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 Sunrise at Ritterbush Pond Green Mountain Club BARKER SCOTT Mike DeBonis, Executive Director c o n t e n t s Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail 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 Mount Mansfield 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 Maine, 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, Connecticut 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.