FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Alicia DiCocco, Director of Development & Communications, Green Mountain Club, 609-410-0841; [email protected]
Green Mountain Club Invites all Hikers to Take to the Trail on “Long Trail Day”
Hikers of every age and ability will hike to raise funds on Long Trail Day
The Green Mountain Club (GMC) will host “Long Trail Day,” a community fundraiser and day of hiking on Saturday, August 28th. GMC is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail and is committed to making the Vermont mountains play a larger part in people’s lives through celebrations like this.
“Long Trail Day is a fun way for everyone to get involved with supporting the Long Trail,” says Mike DeBonis, GMC’s Executive Director. “This community fundraiser is designed for everyone who loves hiking in Vermont, including novice hikers, young families, and end-to-enders who have hiked the entire 272-mile Long Trail.”
Long Trail Day will be a community celebration, and an opportunity to raise funds for GMC’s Long Trail Legacy Campaign. Once completed, the $4 million campaign will improve the rugged northern Long Trail; provide funding for core programs, renovate the Green Mountain Club headquarters to better serve the hiking public, and provide critical funding to protect portions of the trail in perpetuity.
Hikers are encouraged to register at www.greenmountainclub.org/longtrailday where they can pledge to raise $272, or $1 for every mile of the trail. Hikers can register as individuals or form a team, and explore resources to plan their hike for the day. GMC organizers have set a fundraising goal of $50,000 for the event, and one donor will match the first $30,000 raised.
The business community is a key part of this community effort, and GMC is excited to see the response from Vermont businesses. Leading the charge is The Mountain Goat, an outdoor retailer based in Manchester, Vermont. Owner Anne Houser has created a company team and pledged to match every dollar raised by The Mountain Goat team. Anne’s passion for the trail is both personal and her business as an outdoor clothing and gear retailer. Anne says, “Every day we encounter hikers coming off the trail for a quick resupply or gearing up for their next adventure. Hearing their stories, and having hiked nearly every inch of the Long Trail myself, I have such an appreciation for the work the GMC does in preserving the trails for everyone’s enjoyment.”
Individuals like Lizz Lach also are doing their part. Lizz says she was motivated to sign up for Long Trail Day when “[She] realized how much work GMC does for the whole trail… from sawing through major blowdowns on ridge lines, carrying materials and bear boxes miles into shelters and even the unglamorous work of caring for privies.”
Long Trail Day will be more than a typical day on the trail. Hikers will be delighted to discover “trail magic” tables with drinks, snacks and other goodies to celebrate GMC and the fundraiser. Registered hikers are also eligible for prizes that include gift cards, bandanas, buffs, backpacks, trekking poles, Darn Tough socks and more!
John Predom, longtime GMC volunteer and captain of the Kingdom Express fundraising team, is all in – he says: “Raising funds while hiking the trail and doing something I love is inspiring. My gratitude to GMC is forever.”
To learn more about Long Trail Day and the Long Trail Legacy Campaign, visit www.greenmountainclub.org/legacy.
###
About the Green Mountain Club: Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a private non-profit organization with over 9,800 members. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining, managing, and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and the Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom, and advocating for hiking opportunities in Vermont. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more about the GMC or to become a member.
Leave a Reply