Legacy of a Backcountry Builder
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Legacy of a Backcountry Builder The mission of the Green Mountain Club is to make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering, through education, the stewardship of Vermont’s hiking trails and mountains. © BRYAN PFEIFFER, WWW.BRYANPFEIFFER.COM PFEIFFER, © BRYAN Quarterly of the River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) damselfly Green Mountain Club c o n t e n t s Michael DeBonis, Executive Director Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail News Editor Summer 2015, Volume 75, No. 2 Richard Andrews, Volunteer Copy Editor Brian P. Graphic Arts, Design Green Mountain Club 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road 5 / The Visitor Center:Features A Story of Community Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677 By Maureen Davin Phone: (802) 244-7037 Fax: (802) 244-5867 6 / Legacy of a Backcountry Builder: Matt Wels E-mail: [email protected] By Jocelyn Hebert Website: www.greenmountainclub.org The Long Trail News is published by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., a nonprofit organization found- 11 / Where NOBO and SOBO Meet ed in 1910. In a 1971 Joint Resolution, the Vermont By Preston Bristow Legislature designated the Green Mountain Club the “founder, sponsor, defender and protector of the Long Trail System...” 12 / Dragons in the Air Contributions of manuscripts, photos, illustrations, By Elizabeth G. Macalaster and news are welcome from members and nonmem- bers. Copy and advertising deadlines are December 22 for the spring issue; March 22 for summer; June 22 13 / Different Places, Different Vibes: for fall; and September 22 for winter. Caretaking at Camel’s Hump and Stratton Pond The opinions expressed by LTN contributors and By Ben Amsden advertisers are not necessarily those of GMC. GMC reserves the right to refuse advertising that is not in keeping with the goals of the organization. 14 / 172 Hikers Complete 272-Mile Footpath The Long Trail News (USPS 318-840) is published Through Green Mountains quarterly by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 16 / Water in the Backcountry 05677. Periodicals postage paid at Waterbury Center, VT and additional offices. Subscription is a benefit for GMC members. Approximately $5 of each member’s dues is used to publish the Long Trail News. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Long Trail News, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury 3 / From the President 24–25 / Sections Center, VT 05677. Departments Copyright©2015 The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4 / Mountain Views 26 / Book Review 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. Permission to reproduce in any form any of 18 / Field Notes 27 / Board Report the material in this publication without prior writ- ten approval of The Green Mountain Club, Inc. is 19 / Volunteers 28–29 / GMC Outdoor Programs granted only to individuals for their own personal hiking convenience. 20–23 / Trail Mix 31 / Journey’s End Cover Photo: Crew members Pat O’Brien (l) and Matt Wels (r) working on the Winooski River Footbridge. Photo by Jocelyn Hebert Long Trail News Summer 2015 2 From the President In Praise of Volunteers fter a fascinating and sometimes challenging winter and spring, summer has arrived. And it feels like it is finally time to do Asome serious hiking. We are blessed with the natural beauty of rolling hills, the Green Mountains and the serenity of our hiking trails. Vermont is a small state, but we are lucky to have trails for all ambi- tions and abilities. How fortunate many of us are to live close to so many trails. But it should go without saying, trails do not take care of themselves! Who maintains the 500-plus miles of the Long Trail System, the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, and the Northeast Kingdom Trails? The industrious Green Mountain ROGERS JACKIE Club field crew does—with considerable With each step the quiet of the forest grows deeper. Evergreen help from volunteers. The Long Trail Patrol and the club’s tunnels diminish the thoughts of the world you left behind. backcountry caretakers do terrific work, Silent mountains await your company on the summit. but the volunteers who do regular trail maintenance season after season are the – Ruth and Paul Sandler, 50 hikes backbone of our trails. I am grateful for GMC’s network of trail caretakers and land monitors. These are the folks who Your work is truly appreciated, and we that must be respected and taken into get out every spring, summer and fall to could not do it without you. But please, consideration. We all share a passion for ensure the health and vitality of trails keep track of it, and file reports! trails. In the end, we must find consensus and associated lands. They are truly trail to ensure the stewardship, health and angels. Passing the Gavel in June longevity of the Long Trail. We are all in Trail erosion occurs constantly from Wow, where does the time go? It this together. the footsteps of hikers and our sometimes seems like yesterday I accepted the gavel What a ride this has been for me! In unpredictable weather. Without commit- at the 2012 annual meeting, and became many ways I am sad to see my term end. ted and hardworking volunteers clearing president of the Green Mountain Club. I have loved every minute of it. I will waterbars, blow downs, and the ever At the time I asked myself, how did I get pass the gavel to the new president at encroaching brush, our trails would soon here? Do I have what it takes to assume the 105th Green Mountain Club Ann ual become overgrown, and vanish into the this great responsibility? And, can I live Meeting on June 13, so please welcome surrounding landscape. up to the honor? the incoming president and give the same These maintainers tally v olunteer Well, it’s three years later, and I have wonderful support you have given me. hours, and send trail reports to GMC certainly learned a lot. Being president Thank you to the board of directors, Membership Coordinator Jenny means being a member of a supportive the executive committee, and of course, Montagne. These reports are vitally and committed group of individuals who our loyal and amazing staff for their sup- important: they provide documentation provide the guidance, encouragement port and guidance. Just so you know, required by the Vermont Department of and wisdom necessary to lead. I have I am not going anywhere; I will be the Forests, Parks and Recreation and the U.S. learned to listen carefully to advice and Northeast Kingdom representative on the Forest Service for funding work on their direction, to hear what other folks were board of directors. land, and they help us obtain grants to really saying, and to be willing to change See you on the trail! Have a safe and support our work elsewhere. course when it was in the best interest of fun summer in the Green Mountains. So a big thank you to everyone who the club. – Jean Haigh, President volunteers time, effort and expertise to There are nearly 10,000 GMC mem- improve the Long Trail and help the club. bers, with many and diverse perspectives Long Trail News Summer 2015 3 Mountain Views Tribute Long Overdue, In Praise of the Rugged Trail, Quaint Towns Dates Off Women’s Edition “I can no longer say that quit- Congratulations on Reidun The Spring, 2015 issue of the ting smoking is the hardest GMC Officers Nuquist’s article on women in Long Trail News is probably the thing I’ve ever done. It was a Jean Haigh, President John Page, Vice President GMC history—a long overdue best I’ve ever experienced. The tough trail but beautiful in its Stephen Klein, Treasurer tribute. In the interests of accu- articles on women are wonder- ruggedness and unparalleled in Tom Candon, Secretary racy, let me point out that the ful, the other articles interesting its views. The Long Trail offered glimpses into some quaint Ver- GMC Directors first woman caretaker on the and well written, the photos mont towns that I’m really glad Ted Albers, Burlington Long Trail was the redoubtable beautiful and in general, a spe- Lee Allen, General Nan Dove, at Barrows Camp, cial edition in every way. I’m that I made the effort to get Michael Chernick, Northeast Kingdom in 1971 (mis dated as 1973 in A a longtime GMC member and over to. This is a great trail, and Marge Fish, Manchester Century in the Mountains, p.59, supporter, not as involved as I I applaud the Green Mountain Chris Hale, Laraway George Hall, General though the picture there is ter- was in the past, but I’m always Club for building and maintain- Allison Henry, Killington rific). Nan was self-appointed, interested in what is happening! ing it. Thank you GMC and all Paul Houchens, General but did the job well. Caretaker Thank you for the wonderful others involved.” Lynda Hutchins, General Anne Janeway, General supervisor Kenn Boyd okayed work you are doing. – David “Double-check” Young, Wayne Krevetski, General her staying there and the rest – Mar Harrison, 2014 LT end-to-ender Sheri Larsen, General of us serving in 1971 regarded Bread Loaf Section Ron Lucier, Sterling her as one of the crew. Wendy Doug McKain, Bread Loaf Long Trail Patrol Rocks Millie Mugica, General Turner and Susan Valyi ran Taft Long Trail News John Oliva, Worcester Lodge in 1972, not ‘73; Libby welcomes your comments. Walter Pomroy, Northern Frontier Tuthill and Nancy Petengill “Scored some killer trail magic Dick Ruben, Ottauquechee were the ‘73 Taft caretakers. As today and just when I really Letters received may be edited Lexi Shear, General for length and clarity.