Date: 2007-08-09
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was one of the longer days I have had in a while but was wonderful weather for hiking; cool and clear. The views from the Glastenbury Mt fire tower were superb and in all directions.When I left the shelter at 7.30 AM the temp was 48 with a light breeze but I was comfortable hiking in shorts and t-shirt. The first 4 miles were up and down over Harmon Hill, then very steeply down 1,000' to the crossing of VT 9. Much of this steep downhill section was on large rock steps set at a very steep angle. Over 500' of those steps was a very effective stair master and my legs were feeling it when I reached the Hwy crossing below.The climb up the north side of the notch was not as steep and was switcbacked with few stone steps so it was much easier to negotiate. This 1,000' climb was the beginnig of a 2,400' vertical rise over the course of 10.4 miles from VT 9 to the summit of Glastenbury Mt. Much of this distance was taken up with going up and down over smaller knobs on a ridgeline that approaches Glastenbury Mt from the south. The true vertical elevation gain was likely to have been double that suggested by the difference in elevation between the start and end points.The summit of Glastenbury Mt is covered with balsam fir and red spruce and smelled wonderful in the cool afternoon sun. I heard Swainson's thrushes and winter wrens singing along the way and knew I was back in the New England mountains again. I also found a pair of recently fledged sharp-shinned hawks near the summit that were begging for food from a nearby but unseen adult. These birds would likely pass thru Cape May, NJ on their southbound migration this fall. I couldn't help but think about my 20+ years of banding migrating hawks at Cape May each fall and the many thousands of sharpies I have banded.The view from the top of the fire tower on Glastenbury was superb. It was cool, the skies were clear and visibility was excellent. I was able to recognize Stratton Mt, a peak I would be walking over tomorrow, and Mt Greylock, a peak I walked over a few days ago. It was neat looking back to the peaks and ridge I had already passed over as they stretched away to the southern horizon. It was equally impressive to look north up the line of peaks that I will have to hike over in the next week or so. Then, to the northeast, the White Mountains of NH are getting closer and taller. It was such a fine view that I stayed nearly an hour on a day when I had little time to spare.The hike down to Kid Gore Shelter and the old Caughnawaga Shelter was rough and rooty and my feet were feeling the 18 miles of pounding they had done already, but I pushed on another 5 miles to the next shelter and hoped to make it before dark. The old Caughnawaga Shelter was closed and looked ready to fall over at any moment. It was built in 1931 and is one of the oldest shelters on the LT. I am cettain that I stayed in it during my 1975 Long Trail end to end hike. The final 5 miles to the Story Spring Shelter went by slowly and my map did not match the present trail route at all. Again, the shelter looked familiar to me but I'm not sure if I stayed here during that trip 32 years ago.In spite of my tired feet and worn out legs today turned out to be a fine day of hiking on the AT!