Division I

Stratton Mt. to Massachusetts Line

From Swezey Camp to Stratton Mountain, eight hours. The Long Trail leaves the summit of Stratton Mountain toward the south. Three miles from the summit and before reaching the Arlington-Wardsboro highway (passable for autos), is the Webster Camp an open shack with bunks for eight. The trail follows the highway to the west. On this road, about one mile from the mountain trail is a bronze tablet marking the site where Daniel Webster spoke to an audience said to consist of 15,000 people, in 1840 at a Whig convention. Farther on is the Grout Job, an abandoned lumbering village. About one mile west of the Grout Job at a large stream The Trail leaves the highway and goes south for Glastenbury Mountain and Hell Hollow. The marker, '9 miles to the summit of Glastenbury,' is 200 yards in from the road. The Trail ascends to a point beyond the eight mile marker, slabs the north west side of the ridge for a short distance, and then descends to two water courses to the seven mile marker shortly beyond. After a level stretch of 2-5 mile, the Trial, after steep descent and ascent, passes the six mile marker to the top of the ridge and then descends to the five mile marker. Permanent water is reached at the four mile marker. Thence The Trail ascends 2-3 mile past a big rock 3 1-3 miles from the summit. Here there are two trail arrows. The Trail runs on fairly level from the big rock, past the two mile marker, to a spring about 100 yards before it reaches the one

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Division I 87

mile marker where there is a fine view back to Stratton Mt. and Equinox. Thence after a level stretch, the Trail gradually ascends to the summit of Glastenbury, passing a good spring 450 yards from the tower. The tower, sixty feet high, is 100 yards from the forester's cabin on the Trail beyond.

A side trail marked with red discs over Bald Mountain to Bennington, starting about one-half mile down the road from the camp, makes one of the nicest trips in the whole section because of the magnificent view looking back over so much of the route just covered and then the expansive view of the Bennington valley from the white rocks near the summit on the west slope. Bennington is a thriving city and has two excellent hotels, the Putnam and the Walloomsac Inn, besides a number of places where boarders are taken. It is famous for its historical associations of Revolutionary days, being best known in connection with the Battle of Bennington, which is commemorated by the highest battle monument in the world. There are many places of interest which will be welcome to the hiker after a long trip through the "wilds." Bennington is on the Rutland R. R. and in addition a trolley runs over an exceedingly beautiful route to Williamstown and North Adams in Massachusetts, connecting with the Boston & Maine R. R.

The Trail from the summit of Glastenbury descends sharply 350 yards past good water to Glastenbury Camp, a steel camp built by the G. M. C., in 1929. This closed, all-weather camp has a stove and seven bunks, and affords a fine view. There is excellent water 20 yards east. Down grade 100