Step after step, climbing elevation rapidly, the Castleton wrestling team finally makes it to the top of Killington Mountain, the second tallest mountain in Vermont.

They started and finished as a team.

They got to the top following Bucklin trail, which covers 3.7 miles from bottom to top. Elevations vary from a low of 1,859 feet to a high of 4,204 feet. The trail has different terrain the whole way up, starting flat before leading to a marshy, muddy river bed. After conquering that you have a steep elevation filled with huge rocks, forcing you to climb on your hands and feet.

Why hike to the top of a mountain for team bonding?

“I personally just like hiking. It makes me feel at home like I am with my family, giving me that peace of mind. It’s a good way to get to know the team and test unknown capabilities,” said sophomore wrestler Jake Long.

The team’s capabilities, by the way, are incredible this year, Long said.

Believe it or not, the smell in the woods climbing Killington Mountain earlier this semester was different from the usual outdoor smell, said sophomore wrestler Joe Kennedy.

“As you went up you began to see the incoming fall season. The smell you can’t describe. It is just something you have to experience,” he said with a slight smile.

Long also spoke about the smells along the hike.

“At the start, we walked through the marsh and you got hints of earthy muddy smells. As you went up most of the trees were pine trees and evergreens and it brought me back to that Christmas smell, making me think back to my childhood,” Long said.

Kennedy also spoke about the bonding that happened on the hike.

“The overall goal of the hike was opening up to each other, creating that team atmosphere, and getting comfortable in uncomfortable places,” he said.

Kennedy was one of the first to reach the top of the mountain. Teamwork and team bonding are important among the coaches and staff members of the wrestling team. They are proud to see their wrestlers taking the initiative to bond and do activities as a team.

“I thought it was great for team bonding and getting out for physical activities. It helps take your mind off of a lot of things that you might be struggling with,” said assistant coach Ryan Foutz.

As the final stretch was in sight, a couple hundred feet of elevation left to hike, the team kept moving and eventually reached the peak.

“We got to the top as a team and you looked back to see Rutland, Killington, and a little bit of Castleton. This is purely just because of how high up you are. It was cool experienc

ing this and also feeling the side of achievement when conquering a challenge like this,” Long said.

Once at the top, everyone just observed the natural beauty in front of them. Everyone 

was quiet and felt at peace for a little while.

“Me and a couple of members of the team talked about life, deeper than just thoughts about it. How no other team is doing this and how mentally the mountain challenges you,” Long said happily.

Kennedy said the hike also prompted chats about the upcoming season.

“The team talked about goals and what they planned to do for this upcoming season that is only weeks away,” Kennedy said. “We’re a powerhouse team that is expecting a monster season.”