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
    • Winter Hiking
      • Hiking 101
    • Trail Systems
      • The Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail in Vermont
      • Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom
    • HikeVT
    • Accessible Trails around Vermont
    • Thru-Hike the Long Trail
    • Hiking in Groups
    • Trip Planning
    • Mud Season
    • Fall 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

New Year’s Eve Traditions

December 29, 2016 by GMC Staff 3 Comments

This article first appeared in the February 1941 Long Trail News.

Camel’s Hump from Bolton Trail

New Year’s Eve at Bolton, by Larry Dean

Among the ten sections of the Green Mountain Club there exists no finer tradition than the annual New Year’s Party of the Burlington Section.  While the rest of the country are tooting horns and swinging in a packed dance hall, the Burlingtonians quietly roll up blankets and set out for Bolton Lodge late on the last day of the year.

Ordinarily the best skiing for the Burlington Section centers about this Lodge – miles of cross-country trails and a cabin that can be comfortably heated even in severe weather.  Lack of snow provided the principal departure from the annual routine this year: ice-creeping was the order of the night rather than skiing.  By nine-thirty on New Year’s Eve, sixteen had arrived at the Lodge after doing three and a half miles of pack-juggling up the Trail.

Normally a group of hikers who have tramped that distance are ready to have taps sounded at least by ten, but the New Year’s spirit triumphs even on the Trail.  The last hours of 1940 were spent hilariously in salting down tall tales of hikes and hiking, an intimate reading by Professor Buchanan of one hiker’s experiences on the Trail, and in stowing away a sack of shell peanuts that someone had brought along.  Every Yankee has to keep his hands or jaws busy on such an occasion, and in the absence of enough whittling to go around, the peanuts did the trick.  Then as the minute hand of Professor Buchanan’s watch crept up on midnight, the 1940 calendar was ceremoniously brought out and its traditional burning took place as Indian yells and whoops reverberated through the rafters.

Bolton Lodge

The bedding down a half hour later brought out some serious accommodation problems.  Bolton Lodge was built to take care of a dozen.  There were sixteen of us.  With a little jackknifing, the bunks were made to suffice for fourteen, and two others compromised by stretching out on the floor and benches.

Ten more club followers drifted in the next day bringing the roster to twenty-six and making as fine a lounging and hike company as any lodge ever entertained.

Sitting on one of the lodge bunks, with my feet dangling over the edge, New Year’s Day, I turned over the thought that this group surely exemplifies true out-right democracy, all ages and professions mingling together in complete enjoyment, each mindful and anxious to help the other enjoy the day – such an atmosphere made the Long Trail possible.

Late New Year’s afternoon as the group picked their icy way home, the clouds lifted letting the slant rays of the sun filter through.  Along the arena of frost-encrusted, fir-covered slopes, the sun cast a ribbon-like streak of gold, and where the slopes were untouched by the ribbon, a sheen of pink and purple was reflected – the perfect benediction to a grand party and for a new year.

 

GMC will restore Bolton Lodge next season so it can once again provide shelter for those seeking a winter’s experience in the mountains.

Filed Under: Camps, Hiking, History

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    January 1, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Love this.

    Reply
  2. Smith Edwards says

    January 7, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Thanks

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Bolton Lodge, Restored But Still Rustic - Green Mountain Club says:
    January 23, 2019 at 10:14 am

    […] and dates carved into dark, worn wood, as well as an example of what an old, crumbling building—imprinted with 90 years of markings and memories—can become if given the chance to last even a little longer into the […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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.