Stratton Mountain Warming Hut
J: In with Getoverit at the Stratton Warming Lodge atop Stratton Mountain. Did nearly a twenty today - no, wait, 20.3 from last night's tent site on Little Pond. We tented togehter in the kelty to keep from freezing to death; cold wind was steady last night until 1 or 2. Wind returned this evening as we climbed Stratton. Tough climb! Stratton is 3900 feet, so we are finally doing hills again. Go on top just for sunset. Took a shot or two with the new camera. Want to get a roll off to M&D for developing, mail from Manchester Center? Have a mail drop there and expect to use the hostel as well. Today may be my last twenty. Came up Little Pond. DC/Magoo caught up for 'lunch' at Goddard. A nice shelter - it has a roofed porch. Half mile up, a fire tower gave a panoramic view of the Vermont landscape. The state doesn't give many views on the Trail, as the Green Mountains are pretty dense. So, it's a treat to get up and see how far I've come (and what I'm doing).
Kid Gore had a nice view - as shelters go. A sweeping view to the east of a lake and the far range. I'm assuming they are more of the Green Mtns and not part of N.H. Don't know, but assuming. Story Spring was about 4 pm. DC/Magoo again caught up with us as we played tag all day. They're a good couple - what will they do under the pressure of the Other world. Hope neither gets hurt. Story Spring was by several beaver ponds - really impressive. We hit the road and pushed to make Kelly Stand Road. My R knee is really giving me some problems. I guess I should take it easier on the poor thing. Problem started running at Tech the week before I raced the Classic. Nothing important happened - the knee just kind of gave a bit - no real pain. Then it became sore. Now, downhills can _hurt_ and uphills remind me of something not quite perfect in there. On the inner side of the knee cap. Hmmm. So we hiked on and made the Stratton peak, where a family was tenting with strong winds and _cold_ air. They were not having a good time, as two of the girls wandered off to explore. The father was shocked to learn we had come from Springer - really was surprised. I love that. GOI and I got sunset picts, then hustled .8 here from the tower on a side trail. The gondola and ski lifts are all here - so we will camp out in a warming hut and sleep on mats they use to protect the poles, snow machines and towers from wayward skiers. Or maybe the other way around. I should write some letters, but don't know if I have the energy. Will try.
Out in the morning, early. We locked up after ourselves, left a thank you message on the sandwich menu board, and headed on to Manchester Center.