Green Mountain Club

Maintaining & Protecting Vermont's Long Trail Since 1910

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Howard E. VanBenthuysen

Born and raised in Burlington, Howard graduated from UVM in 1973 and Albany Law School in 1982. He began hiking and backpacking on the Long Trail with his parents and with the Boy Scouts in the early 1960s, developing a lifelong love of the Long Trail.

Howard was GMC caretaker at the former Gorham Lodge near the summit of Camel’s Hump in 1972. In 1973 and 1974 he was a summit ranger-naturalist on Mount Mansfield. He has 81 miles left to finish section hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Howard is chair of the GMC Trail Management Committee, a member of the Northern Frontier Section, and carves trail signs for the club. He is also a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

A veteran of the U.S. Army and the Vermont Army National Guard, Howard retired in 2011 as a lieutenant colonel, after serving combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Vermont Superior Court Judge, and lives with his wife Doreen in Hyde Park.

Camel’s Hump: Hiker Reflections on Their Backyard Mountain

June 26, 2025

Rising from the spine of the Green Mountains, Camel's Hump is home to scenic views, a wilderness feel with its undeveloped summit, and choose-you-own-adventure hiking options. The mountain's proximity to more populated areas like Burlington and Waterbury make it a popular and well-hiked destination, … Read more

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Mission

The Green Mountain Club is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail - the oldest long distance hiking trail in America. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of Vermont, the club now also maintains the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and trails in the Northeast Kingdom in its mission to "make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people." Read more...

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Connect

4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
802-244-7037 | Email GMC
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for current hours. Email us for hiking advice. 

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