Date: 2006-08-02
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

Bama got out early to enjoy the morning hiking. The trail was still pretty mucky and it looked like another swampy day. She was thinking about Vermont and how, so far, it had not been one of her favorite states. Sort of run down, crowded and not even any trail magic.Then, lo and behold, at a road crossing near Stratton Mountain, Trail Magic! Whoo hoo! There was a cooler with Cokes and other drinks. Bama dove into a Coke and really enjoyed it. Thanks, Trail Angels, Emily and Magic Rat (2003). That break really helped get her up Stratton.Stratton Mountain topped out at 3,936 feet. Another biggie! Good news - the trail was starting to improve. There were lots of sweet smelling Balsam fir trees and at their feet were solid blankets of ferns lining the trail. It¢s like a walk thru millions of Christmas trees. There¢s an observation tower on Stratton, but the sky wasn¢t really clear enough for a good view.Bama reached the Stratton Pond Shelter area early, about 11:30 am, and looked around for the pond, where many hikers swim and cool off. It¢s on the AT about a quarter of a mile from the shelter. The shelter turned out to be a nice one with a huge loft capable of holding about 20 people and 12 bunks down below. Bama snagged a bunk and waited for the crowd to show up. She and Little Wing went to the lake and Bama was able to get in enough to cool off and rinse off the sweat ¢ it was a little toooo cold for her swimming tastes, but didn¢t stop a lot of others who plunged in.At one point, it got very dark and breezy and threatened a downpour, but only a few minutes of sprinkle and that was it. Bama and Little Wing experienced two firsts, one was a beautiful sunset over the pond (lake) which they really enjoyed. But the second was the GMC caretaker lady coming to collect $5 from everyone using the area. This is the first time they ever had to pay to use a shelter. The caretaker lives in a tent by the lake and one assumes that for the $5, it covers the cost of keeping the area clean and maintaining the area. Apparently, it does not cover the cost of toilet paper in the privy, which the GMC does not feel it needs to supply ¢ there was none to be had. Everyone had a good place to sleep but the bugs were terrible and sleep was not easy.I received an email from Drum who is a little ways back from Bama. He had an interesting reflection on the trail experience which I¢d like to repeat here. He said, ¢For those who are or have been on the trail, you will understand this; the people I meet become like a second family. Some are immediate family, some are distant cousins. You learn to care about them all. You pull for them to make it all the way. If they don't, you want them to be at peace with getting off the trail.¢Note that Drum said ¢getting off the trail.¢ No thru-hiker ever refers to another as having quit. It¢s just not said. They ¢leave the trail.¢ The door is always open to re-start at another time. This speaks to the how the experience of long distance trail hiking affects people. For some, it is simply a personal accomplishment, for others a challenge to finish what they started and for others, it is a life-changing experience that it not unlike a religious conversion ¢ a personal epiphany.Bill