DAY 4: STORY SPRING SHELTER - WILLIAM DOUGLAS SHELTER
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8215e7e9f75d1d5330ce6817d44c79746bd452252f7c155cd224a631bf3880ed/21-09-22_0786_STRATTON_BY_MISTLIGHT.jpg)
15 miles. Wet/mild into sunny/warm. Morning drizzle covered my first few miles but tapered off as I began my climb up Stratton Mountain. Dense, rolling fog obscured any distant views from the summit, but my ascent passed through stunning misty vignettes, both mycological and evergreen.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5601cea0a8375a3bd4f465581ed9660be1c38b6189a784d0d44f167822e9df9/21-09-22_0808.jpg)
I lingered at the summit, enjoying the ambiance of my misty surroundings from atop the fire tower. I took a leisurely lunch nearby, but I quickly grew chilly and began a brisk descent to Stratton Pond, where I took a quick break by the waterfront.
I pushed through the last 4.5 miles through the Lye Brook Wilderness to the spur trail leading to William Douglas Shelter, arriving just before dark. I was drained: my feet hurt, I was very tired, and I had earned myself a headache for my trouble, but the day’s journey was finished. I tented outside the shelter and ate dinner over light conversation with Manchego and Boulder Patrol, both SOBOs.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/df78c339ee2be790364c9836091f3b4e35617d057b3ba0d5fb5bab9ecbf31011/21-09-22_0688.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/736da67ca68591d381d5187c58b71a2f5b5c716d91e09495c4bda36fb61e537c/21-09-22_0763.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7da6cc2cff9687f923b72b51dc445ed091f327905bc3c53ef8463c7b8efa2e21/21-09-22_0757.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35583bf46a26ec85fcdda16450b1a154c95d5fdfc7e8cf863c19ffaae65cef85/21-09-22_0518-1.jpg)
<<PREVIOUS//NEXT>>