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.
Ah, is there anything better than fall in New England?? Thank you…. your pretty pics transported me! Looks like you had an amazing trip!