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Lye Brook Trail Reroute Opens!

October 1, 2020 by GMC Staff 2 Comments

Take that, COVID-19! Despite the setbacks of 2020, we were able to move forward with a trail project that has been years in the making. Stratton Pond is a popular hiking destination for so many that it’s even in our HikeVT recommendations, but it is also a fragile pond ecosystem that requires special consideration.

A rare Common Loon swimming across Stratton Pond. Photo by John Plummer.

The Lye Brook Trail previously ran along the south shore of Stratton Pond all the way from the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail to the Stratton View Tent Site. This is a fragile shoreline area that is vulnerable to disturbance from hikers who stray off the trail to access the pond. Therefore, in the most sensitive section, we relocated the trail uphill, away from the shoreline.

Southern Caretakers testing newly installed puncheon on the new trail section. Photo by Kati Christoffel.

The goal is to concentrate pond access at Willis Ross Clearing on the east end and Stratton View Tent Site on the west end while allowing the rest of the shoreline habitat to rehabilitate. Last year the Long Trail Patrol (Green Mountain Club’s professional trail crew), with help from several college community service groups, cut most of the new section of the Lye Brook Trail, but it didn’t open for use.

Caretaker Naomi painting a blue blaze to mark the route of the new section of trail. Photo by Kati Christoffel.

Last week our southern caretakers officially opened the reroute by blazing (painting marks on the trees to show the trail), installing new directional signage, and covering up the old trail with brush. They also replaced broken pieces of the bridge across the pond outlet.

Caretaker Leo canoeing lumber across Stratton Pond to the work site. Photo by Rosalie Sharp.
Southern Caretakers repairing bridge at Stratton Pond outlet. Photo by Kati Christoffel.

What we love about this photo is how excited they are to complete this part of the project and the pride they take in their work.

Southern caretakers showing off the new eastern start of the Lye Brook Trail. Photo by Nigel Bates.

The east end of the Lye Brook Trail now intersects with the Stratton Pond Trail approx. .25 mi south of Stratton Pond Shelter. It no longer connects directly to Willis Ross Clearing. The west end intersection has not changed.
Thanks to all of you for your support to make this project happen! We hope you enjoy the new section of trail.

Filed Under: From the Field, News, Trail

Comments

  1. Sue Gardner says

    October 2, 2020 at 11:26 am

    Thanks for providing this info to give us new ideas for hikes. It is a great time to explore our beautiful state.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Lye Brook Wilderness Loop - Backpacking Routes says:
    October 24, 2020 at 1:26 pm

    […] Reroute at Stratton Pond: The Green Mountain Club finished a major reroute of the Lye Brook Trail away from the fragile shoreline of Stratton Pond in October 2020. That […]

    Reply

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hikers traverse snowy summit with blue sky in background

Winter Hiking Safety Tips From a VT Search and Rescue Coordinator

January 21, 2021

This article was written by Neil van Dyke and previously appeared in the Winter 2020 Long Trail News under the headline "Winter Hiking Safety." There are few times more beautiful for hiking than a crisp, clear Green Mountain winter day. The deep blue of the sky is experienced at no other time of … 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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