Quarterly of the Green Mountain Club SPRING 2020
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NEWS Quarterly of the Green Mountain Club SPRING 2020 The Unstoppable Jean Haigh | Trilliums in Vermont | From Porcupines to Pesticides | Stratton Pond Artist Rock Hopper on the Long Trail | Section Hiking 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. Quarterly of the Green Mountain Club Michael DeBonis, Executive Director PHOTO BY JOCELYN HEBERT PHOTO BY JOCELYN Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail News Editor Jean Haigh at the beginning of her term as GMC President. Richard Andrews, Volunteer Copy Editor Green Mountain Club 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road CONTENTS Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677 Spring 2020, Volume 80, No. 1 Phone: (802) 244-7037 Fax: (802) 244-5867 FEATURES E-mail: [email protected] Website: greenmountainclub.org 6/ The Unstoppable Jean Haigh TheLong Trail News is published by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by Jocelyn Hebert in 1910. In a 1971 Joint Resolution, the Vermont Legislature designated the Green Mountain Club the 8 / Trilliums in Vermont “founder, sponsor, defender and protector of the Long Trail System...” by Tom Scavo Contributions of manuscripts, photos, illustrations, and news are welcome from members and nonmembers. 10 / From Porcupines to Pesticides: The opinions expressed byLTN contributors and A GMC Caretaker’s Influence onSilent Spring advertisers are not necessarily those of GMC. GMC reserves the right to refuse advertising that is not in by Vic Henningsen keeping with the goals of the organization. TheLong Trail News (USPS 318-840) is published 12 / A Pause in the Woods: quarterly by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. An Interview with Caretaker and Artist Kati Christoffel Periodicals postage paid at Waterbury Center, VT, and additional offices. Subscription is a benefit for GMC by Rachel Palmer members. Approximately $5 of each member’s dues is used to publish the Long Trail News. 16 / Rock Hopper on the Long Trail: POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Long 272 miles and 101 Stories to Canada Trail News, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. by Tom Kidder Copyright©2020 The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 20 / Let’s Hear it for Section Hiking! 05677. Permission to reproduce in any form any of by Eleanor Lahr the material in this publication without prior written approval of The Green Mountain Club, Inc. is granted only to individuals for their own personal hiking convenience. DEPARTMENTS 3 / From the President 26 / Trail Mix 34 / Sections 4 / Mountain Views 28 / Annual Meeting 36 / Volunteers Cover: Cyrus (a.k.a. “Rock Hopper”) making his way to the Jay Peak summit. Photo by Tom 5 / Trail Support 30 / Land Stewardship 37 / Board Report “Krummholz” Kidder (a.k.a. Grandpa). 22 / Field Notes 32 / Outdoor Education 39 / Journey’s End From the President he Green Mountain Club is celebrating its 110th anniversary this Tyear. Since its inception, generations of hikers have enjoyed the powerful experience of hiking on the Long Trail System, and each has a personal story of how they came to love the trail. Some of us were introduced to hiking and camping at a young age through a Boy or Girl Scout outing or summer camp, and others by parents or family members who wanted to share and pass on the joy they experienced growing up. Getting kids outside at an early age can make an indelible impression and teach them to care for natural spaces. Take nine-year-old Ephraim Maciejowski, who began hiking Tom Candon and his grandchildren wearing GMC’s kid t-shirts. with his parents at a very early age and today is GMC’s youngest monthly financial supporter (see his story in Trail Support on into outdoor enthusiasts who are committed greatly missed. (To learn more about this page 5). Ephraim already understands how to recreational resources like the Long extraordinary woman, see pages 6-7). hiking makes him feel and is doing what he Trail because it helps keep them in shape, The story of a grandfather who shared can to make sure the trail is well maintained. challenges them, or provides camaraderie on his passion for hiking with his grandson Those young nature lovers become the trail. “Let’s Hear it for Section Hiking!” Cyrus (aka “Rock Hopper”) is a nice example young adults who look for opportunities on pages 20-21 is the journal of a group of how the young and old can teach one to learn more about our ecosystems and of backpackers (the Hoosier Backpackers) another new things. They started the trail outdoor recreation. Our own field staff is who are of various ages and stages of life. together when Cy was six and finished when made up of budding environmentalists and They have been coming to Vermont from he was nine. Over those impressionable years, conservationists who spend a couple of months Indiana and beyond to hike together for ten they bonded by telling imaginative stories immersed in the mountains. There, they consecutive years and plan to finish their last and role playing while walking the footpath can observe firsthand how plants, animals, stretch of the trail this summer. in the wilderness. We hope that Cy will one and people affect one another. It can be an When some members cannot be as active day share the passion for the mountains his enriching experience, as last season’s Stratton as they once were, many focus on supporting grandfather instilled in him. Pond caretaker and artist Kati Christoffel the club in other meaningful ways. Sadly, I encourage all of you to reach out to notes on page 13 in “A Pause in the Woods.” we lost former President Jean Haigh, who anyone interested in becoming active in the Or it can be the start of a career dedicated to died this past fall while leading a hike at age club. Provide a gift membership to a young important scientific research, as was the case eighty-four. Jean is not really a good example person in your life, take a hike with them, or with 1930s Butler Lodge caretaker, George of someone who slowed down as she aged, help them plan a hike of their own. Wallace, whose work influenced Rachel but she is an excellent example of someone Every stage of life offers ways to both Carson’s book Silent Spring (see pages 10-11). who became a mentor and who shared her enjoy and support GMC’s mission, and Many of those young adults who have institutional knowledge and expertise with everyone has an important role. benefited from nature ultimately mature others. She was an inspiration to all and is —Tom Candon, President LONG TRAIL NEWS • SPRING 2020 | 3 Future peak bagger on Mansfield Mountain Views JEAN HAIGH: The True Heart of wasn’t made easy with day-glow blazes. The Long Vermont’s Hiking Community Trail should remain difficult, and not just a walk in GMC Officers the park. If it’s too snowy, use some judgment and Tom Candon, President Jean was a tremendous leader, a shining light stay home! Howard VanBenthuysen, Vice President Stephen Klein, Treasurer with endless passion and energy for Vermont’s —”Bamboo Bob” Sartini Ed O’Leary, Secretary mountains and trails. She was also a true friend to GMC Directors all who knew her, with a deep capacity for caring More Search and Rescue Safety Tips Robynn Albert, General Lars Botzojorns, General and a knack for making everyone in her life feel Like all armchair adventurers, I enjoyed reading Michelle Connor, Burlington special. Jean was the true heart of Vermont’s hiking Hope Crifo, General the “2019 Search and Rescue Incidents” in the Elisabeth Fenn, Sterling community. Though she will be missed, she leaves winter issue of the LTN and the accompanying Bob Fish, Manchester a tremendous legacy from a lifetime of working, Russ Ford, Northern Frontier safety tips from Neil Van Dyke. I would add James Fritz, Connecticut hiking, and advocating for the Green Mountains. Anne Janeway, General three tips I have found useful while hiking in Tom Kahl, Upper Valley-Ottauquechee —Rich Windish and the Brattleboro Section winter. First, alkaline batteries often fail in cold Amy Kelsey, General George Longenecker, Montpelier weather. If using them in your light, keep it close Nancy McClellan, General GMC Champion to your body for warmth. Second, activated Caitlin Miller, General Bob Paquin, Laraway I knew Jean Haigh as a champion of GMC and charcoal hand warmers inside your mittens will Mike Peckar, Worcester hiking in general. Her love of nature, which she Kenna Rewcastle, UVM Board Fellow keep your fingers toasty for up to eight hours. Ira Sollace, General passed on to her daughter Jackie, also was passed on Third, chocolate is a sure crowd pleaser when it’s Martha Stitelman, Bennington Nancy Thomas,General to me through Jackie. We went to Castleton at the cold. Always pack both milk and dark chocolate, Dann Van Der Vliet, General same time, have been 30-plus-year friends, and have because fun-size Snickers bars no longer satisfy Larry Walter, Killington Matt Wels, Brattleboro hiked many trails together. Some even with Jean! The like they once did. Bruce Yelton, Bread Loaf service was wonderful—a true tribute. Jean was a John Zaber, General —-Mary Lou Recor blessing to the GMC and blessed to be part of such a GMC Staff Directory Main Telephone: (802) 244-7037 caring and adventurous community. Renewing a Lifetime Membership Isaac Alexandre-Leach, Field Supervisor —Janet Rounds What a nice surprise when I opened your letter E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8218 … It was a gift! And information about benefits I Jason Buss, Director of Finance was entitled to receive.