camp at
He'll Hollow by auto where dinner
was served before the real hiking be-
gan The trip up Hell Hollow Is now
made more enjoyable by good log
ging road that has been rebuilt over
the trail The scenic attractions
luckily have not been spoiled as has
usually been the case IN numbering
operations and it is hoped that this
best beauty spot on the Bennington
Section will not suffer the ravages Of
the wOodman's axe Our party GER
tainly was on no speed test over this
section. II took time to paint and
put up markers which meant a rest
every mile with an hour TO the mile
| and the rest was as welcome as cit
ronilla oil in punlde time, not for the
| fatigue but for the heat Hagar
clearing gave our visitors their first
| good view of the surrounding country
| with Stratton Mountain TO the north
east; Haystack directly east Greylock
in the hazy south and a part of Bald
Mountain TO the west. The night
stop was made at the far famed
Camp IL Now Camp IL is not
what even a roughneck would con,
slider heavenly rest--far be IL from
such Nevertheless II was ours til
the next daybreak. The publicity
committee of the club desires that
little be said about this snug little
camp nestled so serenely in the quiei
wilds over the mountain. Unless the
shelter committee can raise funds tC
put up a cast iron shack the rest o
us insist on wiping the spot complete
ly off the map. The camp was unfi
for use to say the least without full
days housecleaning. One porcupin'
| greeted us on our arrival and quickl,
met its fate with few blows Of tn,
doctors axe. but this was only tn
beginning. Supper over with. whicl
by the way was one enjoyable part o
our nights stay. II behooved us Il
start sleeping quarters. Some piclel
out the soft side OF the old cam
wall (now fiat on the wreckage) a
the most available spot for beds bu
one member OF the expedition lnsiste
on sleeping the wrong way of tn
Stats which obviously brought his fee
against those OF our Rutland frien
who of late has been addicted to Gel
tain quilly dreams These dreams ar
the result OF having once actual
kicked porcupine in his sleep an
awakening to find his blanket full {
quilts around his feet. II was durin
the slaughter of the second pork
that things seemed to happen all G
once. The writer was PEACEFUL
on bed OF balsam near the camp 1
the same time keeping vigilant waite
over the grub pack to ward off val
! dals which might attempt to pillap
the contents. Il was around one
m. when We heard the familiar soun
of scratching claws and gnawing Jaw
and rising on the double quick -four
the intruder had followed his nose
: the precious eats All else was quic
!. Beside the FIRST stretched out on u
supper table" and sleeping, actual
D sleeping. was the doctor and with hi
I his trusty axe In going for the a.
/. someone stumbled over the table M
the sudden excitement awakened Il