The mission of the is to make the mountains play a ­larger part in the life of the ­people by ­protecting and maintaining the Long System and fostering, through education,­ the stewardship of Vermont’s hiking and mountains.

Quarterly of the Sunrise at Ritterbush Pond Green Mountain Club BARKER SCOTT Mike DeBonis, Executive Director c o n t e n t s Jocelyn Hebert, News Editor Fall 2015, Volume 75, No. 3 Richard Andrews, Volunteer Copy Editor Brian P. Graphic Arts, Design

Green Mountain Club 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677 5 / OutstandingFeatures Members Honored Phone: (802) 244-7037 Fax: (802) 244-5867 E-mail: [email protected] 6 / The Seven Principles Website: www.greenmountainclub.org By GMC Field Staff & Caretakers The Long Trail News is published by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., a nonprofit organization found- ed in 1910. In a 1971 Joint Resolution, the Vermont 11 / Adventurous Women Learn Backcountry Skills Legislature designated the Green Mountain Club the By Ilana Copel & Emily Benning “founder, sponsor, defender and protector of the Long Trail System...” 12 / Autumn Water Contributions of manuscripts, photos, illustrations, and news are welcome from members and nonmem- bers. Copy and advertising deadlines are December 22 16 / Hiker Impacts: When Leaving for the spring issue; March 22 for summer; June 22 Footprints is Too Much for fall; and September 22 for winter. By Elisabeth Fenn The opinions expressed by LTN contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of GMC. GMC reserves the right to refuse advertising that is not in 17 / Club Closes on Headwaters Camp keeping with the goals of the organization. By Jean Haigh The Long Trail News (USPS 318-840) is published quarterly by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 18 / Winooski River Footbridge 05677. Periodicals postage paid at Waterbury Center, Opening Celebration 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 Center, VT 05677. 3 / From the PresidentDepartments24–25 / Meet the Staff Copyright©2015 The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 4 / Mountain Views 26–27 / Sections 05677. Permission to reproduce in any form any of the material in this publication without prior writ- 14–15 / Field Notes 28 / GMC Outdoor Programs ten approval of The Green Mountain Club, Inc. is granted only to individuals for their own personal 20–21 / Trail Mix 29 / Board Report hiking ­convenience. 22–23 / Volunteers 31 / Journey’s End

Cover: Lone hiker enjoying view from summit. Photo by Chris Diegel

Long Trail News Fall 2015 2 From the President

Executive Director Mike DeBonis (left), Ben ­Wetherell, and President John Page carrying ­banner in Montpelier Fourth of July parade

hen Jean Haigh handed me The collective We must now finish the task started the president’s gavel at June’s thirty years ago when we developed the Wmeeting of the board of direc- ­human power of all Long Trail Protection Campaign, and find tors, she also handed me the leadership of that passion is our a way to legally protect the last five miles an organization in unprecedented health of the trail that still cross privately owned and vitality. This is my good fortune, and greatest asset. land. We’re down to the last few tough the club’s too, of course. Jean, you did nuts to crack, where the landowners your job with unmatched devotion, skill leaders and near 10,000 members, it’s a know of our interest but are as yet unwill- and tact. You carried the flag well, and deep, almost mystical passion for the club ing to sell. Eventually these properties the Green Mountain Club is a much better and our beloved trails. This passion fuels will become available, and we must be organization because of your stewardship. so much of GMC’s work, from the annual ready to act when they are. We will stay Thank you! turnout of hundreds of trail “vollies” on task. I cannot describe how honored I feel doing trail maintenance, to the seemingly Many of you know that in 2013 the to serve as GMC’s new president. Some of bottomless financial support that materi- State of Vermont acquired the so-called my earliest memories are of hiking with alizes whenever we need it, to the hard Bolton Nordic property at the head of my parents and the Burlington Section. work of the staff and volunteer leadership Bolton Valley, just north of the new bridge I fondly recall the annual oyster stew that keeps the club’s daily operations run- and east of the relocated Long Trail. The hikes to Taylor Lodge on moonlit Febru- ning smoothly. land includes two historic cabins, Bolton ary nights, and the annual week-long The collective human power of all that Lodge (built by the Burlington Section intersectionals, which gave my brother passion is our greatest asset. It is now my in 1928) and Bryant Camp (built as a ski and me the chance to section hike most of responsibility to nurture and channel it so lodge in the early 1930s by Edward S. the Long Trail before we were old enough that the Long Trail abides, in our lifetime Bryant). GMC has agreed to renovate and to drive. I remember hiking with GMC and beyond. We’ve got a great thing going manage both for public use, including the leaders like Roy Buchanan, Shirley Strong here, and I’m determined to keep it that installation of wood stoves for winter use. and Gene Bamforth. way. Bolton Lodge will once again be part of In the summer of 1971 I worked as the Now that the historic Winooski River the Long Trail System. GMC caretaker at Taylor Lodge. When I Footbridge is finally completed, what’s I’m particularly excited by our plan to returned to Vermont in 1994 after a period next for the GMC? Our priority must build two or three new blue-blazed side of exile in , I reacquainted myself continue to be—as it has been for the past trails in Bolton Valley. These new trails with the Long Trail, and reconnected thirty years—the permanent protection will give hikers many options for loop with the Green Mountain Club by joining of the Long Trail. The spectacular new hikes combined with overnight camping its board of directors in 1999. Since then bridge spanning the Winooski River is in the new shelters, all within a half hour I have hiked the Long Trail end-to-end a understandably the center of everyone’s of downtown Burlington. After a fifty- second time, and am now half way to a attention, and no doubt it will be much year hiatus, hiking is finally returning to third completion. The Long Trail and the appreciated by hikers, but in the long run Bolton Valley. Green Mountain Club are in my blood and I believe our greater accomplishment has Thanks for all that you do for the part of who I am. been the procurement of a permanent, Green Mountain Club, and I’ll see you on I am hardly exceptional. If there is one safe, direct and aesthetic route across the the trail! thing that characterizes GMC’s volunteer entire valley. —John Page, President

Long Trail News Fall 2015 3 Mountain Views

donated a collection of brand new up-to-date hiking books to the Davies Memorial Library [in Waterford], where librarian GMC Officers Jennifer D’Agostino said people John Page, President Tom Candon, Vice President were asking to check out the Stephen Klein, Treasurer books before she even had the Lee Allen, Secretary barcodes added to their spines! GMC Directors Jean Haigh, you’ve provided Ted Albers, Burlington guides to fresh trails for an Lars Botzojorns, General exhilarated community—thank Faith Brown, General you again for bringing the Marge Fish, Manchester James Fritz, books this way. Jean Haigh, Northeast Kingdom —Beth Kanell Chris Hale, Laraway Troop 22 George Hall, General Thanks Camille! Allison Henry, Killington Troop 22 on the Long Trail got through it, the consensus Paul Houchens, General Just wanted to say, thank Lynda Hutchins, General was that it was awesome! We Anne Janeway, General Addressed to Caitlin Miller, bypassed the Chin but were so you so much to Camille [GMC Wayne Krevetski, General GMC Group Outreach Specialist lucky to have the opportunity caretaker] for everything! She Sheri Larsen, General We had such a good time. to go back up the next morning helped us with a hiker who Ron Lucier, Sterling broke her ankle, and is gener- Doug McKain, Bread Loaf When we talked about what with Adam. He is a gem. Millie Mugica, General was different about this trip, The caretaker at Sterling ally amazing. John Oliva, Worcester the biggest difference was you cares so much about people. He —Alice Shlep Volkov Walter Pomroy, Northern Frontier guys from the GMC. You were saw that Matt didn’t have much Dick Ruben, Ottauquechee of a sleeping pad, and gave him Barnes Camp Volunteers Lexi Shear, General such a big help, and the care- Martha Stitelman, Bennington takers along the way made us one. We hiked down to the cars Mike Wetherell, Montpelier feel so welcome and looked out together, and I felt like he was First volunteer day at Barnes Richard Windish, Brattleboro for. I could not believe when totally taking care of me. I’m Camp Visitor Center. Ira Sollace John Zaber, General we got to the visitor’s center on a little slow on the downhills, and I helped fifty-seven people GMC Staff Directory Mansfield, and the caretaker and he waited for me every thus far today! Lots of general Main Telephone: (802) 244-7037 asked if we were Troop 22. You time. That’s hard to do! hiking questions, and Long Pete Antos-Ketcham, Director of Land and should have seen my surprise Thanks so much for every- Trail questions too. It has been ­Facilities Management really fun, and everyone really E-mail: [email protected] and smile. Why yes we are! thing! Phone: (802) 241-8217 Caretaker Adam is magnifi- —Mike Matheis, has appreciated the informa- Jason Buss, Business Manager cent! He genuinely enjoyed the Boy Scout Leader, Troop 22 tion. E-mail: [email protected] —Cindy Griffith Phone: (802) 241-8214 boys, which made me feel so FACEBOOK Michael DeBonis, Executive Director good. We learned a ton from If you would like to volunteer E-mail: [email protected] comments Phone: (802) 241-8212 him, and he was very sup- at Barnes Camp Visitor Center Alicia DiCocco, Director of Development portive after we got caught in GMC Publications on located on Vermont Route 108 E-mail: [email protected] that storm trying to get to the Phone: (802) 241-8322 Library Shelves in Stowe please contact Jenny shelter. It was a race and we Jennifer Donley, Visitor Center Manager Montagne, jmontagne@green E-mail: [email protected] lost, but what a story! After we A huge thank you to the Phone: (802) 241-8210 mountainclub.org. Green Mountain Club, which Dave Hardy, Director of Trail Programs E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8320 Long Trail News Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail News Editor welcomes your comments. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8215 ­Letters received may be edited Kevin Hudnell, Field Supervisor for length and clarity. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8321 GMC reserves the right to decline Matt Krebs, Publications Coordinator/ to publish those considered Stewardship Assistant E-mail: [email protected] ­inappropriate. Not all letters may Phone: (802) 241-8321 be published. Caitlin Miller, Group Outreach Specialist E-mail: [email protected] Send to: Jocelyn Hebert, Phone: (802) 241-8327 [email protected] or Jenny Montagne, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator Letters to the Editor, E-mail: [email protected] GMC, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Phone: (802) 241-8324 Database Manager Waterbury Center, VT 05677 Barnes Camp E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8325 Long Trail News Fall 2015 4 Outstanding Members Honored

t the annual meeting each President’s Award Recipient: Ted Albers summer, GMC’s president Ted is a committed and energetic leader recognizes volunteers who and supporter of the GMC. Some of his have gone above and beyond many contributions include: serving withA President’s Awards. The president as president of the Burlington Section also presents the club’s most prestigious (the club’s largest section); planning and accolade, the Honorary Life Membership organizing the 2015 Annual Meeting; Award, for incomparable contributions representing the Burlington Section on to the club. At the 105th Annual Meet- the board of directors; and supporting ing on June 13, outgoing President Jean GMC fundraising through work on the Haigh had the honor of acknowledging development committee. the following outstanding members: Honorary Life Membership Award Recipient: Matt Wels Matt has spent more than ten years working on Long Trail and infrastructure. From restoring the President’s Award Recipient: historic Stratton Mountain fire tower, Kevin Williamson to constructing the Thundering Falls Boardwalk, to building the new Winooski Kevin is a Northeast Kingdom Section River Footbridge, Matt’s contributions are member whose passion for hiking in the lasting gifts to future hiking generations. Kingdom is unparalleled. His adventur- His dedication to his craft and workman- ous spirit has led him to the exploration ship, and the longevity of his commit- and development of new trails in the ment to the club made him an obvious area. Off trail, Kevin assists the club’s choice. He is the youngest person ever to publications program by distributing receive this high honor. books and maps around the state. His devotion to the club is apparent to all who work or hike with him, and he has instilled his passion in a new generation of Northeast Kingdom hikers.

President’s Award Recipient: Jim Sullivan Jim’s allegiance to both the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail is unquestion- able. From helping the southern field staff complete important trail projects with strong hands and good humor, to record- ing countless trail coordinates using a GPS receiver, his volunteer work in the field is immeasurable. Matt Wels

Long Trail News Fall 2015 5 Caitlin Miller

for the trailhead the next morning. As we hiked, camped, and taught lessons over the next three days, I listened to the diverse perspectives of the participants. Our class included a White Mountain National Forest ranger (our co-instructor), several Appalachian Mountain Club employees preparing for their field sea- sons, an associate professor of adventure education, and a man preparing to head to Mozambique to help open a national park. Leave No Trace meant different things to each participant. For the ranger, the principles guide Forest Service policies; in Mozambique it is hoped they will fos- ter connections between locals and their heritage, livelihood and land; and for a the woods, and each participant teaches professor of adventure education, the Leave No Trace one of the seven principles. principles provide not only a crucial land Despite the passion for not step- ethic for future recreation leaders, but a An Ethic of Best ping on diapensia I developed as a GMC nuanced ethic to examine with a critical caretaker, Leave No Trace education has eye. Understanding those applications Practices always been a bit unclear to me. Not the showed me how LNT helps foster a sense principles—those are very clear and un- of place in different land users. The values of each participant high- e’re heading to Ethan Pond derstandable—but how to apply them to lighted the concept that “Leave No Trace for our first night out, and the varied ecosystems of the Long Trail. is not simply about remembering exactly we’ll definitely run into When I took over group outreach at GMC “W early in September of 2014, one project what minimum impact skill you can prac- snow. Everyone should have warm socks tice in every outdoor situation … rather, and boots; waterproof would be best.” that fell into my lap was developing a it is first and foremost an ethic,” as Rich My trip leader’s warning echoed in curriculum for our education program. Brame and David Cole put it in NOLS Soft my head as I looked down at the torn up Since LNT fits so much of what we do Paths. trail runners on my sorry, thinly adorned here, it made sense that teaching its prin- The seven principles communicate a feet. I had forgotten my winter hiking ciples would be a high priority. broad message, but it’s everyone’s respon- boots, and therefore had already missed Again, the principles are straightfor- sibility to determine how to apply them the first and, arguably, most important ward, but what really makes a ground in the backcountry. Minimum impact Leave No Trace (LNT) principle: Plan surface in Vermont durable? Why techniques for the desert may not work ahead and prepare. shouldn’t folks use a bit of camp soap? in the Northeast. You may want to broad- It was mid-May in New Hampshire’s Most importantly, how does LNT pro- cast wastewater at a low use site, but White Mountains, and I was (not very mote a sense of place in the mountains of sump it (and pack out food fragments) at thoroughly) preparing to head out on a Vermont? an established campground. And even Leave No Trace Master Educator course Heck, I couldn’t even remember all if it’s May, and just chilly in the valleys, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. seven principles without the handy ac- you’ll most likely want to prepare by The five-day backcountry course, de- ronym I still use: Pass The Donut Left, My using boots at higher elevations. Think- signed by the National Outdoor Leader- Righteous Brother. I had no formal train- ing of Leave No Trace as an ethic of best ship School (NOLS), was implemented ing as an educator, and I knew that to practices, rather than seven steadfast in 2004 as the highest tier of Leave No engage an audience with LNT and what principles, enables you to ask the “how” Trace education, as an addition to trainer it means in Vermont I would need help. behind each principle and to make the courses and awareness workshops. A master educator course seemed like a ethic as variable as the land. Master educator courses explore the great resource to help me teach the seven How should I plan ahead and prepare seven Leave No Trace principles in depth, principles and instill a wildland ethic in for a winter trip, as opposed to summer? while covering different learning styles youth, other staff members and hikers How can I respect wildlife in grizzly bear so participants can teach the principles passing through. country rather than in Vermont? As the effectively. They are intensive clinics in My course mates helped me scrounge up some loaner boots, and we headed environments where we recreate differ,

Long Trail News Fall 2015 6 our outdoor ethic should adapt to fit con- acronym), I figured there wouldn’t be of understanding the ecosystems I hike ditions and deepen our understanding of too much more to this whole LNT thing. through and my role in preserving them. the land. But I not only got an entire book of fun —Caitlin Miller, After four days of rain, snow and teaching activities, I came down from Group Outreach Specialist occasional sunshine, I was eager to take the mountains with a whole new way a warm shower and return my muddy Interested in reading more about Leave boots to rental. However, I was also a No Trace? Here are some great resources: Wilderness Ethics little sad to be leaving the woods, ending • by Laura and the eye-opening conversations I’d had Guy Waterman • NOLS Soft Paths by Rich Brame that week. I had gone into the course and David Cole hoping, but not quite expecting, to learn • Leave No Trace, more about Leave No Trace. Since I knew https://lnt.org/teach/research the principles (with the help of my handy

stations stewards at frequently visited forests, waterways and wildlife. These Pass the Donut sites, including the summits of Mount principles and practices are based on an Mansfield, Camel’s Hump and Mount enduring respect for nature. Each prin- Left, My Righteous Abraham; and Stratton Pond, Little Rock ciple covers a variety of detailed practices, Pond and Griffith Lake. but awareness and good judgment will Brother As backcountry exploration becomes guide you as you learn to apply them. ever more popular, people are venturing GMC field staff members spend their ost of us know the Long Trail into remote areas more frequently, some summer and fall seasons immersed in the is the oldest long-distance seeking new extreme opportunities. Oth- woods. Part of what they do is teach and hiking trail in the country. Its M ers are travelling deeper into the woods encourage people to follow the seven popularity has grown for 105 years, and in search of solitude and unspoiled principles. Here are a few accounts of today tens of thousands of hikers follow spaces to reconnect with nature. how they have practiced the principles in it annually through some of Vermont’s Each of us has an impact. their jobs, what they have observed, and most pristine and fragile ecosystems. The seven Leave No Trace principles, ways you can help reduce your impact Protecting the trail and its sur- managed by the Leave No Trace Center and leave the backcountry healthy and roundings is a major part of the Green for Outdoor Ethics, provide methods to thriving. Mountain Club’s mission. Thus, the club minimize adverse impacts to mountains,

lighters or matches, water treatment Plan Ahead ­systems, warm layers, first aid supplies Meghan Paugh and sleeping pads. and Prepare The deeper into the woods you venture, the farther from help you go. lan Ahead and Prepare is the one If you have the right gear you will be Leave No Trace principle you can better equipped to handle a backcoun- Paccomplish before heading into the try emergency situation. And remember, backcountry. By taking time for simple backcountry rescues often leave serious research and thinking through your plan impacts on ecosystems. you can stay safe, happy and healthy, and Keeping the season, time of day and avoid potential problems. your (or your group’s) capabilities in As a crew leader, I consider the fol- mind will ensure a safer, more fulfilling lowing: my crew size, our destination, and more enjoyable experience for all. A adverse impact to the area, travel logistics, good experience will connect you to the dietary restrictions and weather, to name wilderness and nurture stewardship and a few. I also seek advice from folks or appreciation for our natural world! trail clubs knowledgeable about the area where we will travel. I make sure we have —Meghan Paugh, VLTP Crew Leader 2015 everything needed to spend the night: headlamps, rain jackets, extra snacks, Continued next page

Long Trail News Fall 2015 7 Continued from previous page

Travel and John Paul Krol Camp on Durable and Cheryl Byrne ­Surfaces

remember talking with a former trail crew worker at a shelter during my IAppalachian Trail thru-hike. I love talking to passionate people, and this worker surely qualified. Learning the nuances of trail work gave me a surge of discovery and wonderment. He didn’t dismiss my ignorance, but accepted and valued my questions. I have been working on trails myself in the five years since that encounter. As a GMC caretaker on Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield, I saw the damage caused by walking on fragile vegetation. An isolated step may seem insignificant, can help with backcountry sanitation by but when multiplied by hundreds of hik- Dispose of reading and following instructions posted ers there is significant impact. in each outhouse. This season I worked on a trail crew Waste Properly People are quick to notice when priv- in the northern Presidential Range of the ies are gross, but it’s a lot easier to keep fter working a season as the White Mountains. Trail stewards take things pleasant if we all dispose of waste Coolidge Range ridge runner I’ve Leave No Trace principles, like Travel properly. So, use a privy when you can. been on the business end of the and Camp on Durable Surfaces, to heart. A If there isn’t one, dig a “cathole,” ideally Cooper Lodge privy, affectionately called We do our best to define treadways and six inches deep in organic topsoil, well the Cooper Pooper, more times than I can keep hikers on rocks rather than potential away from water and trails, and bury count. alpine vegetation sites. We agonize over your waste and TP. There is a high volume of traffic from seemingly minor questions. If we put a day hikers, thru-hikers and ­Killington —Jake Chinitz, GMC caretaker rock here, will the step up be too large? Gondola riders coming to check out Will hikers take the easier way, through ­Cooper Lodge and, of course, use the the vegetation? privy. If I wasn’t on top of my game These considerations weigh on us, but and emptying the catcher at least once attention to detail is necessary. Recently a week, the Cooper Pooper smelled real we redefined scree walls and rebuilt gross. cairns guiding hikers and keeping them The Cooper Pooper is a batch-bin on the trail to Madison Springs Hut. We composting privy. Users are asked to hope that in the next few decades patches not urinate in this type of privy because of diapensia and tufts of mountain sand- excess liquid hampers the composting wort will return to damaged areas. process and worsens odor. Unfortunately, We all go to the woods for inspiration. there was always a lot of urine and trash By doing our best to preserve the beauty in the catcher. I did my best to add around us we can honor nature, and her enough bark mulch to soak up the liquid beauties will be returned to us with a and to transfer the waste into rapidly deeper sweetness. ­filling cans outside. —John Paul Krol, Proper disposal is essential to pro- Former GMC Caretaker tect the woods. That’s why the GMC has developed types of composting privies Jake Chinitz suited to different types of sites. Hikers

Long Trail News Fall 2015 8 manager, I’m torn. We’ve all seen it–the Leave giant fire ring filled with half-charred green wood and scorched tinfoil. What You Find More than 200,000 people hike on the Long Trail System each year, and many s kids my brother and I burned campsites are stripped of firewood. The every hour of daylight in the only alternative until recently was to use Awoods in our free time. We ex- a gas cook stove for meals and hot drinks. plored, collected, and made discoveries In these times of changing climate and di- that kept us intrigued and coming back. minishing fossil fuel supplies that answer Even as kids we knew litter didn’t is not as supportable as it once was. belong there. It was dirty and gross, Fortunately there is a new generation something adults had done. They were Cheryl Byrne of backpacking cook stoves that burn our woods, and we respected them. So small quantities and pieces of wood we did what kids do, and picked up take the piece of white quartz sitting on cleanly and efficiently. They are a great trash when it ruined the magic of our alternative to gas cook stoves or camp- place. We vowed to never be that kind of that ledge. Leave them for others to enjoy. If you’re on the trail, you love the fires, and they have low impacts on the grownup. environment. Just remember not to cook Fast forward twenty years, and I find places the trail takes you. They are so un- like everywhere else in our frontcountry in shelters, on picnic tables or tent plat- myself in a profession taking care of the forms! Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail and the lives. Take care of the backcountry, and leave it the magical place it should be. Fires are prohibited at some campsites, Northern Presidential Range of the White where the forest is fragile and growth and Mountains. I have also taught others to be —Cheryl Byrne, regrowth are slow. Other sites have desig- Former GMC Field Assistant good backcountry caretakers. nated fire rings. If you decide to make a Usually when I set out to hike, an- fire, build it no larger than necessary, use ticipation looms over me. Maybe I will dead and downed wood, keep the wood see glittery sparkles of mica specks, the Minimize ­ small (wrist size or smaller), and burn it sheen of wet rock, the vibrant greens of Campfire Impacts completely to ash if you can. bud break, the rich hues of fall, a single I appreciate the flexibility that this polka dot feather, the occasional wild nyone who knows me knows I Leave No Trace principle affords, and flower, the layers of texture and character love fire. There is nothing I enjoy the new technology and techniques that that lichens give sheer rock. more than a campfire, the occa- enable us, where permitted, to enjoy fires This beauty does catch my eye, but A sional small bonfire or putting my feet responsibly. I also spot micro trash along the trail, up in front of a woodstove. The GMC around shelters and in outhouses; names —Pete Antos-Ketcham, GMC Director supports the use of wood as a low-carbon of Land and Facilities Management and dates carved into shelter walls, renewable energy source. But as a trail Continued next page bunks, tables and old beautiful beech trees; rogue campfires on rock outcrops; and not-so-stealthy campsites just a few Pete Antos-Ketcham feet from the trail. POOF! Heartsink. Yanked from my whimsical state, I stop to pick up shiny bits of trash. When I pop in on a random shelter or stop at a familiar or favorite spot, my eyes automatically scan the floor (recently swept?), shelves-bunks-table (useless junk left behind?), log book (have the pages been graffitied or torn out and burned?), fire ring (are fires allowed here? And why are people still amused by try- ing to burn aluminum and glass?). Of course, trash is not the only way to ruin a place. Don’t pick that lady slipper, don’t bust the fungus off that tree, don’t

Long Trail News Fall 2015 9 Continued from previous page

Kim Rosenbaum Be Considerate of Other Visitors

eing considerate on the trail isn’t always easy. As with any other BLeave No Trace principle, there are differing schools of thought. For the most part, it means adhering to the golden rule and extending common courtesy. Your personal bubble should never become an atmosphere that absorbs others’. If your music, smoking, language, proximity—or really, anything—is hin- dering someone else’s wilderness experi- ence, you should take that into consider- ation. There are few absolute rules when it comes to enjoying the backcountry, but rather much unspoken etiquette. A few examples: yielding the right- of-way, keeping your music to yourself, not crowding a stranger’s site, and my personal favorite—acknowledgement. It isn’t in the LNT list of principles, but simply acknowledging a passerby is one deserve our respect, especially as we of the most considerate things you can do Respect Wildlife move through the places they call home. in a four-second interaction on the trail. Just a simple “Hi”, “Howdy”, or “Happy haven’t had any big dramatic wildlife Whether in the city or the wild, I try to trails!” can make a big difference. moments, like rescuing a baby bear be as mindful as possible. It’s about liv- When you notice someone crossing stuck up a tree while mama bear ing with a heart of kindness. The more I we do it, the easier and more habitual it the line into discourtesy, it is best to watches (don’t try this). But I have had address it subtly. Nobody wants to be many small encounters, all instilling an becomes. lectured, and you’d probably prefer not to ever deeper sense of my responsibility to —Kim Rosenbaum, be thought of as “that guy.” the wild things I meet. Former Southern Field Assistant I am the girl who will stop and prod —Adam Joseph, GMC Caretaker any living thing off the trail, encourag- ing it to move to a safer spot. Recently, I came across a snake lying across the trail in the worst, most vulnerable position of having recently swallowed another snake about its same size. This garter snake had ingested about half of the other snake, headfirst, its mid-body and tail hanging out of the victor’s mouth. I gazed upon this sight in wonder for a few moments, and saw the snake watching me, assessing whether he himself was doomed, unable to fight or move. I bid him farewell and moved on quickly, not wanting to cause him further stress, this time knowing that attempting to move him along would have been the most disruptive thing I could do. The animals we encounter in the Adam Joseph woods are unique individuals that

Long Trail News Fall 2015 10 Adventurous Women Learn Backcountry Skills

Two groups of women, led by GMC field staff Ilana Copel, Camille ­Robertson, ­Emily Benning, and Caitlin Miller, set out for an overnight backpacking workshop on the Long Trail this summer.

ot just any hiker decides to carry several days of food Nand gear, set up a tent, sleep through whatever weather develops, wake up, and do it all again. This June, however, I spent the weekend with six women who were learning to do just that. Camille Robertson (2012, ’13, ’15 field staff) and I co-led a one-night introduc- tory backpacking workshop to Beaver Meadow Lodge, just east of the Sterling Range. Our group ranged in age from led us to one of the weekend’s major pee rag, we proclaimed that you proudly the late twenties to the early fifties. It takeaway messages: with practice, each tie it on your pack to dry in the sun as included a New Yorker and a retired camp stove dinner is less stressful, each your personal “pee flag” until you can schoolteacher, both planning Long Trail tent setup is smoother, and each muddy, toss it into the laundry with the rest of thru-hikes; an ice climber looking for a rocky, glorious step is taken a little more your hiking clothes. hiking network; a Senatorial aide wishing confidently. At this point everyone was laughing to gain map and planning skills; and a Backpacking requires proper planning outright. We had opened the door for a pair of young women inspired by their and preparation, but is a sport open to shameless weekend of excellent ques- significant others. any age, experience level, and–of course– tions about sensitive women-specific Needless to say, we had a lot to talk gender. Camille and I had a blast working issues while in the woods, as well as gear about. There were the basics (What to with everyone, and we look forward to selection, packing, Leave No Trace prin- pack! How to pack it!) and the endless seeing them on the trail! ciples and backcountry safety. Everyone gear options (Which stove? Which water emerged from the woods a bit dirtier, treatment method?), but on this trip we —Ilana Copel, GMC Caretaker more confident and increasingly comfort- also covered topics often glossed over, able with themselves … and proudly such as backpacking while menstruat- ’m not usually a fan of bribes. But flying their pee flags high. ing, picking healthy trail food, and safety I could tell the trip leaders were when hitchhiking alone. Iinstantly more popular with our —Emily Benning, Our group was enthusiastic, energeti- intro-level overnight class as we spread a Southern Field Assistant cally reviewing equipment, brainstorm- field of brightly colored bandanas across ing methods of finding hiking partners, the picnic table. The women laughed as and even setting a bear hang to protect they divided the array of zebra print, tie- their food. They were also inspiringly dyed and neon camo cotton fabric among honest, voicing concerns about slowing themselves and thanked us for the gift… down others in hiking clubs, encounter- until we told them the bandanas weren’t ing ill-intentioned strangers, or simply to make fashion statements. smelling terrible a week into the woods. Looks of horror crossed the faces of Over a campfire we talked about why more than a few as I explained that we women might feel or be made to feel were doling out “pee rags,” an eco-­ physically or emotionally uncomfort- friendly alternative to toilet paper for able on the trail, as well as methods of doing number one in the woods. Initial overcoming or taking action in response shock turned to cautious giggles as we to discomfort. told them that wiping with a pee rag Before walking out in the morning, rather than drip drying reduces chaf- we discussed what skills we’d gained and ing, the risk of urinary tract infections how we’d apply them in the future. A and other unpleasantries associated with recurring sentiment was the desire for ev- wearing the same shorts for three days. erything to become second nature, which When asked what you did with a damp

Long Trail News Fall 2015 11 1 2

Autumn 5 Water

1 Unknown location: Sheri Larsen 2 Ritterbush Pond: Chris Diegel 3 Big Branch: Matt Larson 4 Lye Brook Falls: Charles C. Helfer 5 Wheeler Pond: Megan Duni 6 Belvidere Pond: Charles C. Helfer 7 Hell Brook: Chris Diegel 8 Nebraska Notch: Chris Diegel 9 Little Rock Pond: Matt Larson

Long Trail News Fall 2015 12 7 3

6 4

8 9

Long Trail News Fall 2015 13 Field Notes

Caretakers: This fall our caretaker ­summer, and to work on Bolton Lodge in near Ripton. Mem- ­program is covering all of the usual high- the fall. The Winooski River Footbridge bership in the 21st Century Conserva- use sites, including Griffith Lake thanks and northern Long Trail relocation on tion Service Corps helps the club employ to some additional financial help from Stimson Mountain are open to hikers. The youth work crews and build a stronger some members of the GMC Trail Man- former Long Trail between Jonesville and link between outdoor recreation and agement Committee. We are also help- Bolton Notch Road is now a blue-blazed America’s youth. ing the Green Mountain National Forest side trail. Northeast Kingdom Trails: The North- monitor visitor use and camping in the Green Mountain National Forest: We are woods Stewardship Center’s trail crew by stationing a catching up on our shelter maintenance spent three weeks cutting the Unknown caretaker at Branch and Bourn Ponds. We backlog on the Green Mountain ­National Pond Trail from Route 114 in Norton to are planning improvements to the Branch Forest, and plan to do roof work on Unknown Pond as part of the Kingdom Pond Trail to minimize impacts to the Boyce, Sucker Brook and Story Spring Heritage Lands trail system. The club ­watershed, and we are working with the Shelters. With funding from the Appa­ manages the system in cooperation with University of Vermont to help learn about lachian Trail Conservancy we will replace the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks illegal motorized access into Glastenbury the composting privy drying rack at and Recreation. Our goal is to complete Wilderness. Stratton Pond Shelter. Other improve- the trail system from Bluff Mountain Long Trail Patrol: The LTP is focusing on ments to the Stratton Pond area are in the north to in the next ten additional drainage and trail hardening to works. The major ones are more camping years. high use side trails. and waste management capacity near the Volunteers: We remain indebted to volun- We’re preparing to relocate another shelter, and closing the North Shore Trail, teers who regularly mark and brush the mile of Long Trail road walk in Bolton which is repeatedly flooded. Long Trail through the hiking season, as onto Camel’s Hump State Park. The trail Volunteer Long Trail Patrol: The VLTP is well as clear drainage and perform spring will run along the Winooski River south working on the Long Trail on the Peru and fall walk-throughs. They are essen- of the new bridge between the river Peak-Styles Peak ridge, and on reopen- tial to managing the Long Trail and the and farm fields. We will build stiles to ing the East Dorset Trail. The East Dorset Appalachian Trail in Vermont. Thank you cross electric fences where needed. Trail Trail leads east uphill along a stream for your dedication and patience as we scouting south of Duxbury Road will be toward Mad Tom Notch. Tropical Storm strive to both provide good maintenance done with the Montpelier Section to see Irene severely damaged the stream valley, of our trails and campsites, and improve whether more of the trail can be relocated but we are confident a trail can lead from the tracking of volunteer hours. Accu- into the woods near the Long Trail park- U.S. Route 7 in the Battenkill Valley to the rately reporting volunteer time is impor- ing lot at the base of Bamforth Ridge. Long Trail at Mad Tom Notch. tant to our partners, and is required for Bolton Lodge and Bryant Camp: We Because the GMC field staff is part our participation in Americorps and the are acquiring permits to proceed with of the 21st Century Conservation Service 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. camp renovations in Bolton. We hope to Corps we were able to get funding from —Dave Hardy, start work on Bryant Camp during the the U.S. Forest Service for additional Director of Trail Programs work on the East Dorset Trail and in the MATT SHEA MATT

Long Trail Patrol l-r: Mike Kearns, Gabe Haug, Sorrel Dunn, Sarah Kotnik, Max Crystal

Long Trail News Fall 2015 14 Field Notes

2015 Field Staff Back row l-r: Kevin Hudnell, Kurt Melin, Emma Link, Sarah Kotnik, Dave Hardy (GMC Director of Trail Programs), Marla Davidson, Rachel Masoud, Darcy Anderson, Elisabeth Fenn, Camille Robertson, Sorrel Dunn, David Castrignano, Peter Weck, Megan Paugh, Tim Elkin, Amelia Williams, Steve Desaulniers, Matt Shea Front row l-r: Michael Lawrence, Jonathan Feldman, Sabory Huddle, Justin Towers, Mike Kearns, Carly Schneider, Ilana Copel, Gabe Haug, Jack Minich, Max Crystal, Emily Benning, Jake Chinitz, James Robertson, Caitlin Miller, Dana Passman, Daley Matthews-Pennanen Front, front row: Adam Joseph Missing: Hugh and Jeanne Joudry

Autumn Colors iking in Vermont is one of the tween tree and leaf; and 2) creates a clean In fall, as the abscission layer forms, best ways to watch the beauti- ­breaking point that enables the leaf to the production of chlorophyll slows, then Hful ritual of death and renewal harmlessly fall from the tree once its work stops. Without the production of chlo- as trees prepare for winter and the next is done. rophyll, the green fades rapidly (imagine growing season. The kaleidoscope of To understand where fall colors come a piece of colored paper left out in the color we enjoy so much is the result of from, we need to know why leaves are sun) and the yellow, orange, and blue chemical changes to leaves of deciduous green to begin with. The green color ­pigments become visible. trees, which shed their leaves or needles comes from chlorophyll—a light absorb- We get red and purple pigments annually. ing pigment in plants that is used in the from sugars trapped in the dying leaves. While multiple factors both inside the process of converting sunlight to food. Brown pigments come from tannins. plant (for instance, nutrients and acidity) Chlorophyll absorbs certain wavelengths They’re what remain after all of the other and in the environment (such as tempera- of visible light—reds and yellows—and ­pigments break down (picture brown oak ture, moisture and sunlight) contribute reflects others. The green we see is the or beech leaves rustling in cold winter to the duration and color of foliage, day wavelength reflected from the leaves. winds). length is the primary signal that Each year the process be- summer is over and it’s time to gins anew. We are fortunate prepare for winter. When days in Vermont to witness this shorten you and I buy firewood amazing blast of foliage color and get out our warmer layers. that is part of the necessary Deciduous trees start a process and natural cycle of renewal called senescence—the dying in our forests. phase of leaves. —Mike DeBonis Cells between the leaf and stem begin to expand rapidly, Mike is a f­orester and forming a corky abscission Executive ­Director of the layer that serves two purposes: Green ­Mountain Club 1) it blocks the flow of water,

­minerals, and nutrients be- NIKA MEYERS

Long Trail News Fall 2015 15 Hiker Impacts: When Leaving Footprints is Too Much

ount Mansfield has a long and glorious history of exploration. From intrepid botanists collecting veg- etativeM samples in the nineteenth century, to Summit House guests going for an evening stroll to Balancing Rock, to the 50,000 hikers who reached the ridgeline last summer, Mansfield sees a lot of use. Directing that use onto trails and durable surfaces is the job of the summit care- Figure 1: This shows the arrangement of camera and meter-board at Transect 1. This is the taker. My job this summer is to see how ­set-up from 2004. Having these reference photos helps in recreating the original images. they’ve been doing. As a quick refresher, the basic prem- ise of this study is to duplicate photos taken along the ridgeline of Mount Mansfield in 2004. (Figure 1 shows the camera and meter board set up for a tran- sect photo.) These locations were chosen because they showed distinct evidence of trampling. These sites were just off the side of the marked trail, and at least 2004 2015 partially denuded of vegetation. The question is, how do these sites look now? Figure 2: Transect 1, located just north of the Halfway House trail junction. The answer is: excellent. Many of the sites show dramatic increases in vegeta- tive cover. Figure 2 shows one of the more impressive recoveries. What used to be an off-trail shortcut is now home to many species of alpine vegetation, including crinkled hair grass, brown- ish sedge, spiked woodrush and alpine bilberry. But that is not the whole story. Some sites, like the one shown in Figure 3, show little to no recovery. Why this is the case, and how we can encourage vegeta- tive growth in these areas in the future, is 2004 2015 the next challenge. As the summer progresses, I’ll move Figure 3: Quadrat 4b, which is located just north of Frenchman's Pile. on from taking photos to analyzing them. It is likely that site conditions have an influence on recovery. Do wetter spots we’ll have a handful of solid theories that sites like Figure 3 into regrowth success recover more quickly than dryer areas? Is can be used to influence future caretak- stories. the distance from the visitor center or the ing efforts. —Elisabeth Fenn, blazed trail a factor? Could the type of So next time you’re on an alpine sum- GMC Research Coordinator trail management have an effect? Per- mit, remember that those string lines and haps areas with puncheon recover more low scree walls have a purpose. Help us This project was made possible thanks quickly. I hope patterns will begin to protect alpine vegetation, and maybe in to generous grants from the Lintilhac emerge, and that by the end of the season another decade we will have changed ­Foundation and the Waterman Fund.

Long Trail News Fall 2015 16 Club Closes on Headwaters Camp any years ago Luke cleared of snow and in good O’Brien, president order. He offered advice on our of the Northeast trail route and we—taking into Kingdom Section consideration much of his advice andM director of trails and develop- and wisdom on the area around ment for the Northwoods Stew- Middle Mountain and Unknown ardship Center, took me to visit Pond—incorporated many of his Unknown Pond and Headwaters hunting trails into our route.” Camp, a very rustic one-room Later Norm gave the GMC the hunting camp. opportunity to include the camp We were in the middle of as well as the pond as integral what seemed to be nowhere—no components of the new trail sys- houses, no electricity, and few tem, by deciding to sell it to us. roads. But nowhere was actually His decision did not come easily, Avery’s Gore, a remote uninhab- for the camp exemplifies who he ited and unorganized township. is. Norm partnered with the club And Headwaters Camp—so called because he wanted someone he because Unknown Pond holds the head- article about the Kingdom Heritage Lands could count on to care for the camp with waters of the —sits at the for the Long Trail News. He received a the same respect and love as he had for so southern base of Middle Mountain. I was surprised response from Norm Grearson, many years. The sale closed on May 29, smitten at first sight. the camp owner. 2015, at GMC headquarters. The club will The camp was built in the early 1970s “The piece talked about the goal to make improvement this year to prepare by the Stevens family of Island Pond. connect the Bluff and Gore trails over the camp for overnight use. According to Ross Stevens, director of the Middle Mountain, and included a route Headwaters Camp joins four other conservation corps for the Northwoods map,” says Luke. “A few weeks later I re- camps under GMC management: Bolton Stewardship Center, the camp was built ceived a handwritten letter from Norman Lodge, Bryant Camp, and two cabins of lumber from a shed once attached to stating: ‘It appears the trail goes through at Wheeler Pond. A GMC Camps Com- his multi-generation family home, with my front yard, and I would like to talk mittee now works with staff to support rafters cut on site. to you about it.’ I was nervous, and our camps programs, and is working The GMC had just become the cor- didn’t know what to expect, but sitting to establish systems for effective camp ridor manager for hiking trails in the at my kitchen table looking at maps and management, including management Kingdom Heritage Lands (formerly discussing plans, he told me, ‘I’m not an plans, ­budgets and volunteer leadership Champion Lands), and was scouting a adversary, I’m an advocate ... and I would capacity. new hiking trail over Middle Mountain like to help.’ near the camp. Once we decided to route “Norman did indeed help. And in —Jean Haigh, NEK Section Director

JOCELYN HEBERT JOCELYN the trail past the camp, Luke wrote an return, we helped him keep the camp

Unknown Pond

Long Trail News Fall 2015 17 Bridge crew and former field staff members

Ollie Winooski River Footbridge Opening Celebration

below: Eleven Green Mountain Club presidents and three executive directors posing for group photo at the Winooski River Footbridge opening celebration on June 12, 2015. L-R: Dennis Shaffer (ED), Joe Frank, Brian Fitzgerald, Kim Simpson, Paul Hannon, Rolf Anderson, Mike DeBonis (ED), Marty Lawthers, Andrew Nuquist, Richard Windish, Marge Fish, Jean Haigh, John Page, Ben Rose (ED)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHERI LARSEN AND JOCELYN HEBERT

Long Trail News Fall 2015 18 Daan Zwick crossing the bridge

1930s GMC caretaker Daan Zwick painting blaze on bridge

Senator Dick Mazza and President Jean Haigh cutting the ribbon Former board member and project supporter Paul Kendall crossing the bridge Long Trail News Fall 2015 19 Trail Mix

Field staff on bridge We Couldn’t Have Done it Without You!

ecuring a permanent Long Trail • GMC’s bridge crew: Matt Wels, Sam • GMC’s 9,500 members and fourteen crossing of the Winooski River Parisi, Kurt Melin, and Pat O’Brien sections in Bolton has been a goal of the • The State of Vermont • GMC’s staff: Ben Rose, Susan Shea, Green Mountain Club for more • The Town of Bolton Bob Lincoln, Maisie Howard, Pete Sthan one hundred years. Because of the • Vermont’s Congressional delegation Antos-Ketcham, Dave Hardy and many support of our friends and partners, this others, past and present goal has been accomplished! • Governor Howard Dean, Senator Dick Mazza, the late Senator Robert • The GMC Board of Directors and Thank you to everyone who helped us other volunteers, including especially succeed: ­Gannett, and all of our friends in the Vermont Legislature Kim Simpson, chair of the GMC Land • Engineers Construction Inc. (ECI) who ­Protection Committee, and its members helped build the bridge • Daan Zwick for his anchor gift, and our 1,400 other generous supporters • All the other generous supporters • Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB), for their gifts and partners who made this project our bridge engineers ­possible • Kleinhans Construction and Welding

End of an Era: Jill Haas Leaves GMC

ill Haas walked through GMC’s door reports and anything else that required a as a volunteer in 2000. Shortly after, long, accurate list made it out the door on Jshe accepted a part-time position as schedule. She was the timekeeper, the big membership and fundraising clerk. picture person, the glue. We said goodbye to Jill in late July after On Thursdays Jill would emerge from fifteen years of unwavering dedication, her office, leaving the spreadsheets and when she left to pursue semi-retirement, queries behind, and spend much of the travel and new opportunities. day working with the regular office vol- GMC has been enriched by many unteers. There was a lot of storytelling people who distinguished themselves by and laughter, often led by Jill. We know leaving physical marks on our trails. Jill she will miss them as much as they, and enriched us by making her mark within the rest of the staff, will miss her. the organization. Eventually she became Jill, when you hear the phantom cow our full time database manager, support- bell ring at noon on Thursdays, remem- ing and guiding the club’s ever-growing Jill Haas and Doris Washburn ber, not only is it lunchtime, but we will membership and development depart- be thinking of you. Thank you and we ments—arguably two of the most impor- flawless. If something in the system went wish you the best! tant areas in the organization. amiss, she fixed it—immediately! An Jill’s attention to detail and high efficient organizer, she ensured that bulk —The entire Green Mountain standards have made our database nearly mailings, the Long Trail News, section Club community

Long Trail News Fall 2015 20 Trail Mix

Family Time on the Trail lison and Derrick­ Top Ten Ways Whritenour, to Support GMC! members of the Burlington Sec- 1. Join the Green Mountain Club; ask tion,A have been hiking on friends to join, too. the Long Trail system with their daughter, Mabel, who 2. Volunteer on the trail, at events or at is eighteen months old. They club headquarters in Waterbury Center. explained why they enjoy it and its value to their family. 3. Adopt a section of the Long Trail System, “We love to spend time or a shelter or tent site. together as a family, and enjoy fresh air on the Long 4. Ask your employer to match your Trail away from our day-to- membership and annual contributions. day lives. We started taking Mabel when she was seven 5. Shop at the GMC Visitor Center in months old, and she loves it! Waterbury Center or on our web store.

We try our best to get out 6. Patronize GMC business members that on the trails every weekend support the work of the club. when the weather permits, but of course we are on 7. Give the gift of membership for a special Mabel toddler time, so we need to occasion. be flexible. We hope that by introducing our daughter to this at an early age she will develop an 8. Include a bequest to GMC in your will. ­appreciation for nature and realize how fortunate she is to live in such a beautiful environment. This was a big reason for relocating our family from 9. Memorialize a loved one or role model: New Jersey to Vermont! celebrate their appreciation for Vermont’s “Nebraska Notch is one of our favorite trails, because there are so many mountains with a gift in their name. great views and different things to look at. Mabel loves spending time in Butler and Taylor Lodge—sweeping and opening the windows are great 10. Donate stock, property, or other assets entertainment for her. We think she thinks it’s a giant play house. to the club as a tax-deductible gift. “Hiking with a toddler is definitely an adventure. You have to be pre- pared for the unexpected. There are days when we worry we are packing too much, but then it is 30 degrees at the top of the trail Thank You ­Publications and we are happy we had that Committee­ Members winter hat and fleece. For us, patience is key. Especially now ith new editions of The Long Trail End- that our daughter is becoming to-Ender’s Guide and 50 Hikes in Vermont more independent, she wants Wreleased this past spring, we would like to to explore more on her own, thank the volunteers that helped make the produc- which often means stopping to tion of these books possible, especially Rebecca look at every single flower and Harvey and Steve Airoldi for editing the End-to- rock along the way. It’s so fun Ender’s Guide and Doug McKain for editing 50 Hikes to watch her as she grows, and in Vermont. Both of these books are available on our to see what she is interested in. online store, www.greenmountainclub.org, or at the While our pace may be slower visitor center store in Waterbury Center. now, we know she is getting ­—Matt Krebs, more out of the experience.” Publications Coordinator

Long Trail News Fall 2015 21 Volunteers

Petra Halsema and Ben Lange Adopters of the Sterling Pond Trail

maintainers and what Pond is one of the most popular trails in inspires them to vol- the area. People are often curious about unteer. what we’re doing, so we try to do a little Leave No Trace education while we’re out How did you learn there, too. about the Green Mountain Club? What is the best part of being trail We first learned adopters? about the GMC while Having an excuse to get out on the trail as planning to hike the much as possible! Long Trail. We used the GMC’s End-to- Has the experience of adopting a Ender’s Guide and the ­section of trail changed how you view Long Trail map, both the trail? of which were invalu- Before adopting the Sterling Pond Trail, able planning tools. we were far less conscious of how much We joined the GMC effort the GMC and its volunteers expend after we finished hik- in keeping the trails open. Like many ing the LT in 2008. people, we assumed that the only work went into signs and cabins and the trails What was your first sort of took care of themselves. We now he Green Mountain Club is experience on the Long Trail and how realize that it’s a gargantuan task. able to maintain the Long did it inspire you? Trail thanks largely to the Our first experience with the Long Trail Apart from the section of trail you work of devoted volunteers. was hiking it from end to end the summer maintain, what other areas of Vermont TMotivated by love of mountains and and the Long Trail do you like to before Petra entered law school. It was trails, these are people who literally aren’t our longest backpacking trip (so far!) and explore? afraid to get their hands dirty. They one of the most challenging things either We love the mountains in the Worcester brave rain and blazing sun, mud and of us had ever done. It was a wonderful Range and the Northeast Kingdom. In mosquitoes (as well as the completion way to explore our new home state. We winter, we enjoy skiing the Bolton back- of trail and shelter reports!), to keep the still have vivid memories of our days on country, and have been exploring the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail avail- the trail and the people we met along the Catamount Trail. able to the public. Our volunteers are way. We hope to hike it again one day. passionate people, typically moved to Would you recommend the volunteer donate their time following a meaningful What made you volunteer as adopters? experience to someone else? experience on the trail. After hiking the LT, we became interested Absolutely. The staff and volunteers at Petra Halsema and Ben Lange are two in trail work. It seemed like a fun way to GMC are a wonderful group of people, such volunteers. After living elsewhere give back and learn some new skills. and it’s a great way to get outdoors! for several years, they returned to Vermont seven years ago so Petra could How did you learn to do trail work? Thanks, Petra and Ben, for your hard attend Vermont Law School and Ben We didn’t have any experience doing trail work! the UVM School of Medicine. Today work prior to volunteering. The book they call central Vermont home, and —Jenny Montagne, Membership provided by GMC got us started. GMC’s belong to the GMC’s Montpelier Sec- and Volunteer Coordinator trail adopter workshop brought the con- tion. After an end-to-end Long Trail hike cepts to life. If you are interested in volunteering or they adopted the Sterling Pond Trail, a learning more about the GMC’s Trail and side trail leading from Route 108 to the When you’re maintaining this trail, what Shelter Adopter program, please contact Long Trail, through the club’s Trail and do you spend most of your time doing? Jenny Montagne, jmontagne@green Shelter Adopter Program. We asked Petra mountainclub.org. and Ben about their experience as trail We spend a lot of time clearing water bars and trying to reduce erosion. Sterling

Long Trail News Fall 2015 22 Volunteers

VLTP Progress Report

he Volunteer while others demucked Long Trail Patrol the trail and improved crushed rock drainage. and scooped Passing hikers en- Tpounds of mud for three thusiastically thanked weeks on the Long Trail/Ap- us, and commented on palachian Trail in Peru Peak Vermont’s beauty. At Wilderness in the Green lunch we filled tortillas Mountain National Forest. with personal concoc- From France to Russia to tions of peanut butter, Tennessee we came in search cheese, pepperoni, tuna, of stewardship, adventure, hummus, cucumber (ob- learning and fun. We were viously not all one torti- blessed with clear skies lla!); posed riddles; and most days, comfortable tem- enjoyed the solitude and peratures, and Griffith Lake stillness of the wilder- just a half mile away. ness. Afternoons were Bagels, oatmeal, Nutella, much like mornings. coffee and hot chocolate Each afternoon we sealed began the day. Then it was Volunteer Long Trail Patrol the project by filling up, up, up about eight hun- holes, setting rocks and dred feet to an intoxicating fluffing vegetation to evergreen-scented breeze at the 3,429- harden a fairly level treadway in use for camouflage our quarry trails. We relaxed foot summit of Peru Peak, a commute that almost a century! Step one was find- at evening in the bliss that follows hard got our blood pumping and warmed us ing glacial remnants—reminiscent of work, with countless card games and for the workday. As we approached our blackboard slate—hiding in the woods. A swims in Griffith Lake. blue-tarp-burrito tool cache, we placed double-jack sledge hammer, our new best We laid more than two hundred bets on how many slugs had made tempo- friend, smashed each rock with one blow. square feet of crush fill, set thirteen step rary homes in our GMC hard hats. We ran the crush station all day; crush stones, cleared many drains, built a two- Tools in hand, we hiked a half mile was in high demand. Some of the crew step staircase, and generally maintained along the Peru Peak-Styles Peak ridge to quarried rocks in the spruce-fir forest, almost a mile of trail. The commitment, heart and passion of our volunteers was astounding and inspiring. I feel honored to have done such meaningful, lasting Volunteer Picnic and honest work with these folks, and I Save the Date! thank them for the chance to experience their overwhelmingly giving nature. I’m alling all Green Mountain Club volunteers for a day of food, entertain- also grateful for the beautiful weather, ment by local bluegrass musicians Two Cents in the Till, and celebra- and for a firmer trail that will keep hik- Ction. Whether you’re a lifetime volunteer or just starting out with the ers’ feet just a little drier! club, you’re invited to attend our annual volunteer appreciation picnic at the Next stop for the VLTP is East Dorset, GMC Headquarters in Waterbury Center this fall. Come share a meal with other where we will build a new trail along volunteers as we honor your accomplishments and give thanks for all of your Mad Tom Brook. With cascades, smooth hard work. We look forward to seeing you in September! beech trees and swimming holes galore, Please RSVP to [email protected] I am sure there will be many joyful, by Friday, September 18. celebratory and enlightening moments ahead! Who: GMC’s amazing volunteers! Where: GMC Headquarters, Waterbury Center —Meghan Paugh, Volunteer Long When: Saturday, September 26 at 1:30 p.m. Trail Patrol Crew Leader

Long Trail News Fall 2015 23 MEET THE STAFF

Pete Antos-Ketcham has Maureen Davis is an infor- more than twenty-two years mation specialist in the visi- of experience in backcoun- tor center. A native Rhode try facility and long-dis- Islander, she grew up sail- tance hiking trail manage- ing and beachcombing. She ment. His role at GMC has has relocated often around morphed from caretaker to the U.S., and has worked for field supervisor to educa- several different nonprofit tion coordinator. Today organizations. Maureen en- he is director of land and joys spending time outside facilities management, and and is a Certified Naturalist, oversees the management avid gardener, hiker and and protection of 35,000 walker of her two dogs. In acres of Long Trail and the winter she snowshoes Appalachian Trail lands in Vermont. Pete lives on a five-acre or Nordic skis, then retreats indoors for a cup of tea and a good homestead in Starksboro with his wife Katie and their twins book, or to work on her fabric art creations. She has raised two Bailey and Carter. daughters, and lives with her husband Mike in Morristown.

After three seasons caretak- Mike DeBonis returned to ing and leading the GMC his home state to join the Volunteer Long Trail Patrol, GMC staff as executive Emily Benning is now the director in 2014. Before that southern field assistant. he was executive director of She’s in the woods every the Forest Guild, a national day, and only knows it’s a organization of professional day off if she makes it more foresters. In 1996 Mike than eight hours without completed a southbound shoveling out a compost- AT thru-hike, and in 2004 ing privy. Emily has all of he completed the Long a plant science degree from Trail. Today he spends his Cornell University, and most spare time fixing things that of an illustration degree rust and leak oil; current from Lyndon State College; projects include a 1958 VW single cab bus and a 1971 BSA she hopes to finish her second degree someday, but secretly motorcycle. Mike, his wife Jennifer and their two dogs live in enjoys being both an Ivy League graduate and an art school Moretown. dropout. Alicia DiCocco joined the Jason Buss held a variety of staff as director of develop- positions before becoming ment in 2014. She came to GMC’s business manager. GMC from Spectrum Youth He was director of finance and Family Services, where and technology at the she was database manager Vermont Youth Conserva- and development coordi- tion Corps, harvest manager nator. She got her start in at Jericho Settlers Farm, an development at Boston instructor with the UVM University while volun- Farmer Training Program, teering with their commu- and site manager at the nity service center. Alicia School for Field Studies moved to Vermont from in the Turks and Caicos Colorado with her husband Islands. A gardener and Shay three years ago, and former farmer, he maintains loves living in the Green two garden plots, and raises chickens in the city of Burlington, Mountains and spending time outdoors with her one-year-old where he lives with his partner Carrie. daughter.

Long Trail News Fall 2015 24 MEET THE STAFF

Jennifer Abolins Donley is Matt Krebs manages GMC’s manager of the visitor cen- operations and publications. ter, where she often greets He has worked at the club guests with “Hello, Doll!” for more than six years as She grew up a military brat, an information specialist, primarily in , Texas, stewardship assistant and Pennsylvania and Germany, interim business manager and graduated from the Col- as well as his current job. lege of William and Mary. As a father of three he has a A passionate sports fan, she passion for getting kids out enjoys soccer, basketball, on the trail. He loves great hiking and cycling. She is adventures, and his have a fifteen-year season ticket included thru-hiking both holder of the Pittsburgh the Appalachian and Long Steelers. A second generation Latvian American, Jennifer also Trails. These days he may enjoys travel and spending time with her eight nieces and neph- be found playing ultimate duck-duck-goose with his wife and ews. She lives in Stowe with her cat Pouncey and husband Ross. three children at home in Craftsbury.

Dave Hardy has been main- Caitlin Miller is a New taining trails since the 1970s, Hampshire native who at- starting in New Hamp- tended Bishop’s University shire’s White Mountains. in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She He joined GMC as southern worked two field seasons field assistant in 1992, and as a GMC caretaker be- has been director of trail fore becoming the club’s programs since 1999. A AmeriCorps-supported lifelong hiker, he thru-hiked group outreach special- the Long Trail in 1982, and ist. She works with groups has bagged countless peaks planning to use the Long throughout the Northeast. Trail, teaching them ways to He has been employed as an minimize their impact, and engineer, cook, baker and heads the club’s education trail program director. He also wins an occasional ribbon for his programs. Caitlin is an avid homebrewed beer. Dave lives at the foot of the Worcester Range hiker, backpacker, dog petter and creamee enthusiast. She is with his wife Carol and a small herd of cats. also a devotee of cajoling her boyfriend into marathon-watching television series with her. Jocelyn Hebert became edi- tor of the Long Trail News Jenny Montagne is our in 2013. After a Long Trail membership and volunteer thru-hike in 2010 she decid- coordinator. She answers ed to reinvent herself, and membership questions, left a twenty-year career as a plans outreach initiatives, Vermont real estate appraiser supports GMC’s fourteen behind. Now a two-time sections, and keeps track of Long Trail end-to-ender, she the club’s extensive volun- spends her free time hiking, teer base. She enjoys meet- photographing Vermont’s ing and working with such mountains, tending her a fiercely dedicated group of perennial garden, working outdoorspeople, and finding on her 1880s home, spend- creative ways to communicate the mission of the club to the ing time in Alaska with family, and seeking new adventures and people of Vermont and beyond. In her free time Jenny enjoys challenges. Jocelyn is a Vermont native and lives in Calais. swimming in the Mad River, painting watercolor landscapes, and reading in the sun. She and her husband Ryan live in More- Kevin Hudnell See Journey’s End column on page 31. town with their two feline friends Willy and Jane.

Long Trail News Fall 2015 25 Sections Section Directory

Bennington Maintenance: Harmon Hill to President: Martha Stitelman, (802) 442-0864 Spontaneous applause greeted the E-mail: [email protected] Montpelier Section GMC and the Long Trail banner, which Website: www.bennington.com/outingclub Montpelier Section Celebrates depicts the trail traversing major peaks of Brattleboro the as white boot prints Maintenance: Winhall River to Vt. 11/30 Sixty Years President: George Roy, (603) 381-7756 on dark green background, as we walked E-mail: [email protected] To celebrate its sixtieth birthday, the Website: www.brattleborogmc.com down Main and State. I think we all felt Montpelier Section marched in the capi- proud to be connected with the trail that Bread Loaf tal’s popular Independence Day parade. Location: Middlebury area is such a cherished feature of the Vermont Maintenance: Sucker Brook Shelter to Emily Proctor Shelter It was a beautiful evening, and Main and President: Ruth Penfield, (802) 388-5407 landscape. E-mail: [email protected] State Streets were lined with spectators After this shortest and easiest hike Website: www.gmcbreadloaf.org four and five deep who had descended on of the year, some of us lingered on the Burlington our small city for the annual festivity. packed State House lawn for provisions Maintenance: Jonesville to Smugglers’ Notch We were pleased to have President President: Ted Albers, (802) 557-7009 from the food carts on State Street and for E-mail: [email protected] John Page and Executive Director Mike live music. Some stayed on for the daz- Website: www.gmcburlington.org DeBonis walk in front with the GMC’s Connecticut zling fireworks display, best seen in the eye-catching centennial banner. Then Location: Hartford, Connecticut company of an enthusiastic, multi-genera- Maintenance: Glastenbury Mountain to came former President Jean Haigh and Arlington-West Wardsboro Road tional crowd on the capitol steps. President: Jim Robertson, (860) 633-7279 the Montpelier Section banner. It took The Long Trail banner, created by the E-mail: [email protected] five stalwart members to handle the Website: www.conngmc.com Montpelier Section for its 50th anniver- 27-foot Long Trail banner, mounted on Killington sary, is available for loan to other sections. Location: Rutland area tall, leafy saplings. Keeping it taut and Maintenance: Vt. 140 to Tucker-Johnson Shelter site upright in the light breeze took concen- —Reidun Nuquist, President: Barry Griffith, (802) 492-3573 Montpelier Section President E-mail: [email protected] tration and strength. Website: www.gmckillington.org Laraway Location: St. Albans area Maintenance: Vt. 15 to Vt. 118 President: Bruce Bushey, (802) 893-2146 E-mail: [email protected] Manchester Maintenance: Vt. 11/30 to Griffith Lake President: Marge Fish, (802) 824-3662 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gmc-manchester.org Montpelier Maintenance: Bamforth to Jonesville and Smugglers’ Notch to Chilcoot Pass President: Reidun Nuquist, (802) 223-3550 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gmcmontpelier.org Northeast Kingdom Location: Northeast Kingdom Maintenance: Willoughby and Darling State Forests and the Kingdom Heritage Lands. President: Luke O’Brien, (802) 467-3694 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nekgmc.org Northern Frontier Location: Montgomery Maintenance: Hazen’s Notch to Journey’s End President: Jane Williams, (802) 827-3879 E-mail: [email protected] Ottauquechee Location: Upper Valley, and New Hampshire Maintenance: Appalachian Trail from Maine Jctn. to the New Hampshire line President: Inge Brown, (802) 296-5777 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://gmc-o-section.org Sterling Location: Morrisville/Stowe/Johnson Maintenance: Chilcoot Pass to Vt. 15 President: Greg Western, (802) 655-6051 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gmcsterling.org Worcester Location: Worcester, Maintenance: Arlington-West Wardsboro Rd. to Winhall River President: Patricia Faron, (508) 892-9237 E-mail: [email protected] Long Trail News Fall 2015 26 Sections

Dot Myer Burlington Section Special Recognition Award: Bennington Section The Section provided barbecue ingredi- Dot Myer ents and individual members brought GMC planned to present Dot Myer with Hiker Barbecue fresh veggies and the brownies. We also the Special Recognition Award at last fall’s The Bennington Section Hiker Barbe- had donations of sodas, Cliff Bars, baked volunteer appreciation picnic, however, cue held on Saturday, July 25 attracted goods and tomatoes from people who she was unable to attend so received it at more hikers than it did last year. So found our event on Meetup and came to ­annual meeting on June 13. many in fact, we had to make a run to help. There were many well-fed, appre- Special Recognition Award: Dot Myer town to get more supplies! ciative, and happy hikers! Dot led hikes for the Burlington Section Hikers began to arrive before the of- for fifty years! She began hiking with the ficial 11:00 a.m. start but we managed to It was another successful day of Benning- ton Section members and long distance University of Vermont Outing Club as tide them over with brownies while the a student. In 1956 she joined the GMC, barbecue heated up. Bennington Sec- hikers sharing hiking information and experiences on the trail. and soon began leading hikes. Dot’s tion volunteers set up two 10 x10 shade hiking knowledge and experience are structures with some dozen lawn chairs —Lorna Cheriton, remarkable, and she has encouraged and Bennington Section member to provide a shady place to rest and eat. inspired countless hikers over the years. While she has retired from being a hike leader, she does not plan to retire from hiking. Northeast Kingdom Section Phase I Complete Congratulations to the Northwoods Stew- ardship Center and Green Mountain Club for completing Phase I of the Kingdom Heritage Lands Trail Network. The new trail leads from Vermont Route 114 (near the Hurricane Road) in Warren Gore east to Unknown Pond, and connects with the new Middle Mountain Trail leading over the summit ridge of Middle Mountain to the lower portion of the Gore Moun- tain Trail. When complete, the Kingdom Heritage Trail Network will provide more than eleven miles of hiking in the North- east Kingdom.

Long Trail News Fall 2015 27 GMC Outdoor Programs

Our education program offers a variety of Trail Maintenance courses and outings to help you have fun, Work Day and Picnic be safe, and learn more about the out- doors. Register through our online GMC Saturday, October 24 , Killington Store at www.greenmountainclub.org, or call (802) 244-7037. Learn skills to maintain hiking trails by joining seasoned GMC FIRST AID field staff for this one-day work- shop. We will work along the SOLO Wilderness First Aid Appalachian Trail between Ver- mont Route 100 and Stony Brook Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, Road. Participants will be trained 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, to clean waterbars, clip brush, 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. clear blowdowns, and paint blazes. GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center Plan for a moderate day in the field followed by a cookout. No prior Sign up early—this course fills fast! This experience is necessary, and tools sixteen-hour, hands-on course will will be provided. Experienced prepare you for backcountry medical and new volunteers are welcome emergencies. Its focus is on the pre- to join. Instructors: GMC field vention, recognition and treatment of staff. FREE. Register one week in injuries and illnesses. Wilderness First advance. Meeting time will be pro- Aid (WFA) certification or Wilderness vided at registration. First Responder (WFR) recertification is provided upon completion. Instructors: To register, please contact Director Stonehearth Open Learning Opportuni- of Trail Programs Dave Hardy, ties staff. Limit: 30. Fee: $190. Please [email protected] or contact GMC if you need WFR recerti- (802) 241-8320. fication (additional fees apply). Register

two weeks in advance. RAM VERMA

Autumn is Hunting Season ikers should be aware of hunters and wear blaze Horange in the woods during the fall, especially dur- ing the busiest seasons. Blaze orange clothing should be ­visible from both the front and back. Avoid wearing brown or white, the colors of a deer. Dress your dog with bright bandanas or a blaze orange vest. Wave to make your pres- ence known to hunters, but don’t speak unless they speak first. If they are quietly hunting please do not disturb them. Hunting is allowed along the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail in Vermont. Be especially careful in valleys and near roads and trailheads. The busiest hunting seasons are: • Early Black Bear Season: September 1 – November 13 • 2014 Youth Rifle Deer Weekend: November 7-8 • Rifle Deer Season: November 14-29 For a complete list of Vermont hunting and trapping seasons from September through December, see www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Long Trail News Fall 2015 28 Board Report

t the June 13 board meeting ooski Valley Long Trail Relocation was a Nominating Committee Chairman President Jean Haigh declared tribute to the hard work and support of Richard Windish announced the election that the club had come a long staff, volunteers, and members. He added of Lars Botzojorns and Faith Brown to the way in the three years of her that four vacant staff positions had been board. He also noted that Sheri Larsen term.A She expressed her appreciation to filled, and he thanked both staff and and Paul Houchens are beginning second the board, the executive committee and volunteers for their patience and faith in terms and Dann Van Deer Vliet was ap- the staff, and said so much could not him over the past year. pointed by President Jean Haigh to fill a have been accomplished without their vacant seat. support. The board took the following actions: Jean passed the gavel to incoming Treasurer Stephen Klein reported that President John Page. John accepted, and • Voted to approve the creation of a the club had a great year from a financial thanked Jean for her exceptional service camps committee to provide strategic perspective. Highlights included: timely to the club—in particular, for being a leadership, technical resources, and completion of the outside audit; ending role model and mentor during his term hands-on assistance with GMC camps fiscal year 2015 with a small operating as vice president. John said he felt it an management. surplus; paying off the mortgage on the incredible honor to be elected president, club’s headquarters building; eliminating • Elected officers for the 2015-2016 year: because the GMC and the Long Trail have other long-term debt; and timely fiscal president, John Page; vice president, been important presences in his life since year 2016 budget approval by the board Tom Candon; treasurer, Stephen Klein; the 1950s. in March. secretary, Lee Allen. —Tom Candon, Secretary Executive Director Mike DeBonis announced that the Winooski River Foot- bridge and northern portion of the Long Trail relocation was officially opened Call for New Board Members on Friday, June 12, with well-deserved The Green Mountain Club is seeking energetic, talented and dedicated volun- fanfare. Mike said that the ability to close teers to join its dynamic board of directors. Serving on the board is a great way the year with a surplus despite the addi- to support the club and take a direct leadership role to secure its future.

JOCELYN HEBERT JOCELYN tional burden of fundraising for the Win- Nominations (or inquiries) should be submitted to: Nominating Committee, c/o Executive Director, Green Mountain Club, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, ­Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677 (or e-mail [email protected]). Nominations will be accepted until December 1, 2015, for consideration by the GMC Nominating Committee. An election ballot will be included in the spring 2016 Long Trail News. —Mike DeBonis, Executive Director

Wheeler Pond

Long Trail News Fall 2015 29 Advertise in the LongTrailNews call Jocelyn: 802-241-8215

Long Trail News Fall 2015 30 Journey’s End

The Man in the Kilt Field Supervisor Kevin Hudnell

n six field seasons Green Mountain early to hike the Lebanon Mountain Club staff members have come to Trail, which by all accounts was a posi- expect a bearded, bespectacled tive transition, since the Beirut office had gentleman in a waistcoat and one more intern than they had chairs. Irolled shirtsleeves strolling the lawn at To say Kevin hit the trail and never staff parties, often with a croquet mallet looked back would not be inaccurate. in one hand and a glass of homebrewed His diplomatic temperament, political stout in the other. His trademark kilt pragmatism and secret love of well- reveals Chacos and mismatched socks. organized paperwork equipped him well If you dare ask why he’s eating a block as a field supervisor, and only someone of dry ramen noodles, you will see the with a degree in Middle Eastern studies raised eyebrow and soul-withering stare could negotiate the politics of the GMC so many of his crew have received. That field staff with his aplomb. I have had the gentleman is Field Supervisor Kevin privilege of working with (and regularly Hudnell. caricaturing, challenging, and gener- Most of Kevin’s coworkers know he’s ally exasperating) Kevin since I joined been with the GMC since the summer the GMC field staff in 2012, and I am he completed the Appalachian Trail in ment. A proud Eagle Scout, Kevin was always glad he chose this path instead of just under four months. They know he a guide at the Philmont Scout Ranch in politics. was caretaker at Taft Lodge and Stratton New Mexico. In a grim job market after Kevin will give you the good pitch- Pond, then lead caretaker on both Mount college, he became a part-time crusader, fork if one breaks during a compost- Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. Most also alternating between paid field staff posi- ing run, and will extend an offer of a know he studied Middle Eastern relations tions and unpaid internships in Washing- promotion in the form of quotes from and political strategy at the University ton, D.C., and Beirut, Lebanon. Initially your favorite cartoon. Character of that of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Fewer bitter at finding only seasonal employ- quality would be wasted behind a desk know he speaks Arabic, studied abroad ment, he realized he actually enjoyed at the CIA. in Damascus, was once given a cookie by spending time in the wilderness in a Though there may be days when he Paul Wolfowitz, and plays the concertina state of loosely-controlled anarchy, and ponders the possibility of life in a suit in- better than he cares to admit. Only a eventually became an enthusiast for the stead of mud-caked Carhartts, Kevin has select few know how the Winston-Salem caretaking cause. no regrets. Not only does field staff life native wound up in his basement office at It occurred to Kevin that he was hav- promise him the sweet victory of outliv- the Green Mountain Club. ing more fun rambling out yonder in ing the desk-bound men and women he Wearing his collection of earth- the field, getting his hands dirty in an once worked with, but we always manage toned plaid shirts, he blends perfectly environment that fit his discordian ideals, to find a place for him to sit…even if it’s into the field staff (and into the field), than he had behind a desk analyzing po- an upturned five-gallon bucket. but the man behind the beard hadn’t litical strategies. (Plus, the trail gigs paid —Emily Benning,

TOM ANDERSON TOM always planned a career in trail manage- his bills.) He left his internship in Beirut Southern Field Assistant

Long Trail News Fall 2015 31 Periodicals Postage PAID Waterbury Center and Additional Offices

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