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  1. #1
    Senior Member Bleemus's Avatar
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    Stratton Pond and beyond....

    I had just returned from a surfing trip to California and took a look at the local weather report which indicated we might be in for the longest stretch of good weather in ages. I quickly packed up my pack with my base gear and hit the recipe book for a few meals.

    My friend Richard followed me to a parking spot on Rte 11/30 where the Long Trail and AT cross and then shuttled me about 20 miles south to Kelly Stand Rd. where I would jump on the trail. This section of the AT is a steady three mile plus climb to the Stratton Fire Tower.....

    Stratton Fire Tower shot facing south looking at Somerset Resevoir. The smaller pond closer to us is Grout Pond where we are having our NE Hang in July.....



    From the tower to where I would stay the night was another 3 miles or so to the Stratton Pond Shelter. Arrived to find nobody there, went to the spring and filtered some water and met two section hikers named Boo-Bear and Tortoise from South Carolina. They had a rambunctious dog named Noah that stole the lid to my cooking pot. I wasn't thrilled but it was a nice dog otherwise. Since I arrived so early I decided to hike around the pond. A pretty place with a beaver lodge on one bank. I think you can see it in this photo...



    After a dinner of Chicken Tetrazini I sat by the fire at the shelter and two AT thru hikers came in. The are part of the early crowd that left GA in Jan-Feb. One was named Bomerang and another was Uncle Frank. After chatting for a bit I retired and I dozed off in the hammock.....




    Woke early around 6 and made a Hang Dog breakfast. Two packets of oatmeal, half cup of chocolate chips, half cup of banana chips. Lots of food. Today I was hoping to get in more than 12 miles before lunch. Have to start getting my ankles strong for the upcoming thru hike and need to start pushing myself a little bit. Took about 30 minutes to break camp and eat breakfast and I was on the trail.

    Some fungi in the early morning light.....



    No trip through this section would be complete without a shot from Prospect Rock. A great view of Mt Equinox and the Manchester valley....



    Only 4.4 miles to go to get back to my truck. Pretty steady hiking through this section with no surprises. The Painted Trilliums are starting to bloom now......



    Got to my truck before noon. Had done almost 13 miles already. Now I have to get in shape enough to do it again after lunch! Hope you enjoyed this trip report.
    Last edited by Bleemus; 05-24-2010 at 20:31.
    Bleemus

    Yes, I sleep in a hammock. Please pass the Grey Poupon.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    Nice trip report. Love the pictures. I can almost smell that pond. I can't wait to get to New England myself - but have to finish the honeydew list first. Hopefully I will meet you at the hang.

  3. #3
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
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    Beautiful pics. Thanks for the report
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

    www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com

  4. #4
    Senior Member lazy river road's Avatar
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    Awesome Trip report, now im really itching to leave for my E2E LT hike on June 22. Man I cant wait, June 22 cant come soon enough, cant wait to climb those MT's and take a dip in some of those cool Mt water VT ponds. Bleemus where in VT are you? I may ask you for some trail conditions as my hike approaches
    Sometimes I like to hike and think, And sometimes I just like to hike.

    Hiking is'ent about waiting for the storm to pass its about learning to hike in the rain.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Bleemus's Avatar
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    I am in East Dorset, just north of Manchester and just a few miles from the Trail. Happy to give you reports. Always muddy patches but nothing too extreme here in the south. Very little rain lately and the trail is in great shape.

    Black flies are just coming out and they were VERY thick at Stratton Pond. Had to deploy my head net for the first time this year.

    Cheers
    Bleemus

    Yes, I sleep in a hammock. Please pass the Grey Poupon.

  6. #6
    Senior Member E.A.Y.'s Avatar
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    Looks like a great trip.
    I miss trilliums!
    -Liz -

  7. #7
    Senior Member Veto 65's Avatar
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    Great pics.

    Thank you for the report. Is photography your hobby? If so I'm looking forward to more reports, your pictures are great.
    I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. - E. B. White (1899 - 1985)

  8. #8
    Senior Member Poppabear's Avatar
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    Great pictures and report! Thanks for sharing!

  9. #9
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    Great report and pic's, thanks for sharing!

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