News Archives - Green Mountain Club

The Centennial Edition of the Long Trail Guide is here!

June 8, 2017 by GMC Staff 1 Comment

The Long Trail Guide is in! A limited number of books have arrived from the printers and will be shipping out immediately to those who pre-ordered. The rest of the books should arrive in a week and we will continue shipping from there. If you haven’t heard about the new edition yet, keep reading!

*Update: The printer surprised us by delivering the rest of the books the same day! The Visitor Center is stocked and orders will go out on schedule.*

LONG TRAIL GUIDE

The Centennial Edition
A Footpath in the Wilderness

Following the spine of the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to Quebec, the 272-mile Long Trail is Vermont’s rugged, world-renowned hiking route.

Whether you are an end-to-ender or a day hiker, the Long Trail Guide contains the information you’ll need to enjoy the scenery and solitude of Vermont’s highest peaks, including:

New and easier-to-read full-color topographic maps and elevation profiles
New shelter overview tables in each division providing quick reference information for shelters, camping, and water sources
Detailed descriptions of the route including shelter and trail history
Directions to trailheads and parking
Mileage tables and hiking times

Sales of this guidebook support the Green Mountain Club, a member-supported, nonprofit organization which has maintained and protected the Long Trail since 1910.

Order yours today! $19.95

Long Trail Guide Commemorative Set

A special commemorative set, with a Long Trail Guide retrospective authored by GMC and Long Trail history writer Reidun D. Nuquist, will be released this summer. Perfect for Long Trail history buffs, guidebook collectors, and anyone who just loves the trail.

Long Trail Guide Release Party and Storytelling Night

Thursday, June 22, 7:30-9:30 P.M.
Outdoor Gear Exchange, Church Street, Burlington

Check out the new Long Trail Guide, hot off the press 100 years after the first edition, and throw your name in the hat for a chance to share your best Long Trail story. Or sign up ahead of time at greenmountainclub.org/storytelling! Storytelling hosted by Maggie Mae Anderson, a Moth and Extempo storyteller. Drinks provided by Citizen Cider. We hope to see you there!

Mud Season Has Arrived!

April 7, 2017 by Kristin McLane 21 Comments

Spring has sprung, although it’s not always easy to tell in Vermont. One day it dumps 6″ of snow, the next it’s 50° and sunny, and the back and forth wreaks havoc on our beloved trails. When the snow finally melts in town and at trailheads, it’s tempting to hope that the entire trail will be just as clear and dry. But experience has taught us that snow and ice hang on late into May at higher elevations, and even into June on the highest peaks. And that middle ground between the trailhead and the summit? It’s a muddy mess.

As the snow melts and the spring rains arrive, the ground can only hold so much water. Deep and wide mud puddles appear, sometimes taking up entire sections of trail. But we’re not just trying to keep you from getting dirty. Trails that are oversaturated are vulnerable to damage from soil compaction and erosion with every footstep. Soil compaction degrades the quality of the trail by reducing its ability to absorb water, causing increased flooding later and making it harder for vegetation to grow. Erosion then carries the soil away, leaving rocks and roots exposed.

Think you can just walk around that mud puddle blocking the trail? Think again – while walking around muddy areas will keep you dry, walking on the edges of trails tramples vegetation, widens the trail, and causes more damage to both trail and environment.

Help us help you! Trail maintainers, many of whom are volunteers, work hard to keep Vermont’s trails in good shape. Let’s not add to their work.

You might say, But it’s so nice out! I want to hike!

Believe us, we get it! Hiking is what we live for, and it’s hard to beat that spring fever. First of all, keep in mind that what the weather is like at the trailhead is not necessarily what it is like farther up the trail. You could still be walking into winter if you somehow made it past the mud. Secondly, maybe try some different activities for the next two months: spring is a great time for other outdoor recreation like cycling, paddling, and even road walking. Check out our outings calendar to join a trip with a GMC section – we don’t just hike! Spring is also a great time to plan out your summer hikes. Who doesn’t love poring over maps and guidebooks? Or take a workshop and learn some new skills for later.

If you really can’t resist the call of the trail, stick to low elevations and south facing slopes, which tend to dry out earlier in the season. But even in those places, be prepared to turn around if the trail is suddenly muddy. One of the seven principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics is to only travel on durable surfaces. Rock is durable. Hard, dry soil is durable. Mud is not durable. Help us protect the trail for use the rest of the year by turning around when you come upon a muddy section of trail. The trails will dry out and harden again soon enough and you’ll be back out hiking before you know it.

Check out our list of suggested mud season hikes and even more from VT State Parks. Mud season has traditionally ended around Memorial Day but climate change is making it harder to predict what the season will look like. If it’s getting later in the season and you suspect the trail you want to hike might be dried out, it doesn’t hurt to check! Call the park that the trail is in for a status update, or call GMC’s Visitor Center at 802-244-7037 (or email [email protected]). We do our best to keep abreast of conditions and we are happy to share any information we have.

Most of all, thank you for doing your part to keep our trails in great shape! Vermont’s trails are some of its best features and we want everyone to enjoy them for a long time.

Bryant Camp has Reopened!

January 19, 2017 by GMC Staff Leave a Comment

This post was written by Mollie Flanigan, GMC’s Land Stewardship Coordinator.

On January 13, 2017, we celebrated the reopening of Bryant Camp, a historic cabin in Bolton Valley.

It was originally built by Edward Bryant sometime around 1930. He was a conservationist and skiing pioneer, who bought 4,000 acres in Bolton Valley in 1922 and developed a network of alpine ski trails, starting one of the first recreation areas of its kind in Vermont. After Bryant’s death in 1951, his Bolton Valley property was sold to a lumber company, and in 1963 it was sold to the DesLauriers family, who formed the Bolton Valley Corporation and constructed the access road up the valley and opened the Bolton Valley Ski Area in 1966.

In 2011 it was announced that much of Bolton Valley Resort’s Nordic and backcountry ski land would be sold to private interests and that the public would lose access to this area. Thanks to a community effort spearheaded by the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and the Vermont Land Trust, the money was raised to purchase the land and transfer it to the State of Vermont to incorporate into Mount Mansfield State Forest. Over these years of changes in land owners, Bryant Cabin remained open to the public either through free entry or rental by Bolton resort.

When the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation became the owners of the land, they needed a partner to manage the two structures on the property, Bryant Camp and Bolton Lodge. The Green Mountain Club agreed to be the manager of these facilities in order to ensure that these historic structures would continue to serve the public and provide recreational opportunities in Bolton Valley, but they needed major renovations before opening for that purpose.

Bryant Camp is nearly 100 years old. It is a low laying building, on a wet site, and so much of its foundation, flooring, and siding needed to be replaced. The camp had also never had a proper privy, which had to be built if the cabin was going to be opened to the public. In addition, the cabin needed a new woodstove, staircase up to the sleeping loft, emergency exit, and new wood shed.

The cabin is in a remote location, only accessible via a one-mile, uphill Nordic ski trail. Due to this, the renovations met with some anticipated, but difficult challenges. Transporting all the lumber and tools up to the cabin was impeded by the wet, eroding trail and early snowfall. The early winter made for cold and harsh working conditions which drew out the timeline for the project. The work was done by GMC’s construction crew, which was up for the challenge, and they were able to finish the renovations by the end of 2016, thanks to a lot of hard work.

The reopening of Bryant Camp took place on a clear but cold and windy day. GMC staff, board, and other guests gathered to make the trek up the one-mile ski trail, many of them hauling sleds of firewood to help stock the cabin. Once at the top, they were treated to hot chocolate and a thank you speech by Executive Director Mike DeBonis, followed by a ribbon cutting by GMC President John Page and tours of the cabin and brand new privy. Bryant Camp is now open for rental from August 1^st to March 31^st every year. Renters get the exclusive use of this rustic cabin, which sleeps up to eight guests, and has a woodstove and composting privy, right in the heart of the Bolton Nordic Ski Area. Rates are $95 for a weekend night, $75 for a week day. More details can be found and reservations can be made on GMC’s Rental Cabins page.

In 2017 GMC is planning to start renovations on Bolton Lodge, a historic Long Trail Shelter that is located at the southern end of the Bolton Nordic Ski Area. That cabin will also be open for public rental once renovations are completed.

GMC also has the long-term goal of bringing hiking back to Bolton Valley. We are planning on building trails that will connect Bolton Lodge and Bryant Camp to the Long Trail and provide for year-round recreation in Bolton Valley once again.

Holiday Specials on GMC Gear

November 23, 2016 by Kristin McLane Leave a Comment

Check out the savings on these bundled Green Mountain Club holiday packages! We want you out on the trail exploring and learning so we hope some of these packages provide the inspiration needed to do so. Click on the photos to be taken to each package in our store, or view the whole store.

holiday-bundle-1 — **Green Mountain Explorer’s Package**

Allow this package of a GMC nalgene, a GMC bandana in green or orange, and a Day Hiker’s Guide to motivate you or a loved one to join the adventure and head into the mountains!

holiday-bundle-2 — **Little Adventurer Package**

Complete with a GMC kid’s t-shirt, Long Trail Activity Book, and four different Nature ID cards, this package is meant to inspire parents and children to head out in the woods and explore. Use the ID cards to identify common ferns, raptors, animal tracks, and leaves, and to cultivate the creativity needed to complete the activity book.

holiday-bundle-3 — **Winter Trekker Package**

A lot of important gear is needed to head out on the trail in the winter. This package provides a few of the necessary items; a black GMC beanie, a GMC Buff, and a Winter Hiking Guide.

holiday-bundle-4 — **History Buff Package**

As maintainers of the oldest long distance trail in the country, the Green Mountain Club has a lot of history behind it. This package provides a glimpse into the past with a print of the first map of the Long Trail drawn in 1910 by GMC founder, James P. Taylor, as well as the beautifully illustrated book, A Century in the Mountains.

holiday-bundle-5 — **Budding Naturalist’s Package**

If you love exploring the flora and fauna of Vermont then this package deal is for you! The Nature Guide to Vermont’s Long Trail supplemented with four different Nature ID cards provides you with all the information you need to explore and identify the plants and animals of the Long Trail. Written by GMC member Lexi Shear, the Nature Guide provides color pictures and comprehensive descriptions of 215 species. The ID cards allow for a quick reference of common ferns, raptors, animal tracks, and leaves found in the Northeast.

**Vintage packs not included**

Cyber Monday

Don’t forget about our Cyber Monday deal on November 28th! On Cyber Monday ONLY, non-members can enter the code CYBERMONDAY at checkout to get 15% off storewide and members can enter MEMBERSCYBERMONDAY to get 30% off storewide.

Also during the holiday season, receive a free pack of Mountain Note Cards with any order over $25.

Plus, keep an eye out on social media for even more weekly specials.

Happy holidays!

Autumn Colors

September 9, 2016 by Alicia DiCocco Leave a Comment

Ever wonder why the leaves change colors? Green Mountain Club’s Executive Director and forester, Mike DeBonis, explains the phenomenon of fall foliage. If you’re looking for somewhere to hike, you can look at our suggested day hikes for some ideas.

Hiking in Vermont is one of the best ways to watch the beautiful ritual of death and renewal as trees prepare for winter and the next growing season. The kaleidoscope of color we enjoy so much is the result of chemical changes to leaves of deciduous trees, which shed their leaves or needles annually.

While multiple factors both inside the plant (for instance, nutrients and acidity) and in the environment (such as temperature, moisture and sunlight) contribute to the duration and color of foliage, day length is the primary signal that summer is over. When days shorten you and I buy firewood and get out our winter clothes. Deciduous trees start a process called senescence—the dying phase of leaves.

Cells between the leaf and stem begin to expand rapidly, forming a corky abscission layer that serves two purposes: 1) it blocks the two-way flow of water, minerals, and nutrients between tree and leaf; and 2) creates a clean breaking point that enables the leaf to safely fall from the tree once its work is done.

To understand where fall colors come from, we need to know why leaves are green to begin with. The green color comes from chlorophyll—a light absorbing pigment in plants that is used in the process of converting sunlight to food. Chlorophyll absorbs certain wavelengths of visible light—reds and yellows—and reflects others. The green we see is the wavelength reflected from the leaves.

In fall, as the abscission layer forms, the production of chlorophyll slows, then stops. Without the production of chlorophyll, the green fades rapidly (imagine a piece of colored paper left out in the sun) and the yellow, orange, and blue pigments become visible.

We get red and purple pigments from sugars trapped in the dying leaves. Brown pigments come from tannins. They’re what remain after all of the other pigments break down (picture brown oak or beech leaves rustling in cold winter winds).

Each year the process begins anew. We are fortunate in Vermont to witness this amazing blast of foliage color that is part of the necessary and natural cycle of renewal in our forests.