We told Peter, the Alpine Concierge at Stowe Mountain Lodge, that we wanted an easy-but-not-too-easy-but-not-too-hard hike. He recommended heading to Smugglers Gap & heading up to Sterling Pond. He promised that it wouldn’t be too hard & would be worth it when we made it to the top.
So off we went, dressed in our amature tennis shoes & athletic gear, each clutching a bottle of water. We parked at the base of the mountain & walked to the trail head. Our reaction, as we faced a seemingly endless number of stone steps, was nearly identical: “Woah.”
We started up the trail & were soon huffing & puffing, slipping & sliding on rocks that were wet & muddy from the previous day of rain. Laughing all the way.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
We finally made it to the top, & Peter was right: it was stunning. The crystal clear lake reflected the surrounding mountains & pine trees & felt like our own little secret – despite the fact that we were joined by about 50 other hikers.
The hike back down was just as tricky & slippery (note to self: purchase hiking boots), but the feeling of accomplishment when we finished was worth it.
If you want to hike in Stowe…
– Smugglers Notch has some of the best hiking in the state. This is a great resource to find hiking trails: http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/smugglers.htm
– Be sure to celebrate afterward with ice cream in downtown Stowe, or lunch at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury.
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