Green Mountain Club

Maintaining & Protecting Vermont's Long Trail Since 1910

  • About
    • The Green Mountain Club
      • Bylaws
      • Annual Reports
      • Strategic Plan
    • Visitor Center
    • Barnes Camp Visitor Center
    • GMC Rental Cabins
    • Board of Directors
    • GMC Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Our Business Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Hiking
    • Trail Updates
    • Mud Season
    • Hiking 101
    • Trail Systems
      • The Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail in Vermont
      • Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom
    • Thru-Hike the Long Trail
    • HikeVT
    • Accessible Trails around Vermont
    • Hiking in Groups
    • Trip Planning
    • Fall Hiking
    • Winter Hiking
    • Guidebooks, Maps & Gear
  • Conservation
    • Protecting the Long Trail
    • Land Conservation
    • Field Programs
    • Burrows Trail Project
    • Regional Partnerships
  • Education & Events
    • Events & Workshops
    • Service Learning & Group Outings
    • Calendar of Events & Outings
    • Leave No Trace
    • Wildlife along the Trails
  • News
    • Trail Updates
    • Blog
    • Long Trail News
    • Press Releases
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer Reports
    • Application
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • Long Trail Legacy Campaign
    • Donate Now
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Your Membership Benefits
    • Join a Section
    • Business Membership
    • Annual Meeting
  • Shop

Rick Dugan

Rick grew up in the suburbs of Washington DC, and his fascination with long-distance hiking trails did not begin until his junior year of college. He took a course that opened his eyes to long distance hiking by spending 2 weeks on the Appalachian Trail hiking with, “the herd” of AT thru-hikers . After his college graduation and a brief, failed attempt at office-life, Rick decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2007 and embrace his love for dehydrated foods.

In 2013, he left Campo on the Mexico/California border to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, where he met his to-be wife Chelsea on the way to Canada in the forests of Yosemite. While keeping with the theme, Rick and his wife spent several years in Boulder, Colorado, to make time for a 2015 thru-hike of the Colorado Trail with their dog Boogie, and relocated to Burlington in 2016. In 2021 Rick and his wife welcomed a baby boy into the world (aptly named, “Miles”). Rick continues to enjoy hiking and the outdoors as the Membership Coordinator with the Green Mountain Club while attempting to pass on his love of dehydrated foods to his new kiddo.

two side by side images showing a small container of soil and water

Ask a Science Teacher: Why is the Long Trail so Muddy?

March 27, 2023

Vermont — and especially the Long Trail — is known for being sort of muddy. We even have an official fifth season, "mud season." Why is Vermont (sometimes known as "Vermud") and the Long Trail so muddy? Why is the Long Trail so muddy? To answer, we asked Joe Bahr, newly minted author of the … Read more

About Mud Season HikeVT Trail Recommendations Become a Member Trip Planning Trail Maps Volunteer Opportunities

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...

Featured Sponsors

jfghr-lohgo-topo OG
jfghr-lohgo-topo OG
Lenny's Shoe & Apparel logo
Lennys-Logo
Athletic_Primary_WhiteBG
Athletic_Primary_WhiteBG
Sunsoil logo
SUNSOIL_black_Large
Sunset Lake CBD logo
sunset lake cbd web logo
bbco
concept2

Connect

4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
802.244.7037 | Email GMC

Click here for current hours.
Email us for hiking advice. 

Copyright © 2023 Green Mountain Club · All Rights Reserved. · Site by Earthlogic.

2023 Trail Sign Auction Starts Monday, April 3!