Back in May I took my kids to a place in the mountains along the Standing Stone Trail. The world was under quarantine, yes, but the trip needed to happen, and we didn’t interact with anyone but each other. In preparation for my thru-hike, I wanted to research a place known as Fern Meadow, a potential camping spot along a stretch of the trail where camping isn’t easy to find either because the ground is too steep, too rocky, or off limits. It’s a great name for a mountaintop camp, ins’t it, Fern Meadow? I imagined a broad, ferny pasture with clear views in every direction.
We found a nice meadow, albeit on private property. But it was low on the mountainside. We walked along the ridge line for miles and miles but never did find Fern Meadow, and the rain eventually forced us back down the mountain. This was some of the steepest terrain I’d experienced on the trail. In fact...I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve got the stamina to do this trail straight through. I’m no weakling, but I am 50 with a degenerative disease.
