The Green Mountain Club’s annual Long Trail Day fundraiser seeks an ambitious $80,000 to go toward working on and caring for the trails
Media Contact: Chloe Miller, Communications Manager, [email protected], 802-241-8324
Waterbury Center, VT — The Green Mountain Club announces the annual hiking fundraising, Long Trail Day, will take place on September 21, 2024. Long Trail Day, now in its fifth year, celebrates the Long Trail and raises funds to support the hard work that goes into caring for Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail.
Hikers and outdoor lovers near and far are invited to create a personal fundraising page and work towards a goal of $272 — $1 for every mile of the Long Trail — then hike your favorite portion of the Long Trail on Saturday, September 21. The Green Mountain Club seeks to raise $80,000 from the community this year, an ambitious goal that builds from the success of more than $70,000 in 2023.
The Green Mountain Club has been building, repairing, and maintaining the Long Trail System, which comprises 500-plus miles of trails in the state, since 1910. The non-profit organization relies on the financial support of thousands of hikers each year to support their field work, including flood recovery projects and completing the top-to-bottom rebuild of the Burrows Trail.
This announcement of the Long Trail Day fundraiser comes on the heels of another massive flood in central and northern Vermont, the third major one in a year. We recognize the work needed to upgrade Vermont’s infrastructure, including trail design and infrastructure, to protect our resources from consistent flood damage. GMC has been doing this work for the past several years, but the scale + scope necessary to upgrade the entire trail system to climate resilient standards will take many years and a lot of financial support from the hiking community. Registering for Long Trail Day helps fund this work and spread the word about our trails’ needs.
“We’re so lucky here in Vermont to have hundreds of miles of well-maintained hiking trails and we have already begun to improve them to withstand increased storms, such as rebuilding the Burrows Trail on Camel’s Hump. By participating in Long Trail Day and committing to raising $272, folks are invited to be part of the solution of managing trails for climate resiliency in Vermont.” — Alicia DiCocco, GMC Deputy Director
Join Long Trail Day 2024
To join in the fun and pledge your support for Long Trail Day, follow these easy steps:
- Register as an individual or team fundraiser at www.greenmountainclub.org/longtrailday. You’ll get a beanie and a sticker for signing up, and a free pair of Darn Tough Socks if you reach your fundraising goal!
- Commit to raising $272, or $1 for every mile of the Long Trail. Ask family, friends, colleagues, or hiking partners to support your fundraising goal – they can donate to your personal page easily online
- Hike your favorite portion of the Long Trail on Saturday September 21! (Or whenever works for you). GMC representatives and volunteers will be stationed all over the state, leading hikes and handing out cold drinks and treats. Check greenmountainclub.org/longtrailday for hike details (coming soon).
Taking part in the Long Trail Day community fundraising effort is a great way to connect with the trails and your fellow hikers. Emily Padberg and Emily Sloan, who together raised $535 for the trail last year, said,
“We chose to fundraise and give back to GMC to support all the good work they do to preserve the trail, protect surrounding habitat, and encourage folks to get outside. It’s also a great chance to catch up and spend time with each other, like the old days camping with our 5 kids combined – but in a new way!” — Emily Sloan & Emily Padberg, 2023 Long Trail Day fundraisers
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