Peregrine Falcons and other Obstructions

5.24. I left the Stowe Hostel at noon and walked in the rain and fog for about four miles before I got a ride back to the Long Trail. My ride was a house painter from Bennington (no work in the rain) and he drove me all the way to the intersection with the trail, another 5-6 miles.

By that time it was raining hard and I ducked under an overhang to a Park Ranger hut on the edge of a parking lot. It was early in the day and I decided to wait and see if the rain let up before I went on. A few minutes later, a green (everything in Vermont is green) pickup rolled up and two uniformed official types got out and walked over to the hut. They were there to stock the hut with supplies for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, and I followed then inside.

We chatted for awhile and then they asked me where I was headed with "that backpack."

I said, "North to Canada on the Long Trail."

They traded glances and frowns and then one of them informed me that the Long Trail was closed to hikers above 2,500 ft until Memorial Day. "A $50 fine per violation," the other one chimed in.

And then they told me about the Peregrine Falcons. It seems that Vermont is re-introducing Pegregrine Falcons to the Green Mountains, and it is a $500 fine if you hike into one of their nesting areas. Don't ask me how one knows when they have committed such an act.

I said, "I'm confused, because I have already hiked over several 2,500+ ft peaks. And I encountered a Federal Park Ranger at one point, and she did not say anything about the restrictions."

Nevertheless I had no desire to violate their regulation; I love birds, I love the $500 in my pocket, and I did not want to create a bad name for visiting hikers. I told them I would cut short my Long Trail hike and return to the A.T. (At that point, I was about 60 miles from Canada.)

They left, but the rain remained, as did the heavy fog. I stood under the hut overhang for several minutes, but there was almost no traffic on the road, and hitching back to anywhere seemed remote. I decided to go ahead a hike to the next shelter, only a couple of miles North and return to the road the next morning and hitch back to the A.T.

I hiked up Sterling Mountain, but before I got to the shelter, I crossed a ski-run and spotted a large lodge at the head of the ski-lift. I walked over. It was unlocked and there was a big "Welcome" sign next to the door. I went in. It was wonderful. A big empty room with a sofa and table and a big picture window looking out over one of the downhill runs. I was in heaven. Outside the rain was crashing against the windows and off the roof, the lightning was lighting up the sky, and the fog was swirling around in crazy patterns. Reminded me of sitting in Tiburon and looking across the bay at San Francisco. I slept like a baby.

The next morning I walked down the ski-run to the resort and out to Rt 108 which would take me back East and South to the intersection with the A.T. I'm mildly disappointed that I didn't make it to Canada, but I'm very glad I made the Long Trail detour. I saw more interesting little towns, met more nice people, and I think "The Green's" in Vermont helped prepare me for "The Whites" in New Hampshire. I may have shed my training wheels in Vermont.