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[at-l] Williamstown to Manchester Day 3



Great night of sleep.  No snorers in the bunch.  Yippee.  The 4 thru hikers 
slowly hobbled about, fussing with their stoves and making breakfast.  I 
stayed in my sleeping bag and had a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter 
and strawberry jelly.  On the trail by 6:25am.  

This time I didn't climb the Glastenbury firetower.  In fact I never stopped 
walking until I reached Storey Spring Shelter at 10:30am.  The right knee/leg 
isn't perfect on the downhill.  Slight twinges.  Gotta take it easy on the 
downhill. Uphill no problem. The bugs were unbearable.  I made a hot 
lunch/breakfast of Lipton noodles with cheese.  Plucked 40 blackflies out of 
my pot.  I could hear rumbling in the distance.  They're predicting severe 
thunderstorms this afternoon.  I decided that I'm not climbing Stratton.  I 
do not want the downhill to the pond and I do not want to be on top when the 
storm hits.  Instead I'd turn left at USFS 71 and then take the Stratton Pond 
Trail from the Arlington Wardsboro Rd.

This is the old AT.  I haven't hiked this 3.9 mile trail since 1977.  It's 
flat too!  I could hear Loons calling as I approached Stratton Pond. I love 
their vocalizations. I made it to the new Stratton Pond Shelter just in time. 
 Then the heavens let loose.  It poured buckets.  The shelter is HUGE.  It 
has a loft.  4 hikers and two large dogs were already there.  They had been 
there the night before and had their tent set up in the front porch area. 
Their gear was everywhere.  At least when it rains the black flies disappear. 
 

In from the rain walked Trucker and her dog Bailey.  She started on Springer 
on March 11th.  She really wanted to stay but had to make Manchester by 12:30 
tomorrow for a maildrop.  So back into the raging storm she went. Bailey 
didn't look too happy.

Soon thereafter Lobo, Southern Comfort, Old Spice and Ducksxing woefully 
slipped and slid their way up the side trail to the shelter.  They were 
soaked to the bone.  Very sullen.  Each quietly changed into dry clothes and 
proceeded to make dinner.

The rains stopped and the bugs reappeared.  In addition to the blackflies the 
skeeters let us know how close we were to the pond.  

Made small talk with my 8 shelter mates and listened to the radio.  A short 
day. 15 miles by 2:30.
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