This article was written by Cara Clifford Nelson, granddaughter of Catherine Robbins, one of the “Three Musketeers,” the first women to thru-hike the Long Trail. It is part of a month-long series exploring Cara’s connection to the Long Trail over four generations. Join Cara and GMC for an oral and audiovisual presentation about her connection to her grandmother on Wednesday, March 13 at the Vermont History Center in Barre.
My grandmother and I shared an extraordinarily close bond; even my middle name, Catherine, is a tribute to her, bestowed upon me by my father. She was pivotal in fostering my love for adventure and horsemanship from a young age. Living just across the street from her, I was immersed in her world of equestrian prowess, especially with her cherished Morgan mare, Galaxy, bred and acquired from Vermont’s Morgan Horse Farm.
Her upbringing in Cornwall, VT, in the 1900s and 1910s and education at Middlebury College in the 1920s laid the foundation for her unique lifestyle. Commuting between campus and home on weekends, her equestrian routine became legendary. Monday mornings were marked by her riding Galaxy from Cornwall to campus. The spectacle continued as she ran up her stirrups, tucked the reins under them, gently tapped Galaxy’s rear, and whispered, “Galaxy, head home.” As if on cue, the Morgan mare galloped back home, running into her stall where my great-grandfather would untack her and let her pasture for the week. My grandmother would regale this tale with laughter, recalling the amusement of bystanders as they watched the riderless horse fly by on Monday mornings. Even during her first teaching job in Elizabethtown, New York, she maintained a routine to ride by horseback, ferrying Galaxy across water without a hint of distress.
An Unconventional Adventure
The Three Musketeers’ idea to hike was born during this teaching job, when my grandmother shared a boarding house room with a stranger, Hilda Kurth, another school teacher. What started as an unfamiliar connection blossomed into a lifelong friendship. In the winter of 1927, Hilda approached my grandmother about Kathleen, a student devastated by the unexpected death of her father. Kathleen wanted to honor her dad by hiking Vermont’s Long Trail.
On a cold, snowy night in their shared boarding house room, Hilda shared Kathleen’s sad story, sparking the idea of hiking the Long Trail together. The prospect, initially absurd, gained traction, leading to discussions with my great-grandparents, who thoroughly approved. Equipped with an old army rucksack from my great-grandmother, the planning of this unconventional adventure began.
Thirty-two days later, they crossed the Canadian border, and became the first documented women to complete the Long Trail hike.
The Three Musketeers’ Legacy
Their journey captured the country’s attention. Headlines hailed them as “The Three Musketeers,” praising their adventurous spirit. The San Francisco Sunday Examiner proclaimed, “They carried no firearms and had no male escort.” The Boston Sunday Post noted “a stunt they said a woman couldn’t do”. They challenged the conventional wisdom of the 1920s that insisted women couldn’t undertake such adventures.
Fast forward to 60ish years. Growing up in the same town as my grandmother, I was a frequent visitor to her home, often stopping by after school. She was incredible to spend time with, and our conversations never lacked depth. Her stories of the Three Musketeers’ hike were a constant fascination. Opening her scrapbook, filled with newspaper articles and sepia-toned photos, she brought the adventure to life. However, it wasn’t until seventh grade that I grasped the profound significance of her hike. Until then, they were magical tales from her youth, not fully comprehending the historical impact on Vermont and Nationwide. The revelation came during high school when I stumbled upon her name while researching Vermont history – Catherine Robbins of Cornwall, Vermont, named among the pioneering women of the Three Musketeers, the first to conquer Vermont’s Long Trail in 1927.
Hear Catherine tell why she enjoyed her experience on the Long Trail with the Three Musketeers, recorded by Cara:
More About the Three Musketeers and Their Legacy:
- Explore the details of their journey from border to border in the 2021 blog post The First Women Thru-Hikers of the Long Trail: The Three Musketeers
- Read the poem “Modern Girls,” written by Irving D. Appleby and dedicated to the Three Musketeers
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