Ritzhikes

Where: Vermont, Long Trail from Bennington to Stratton Mt. When: Summer 1971 With: Boy Scouts I'd been in Scouting for several years and had participated in numerous camping trips in all seasons, but all of those outings involving driving to the camping area and carrying our gear from the car to the campsite. This hike was (I believe) my first backpacking trip. The initiating event was a stay at the Boy Scouts' Stratton Mountain summer camp (at least a week, maybe two). A number of us from our Troop were going and one of the leaders suggested backpacking to the camp from Bennington, VT. I must have thought it sounded like a good idea because I wound up as part of the group. I really don't recall a huge amount of detail of the hike, but I do have a few distinct memories: * My gear was antiquated, to say the least. I probably wore yellow leather workboots and carried a heavy rectangular official Boy Scout sleeping bag. Mostly I remember my backpack. It was an Army s...