Manchester Center to Lost Pond Shelter

Day 20

Saturday, May 20, 2017
Manchester Center to Lost Pond Shelter
14.8 miles
8:00 to 6:00

Janet shuttled us.  We left our truck at VT 140 Wallingford trail crossing for two days, one night out.  This was a change of plans.  Our original plan was to go all the way from Manchester Center to Killington, 4 days out.  However, that would have been 3 days around 14 miles and then a shorter day to finish up, and we have decided that at this point in the game, we need to scale it down a bit—we are getting tired.  Go figure!

We are looking forward to some beautiful views today going over Bromley Ski Mountain and looking back at Stratton Ski Mountain.  And we weren’t disappointed.

The walk up Bromley Mountain was through the forest for awhile, then we came out onto the ski slope for a short walk up to the summit.  At the top is a cabin, a privy and a gondola.  A tower once stood on top but has been torn down.  Funds are currently being raised to build a new one.  The view was magnificent. 

Three more peaks to go today--Styles Peak, Peru Peak, then Baker Peak, my favorite.   It was sloped slabs of rock at about a 45 degree angle with a beautiful view of Griffith Lake at the top.  It was on these peaks that I first noticed the sweet smell of spruce. It went with us for much of Vermont--the wonderful smell of Christmas.

 The trail is much dryer here with not as many streams. After Bromley Shelter, there is no water source for 8 miles at Peru Shelter.  This is quite a change from previous days with water everywhere!

We planned to do 12.8 miles today and camp somewhere near Baker Peak. It didn't turn out that way.  We passed two footbridges after Peru Shelter with the intention of getting water at Griffin Lake for the night.  Griffin Lake water didn’t look too appealing, but rather  stagnant, so we kept going somewhat in disbelief that there would not be another water source.  We finally stopped at a little trickling bit of water and caught it in our Sawyer filter water bottle, then started looking  for a suitable camping spot.  The ground was soft with green moss, but it was saturated with water so we kept walked two more miles and reached Lost Pond Shelter.
 
Two men were already there—one of them had set his tent up in the tiny shelter and one was in a tent.  We had a little trouble finding a rootless place for out tent, but finally did.  A Canadian group of young people came in later and took over the shelter and campfire area, but didn't bother us as we were in our tarp tent fast asleep by dark.