Date: 2006-07-16
From: Manchester Center

To: Williamstown, Mass
Miles today: 58.5

Hello everyone,   As I write this we are in connecticut, but I will try to remember as much as possible.    It was a nice day when we went into Manchester Center. On the way into town we got a quick hitch from this guy from the Bronx who now lives in Vermont. He had many adventures of his own as a young person and seemed excited that we were out here hiking the trail. The town was nice and sort of high class. We managed to get around town without to much difficulty. After shopping we got some donuts at a local place called Mrs. Murphie's. Very good. We got a hitch from a past thru-hiker who is known as the Old RidgeRunner. He now edits the companion which is a book we use on our hike. Very nice fellow and he related some stories about how the trail has changed over the years. Fairly obviously the trail has become more commercialized. Businesses are springing up that cater specifically to the hiker. As our numbers on the trail grow so does our economic value to the trailside communities. This leads to an easier and more luxurious experience for all us hikers, and more money in the local pockets. However some would say it detracts from the wilderness and solitude aspects that made the AT such a popular attraction in its earlier days. I believe that the trail is what you make it, and the majority of trailside development is far enough removed, that it is easily avoided by the solitude seeking hiker.    We made it out of town by 11:30 AM and managed to get in a full day of hiking. The terrain was fairly easy as we skirted around spruce and Stratton Peaks. The surplus of sugars floating around in our bodies gave us the energy to move along quickly. At Stratton Pond we stopped and I took a dip. By now most of the trailside water is a pleasant temperature and both of us take all available opportunities to swim and wash up.    Following that quick dip we hiked up 3950 foot Stratton Mountain and had a good talk with the caretaker. She and her husband have been doing this off and on since the 60's and she was very knowledgable about the area. There was also a panoramic view from the mountain top fire tower whose official use has ceased. We then descended to a fairly buggy campsite at the base of the mountain.    Over the evening a rather frightful thunderstorm rolled in and it seemed as though lightning could strike us at anytime. We were well protected int the forest and a wide valley so there was really very little to worry about. We slept in till 8 AM and the storm fizzled out. Taking our time we made it 3.6 miles to story spring shelter by 11 in the morning. Slow start. At the shelter we met seven NOBO hikers and learned of a hikers party 19 miles south in Bennington, Vermont. The party was scheduled for that evening and it didn't seem possible that we could make it in time. News of free food and BEER!! stimulated our interest and at 11:30 we set of at breakneck pace to the hiker chow down. after 2 1/2 hours we had hiked 8.6 miles which is really really fast. We were on schedule to make it so we took a quick lunch on the peak of Glastenbury mountain and set off again. It was a long descent to Route 9 and we made it the remaining 10.4 miles by 6:30. Beautiful!!! So quickly we bathed in the the river and started the hitch/hike into town.   We got a ride within half an hour and were in town by 7:15. The tent was all set up, bands were playing, and the food and keg were still going strong. The phenomenon is known as "trail magic" and let me say that it is a truly wonderful thing. People will actually give you free stuff just because you hike. Imagine that. I suppose they do it to repay old debts of gratitude and to encourage those of us out there living an American Dream. The shin dig was put on by the owner of a local outdoor shop and in the morning he gave us a ride back to the trail.   We then took 1 1/2 days to get approximately 20 miles into Williamstown. The terrain was rolling and in the classic vermont style. A few rocky sections, but mostly northern hardwood forests. It rained a good deal and we spent a long evening holed up in the Seth Warner shelter 2 miles north of the Vermont/Massachussets state line. We ended up staying there with 6 other hikers and it was a fun time. Good conversation and a good mix of AT and Long Trail hikers. In the morning it was still raining as we set off into a new state and a new town.