This is coming out of the archives but seeing as it’s Halloween I guess it’s fitting. On the first weekend after school started this year, the “Moms” AKA Kelly and Lisa decided it was a good day for a hike. We set out with six boys ranging in age from 3-9, into the infamous Weisner Woods. I kind of knew we were in trouble when, A. I’m the only one wearing Tevas, 2. Everyone has these backpacks filled with water that have tubes coming out and up over your shoulder that you drink from(which I’ve never even SEEN before), C. the obvious, I have a 3 yr old. Yah, we’re amateur family. First we hit the “Sugar Shack” where in winter, they serve hot drinks and have a fire for snow shoers and cross country skiers. We were able to get inside and check it out. A crafty kid (Tristan) found the key) There was newspaper in there for starting fires and on a section of The Stowe Reporter someone had written in 3-in. letters “Thank You” with a charred piece of wood. Apparently they too had gotten in and used the shelter. I looked closer at the paper and realized it was the big “Thank You” page from Stowe Winter Carnival, January 2003 of which I’m a committee member and there was my name listed along with the other members. A little weird. We move on to the giant rock where the boys climb up and slide down landing on their feet… or heads. I had to rescue Josh after he climbed up and was leaning backwards over the edge of about a 15 ft. drop, holding on by a leg trapped under a branch and and me holding on to AN ankle. I think I almost threw up. Sorry. Again we trudged on deciding we would take a trail that looped around but was still doable and shouldn’t take us very long. Well it wasn’t long before we completely lost the trail. The older boys were so far ahead, we couldn’t turn back. Eventually we ended up in some swampy mud. I completely sunk in up to my ankles in my Tevas, carrying a 36 pound kid and trying to help him navigate without getting stuck. It was deliteful. Eventually, about an hour later, we came out of the woods to what we were calling “Our Pond”. Not really our pond, but we hike to it from our house. Our cars were still parked way over on Edson Hill Rd. but I knew I had to take the little ones back to our house and worry about the car later. So like every good horror movie, we parted ways. Lisa, Kelly and the four boys head off to get back on the trail and to the cars, I take my two youngest and head for home. We’re a few yards down the path and I’m scanning the woods for bear as always, when I see something way in the woods, that looks like a person, a very small person but definitely a piece of clothing. I’m starring at it and it looks like it’s head with alien face and eyes is following me and I’m really trying not to lose it. Serious goosebumps lose it. I say to Sam, “Why would anyone make something like that?” And he says walking fast and also not taking his eyes off of it, “Probably to freak people out.” Mission accomplished.

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