Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MAY 27, 2021

CONTACT: Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs, (802) 241-8320; [email protected]

Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Vermont’s Hiking Season

Vermont — After a long year of social distancing followed by mud season, hiking season is finally upon us. Last year, the Green Mountain Club experienced a 35 percent average increase in use on the Long Trail and an 80 percent increase in use of overnight shelters, and we anticipate another busy season ahead. GMC asks hikers to help protect natural resources by being good trail stewards and responsible members of the hiking community. This involves planning ahead for your hike, respecting other hikers, and packing out what you pack in for your hike.

“I get asked every day when the trails are going to be open, and I am excited to tell folks that they can now get out and hike. That said, it’s important for all of us to take care of the trails, especially with the high level of use they got last year and will likely get this year. If we all do our part to stay on the trail and practice Leave No Trace principles, we can make sure the Long Trail stays in good shape in the future,” said Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs for the Green Mountain Club.

Vermont is home to hundreds of miles of hiking opportunities. This is a wonderful time of year to get outside and enjoy a favorite hike or explore a new trail. Higher elevations may still have snow and lower elevations may still have muddy conditions, so be prepared to walk through puddles and mud to avoid damaging the surrounding vegetation.

GMC urges hikers to plan ahead, with special early season tips:

Let someone know where you will be hiking and when you plan to return.
Carry a map and know which trailhead you need to return to.
Bring a warm extra layer as mountain tops are chilly year-round and Vermont’s weather can quickly change.
Bring rain gear; even an emergency poncho or garbage bag will help in a pinch.
Carry out what you carry in and help protect Vermont’s special places.

GMC is also excited to announce that we will be reopening our visitor center for in-person visits on weekends starting June 4. Stop by the headquarters on Route 100 in Waterbury Center, VT, from 10am – 4 pm Friday – Monday to meet our hiking specialists and get personalized hiking recommendations.

Vermont outdoor retailers are stepping up to give back to the trails by donating to the Green Mountain Club. GMC encourages hikers to gear up at their local outdoor retailer, especially The Mountain Goat in Manchester, Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, MountainOps in Stowe, Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier, and Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters in Brattleboro.

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a private non-profit organization with over 9,800 members. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining, managing, and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and the Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom, and advocating for hiking opportunities in Vermont. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more about the GMC or to become a member.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — April 7, 2021

CONTACT:  Alicia DiCocco, (609) 410-0841, [email protected] 

 Protect the Trails and Stay Busy this Mud Season with Green Mountain Club’s Social Media Challenges

Waterbury Center, VT — As the spring thaw begins early in the Green Mountains, the Green Mountain Club invites hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to have fun on trails and roads on lower elevations. The club has also created weekly challenges and giveaways inspired to help folks get outdoors while staying off high-elevation trails this mud season.

“This was a really difficult winter for everyone, so we know that folks are eager to spend time in the mountains,” says Alicia DiCocco, Director of Development and Communications. “The wet and muddy mountain trails just need time to dry out before they are ready for us, so we are excited to help everyone have low elevation fun and explore parts of Vermont in a potentially new, less muddy way.”

There are many ways for individuals to enjoy mud season this year:

Join GMC’s Instagram challenge #GMCMudMadness (@greenmountainclub) for ideas and prizes
Visit greenmountainclub.org for mud season hiking recommendations.
Plan and train for hiking season: instead of hiking the higher elevation mountains during mud season, plan your trip for hiking season and train on the lower elevation trails and roads.
Try a new outdoor activity like gravel biking or paddling
GMC’s full guide to making the most of mud season is available at www.greenmountainclub.org/mudseason

“With more people looking to get out on the trail and the early warm weather, it is more important than ever to take care of mountain trails during mud season. We are asking for everyone’s help to stay on dry, lower elevation trails until the end of May,” says Green Mountain Club executive director Mike DeBonis.

Why is it important to stay off muddy trails and find other places to hike? Using muddy trails during this season causes damage including:

Erosion: extremely wet trails are vulnerable to damage from every footstep because footsteps compact the trail, reducing its ability to absorb water, causing more flooding that carries the soil away.
Trampled Vegetation: Hikers tend to walk around mud puddles, which makes sense. The only problem is that by doing so it tramples the vegetation and causes damage to the trail.
Widened Trails: By walking around mud puddles, especially by multiple hikers, the width of the trail increases. This may not seem like a problem, but once it begins, it tends to accelerate as folks continue to use a trail, which means we are all having a larger impact on the landscape than needed for a sustainable hiking trail. It also leads to further erosion and trampled vegetation.

Participating giveaway sponsors include The Mountain Goat (Manchester); Johnson Hardware (Johnson); Outdoor Gear Exchange (Burlington); REI (Williston); Skida (Burlington); King Arthur Baking (Norwich); Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel (locations throughout VT); Happy Vermont, Athletic Brewing Company, Darn Tough Vermont (Northfield), and others.

About the Green Mountain Club

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 26, 2021

Contact:
Jessica Savage, Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, [email protected], 802-249-1230
Keegan Tierney, Green Mountain Club, [email protected], 802-241-8320

Ethan Ready, Green Mountain National Forest, [email protected]

Mud Season Trail Closures Begin

Vermont – The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) and its partners remind hikers of mud season at this time of year and ask for the public’s help protecting Vermont’s trails. And this year, COVID-19 is still a dominant concern, even with more people vaccinated. FPR and partners are asking for the public’s assistance with making smart choices to protect both public health and trails during this vulnerable time.

Vermonters should be aware that mud season conditions have begun and will persist in many places until Memorial Day or later: trail closures may be in effect for several weeks.

The Green Mountain Club and other trail organizations are working hard to get the trails ready and opened in time for the traditional kick-off of the season on Memorial Day weekend. Please exercise patience and help in stewarding the trails. While mud season conditions persist, here are some tips to keep you and our trails healthy.

Plan Ahead and Prepare:

The wet soils on and around hiking trails are very susceptible to erosion. To protect fragile soil and surrounding vegetation, some trails may be temporarily closed by the land manager. Please respect the trail closure signage you see. Visit www.trailfinder.info before you head to the trails: you can find trails close to home and learn whether they are open or not. Staff will be updating trail conditions on ANR lands on a weekly basis, so check back frequently.

Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibit natural drainage of our beloved hiking trails. If a trail is muddy, even if it is not officially closed, please find an alternative, less vulnerable area to hike in. If you want to help take care of the trails, contact the trail manager and consider volunteering.

“We are all excited to be outside after a long winter of social distancing and virtual meetings. Unfortunately, the mountains aren’t quite ready for hikers yet, so it is best that we all do our part and hike on lower elevation trails and backroads. Giving the higher elevation trails time to dry out will help protect the trails and make for a better hiking season for all of us later in the year,” says Mike DeBonis, Green Mountain Club Executive Director

Check out a list of hikes which are better suited to mud season at https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/mud-season or visit www.trailfinder.info or www.greenmountainclub.org. If a parking lot is full, please find an alternative place to recreate.

Take It Easy

If you encounter conditions you are not prepared for, please turn around. Especially right now, our emergency responders and medical providers do not need the additional burden and risk of a search and rescue operation or to treat a hiking-related injury.

Respect COVID-19 Guidelines

As Vermont continues its work to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, FPR and its partners will continue to provide advice based on the Governor’s Executive Order and Department of Health/CDC guidance: COVID-19 guidelines may change but will still apply.

For the latest information, please visit https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-covid-19

The Green Mountain Club, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and the Green Mountain National Forest thank hikers for their cooperation in helping to maintain Vermont’s outstanding hiking trails.

For information on mud season and trail closures, please see: https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/mud-season or call the GMC’s visitor center staff at 802-244-7037 (or email [email protected]).

The GMC is dedicated to maintaining, managing, and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Kingdom Heritage trails in the Northeast Kingdom. For more information visit www.greenmountainclub.org

The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont’s forests, the operation and maintenance of the State Park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and our visitors. www.fpr.vermont.gov

The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) encompasses more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 16, 2020

Contact:
Joanna Fisher, Press Secretary, The Trust for Public Land, 704-649-2048, [email protected]
Mike DeBonis, Executive Director, Green Mountain Club, 802-241-8212, [email protected]

SECTION OF THE LONG TRAIL PERMANENTLY PROTECTED
New addition to Long Trail State Forest in Johnson and Waterville

Montpelier, VT – The Trust for Public Land, Green Mountain Club and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), today announced the protection of Codding Hollow, adding 160.7 acres to Long Trail State Forest in Johnson and Waterville, Vermont. The newly protected property includes one of the last unprotected sections of the Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. Approximately 200,0

00 people use the Long Trail each year, and it is recognized by the Vermont General Assembly as a “unique, historic and irreplaceable resource, whose protection is of great benefit to the people of the State of Vermont.” Six miles of the trail remain unprotected and the partners are working with willing landowners to protect these final miles.

“The protection of 160.7 acres in Johnson and Waterville is a conservation success we have been working towards for the past thirty years,” reflects Mike DeBonis, Green Mountain Club’s Executive Director. “It adds to the corridor of conserved lands that make the Long Trail possible and give it the ‘footpath in the wilderness’ experience for which GMC has always managed the trail.”

“The Long Trail is not only a great place for Vermonters to enjoy the outdoors, it’s also a historical landmark attracting visitor

s from across the country and inspiring thru-hikers around the world,” noted Kate Wanner, Project Manager at The Trust for Public Land. “As our state and nation continue to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, our trails and public lands have become an even more important source of exercise, fresh air and stress relief. We’re pleased that The Trust for Public Land, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and The Green Mountain Club were able to ensure this section of trail will be permanently protected.”

The Green Mountain Club, FPR and The Trust for Public Land have been working toward a common vision to conserve the few remaining unprotected miles of the Long Trail and to protect lands surrounding the trail. This effort creates and protects well managed, sustainable and publicly accessible trail networks and other recreational features. These conserved lands foster economic benefits for local communities through sustainable timber harvesting and appropriate recreation and tourism, while also connecting important wildlife corridors. The partnership also focuses on conserving large tracts of undeveloped working forest, and protecting biodiversity and vital watersheds, while maintaining the undeveloped forested viewshed along the Long Trail.

As an addition to Long Trail State Forest, the land will be owned and managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation to promote diverse public access opportunities, sustainable forest management, high-quality wildlife habitat, and clean water, as well as the protection of natural, historical and cultural resources.

This project was made possible by funding from the Fields Pond Foundation, Outdoor Gear Exchange, and private donors, as well as through a capital appropriation from the Vermont General Assembly for the protection of the Long Trail in Fiscal Year 2020.

To learn more about Long Trail State Forest, visit FPR’s website: https://fpr.vermont.gov/long-trail-state-forest.

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Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Kingdom Heritage trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont’s forests, the operation and maintenance of the Vermont State Park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and our visitors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 21, 2020

Contact:
Jessica Savage, Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, 802-249-1230, [email protected]
Keegan Tierney, Green Mountain Club, 802-241-8320, [email protected]
Ethan Ready, Green Mountain National Forest, [email protected]

Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Vermont’s Hiking Season:
New Recommendations with COVID-19

Vermont – The holiday weekend is traditionally the start of the hiking season in Vermont. From its rocky summits to its gentle valleys, Vermont is home to hundreds of miles of hiking opportunities. This year, with COVID-19 as a dominant concern, we are asking hikers to take a few extra precautions to both protect public health and protect the public value of our beautiful trails.

Hiking is the ideal outdoor recreational activity for these times since you can get outside for exercise and fresh air while still adhering to social distancing and hygiene guidelines, if we’re all smart and courteous about getting outside.

New COVID-19 Trail Etiquette

Out-of-state visitors are still being asked to self-quarantine for at least 14 days after arriving in Vermont and before engaging in any activities. For more information about health and safety precautions, please visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19. To protect public health, backcountry shelters and remote campsites on public lands are closed through June 15^th.

As with all outdoor recreation activities, hikers should go out only if you’re healthy, have not been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and/or have not recently traveled from a location with a CDC-issued travel advisory. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently, don’t touch your face and embrace a “Park, Play and Move On” mentality,

If you are heading out on the trail, hikers should follow the updated COVID-19 trail etiquette below:

Know where and when to go: It’s best if we don’t all go to the most popular trailheads at the most popular times of day. Early morning or evening tends to be less crowded. Dispersal is key! You can plan your trip on www.trailfinder.info. If you arrive at a parking lot and it is full, find another trail.
Maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from others: This includes dogs: please leash your dog. They are members of your household and need to keep their social distance as well (most standard leashes are six feet in length).
Wear a cloth mask or face covering: Any time you know others may be present, you should have your mask on, even while hiking. Keeping it at the ready is okay if you can quickly and safely pull it up over your nose and mouth, doing this well before you come within six feet of others.
Slow down, step back, and let people know when you’re approaching: Awareness and consideration are key. Everyone should yield to everyone right now and making some noise as you approach is recommended. A friendly “Hello!” followed by a pause to figure out your next move is the best tactic. If you find yourself coming up behind a slower walker and there’s not six feet to pass safely, slow down instead. If somebody is getting too close to you, step back to allow enough space.
Step off the trail when needed: If the trail isn’t wide enough to allow for six feet in passing, step off the trail at a 90-degree angle, being careful not to tread on plants if at all possible. Once you’re six feet off, wait for the approaching group to clear the area before retracing your footsteps. Please do not cut a new trail parallel to the existing track.
Keep single file (even on wide trails): Keep your group single file (this may mean you have to hike more slowly than you want to): do not spread out all over the trail. When you let someone pass, step off to the side and stay put — don’t walk alongside the path. The same goes for when you encounter ice or mud in the trail — stay on the trail and go right through it!
Don’t stand across the trail to chat: it is great to see friends and acquaintances (who’s that behind the awesome plaid cloth mask?) but stopping on either side of the trail to chat just creates a breath “gauntlet” that others must either pass through or go off-trail to avoid.
Embrace an arrive, play, and leave mentality: Do not gather in groups before or after activities.
Hiking with children: If you are hiking with children, set expectations before getting out of the car. Remind them not to run up to people or dogs, and to cough and sneeze into their elbows while turned away from people. Children older than 2 years in age can and should be encouraged to use cloth masks or face coverings. Remind your kids often of the new rules; they will need lots of kind and consistent reminders of what this new behavior needs to look like — be sure that you are modeling it.

Trail Conditions and Backcountry Facility Closures

Trails at higher elevations currently still have snow and ice so hikers should be prepared for winter conditions (with traction, layers, and experience) or consider staying below 2500’ for another couple of weeks.

“The snowy treadway is undermined in many places where drainages and streams are running, creating the potential for bad post-holing,” says John Plummer, Group Outreach & Field Coordinator at the Green Mountain Club (GMC). “The mud is still pretty significant in a lot of places since the snowline is so low. It depends on the location, but people will see mud at every elevation on the Long Trail System this weekend.”

If you encounter muddy conditions, please either turn back or be prepared to walk straight through puddles and mud to avoid damaging the surrounding vegetation.

Trails on state and federal lands are open, but caution is still needed: staff and volunteers have not been able to perform the normal levels of spring trail maintenance or assessments.

“Our volunteers have been working diligently to clear the trails of winter debris,” said GMC Director of Field Programs Keegan Tierney. “However, our volunteers were delayed in starting their spring trail maintenance due to COVID-19 restrictions and late season snowpack. They are still working on clearing trails and hikers should expect to encounter areas of blowdowns from the winter. We will also be operating with very limited field staff this season and will need hikers’ help in stewarding the trails.”

Here are a few tips for early season hikers:

Plan ahead and prepare. Now is the time to practice extra caution and know the risks of any activity: www.greenmountainclub.org/plan.
Always let someone know where you will be hiking and when you expect to return.
Carry a map and know which trailhead you need to return to.
Bring a warm extra layer as mountain tops are chilly year-round and Vermont’s weather can quickly change. Be prepared for winter conditions if you are hiking above 2500’ in the near future.
Bring rain gear; even an emergency poncho or garbage bag will help in a pinch.
Water levels in streams and rivers may be higher than normal this time of year so use caution when crossing.
Stay hydrated and bring food for long hikes.
Report blowdowns or other issues on the trail to GMC or the appropriate trail manager.

To protect public health, shelters and privies on the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail in Vermont are closed. Trail managers are developing guidelines for use of backcountry facilities and hope to open some facilities in a reduced capacity by June 15. GMC is encouraging day hikes only for now, but dispersed and primitive camping is allowed at some locations on the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail in Vermont.

Primitive camping along the trail can be complicated because the rules vary depending on who the land manager is:

Private Land: Camping is limited to designated areas only on private land. Use of this land is permitted through the generosity of the landowners, so please do not abuse the privilege.
State Forests: In certain state forests, primitive camping is allowed but your campsite must be 100’ from any water source, 200’ from any trail or property line, 1000’ from any traveled road, and below 2500’ in elevation. See https://fpr.vermont.gov/primitive-camping for more information and locations.
Federal Land: Camping between shelters is permitted along much of the Long Trail in the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). GMNF recommends campsites be at least 200’ from any water source or trail, and not to camp in the alpine zones.

Please contact the Green Mountain Club or appropriate land manager for more information.

While privies are closed, make sure you know how to go to the bathroom outdoors before heading out. Learn how far to step off the trail and how to dig a cathole, along with other ways to Leave No Trace, at www.greenmountainclub.org/covidlnt.

The Green Mountain Club, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and the Green Mountain National Forest wish you a very safe and enjoyable hiking season.

For up-to-date hiking information and recommendations please visit the GMC website or call the GMC’s visitor center staff at 802-244-7037 (or email [email protected]). GMC offers waterproof paper maps and guidebooks for sale on the GMC website, and digital maps of popular trails in Vermont through the Avenza Maps app, available in the App Store and Google Play.

For more information on outdoor recreation and the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, visit: https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-covid-19

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The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont’s forest resources, the operation and maintenance of the State Park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and our visitors. www.fpr.vermont.go

The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) encompasses more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 11, 2020

Mud Season in the Time of COVID-19:
Help Protect Your Health and Fragile Trail Environments

Vermont – Normally, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and its partners remind hikers of mud season at this time of year and ask for your help in protecting our trails. This year, with COVID-19 as a dominant concern and the need to socially distance, we are asking for the public’s assistance with making smart choices to both protect public health and keep trails protected during this time.

The Governor’s recent “Play Smart and Play Safe” Addendum 13 to his Executive Order encourages Vermonters to participate in outdoor recreational activities, while limiting themselves to those activities that can be enjoyed while adhering to social distancing and hygiene requirements, and which do not include direct physical contact with those outside their immediate household. Vermonters should also be aware that mud season conditions persist in many places and trail closures may still be in effect for several weeks.

The Long Trail, its side trails, and facilities including shelters and privies are currently closed on state lands. Facilities including shelters and privies are also closed on the Green Mountain National Forest. The Green Mountain Club is asking everyone to avoid using the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, side trails, and facilities until further notice. In addition, Forest Service officials in Vermont, in alignment with current federal and state guidance to ensure the health and safety of employees, visitors and volunteers, are restricting overnight camping at designated campgrounds and shelters in addition to prohibiting the use of backcountry privies along the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail segments on the Green Mountain National Forest. For additional information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/gmfl/home.

The Green Mountain Club is working hard to get the trails ready and opened in time for the traditional kick-off of hiking season on Memorial Day weekend. They are asking hikers for their patience and help in stewarding the trails as the hiking season gets up and running.

While mud season conditions persist, here are some tips to keep you and our trails healthy:

Consider the Location:

The wet soils on and around hiking trails are very susceptible to erosion at this time of year. To protect fragile soil and surrounding vegetation, some trails may be closed by the land manager during this time. Please respect the signage you see. Visit www.trailfinder.info before you head to the trails: you can find trails close to home and see whether they are open or not.

Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibit natural drainage of our beloved hiking trails. If a trail is muddy, even if it is not officially closed, please find an alternative area to hike in. If a parking lot is full, or too many people are gathered at a location, please find an alternative place to recreate.

The period of snowmelt and muddy trails varies considerably throughout Vermont depending on elevation, solar orientation, depth of snowpack, and amount of spring rainfall. Even as it warms up in town, our mountains are hiding cold, wet, snowy, and icy conditions that may persist deep into spring. Hikers who find themselves at high elevations will need better traction and warmer clothes than the valley may hint at. We encourage hikers to use their best judgment. If you encounter conditions you are not prepared for, please turn around. Especially right now, our emergency responders and medical providers do not need the additional burden of a search and rescue operation, or to treat a hiking-related injury. Several recent incidents involving hikers in distress on the closed Long Trail at higher elevations have resulted in search and rescue missions that are especially disruptive given the challenging precautions necessary to safely conduct these rescues.

Vermonters should continue to focus only on outdoor recreation opportunities within Vermont and should only drive with members of their household, though they are no longer being asked to limit outings to within 10 miles of their homes.

Out-of-state visitors are still being asked not to come to Vermont for recreational activities, or if they do, to self-quarantine for at least 14 days after arriving in Vermont before engaging in any activities. For more information about health and safety precautions, please visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19

In addition, wherever you go, even for a hike or run, you should maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from others. This includes dogs: please leash your dog! They are members of your household and need to keep their social distance as well (most standard leashes are six feet in length).

Wear a Cloth Mask or Face Covering: Any time you know others may be present, you should have your mask on, even while running or biking. Keeping it at the ready is ok if you can quickly and safely pull it up over your nose and mouth, doing this well before you come within six feet of others.

Know Proper Trailhead and Trail Use Etiquette:

Know where and when to go: it’s best if we don’t all go to the most popular trailheads at the most popular times of day. Early morning or evening tends to be less crowded. Dispersal is key! You can plan your trip on trailfinder.info. If you arrive at a parking lot and it is full, find another trail.
Slow down, step back, and let people know when you’re approaching: Awareness and consideration are key. Everyone should yield to everyone right now and making some noise as you approach is recommended. A friendly “Hello!” followed by a pause to figure out your next move is the best tactic. If you find yourself coming up behind a slower walker, and there’s not six feet to pass safely, slow down instead. If somebody is getting too close to you, step back to allow enough space.
Step off the trail when needed: If the trail isn’t wide enough to allow for six feet in passing, step off the trail at a 90-degree angle, being careful not to tread on plants if at all possible. Once you’re six feet off, wait for the approaching group to clear the area before retracing your footsteps. If you’re a mountain biker, lay your bike down by the side of the trail first. By whatever means you may be moving on the trail, don’t cut a new trail parallel to the existing track.
Keep single file (even on wide trails): Keep your group single file (this may mean you have to hike more slowly than you want to): do not spread out all over the trail. When you let someone pass, step off to the side and stay put — don’t walk or ride alongside the path. The same goes for when you encounter ice or mud in the trail — stay on the trail and go right through it!
Don’t stand across the trail to chat: it is great to see friends and acquaintances (who’s that behind the awesome plaid cloth mask?) but stopping on either side of the trail to chat just creates a breath “gauntlet” that others must either pass through or go off-trail to avoid.
Embrace an arrive, play, and leave mentality: Do not gather in groups before or after activities.
Hiking with Children: If you are hiking with children, set expectations before getting out of the car. Remind them not to run up to people or dogs, and to cough and sneeze into their elbows while turned away from people. Children older than 2 years in age can and should be encouraged to use cloth masks or face coverings. Remind your kids often of the new rules; they will need lots of kind and consistent reminders of what this new behavior needs to look like — be sure that you are modeling it!!

Remember: If you can’t maintain social distance, just don’t go at all!

The Green Mountain Club, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Green Mountain National Forest thank hikers for their cooperation in helping to maintain one of Vermont’s finest recreational resources, our hiking trails.

For information on mud season and trail closures, please see https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-covid-19/trail-closures-mud-season-and-covid-19 or call the GMC’s visitor center staff at 802-244-7037 (or email [email protected]).

For more information on outdoor recreation and COVID-19 guidelines, visit: https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-covid-19

For information for outdoor recreation businesses, visit: https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/business/stay-home-stay-safe-sector-specific-guidance#outdoor-recreation

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The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) encompasses more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2020

CONTACT: Lorne Currier, (802) 241-8329
[email protected]

Join a Hike on Winter Trails Day

WATERBURY CENTER, VT., – The Green Mountain Club, the maintainer and protector of Vermont’s Long Trail, is hosting its 24th annual Winter Trails Day on Saturday, March 7, 2020.

Winter Trails Day, based at the Green Mountain Club Visitor Center on Route 100 in Waterbury Center, features 13 free, guided group hikes for every ability, winter skills workshops, free snowshoe and microspike demos courtesy of Outdoor Gear Exchange, a campfire and s’mores, and children’s activities, followed by an après celebration sponsored by Burlington Beer Company and The Pizza Joint. Hikes include Camel’s Hump, Beaver Meadow Lodge, Mount Hunger, Bingham Falls, a 20s & 30s Hike to Sterling Pond, and a Baby & Toddler hike on the Short Trail right on GMC’s campus. Hikes will leave from GMC between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM.

Green Mountain Club staff and volunteers will be on-site all day to assist visitors with registration, trail information, and winter hiking tips. Workshops include Winter Preparedness, Animal Tracking, and a Children’s Obstacle Race. There will also be trivia and a GMC archives display.

“Winter Trails Day is an excellent opportunity for community members to experience winter hiking, learn about the outdoors, and meet new people,” says Volunteer and Education Coordinator Lorne Currier. “The Green Mountain Club is excited to offer options for everyone to enjoy the winter, from all-day hikes to the top of Vermont’s iconic peaks to a children’s obstacle course with campfire and s’mores.”

Participants are encouraged to bring layers of warm winter clothing, plenty of water, and snacks and/or lunch for their hikes. Snowshoes and/or microspikes are recommended. Snowshoe and microspike demos are available for the hikes for those who don’t have their own (first come, first served).

Hiking snacks are being provided by Cabot Cheese, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Nature Valley. Exciting raffle prizes are being provided by Green Mountain Club, Burlington Beer Company, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Jay Peak Resort, Mad River Glen, The Mountain Goat, REI Co-op, Trapp Family Lodge, Tubbs Snowshoes, VT State Parks, and Waterbury Sports. Thank you to all our sponsors.

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2019

CONTACT: Matt Krebs, Operations & Publications Coordinator
(802) 241-8321; [email protected]
#hikevt

Updated Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map Now Available

Vermont – The updated third edition of the Green Mountain Club’s Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map is now available, both in waterproof paper form and digitally. This map has been updated to include the new Kingdom Heritage Trail on Middle Mountain and Bluff Ridge, just opened in June of this year, and the trail relocation on Wheeler Mountain. It also includes trails around Lake Willoughby and Wheeler Pond, the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, plus Burke, Gore, Monadnock (VT), Brousseau, and Averill Mountains. The map includes directions to trailheads and trail difficulty ratings.

Purchase your new Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map and get out there to enjoy the changing fall foliage in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The paper map is available at our Visitor Center in Waterbury Center as well as online at store.greenmountainclub.org.

The digital map is available through the free Avenza Maps app in the App Store and Google Play. After installing the Avenza Maps app on your mobile device, visit greenmountainclub.org/digitalmaps to purchase your map today. Proceeds benefit the work of the Green Mountain Club to maintain and protect Vermont’s hiking trails.

You don’t need a network connection to use the NEK digital map in the backcountry. It is georeferenced, allowing the GPS on your mobile device to pinpoint your location on the map as you go. Other features include the ability to see exact GPS coordinates at any time, mark places of interest, record GPS tracks, and plot your geotagged photos on the maps.

“We are excited to make this new edition of the Northeast Kingdom map available,” said GMC Operations and Publications Coordinator Matt Krebs, “so that hikers can more easily access the new Kingdom Heritage Trail System that was opened just this summer after twenty years of trail building. The Northeast Kindgom has some excellent hidden gems of hiking trails to explore, and this is the perfect time of year to hike there.”

Visit the Green Mountain Club webstore to see the complete catalog of paper and digital maps, also including Vermont’s Long Trail, Mount Mansfield and the Worcester Range, Camel’s Hump and the Monroe Skyline, Killington Area with Ascutney & Okemo, and Manchester Area with Stratton & Bromley.

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Kingdom Heritage trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

Forest Service
Green Mountain National Forest
231 North Main Street
Rutland, Vermont 05701

Media Contact
Ethan M. Ready, Public Affairs Officer
Voice: (802) 747‐6760
Cell: (802) 558‐8176
[email protected]

FOREST SERVICE TO IMPLEMENT FOOD AND REFUSE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

RUTLAND VT (July 24, 2019) – Forest Service officials announced today that they are implementing a Forest Order for the entire Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) geared toward minimizing black bear and human encounters and interactions. The order specifies proper food storage and prohibits leaving food, or refuse on National Forest system lands in Vermont. The Order was issued to provide for visitor safety and the conservation of bears.

Similar Forest Orders have been implemented on other National Forests throughout the country including one on the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. The result has been a reduction in the number of reported encounters between humans and bears. The new Forest Order applies to the entire GMNF, including the Rochester / Middlebury and Manchester Ranger Districts.

Recently, Forest Service officials in Vermont have had several reports of bear sightings, bears approaching shelters and even a bear entering a tent where campers have been present. The agency has been working to post alert notices at trail heads and at other developed campsites to notify recreation users about the recent spike in bear activity and to educate the public about proper food storage. Agency employees are also working to provide suitable food storage containers at sites where improper food storage has become problematic.

GMNF visitors are now required to store unattended food in bear-resistant containers, in a vehicle, in solid non-pliable material or suspend food at least twelve (12) feet off the ground and not less than six (6) feet horizontally from any object. In addition, all refuse containing food materials or containers shall be deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose, removed from the Green Mountain National Forest to be disposed of properly, or stored in the manner prescribed for food.

The black bear symbolizes the wild qualities of the Green Mountain State and its recovery from greatly reduced numbers throughout the region to its present thriving population is a result of sound management of bears and their habitat. Yet, humans, who often times mean well, are impacting bears unnecessarily by improperly disposing of garbage and leaving food unattended or improperly stored.

Bears are opportunists by nature. They feed on whatever is readily available in the wild, from berries to insects. Bears have a remarkable sense of smell that can lead them to unnatural foods. Garbage and food odors attract bears to residential areas, dump sites, trails, campsites, and picnic areas. Once a bear develops a pattern of relying on human food sources it begins to lose its fear of people and may become aggressive. This behavior creates safety concerns for humans and can be fatal for the bear.

Brian Austin, Acting Forest Supervisor for the GMNF said, “With the increasing potential for human and bear interaction and the success we’ve seen with food storage requirements in other parts of the country, we believe it necessary to implement this Forest Order on the GMNF in Vermont. The goal of this Order is to keep people safe and to provide for the conservation of bears. We feel that managing the disposal of garbage and the storage of food can only make a positive difference for the bears and the visiting public on the National Forest, Austin concluded.”

Some helpful tips include:

Always keep a clean camp.
Don’t leave any food (including condiments) out when not in use.
Store food in bear-resistant units, hard-shelled vehicles or car trunks.
Keep sleeping areas, tents, and sleeping bags free of food and odor (like toothpaste or deodorant).
Don’t sleep in clothes you cooked or handled fish or game in.
Never bury or burn food waste.
If camping in the backcountry, hang your food bag at least twelve (12) feet off the ground and not less than six (6) feet horizontally from any object — or better yet, pack and use bear resistant containers.
If possible, in backcountry areas, place sleeping tents at least 100 yards away from food storage and cooking areas.
If hiking with a dog keep it on a leash or leave it home.

Persons should report bear problems or damage caused by bears to a game warden by calling the nearest State Police office, and by reporting any incidents on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website at: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/living-with-wildlife/living-with-black-bears.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 19, 2019

CONTACT: Kristin McLane, Membership & Communications Coordinator
(802) 241-8324; [email protected]
#hikevt #longtrailday

Hike the Long Trail in a Day
And Support the Green Mountain Club

Long Trail Day, the Green Mountain Club’s annual social fundraiser and hiking challenge, is on Saturday, August 3rd! Hike. Give Back. Then celebrate your success at post-hike parties across the state. Register now at greenmountainclub.org/longtrailday.

Individuals and teams will hike segments of the Long Trail to complete the entire 272-mile trail in one day, all while raising money for the Green Mountain Club to continue its work caring for the mountains and trails of Vermont. The fun continues by joining other hikers at nine local watering holes across the state to celebrate the completion of the day’s hike.

The first 272 people to register will receive a free pair of Darn Tough socks and all registrants will receive a free digital Long Trail Map included in the $25 registration fee. The first 10 people to raise $272 will also receive a Skida headband, and top fundraisers will receive an Osprey backpack! Long Trail Day bandanas and BUFFs are awarded at the $272 and $500 fundraising levels. Can’t hike that day? You can still help! Become a virtual hiker by registering and fundraising online, with the same chance to receive rewards as those hiking.

After your hike, please join a post-hike celebration at the Long Trail Day watering hole closest to your hike or home. A GMC representative will be present at each location to help you connect with other hikers and hand out any applicable prizes. After parties will run from 4-7 PM at Beer Naked Brewery (Marlboro), Mulligan’s Pub (Manchester), Long Trail Brewing (Bridgewater Corners), Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Waitsfield), Prohibition Pig Brewery (Waterbury), Foam Brewers (Burlington), and Idletyme Brewing (Stowe), and from 4-6 PM at Otter Creek Brewing (Middlebury) and Rock Art Brewery (Morrisville).

“The Green Mountain Club wants to encourage hikers of all ages to get outside and hike the Long Trail to experience firsthand the natural beauty, vistas, wildlife, and unique character of the Green Mountains,” says GMC Executive Director Mike DeBonis. “Long Trail Day is a great opportunity for the hiking community to come together in supporting their trails and to complete a significant hiking challenge at the same time.”

Long Trail Day 2019 is sponsored by Smugglers’ Notch Resort and King Arthur Flour, with additional support provided by Mascoma Bank, Casella, Chroma, Muddy Moose, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Onion River Outdoors, Orvis, Villanti Printers, Atlas Guides, Ben & Jerry’s, Community National Bank, Country Walkers, Cushman Design Group, Daly & Daly, P.C., Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs, Farm-Way, L.L. Bean, Mad River Barn, The Mailing Center, The Mountain Goat, rk MILES, The Skinny Pancake, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co, The Vermont Country Store, VHB, Darn Tough, Front Porch Forum, Osprey, Seven Days, Skida, and Websticker.

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Kingdom Heritage trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2019

CONTACT:

Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs
(802) 241-8320; [email protected]
#hikevt

Kelsey Evans, Web & Communications Specialist
(802) 723-6551; [email protected]

Kingdom Heritage Trail System Opening June 22nd

In 2001, the Green Mountain Club submitted a Hiking Trail Corridor Management Plan for the former Champion International timberlands in Essex County and became the official Corridor Manager for hiking trails there. The plan envisioned a network of foot trails connecting the existing paths on Bluff Mountain in Island Pond, Gore Mountain in Avery’s Gore, and the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge in Brunswick.

On Saturday, June 22, 2019 – after nearly twenty years of visioning, planning, and construction – we are pleased to officially open the 20-mile Kingdom Heritage Trail System.

The project represents an exhaustive partnership effort, led by Green Mountain Club, NorthWoods Stewardship Center, and Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with Weyerhaeuser Timber, Sweet Tree LLC, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Town of Brighton, Vermont Land Trust, LandVest, and many others.

From its inception in 1998, the Kingdom Heritage Trail system (which includes the Bluff Mountain Community Trail, Bluff Ridge Trail, Unknown Pond Trail, Middle Mountain Trail, Gore Mountain Trail, and Gore Mountain East Trail) was envisioned as a backcountry path that traverses the remote and rugged working forestlands of northern Essex County.

To transform that vision into a reality, youth crews from the NorthWoods Stewardship Center’s Conservation Corps set to work on building out the trails. Over the next twenty summer field seasons, nearly 120 local teenagers and young adults from Island Pond and surrounding towns in the Northeast Kingdom worked for a cumulative 38 weeks developing the Kingdom Heritage Trail System under the guidance of Luke O’Brien, then NorthWoods Trails Director, now with VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and NorthWoods Conservation Corps leadership Ross Stevens, Dusty May, and Jon Cox.

The completed trail highlights the unique natural features of the Northern Forest landscape, promotes quiet recreation and backcountry travel, honors the forest economy and logging culture of the region, and supports local economic development in communities such as Island Pond.

“What this opening represents is a longtime dream come true,” said Jean Haigh, a founding member of GMC’s Northeast Kingdom Section and past president of GMC. “At a small gathering in East Burke on a hot summer day in 2000, a small group of volunteers heard about the possibility of a new developing trail in the wildest areas of the Northeast Kingdom. We became the fourteenth section of the Green Mountain Club, ready to put boots on the ground!”

“Over the next nineteen years, we participated in public hearings, developed management plans, sought approvals, scouted for trails through the rugged hills and valleys, and we have finally arrived at our destination. Twenty years and twenty miles – the trail is complete.”

Please join us for the opening celebration!

Where – Island Pond behind the railroad station
When – June 22, 2019
9am – Opening remarks
10am – Guided hikes on the new trail
4pm – Après gathering at Essex House & Tavern

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more or to become a member.

The NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational, research and conservation service organization serving the communities of northern Vermont and New Hampshire since 1989. Our Education, Conservation Corps, and Forest Stewardship Initiative programs interconnect to provide the knowledge and skills needed to understand the northern landscape, make use of its resources wisely, and help sustain vibrant communities and a healthier natural environment. Our Charleston, Vermont, campus is a destination for quality scientific research, youth and adult education, sustainable land-management and conservation services, and outdoor recreation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2019

CONTACT: Matt Krebs, Operations & Publications Coordinator
(802) 241-8321; [email protected]
#hikevt

Long Trail Digital Map Now Available

Joining the area-specific digital maps offered last fall, Green Mountain Club’s complete map of the Long Trail is now available as a digital map through the free Avenza Maps app in the App Store and Google Play. After installing the Avenza Maps app on your mobile device, visit greenmountainclub.org/digitalmaps to purchase your map today.

You don’t need a network connection to use this map in the backcountry. It is georeferenced, allowing the GPS on your mobile device to pinpoint your location on the map as you go. Other features include the ability to:

See exact GPS coordinates at any time
Mark places of interest
Record GPS tracks
Plot your geotagged photos on the maps

The Long Trail map combined with the Long Trail Guide and The Long Trail End-to-Ender’s Guide provide the most comprehensive resource to plan your hike on the Long Trail. The map includes up-to-date information about shelter and trail locations, mileages, and suggested day hikes. Proceeds benefit the work of the Green Mountain Club to maintain and protect Vermont’s hiking trails.

“While digital maps and their extensive features are an exciting bonus tool that help to make the backcountry more accessible,” said GMC Operations and Publications Coordinator Matt Krebs, “it is GMC’s recommendation to always carry a paper map and compass while hiking as well. Mobile devices break and batteries die and it’s important to stay found while recreating in the backcountry.”

Visit the Green Mountain Club webstore to see the complete catalog of digital maps, also including Mount Mansfield and the Worcester Range, Camel’s Hump and the Monroe Skyline, Killington Area with Ascutney & Okemo, and Manchester Area with Stratton & Bromley.

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a member-supported private non-profit organization. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and trails in the Northeast Kingdom. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System. Contact the Green Mountain Club to learn more about the GMC or to become a member.

Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Vermont’s Hiking Season