Date: 2014-07-05
From: Goddard Shelter, VT

To: Stratton Pond Shelter, VT
Miles today: 19.3

Well after a unsatisfactory night in the shelter I was up at 4:30 realizing I might as well eat and get on the trail. I did not get a good nights sleep because the day hiker couples in the shelter were up late drinking and constantly laughing at each other's farts. Don't get me wrong a well timed fart can be funny as hell particularly if you are 12 years old, but these college-aged folks just could not get enough of it and were gassing each other out of their sleeping bags well into the evening. Obviously some of our nations future lawyers and doctors (likely gastrointestinal specialists if I were to guess) in the making :-). So I did finally fell asleep around 10 pm (way passed my bedtime) and then wake up around 3 am in the still of night. Hmmm everything is still and quite why did I wake.... So I close my eyes and suddenly the hiker beside me makes an abrupt loud snort/snore as he sucks in air. It was loud. Ah, that is why I woke up and why I could not get back to sleep. When staying at a shelter you roll the dice on your neighbors and sometimes there are no issues and other times it can be problematic. Hence my preference to tent if able. So I am out on the trail as the sun rises looking for something to brighten my spirits and the shortly the trail provides me with some pick-me ups.   Out of the shelter I head up to the top of Glastenbury Mountain where there is a fire tower. The wind is whipping but I venture up to a truly breathtaking view (see photos). The sun has also come out helping to brighten my spirits. I hang out for a while taking it all in and getting a bearing of what mountains I will be climbing this day. I headed down the mountain coming to the Kid Gore Shelter which I decide to check out since it is not off the trail much   I am surprised to see the woods in front of the shelter had been cut back allowing the area to be bathed in sun light. I realize finally I can dry out my gear! There was no one at the shelter so I pulled out everything in my pack draping poncho, tent, shoes, etc., etc.... In a 1/2 hours time my gear was dry allowing me the option to tent this evening should I wish to. I pushed on toward Stratton Mt which come to find out is a huge draw to day hikers as well as tourists who can access the mountain from the nearby ski gondola. Before heading up I was greeted by some folks who gave me some trail magic and invited me to chill out and eat with them for the evening. I have to say it was very tempting but I kept on course wanting to make it up and over Stratton Mt so I could pull out for a resupply in Manchester Center, VT the next day. Even though I am not working I still find myself generally keeping to my tentative schedules... For better or for worst I am not sure... I ended the day at Stratton Pond shelter. The shelter sits near a beautiful pond where you can sit and watch the sun set. The shelter also has a caretaker and there is a $5 fee to stay. I went ahead and stayed at the shelter (yes even after all of my prior complaining) as it was large and I had an entire loft to myself. Also I was sharing the shelter with some good folks all of which were hiking the Long Trail that runs north through Vermont from MA to Canada. Additionally truth be told I was beat and thus it was convenient. We all cooked our meals together and after dinner most went to the pond to watch the sunset.   I instead went to my loft and rapidly fell asleep.