NEWS

Quarterly of the Green Mountain Club WINTER 2017

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 1 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. Skyline Lodge Privy Quarterly of the CONTENTS Green Mountain Club Winter 2017, Volume 77, No. 4 Michael DeBonis, Executive Director Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail News Editor FEATURES Richard Andrews, Volunteer Copy Editor

Green Mountain Club 6 / Tested by Winter: Trekking to Glen Ellen Lodge 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road By Krista Karlson Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677 Phone: (802) 244-7037 7 / Skinning, Skiing, and Splitboarding in the Fax: (802) 244-5867 E-mail: [email protected] Brandon Backcountry Website: www.greenmountainclub.org By Lenny Crisostomo TheLong Trail News is published by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded 8/ Beyond the Cathole: Everything you Didn’t Know you in 1910. In a 1971 Joint Resolution, the Vermont Legislature designated the Green Mountain Club the Wanted to Know About Outhouses “founder, sponsor, defender and protector of the Long Trail System...” By Justin Towers Contributions of manuscripts, photos, illustrations, and 11 / McGraths Celebrate 40 Years at Sherburne Pass news are welcome from members and nonmembers. By Sue Thomas The opinions expressed byLTN contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of GMC. GMC reserves the right to refuse advertising that is not in 12 / A Fortress, A Treehouse: The Long Trail Lodge in the 1950s keeping with the goals of the organization. By David Wright

TheLong Trail News (USPS 318-840) is published quarterly by The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 14 / Winter Travels: A Photo Essay Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. Periodicals postage paid at Waterbury Center, VT and DEPARTMENTS additional offices. Subscription is a benefit for GMC members. Approximately $5 of each member’s dues is 3 / From the President 23 / A Century of Long Trail used to publish the Long Trail News. 4 / Mountain Views Guidebooks: A Retrospective POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Long Trail News, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury 5 / Blue Blazes 24 / GMC Outdoor Programs Center, VT 05677. 16 / Field Notes 25 / Volunteers Copyright©2017 The Green Mountain Club, Inc., 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 17 / Trail Mix 26 / Sections 05677. Permission to reproduce in any form any of 18 / Land Stewardship 28 / James P. Taylor Outdoor Series the material in this publication without prior written approval of The Green Mountain Club, Inc. is granted 20 / Meet the Staff 31 / Journey’s End only to individuals for their own personal hiking ­convenience. 23 / Board Report

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation: Filing date, September 21, 2017. Long Trail News. Publication No. 318-840, published four times per year. Office of publication, editorial and general business office located at 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677. Editor: Jocelyn Hebert. Owner: The Green Mountain Club, Inc. Average number of copies each issue during preceding twelve months: Total number of copies printed, 7,400. Total paid distribution, 6,642. Total free distribution, 758. Total distribution, 7,400. Office use and otherwise not distributed, 0. Total, 7,400. Percent paid distri- Cover: Winter on the Worcester Range. bution, 89.76%. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: Total number of copies printed, 6,800. Total paid distribution, 6,307. Total free Photo by Brenda Buckbee. distribution, 290. Total distribution, 6,800. Office use and otherwise not distributed, 0. Total, 6,800. Percent paid distribution, 95.6%. – Jocelyn Hebert, Editor From the President A Blueprint for GMC’s Future MC’s board of directors recently • Pursue completion of the Long Trail adopted a new strategic plan that Protection Campaign. In thirty years we identifies important goals and strat- have protected all but six miles of the Long Gegies for all aspects of the club’s activities over Trail on a willing buyer–willing seller basis. the next five years. The plan is the product of As opportunities to work with land owners a year of systematic self-examination by the arise, GMC will be ready to protect those entire organization, and paints a picture of properties and the Long Trail. who we want to be in the future. It will keep • Diversify our revenue sources. us focused on our core mission of protecting Much of and maintaining the Long Trail while rec- the Long Trail crosses public land whose ognizing that the way we achieve that must managers help fund the cost of our trail evolve with changing times. It also reflects crews and caretakers working on their land. the fact that the Green Mountain Club is a Public funding has been in decline, and the maturing organization with an impressive dependability of future funding is uncertain. capacity to achieve great things. We need to ensure that our trail programs are fully maintained regardless of public funding. PHOTO BY DAN CARDOZO Key strategic goals identified • Increase the endowment. We plan to John at the end of his 3rd Long Trail hike, 2017. in the plan include: add $1.6 million to our current endowment • Achieve trail parity. We plan to invest of $4.6 million. A strong endowment is the • Ensure volunteer and membership vitality. significant additional resources in tread foundation of future financial security, because We will pursue strategies to promote the vital- hardening on the Long Trail north of the it provides a reliable and sustainable stream of ity of our fourteen sections as well as the club’s Lamoille River. Anyone who has hiked the income for annual operating expenses. general membership. In particular, we aim to whole trail can attest that the northern trail • Become an employer of choice. We want induce more trail users to become members. has significantly fewer durable improvements the Green Mountain Club to become an Many of these goals will require new for erosion control such as water bars, stone employer of choice by providing industry- funding sources, but we view this plan as a steps, and puncheon, than southern sections. leading compensation and a work environ- serious investment in the club’s future. We are Our volunteers north of the Lamoille do an ment that will better enable us to attract and confident of GMC’s capacity to build and excellent job of annual trail maintenance, retain talented staff. grow, and we are excited to see what the club but serious tread hardening requires the skills will look like in another five years. To read and energy of our professional trail crews. • Engage the next generation of trail users. the full plan and measure Because the Long Trail is notoriously wet and We will expand our outreach and education our progress, please visit our website at muddy, these improvements are essential if programming to engage future generations of greenmountainclub.org/strategicplan. we want a world class hiking trail. trail users and club leaders. — John Page, President

Sterling Pond. Photo by Chris Diegel. LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 3 Mountain Views

Remarkable Field Staff and up to Churchill Scott Shelter as part of another trip to visit friends in the Northeast My partner and I just Kingdom earlier this year. Thank you for in- completed our second spiring us. We are looking forward to a happy thru-hike of the Long GMC Officers hike in Vermont soon. John Page, President Trail (northbound). Tom Candon, Vice President —Jim Anderson and Jeanne Camin Stephen Klein, Treasurer While I plan to file a Lee Allen, Secretary trail diary, I also wanted GMC Directors to make a BIG KUDOS Restoring the Crosscut Saw Robynn Albert, General to Scout Phillips [Battell I enjoyed the article on crosscut saws, and it Lars Botzojorns, General Michelle Connor, Burlington Shelter and Mount got me to thinking. I am eighty years old and Hope Crifo, General Abe Caretaker]. All have a two-man crosscut that was my father’s. Marge Fish, Manchester Russ Ford, Northern Frontier of the caretakers we He and my uncle used it when they cleared James Fritz, Connecticut encountered at shelters our house lot in Simsbury, Connecticut in Jean Haigh, Northeast Kingdom Peter Hope, Ottauquechee were friendly and 1946; in the early fifties I used it with another Paul Houchens, General helpful. Scout, however, went way beyond that. 4-H member, and we entered and won a Anne Janeway, General Wayne Krevetski, General He was extraordinary! He kept a beautiful site contest in the Hartford County 4-H Fair at Sheri Larsen, General (complete with a hand-colored weather report Cherry Park in Canton, Connecticut. My Ron Lucier, Sterling Doug McKain, Bread Loaf in the privy), offered us homemade granola bars, grown children have no interest in owning it. I Ed O’Leary, General was knowledgeable about the trail, and extremely am interested in contacting Larry Walter. If he John Oliva, Worcester Ira Sollace, General warm hearted. What a positive influence in the thinks it is worth sharpening I would donate Martha Stitelman, Bennington middle of our hike! . . . I read his blog and was so it to the Green Mountain Club. By the way, Cynthia Taylor-Miller, Killington Dann Van Der Vliet, General taken with his attitude and commitment. Kudos the tooth style is Perforated Lance. Howard VanBenthuysen, General to you for finding such remarkable people to —Lou Faivre, Brandon Matt Wels, Brattleboro Mike Wetherell, Montpelier staff the shelters and be present on the summits. John Zaber, General —Alan Paschell, Calais Vacant, Laraway GMC Staff Directory Main Telephone: (802) 244-7037 Hiking the Long Trail Song Jason Buss, Director of Finance Thanks so much for including mention of the E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (802) 241-8214 “Hiking the Long Trail” song in the fall 2017 issue! Ilana Copel, Field Supervisor I deeply appreciate it. What a thrill and what good Email: [email protected] fortune to be included in the issue containing the Phone: (802) 241-8218 Lenny Crisostomo, Database Manager article “Music in the Mountains” and the photo E-mail: [email protected] essay “Musicians on the Long Trail.” I couldn’t Phone: (802) 241-8325 have asked for a better edition to be included in. Lorne Currier, Group Outreach and Field Coordinator Email: [email protected] The rest of the magazine is awesome too. You did Phone: (802) 241-8327 another fabulous job. Keep up the great work. Michael DeBonis, Executive Director Saw and ax collection donated to GMC. E-mail: [email protected] —Mark Trichka Phone: (802) 241-8212 Alicia DiCocco, Director of Development Planning a Vermont Hike to Editor’s note: GMC received many inqui- E-mail: [email protected] ries about how to connect with Larry Walter, or Phone: (802) 241-8322 Help with Cabin Fever Dave Hardy, Director of Trail Programs donate a saw to the club. Larry met with Lou E-mail: [email protected] To Jocelyn Hebert, Editor: Faivre and graciously offered to restore one of his Phone: (802) 241-8320 Long Trail News Jocelyn Hebert, Long Trail News Editor My wife, Jeanne Camin, and I read and felling saws to add to GMC’s collection. E-mail: [email protected] re-read your article in the Winter 2016 issue Phone: (802) 241-8215 of the titled, “Stepping off the Mollie Flanigan, Land Stewardship Coordinator Long Trail News E-mail: [email protected] Green Mountain Range,” and were inspired by Long Trail News welcomes your comments. Phone: (802) 241-8217 your description of the trail and the illustrating ­Letters received may be edited for length and Matt Krebs, Operations/Publications Coordinator clarity. GMC reserves the right to decline to E-mail: [email protected] photos. In the midst of winter cabin fever on Phone: (802) 241-8321 publish those considered ­inappropriate. Cape Cod, we set a goal of improving our fitness Not all letters may be published. Kristin McLane, Membership and and backpacking skills so we could replicate Communications Coordinator Send to: Jocelyn Hebert, Email: [email protected] your hike. . .We are now completing our plan to Phone: (802) 241-8324 [email protected] or do the Vermont AT from Gifford Woods State Amy Potter, Visitor Center Manager Letters to the Editor, E-mail: [email protected] Park to the Vermont-New Hampshire state line GMC, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Phone: (802) 241-8210 sometime in mid-to-late September. We did Waterbury Center, VT 05677 Robert Rives, Education and Volunteer Coordinator Email: [email protected] some scouting hikes around the Inn at Long Trail Phone: (802) 241-8329 Follow Us: Blue Blazes Bald Mountain via LONG POND TRAIL

ong Pond Trail in Vermont’s seclud- Jay Peak, Mount Mansfield, Camel’s ed Northeast Kingdom will take you Hump, the White Mountains of New away from your busy life into quiet Hampshire, and Owl’s Head in Canada. winterL woods and to the area’s highest peak, The summit area and the cabin are Bald Mountain (3,315 feet). It will also lead owned by the State of Vermont and you to a fire tower with panoramic views of managed as part of Willoughby State the Kingdom, and a rustic cabin. Forest. The trail is maintained by the GMC ❆ Bring plenty of water, drink it even if The 2.2-mile trail in Westmore follows Northeast Kingdom Section; it crosses you don’t feel thirsty, and pack extra a logging road along gentle terrain for private land, so please be considerate and snacks; a short distance to an open area before respectful. ❆ Pack a headlamp and extra batteries turning into a hardwood forest. Blue blazes This is a manageable winter hike for (Cold batteries die fast. Bring an extra mark the way as you cross several small people of all ages and abilities. But no mat- headlamp to avoid changing tiny batter- brooks before beginning to climb. About ter how skilled you are, remember these ies with cold fingers); 1.6 miles in, the trail becomes steeper as it basic safety guidelines: ❆ Hike with a partner or a group (traveling enters the subalpine spruce-fir forest. ❆ Allow extra time and factor in the early in groups is recommended in winter). At the top you will enter a summit darkness of winter; clearing. Nestled on the open space is ❆ Tell a friend or family member what Distance: 4.4 miles round trip a cozy cabin built in 1938 for the fire trail you are hiking and when you Elevation Gain: 1,450 feet warden. It was restored in 2013 by the expect to return; Resources to get you there: NorthWoods Stewardship Center crew ❆ Have a bailout plan and communicate it Green Mountain Club and more than 100 volunteers, thanks to a clearly to your friend or family member; • Winter Hiking Guide to Vermont grant from the Vermont Land and Facilities ❆ Make sure to set out prepared for all • Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map Trust Fund. conditions with appropriate layers— • 360 Degrees, A Guide to Vermont’s Fire Climb the fire tower (if conditions are dress like an onion; and Observation Towers safe—or come back in summer or fall) to ❆ Wear or carry winter traction (spikes or —Jocelyn Hebert see Lake Willoughby, Burke Mountain, snowshoes with cleats); Long Trail News Editor

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 5 TESTED BY WINTER Trekking to Glen Ellen Lodge

hen chil- this was going to be the best dren learn camping meal that ever fed Wthe seasons, the Mountain Club. they are taught that That’s the thing about November is an autumn winter camping. Ordinary month. Leaves have tasks like cooking, clean- fallen, sure, but there ing and setting up camp is no snow yet, and the take considerably longer radio is blissfully devoid than usual so they feel like of Christmas music. enormous accomplishments. Vermont blurs seasonal We had only made macaroni lines, however, forcing us and cheese, but we felt like to keep ice scrapers and winning contestants on a snow shovels in our cars Food Network show. in all but a few months. After dessert, when ev- I set out to become a eryone was snuggled warm guide for the student-run and dry in sleeping bags, my Mountain Club in the Krista and co-leader at Glenn Ellen Lodge co-leader and I debriefed. fall of my junior year at We hadn’t expected to be Middlebury College, and winter camping, and we on the first weekend in November I was Banter gave way to the crunch of leaves were exhausted. to complete my final training assignment: underfoot. The next morning the sun shone the co-lead. A friend and I would plan As we neared the summit of Mount brightly through the trees. The cinnamon and lead a student trip to demonstrate our Abraham, the crunching changed to rolls were more of a mush, and several skills to an evaluator, after which we would squeaking. We were delighted by the sight pairs of boots had frozen solid over- become guides or be asked to try again. of the first snow of the year. But once on night, but the sun inspired cheer. As we The forecast called for temperatures the ridge, it came down in earnest, a heavy descended the Jerusalem Trail, our friends in the mid-thirties, with precipitation in wet snow that stuck to boots and reduced joked that this was their first and last one of two challenging forms: rain, snow, visibility to an eerie blur. Having planned winter camping experience. or if we were unlucky, both. Eager to get for fall conditions, we quickly regretted I eventually tried full-fledged winter outside and anxious to get the evaluation our lack of gaiters. camping in a tent. While burying stakes over with, I was undeterred. At Glen Ellen Lodge there were at least securely in snow is satisfying, I prefer My co-leader and I planned to start six inches of snow, and our boots were the comfort that four walls provide from the Battell trailhead and climb the soaked through. My co-leader and I told at lodges like Glen Ellen, Butler, and steep three miles to Mount Abraham, tra- everyone to put on dry layers while we Montclair Glen. verse the Monroe Skyline to Mount Ellen, boiled water for drinks. Turns out boiling Oh, and we passed the test. and spend the night at Glen Ellen Lodge. water takes a lot longer when it’s cold. A —-Krista Karlson The nine-mile day seemed ambitious, but lot longer. not unmanageable, especially with the As our friends huddled in the lodge Krista Karlson riddles and jokes my playful counterpart with tea, my co-leader and I crouched over is a Middlebury had in mind. cookstoves outside, crafting macaroni and College senior We planned a gourmet menu. We’d cheese. The snow we had tamped for a studying have homemade macaroni and cheese and cooking area quickly melted and refroze, Environmental a berry crumble for dinner, then fresh cin- turning the kitchen into an ice rink. Policy. An namon rolls for breakfast. If we botched Finishing our creation, I scooped up the aspiring writer, any of the skills we were required to dem- pot and nearly spilled it everywhere as I her greatest onstrate, surely the menu would impress slipped on the ice. I would need micro- Ve r mont our evaluator. spikes to cook dessert. memories have Though the first morning was chilly We entered the lodge beaming and been made and overcast, spirits were high as we proudly set the macaroni and cheese on outdoors. ascended through leafless maple and birch. the table. It may have taken two hours, but

6 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Skinning, Skiing, and Splitboarding IN THE BRANDON BACKCOUNTRY

fter an excellent season last winter, RASTA called on volunteers to help cut the Brandon Gap Backcountry the glades, so one beautiful fall day in 2016, ARecreation Area is again attracting my partner and I joined about fifty other backcountry skiers. The Rochester/Ran- volunteers to help clear a line in Sunrise Bowl. dolph Area Sports Trail Alliance (RASTA), a Gathered in a circle, holding loppers and saws, chapter of the Catamount Trail Association, we listened as glade chief Karl Fjeld briefed began working in 2015 to create the area in us on our tasks for the day. Since most of the cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and chainsaw work was done, we cleared brush, the Vermont Backcountry Alliance. lopped it into manageable pieces, and scat- The new recreation area has four back- tered it away from the trail. country zones: Goshen Mountain, Sunrise As we worked, anticipation showed in Bowl, No-Name, and Bear Brook, all in the the eyes of the eager skiers and riders as they Green Mountain National Forest and con- scanned slopes, visualizing how they would nected by the Long Trail. Nineteen gladed ski slash turns into untouched lines of deep pow- lines, totaling nearly twenty thousand vertical der, or jump from boulders to clear landings. feet have been cleared. At the end of the day we crossed our The Bear Brook and No-Name zones are fingers and did a snow dance, with hope that accessed about a mile east of the Long Trail the coming winter would be better than the parking lot on Route 73 in Brandon Gap. dismal season before. It worked! The winter Sunrise Bowl and Goshen Mountain are of 2016-17 became one of the snowiest on accessed directly from the Long Trail parking record in much of northern New England. lot. Skiers and splitboarders need only follow a A wooden sign marks the entrance to each On April 1st (no kidding) my ski buddy, Alex, gentle stretch of the Long Trail south, just shy zone, and yellow RASTA tags and arrows and I went to Brandon Gap and reaped the of a mile from the parking lot, to reach a skin mark the skin tracks. Terrain varies from rewards from the lines my partner and I had track that zigzags across the ski lines in Sunrise steep, narrow lines, typical of Goshen, to more helped clear in the fall. Bowl before leading to the Goshen lines. mellow, flowing lines with less vertical drop, At least a foot of powder greeted us as we If you are unfamiliar with backcountry typical of the Sunrise Bowl. skinned the Long Trail to Sunrise Bowl and ski terms, you may be wondering what a skin Unlike illegally cut glades, such as the in- Goshen Mountain. We lapped the zone all track is. It’s a trail designated for uphill travel famous Big Jay scar on GMC-conserved land day until the all the fresh powder had become by backcountry skiers and spiltboarders. in the Northeast Kingdom, the Brandon Gap memories of an April Fool’s day well spent. “Skins,” or pieces of textured fabric designed glades were well-planned and responsibly cut —Lenny Crisostomo, Database Manager to provide both glide and traction, are at- with consideration for ecology and wildlife. tached to the bottom of skis and boards to The Forest Service worked with partners, If you would like to learn more about the help with climbing on snow. including the GMC, to develop the glades Rochester/Randolph Area Sports Trail Alliance RASTA’s skin tracks are skillfully posi- as part of a multi-use recreation plan on the and the Brandon Gap Backcountry Recreation tioned to pass through relatively gentle terrain. National Forest. Area, visit rastavt.org/projects/brandon-gap.

Alex jumping a ledge in Sunrise Bowl PHOTO BY LENNY CRISOSTOMO

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 7 Beyond the Cathole Everything you Didn’t Know you Wanted to Know About Outhouses

n the summer of 2012 I was hired as know. But once I reconciled how disgusting it were few. Today, since more than 200,000 the Hump Brook Tent Site caretaker on seemed at first, it was quite interesting. Here’s people visit the Long Trail System every year, ICamel’s Hump. Six field seasons later I an overview: a busy pit privy can fill in less than a year. do a little of this and a bit of that, but mostly As a consequence of nourishment, Because sewage in a pit takes decades or more I swing hammers in the woods. For my first people. . . hikers. . .find the need to go to decompose in Vermont’s climate, we are three years though, I was a caretaker. At the “number two” regularly. Through basic math, quickly running out of places to dig new pits. start of that first summer, I had no idea what I we can surmise that the more people visit the had gotten myself into. woods, the more waste they leave. And there Moldering Privy Backcountry sanitation is part of the certainly are more visitors every year. Camel’s An improvement upon this is the moldering caretaker job description, but twenty-three- Hump caretakers counted more than 20,000 privy. Most moldering privies in Vermont use year-old men, enamored of Jack Kerouac visitors on the summit for four consecutive an identical structure to a pit privy, placed on and Edward Abbey, tend to gloss over the years. This creates a problem, and a question: top of one of two adjacent “cribs”—essential- minutiae when given an opportunity to live What do we do with all the sewage? ly wooden boxes vented on all sides to admit in the woods and get paid for it. So, when air. A container of wood shavings is provided, Field Supervisor Kathryn Wrigley started Old Fashioned Outhouse and users are asked to add a cup of wood talking about composting human waste as if The old fashioned pit privy used to be an ad- shavings after each use. When one crib fills, she took it for granted as an essential duty of a equate solution: an elevated seat above a deep the privy is simply slid over on to the other caretaker, I was taken aback. How could I have pit. When the pit fills, the entire structure is crib. In the time it takes the second crib to missed such a daunting responsibility? The lifted and placed on top of a fresh pit. Old fill, the moist mixture of waste and shavings summer of 2012 would teach me more about pits are buried and covered with forest debris in the first crib will have decomposed into the subject than I ever thought I wanted to to hide them. This worked well when visitors pathologically neutral organic soil. The privy

Behind Battell Shelter Privy

8 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB is then moved back to its original location If the material is too wet, drying rack and the process starts over. material is added to soak up excess moisture, Urine is exposed to air and rendered decreasing the amount of sewage that will harmless as it trickles down through the pile fit in the run. More bark mulch is gradually and soaks into the biologically active layer mixed in and stirred thoroughly, making sure to break up any solids. The drying rack material introduces microbes that drive the Sewage in a pit takes composting process. Compost starter is added to provide even more microbes and decades or more to ensure a speedy run. Field Supervisor Ilana Copel dispersing decompose in Now the compost sits undisturbed for two composted material from the Stratton weeks, heating in the interior as decomposition Pond privy drying rack Vermont’s climate takes place. While two people are required to start a run, one caretaker can manage the rest of soil, so unlike other privy systems, it’s OK of the process. The caretaker should stir the run to pee in a moldering privy. In fact, without every week, which will take ten to forty-five urine the pile is apt to become too dry, and minutes, depending on how decomposed it is. stop composting. The pile in a moldering Ideally, stirring moves material from the outside privy does not become hot, but competition of the bin to the center, to expose it to the heat with and predation by aerobic (air loving) of accelerated decomposition. microorganisms kill pathogens, given enough In four to six weeks the compost should time. become a mixture of organic soil and par- Moldering privies work well in most tially decomposed bark mulch. The final step locations, and eventually they will eclipse the is shoveling the contents into the drying rack, antiquated system of pit privies. Some sites, a small, well-ventilated lean-to with a wooden however, may have too much use even for floor. Here the material dries completely, moldering privies with large cribs, and the ready to start further composting runs and Caretaker Ben Cowan sweeping decomposition process can be unable to keep to line the bottom of the catcher. Excess Spruce Ledge Camp moldering privy up with the volume of waste. In such cases a compost will eventually be dispersed into the third type of privy may be installed: the batch- forest as pathologically neutral organic soil. bin composter. Limitations of Batch-Bin Privies Batch-Bin Composter Short of physically removing human waste Each batch-bin composter, commonly called from the backcountry, batch-bin composting a composting privy, has a seventy-gallon is the highest volume backcountry sanitation plastic container called a catcher below the system available. But it has downsides. Batch- seat. Ideally users add a cup of bark mulch, a bin composters require a lot of maintenance byproduct of lumber milling, with each use. compared with moldering privies. They must Typically the mulch and sewage mixture is be attended to every two weeks at minimum, removed and emptied weekly, although the so they must be close to a staffed caretaker interval may vary depending on use. site. Proximity to a trailhead is another The sewage is transferred into large trash consideration, because field staff or volunteers cans using a dedicated “poop shovel.” A four- must pack in about 600 pounds of bark mulch Caretaker Julie Higgins starting a compost run at the to six-inch layer of previously composted each season for each site. Peru Peak Shelter privy waste is then added to the empty catcher. Additionally, visitors must be encouraged This composted waste is called drying rack not to urinate in batch-bin composting privies. material, for reasons that will become obvious Excess moisture is problematic, and urine in momentarily. The catcher is then slid back particular tends to kill the microbes needed for beneath the toilet seat. a successful compost run. One solution to this is Sewage is stored in the cans for a while the Beyond the Bin (BTB) system. BTBs have a before being shoveled into a 210 gallon permeable surface installed in the bottom of the waterproof bin. The first composting run, or catcher. It allows liquid to flow down while sol- batch, of the year typically uses waste left over id waste remains on top. Urine flows through from the year before. The amount of sewage piping to a barrel with layered Geo-Tex cloth, transferred to the bin is highly dependent on coal, and stone. Tiny holes in the bottom of the the water content, which rises if users urinate barrel allow the neutralized liquid to leach out in the privy. continued on page 10

Caretaker checking catcher at Churchill Scott Shelter into a nearby well-drained patch of forest soil. It’s effective, but it greatly reduces the useful volume of the catcher, often requiring the caretaker to empty the catcher more than once a week. Other challenges are that bears sometimes knock over trash cans, and humans occasionally try to throw garbage into them. Disgusted by the contents, curious hikers don’t always bother to reclose them, which admits rain water and creates a sort of synthetic diarrhea. Similarly, people regularly throw trash into the catcher that eventually must be picked out of the drying rack. One of the worst offenders is underwear, whose elastic bands can create a genuine biohazard as they slingshot sewage about when a bin is being stirred. So, there it is—everything you might have wanted to know about backcountry sanitation but were too horrified to ask. Next time a caretaker asks you for $5 to stay at a fee site you’ll know why. And remember: Pee inside a moldering privy and outside a composting privy! —Justin Towers, GMC Construction Crew Pit privy at Winturri Shelter on AT

BY EMILY BENNING

Illustration by Emily Benning Backcountry Waste Management

by the Numbers Composting privy at Churchill Scott Shelter • GMC field staff and volunteers work to maintain 74 backcountry privies on the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail; there are 32 moldering privies, 22 pit privies, and 20 composting privies. • An estimated 200,000 people hike on the Long Trail System annually, producing an average of 6,000 gallons of sewage in the backcountry. This is enough to fill a typical backyard above ground swimming pool. • An estimated 5,000 of the 6,000 gallons of sewage are managed by GMC staff and volunteers annually. • The cost to employ one caretaker for a full season is $16,000 or $96 per day; managing privies is one of their main responsibilities. • $5.00 fees are collected at 9 overnight sites on the Long Trail System. The total collection covers only one-third of the cost of the caretaker program. Moldering privy at Greenwall Shelter

10 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB INN AT LONG TRAIL McGraths Celebrate at Sherburne Pass

n an early fall afternoon, two hikers in bright Gore-Tex by a previous owner, and replaced them with a rough-cut wood bar scurried across busy U.S. Route 4, shed their packs by and tables cut from tree trunks. Othe door of the Inn at Long Trail with sighs of relief, “We rebuilt and repaired a lot of the original furniture,” said and headed inside for well deserved and long anticipated pints Murray McGrath, who, with his wife, Patty, took over operation of Guinness. Their visit was typical. Today’s Long Trail and of the inn from his folks. Many original pieces had been crafted by Appalachian Trail hikers, aided by GPS and social media, are well Grover Wright, using native birch logs. aware of such oases. Though the trail no longer passes directly by the “We enclosed the open terrace and added parking and the office Inn, few hikers mind the extra steps. area,” he added. But the couple carefully maintained touches that The Green Mountain Club built today’s inn in 1938 as a winter remind visitors of the inn’s history. Just as in the original GMC annex to its headquarters, which was on the south side of the road and headquarters, natural features were embraced rather than removed— called the Green Mountain Club House (later the Long Trail Lodge). look no further than the large boulders incorporated in the bar and When the Pico Mountain Ski Area opened just a quarter mile down dining room. the road and installed the country’s first T-bar lift, GMC saw an These days the Inn at Long Trail is open all year, with a pot opportunity to serve the increasing number of skiers coming north of Guinness stew bubbling on the stove and fiddle and bodhran on ski trains from Boston and New York. With the help of Mortimer melodies spilling from McGrath’s Irish Pub on weekends. Murray Proctor and a $25,000 loan, the club built the winter annex, named it estimates 800 to 900 hikers pass through every year, taking breaks Deer Leap Lodge, and opened it to the public in 1939 as the second from their Long Trail or Appalachian Trail treks. ski lodge in Vermont. It could accommodate forty guests who paid “Last year was the biggest ever, probably due to the Redford seventy-five cents a night for rooms or three dollars for the American movie and ‘Wild’,” said Murray. “More people just wanted to get out Plan (room plus meals). The third floor, called the Ski-Squire in the woods. This year has been slower. The bad weather early on I Dormitory, was for men only. think made a lot of hikers give up. We returned a lot of mail drops.” Deer Leap Lodge advertised a lounge and recreation room with But with the unseasonably warm weather in September, hiker table tennis for evening amusement, a sunny open terrace along traffic picked up again, notably a large number of AT end-to- the front, and a half-mile ski trail from the door to the Pico lift. Its enders who had jumped ahead to hit the White Mountains and interior décor matched the traditional rustic woodland architecture Maine before harsh conditions set in, then returned for the gentler of the Long Trail Lodge, with log rafters, burled-birch paneling, and a Vermont stretch. large open fireplace. As with any old structure, maintenance is a constant struggle, as The Long Trail Lodge burned in1968, after the property had is keeping up with the times. “They all come in looking for a place changed hands several times. By 1970 the annex, still operated only in to charge their iPhones now,” said Murray with a laugh. But for the winter, had suffered a few questionable renovations. When Kyran and McGraths it’s a labor of love. And now their son Brogan, the third Rosemary McGrath bought it forty years ago in 1977, they set about generation, has returned to the inn, ensuring that this important piece returning it to its rustic roots. They promptly ripped out the turquoise of trail history will continue for future generations of hikers. and chrome fittings transplanted from a New Jersey cocktail lounge —Sue Thomas, Killington Section

Original Deer Leap Lodge Inn at Long Trail today

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 11 A FORTRESS, A TREE HOUSE The Long Trail Lodge in the 1950s

isiting Long Trail Lodge, GMC’s first club house built in wood smoke, and the faint aroma of food suggested a campsite in 1923 at Sherburne Pass, was an adventure for suburban an old forest. Vkids in the 1950s. It was a fortress, a tree house, a Robinson We climbed stone steps into a cavernous entrance. Hand- Crusoe retreat created from the forest itself. Books, cowboy painted maps on the wall showed buildings, trails, cliffs, and caves movies, and trips to Frontierland had prepared our imaginations awaiting discovery in the surrounding acreage. From the staircase for exploration and fun. with half-log treads, we emerged onto a broad porch set with rustic Through lofty trees along the path from the parking lot we first furniture beneath the logs of its rafters. Here we paused a moment spied a high rustic structure of log posts and beams, with boarded to watch darting humming birds, and to take in the glory of walls and high windows, anchored by unmortared stonework sunlight on the cliffs of Deer Leap across the highway. on massive boulders and ledges. The scent of the woods, wisps of We entered a rustic interior of tree-trunk posts, log beams, and mortarless stonework. A welcoming clerk behind the counter on the left asked us to sign the guest register. A massive stone fireplace on the right rose past balconies draped with Navajo rugs to the roof. From a shaggy golden birch log by the perpetual fire hung a hickory swing big enough for two or three. As we relaxed in a gentle rhythm we realized we were being watched—by a crouching mounted bobcat on the spacious stone mantel. The big room provided plenty to do while waiting for lunch. In the back corner, by the door with the white Long Trail blaze on its door post (the trail ran right through the building!), were two hand-painted electric board games to test our knowledge of birds, animals, plants, and flowers. We grabbed a varnished wand and touched it to the brass button next to the portrait of the chipmunk. With another wand we touched a button on the list of names. If we were correct, the light went on! A quick check behind Swing and Navajo rugs in Lodge the board found a tangle of wires connected to a dry cell battery. A staircase in another corner beckoned to the second floor. At the landing, a friendly looking bear cub scaling a tree in the shadow of the stairwell surprised us. At the top, a glass-paned door led onto a wide deck—the roof of the porch below. The gnarly head of a wild pig glowered down on us from high on the wall as we noticed another door with a trail blaze leading outside to a log bridge spanning a chasm. After a peek at the adults below, reading magazines or choosing post cards at the registration desk, we headed back downstairs. A doorway in the stone rear wall revealed a gift shop with stone shelves displaying handmade moccasins, maple sugar candy, birch bark model canoes and teepees, ladies’ clothing, wooden bowls, Swiss chocolate, and deerskin vests. On our way to the dining room we passed a row of writing Long Trail Lodge Dining Room desks for “Wish you were here!” postcards and letters home.

12 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Boulders and ledges blended into another fireplace. Inverted yellow-birch branches hanging from the high sloping ceiling held amber bulbs in birchbark shades in the spacious dining room. We gazed up at the chandeliers illuminating tree trunks and rafters reaching to the shadowy ceiling peak: the effect was magical. In a corner, grasses, large ferns, and other forest plants covered a huge ledge, watered by a streamlet from a hidden pipe. Lunch was delicious and filling, and we were ready for more exploring— outdoors. A colorful map at the main entrance showed the way to many sites around the lodge. Paths led to a dozen cabins, each with Long Trail Lodge Ledges Cabin its own quaint character. Peeking into the oldest ones, which were built into rocks and ledges, we saw stone fireplaces and benches and built-in beds and furniture crafted from twigs and the hillside behind the lodge, past Pulpit Rock, a glacial erratic branches. Newer cabins had woven rugs, hickory furniture, and boulder, through a rockfall stone bridge, and up to Adirondack more comfortable looking beds. Highest on the hill behind the Lookout, with its views of distant mountains to the west. Small lodge were Spartan one-room cabins for hikers fresh off the trail, wooden signs painted by Irma Broun and placed along the trail thankful for hot meals, metal cots, and a shared bathroom. each summer identified plants and animals we might see. The map also showed the Nature Trail and the Bog Garden Back at the lodge as the afternoon lengthened, we enjoyed created by naturalists Maurice and Irma Broun, who for several a swing by the fire and looked forward to another day, when we summers in the thirties came here from their Hawk Mountain would summon the nerve to climb Deer Leap, up through the cave Bird Sanctuary along the Appalachian Trail in southeastern route to the dome above the cliffs, and back down before dark. Pennsylvania. In less than a mile the Nature Trail looped up —David Wright

Lodge Ruins ledgy cliffs, are the remains of the rustic bench at Adirondack Lookout. An old timer may follow a hazily remembered route downhill along the A visitor to the Long Trail Lodge site today sees at first little more Undercliff Trail back to the starting point. than the terrain where the lodge stood. Trees and undergrowth hide the remains of foundations, and cover obscure paths and trails nearly forgotten fifty years after the catastrophic fire in November, 1968. Yet The Future of the Lodge the broken roofs of a few of the cabins still stand, and help to locate the With the cooperation of the current landowner and the help of experts remains of others. Below the lodge site one can use old photos and copies from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, the Long Trail of the hand-painted maps to find the stone walls of Woodfin cabin, the Lodge site could be added to the Vermont State Register of Historic arid remains of the Bog Garden, and the driveway and paths that led to Places. the main entrance. The lodge and grounds are well-documented in GMC literature, in The scale of the main lodge becomes apparent from the boulders magazine articles, through photographs, and postcards. These where the massive fireplace once stood and where the dining room rock Vermonter documents and images could be used to create interpretive panels and garden flourished. At the corner of the foundation, where the Long Trail signs to orient and direct visitors through the site. entered the lobby through the white-blazed doorway, one can find the With the leadership of GMC, grant funding, and financial support stone steps to the upper cabins and the beginning of the Nature Trail. by the membership, preservation is not only possible but would be well Bushwacking up past cabin sites and the foundation of the water tower, a worthwhile. careful seeker soon locates Pulpit Rock. From there, over a ridge and near —David Wright

Long Trail Lodge ruins Old stone steps

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 13 Winter Travels

14 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Nevertheless, we arose the next morning in newness of life. Never before had rocks and ice and trees seemed so beautiful and wonderful... —John Muir, Travels in Alaska

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 15 Photo credits, page 22 Field Notes

A rainy and chilly summer didn’t stop the lodge was built in 1928. In late fall the crew Notch via the scenic Mad Tom Brook ravine, field staff from enjoying the woods and finished the interior, and built a wood shed was destroyed in the 1970s by a flood. The summits this year. and a composting privy. The lodge should be crew constructed functional river crossings open for public rental this winter. and stabilized steep sections prone to erosion. Caretakers Converted Seth Warner’s pit privy to Continued work on the Burrows Trail and Serving four summits, four ponds, and nine moldering. Usage is now too high at this site the Monroe Trail on Camel’s Hump. The overnight sites on the Long Trail System, for a pit privy. crew returned to these heavily used trails to caretakers: improve erosion control and reinforce stone- Dismantled temporary tent platforms at Taft Spoke with thousands of hikers. They work and waterbars. Lodge. Platforms were built in 2016 to house explained Leave No Trace principles, and de- Mount Mansfield field staff while the Stone Improved Frost Trail on Mount Mansfield. scribed the fragility of alpine ecosystems and Hut was being restored after a fire. The Long The crew used lumber airlifted to the site in pond shorelines. They answered questions Trail Patrol will use the platform lumber 2016 to build steps and a ladder on severely about the mountains, trails, shelters, and for new puncheon (bog bridges) on Mount eroded sections of the trail. surrounding landscape. And they told hikers Mansfield in 2018. how to avoid trouble with wildlife, especially Continued to reroute the Long Trail in bears, and how to store food properly. Smugglers’ Notch. In 2013 the patrol cut Installed a trailhead information kiosk at a rough relocation to return the trail to its Maintained privies. This was a big job, with the Bald Mountain Trail. The project was original route past Barnes Camp Visitor seventeen batch-bin composting, twelve part of substantially improved access to the Center. This fall Timber & Stone, LLC, built moldering, and six pit privies attended trail. The crew also built a tread ladder at the an ADA accessible boardwalk through the weekly. Field assistants and many volunteers base of the trail to control erosion. Notch Brook wetlands to complete the new helped maintain the other thirty-nine privies Installed a bigger wood stove and route, which will open next year. on the Long Trail System and Vermont AT. supplied firewood at Bryant Camp.The Reclaimed and maintained Appalachian Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Construction Crew Trail open areas near Woodstock. The crew Recreation improved the road to the cabin, Working all over the state, and at all removed invasive species, released apple and so supplying firewood is now easier. elevations, the construction crew: cherry trees, and mowed meadows.

Renovated historic Butler Lodge. With Long Trail Patrol Volunteer Long Trail Patrol One summer and one fall Long Trail Patrol: airlifted materials, they rebuilt the front Five volunteer crews, over five weeks, worked porch and replaced the roof and rotted front Completed rockwork on the Long Trail on the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail this log courses. between Tillotson Camp and Belvidere season to:

Mountain. This hardened the treadway and Began restoration of historic Bolton Relocate a stretch of the Branch Pond Lodge. improved drainage. They stabilized crumbling lower Trail. Volunteers from as near as Rutland and stone walls, replaced the rotted floor, and Completed the new East Dorset Trail. The as far as China also replaced failed puncheon added new sheathing. They also replaced trail, which connects East Dorset village to the on the south end of the trail. failed roofing shingles with architectural Long Trail/Appalachian Trail in Mad Tom —Ilana Copel, Field Supervisor shingles matching those installed when the

16Butler | Lodge THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Trail Mix

Thank you, Ridgeline Society! Monthly Giving very year many Green Mountain By becoming a monthly donor, you Club Ridgeline Society members will join a special group of members (those who contribute $1,000 E dedicated to helping the Long Trail, or more annually to GMC) gather for a the Vermont Appalachian Trail, the hike and reception to celebrate the club’s accomplishments. This year members from Northeast Kingdom Trails, and our as far away as California and Ohio rode the side trails. gondola to the north summit of Stratton Why join? Mountain, and walked the ridge to visit long- time GMC summit caretakers Hugh and • Your membership is always Jeanne Joudry. current. This means we spend Passing through spruce, balsam, and less time (and paper) on renewal occasional fog, we crossed bog bridges recently notices and processing gifts, completed on a service trip led by Lorne so more of your money can go Currier, GMC’s AmeriCorps Outreach and directly to our programs. Field Coordinator. At the old fire tower, • It’s easy. Your gift will be Hugh and Jeanne shared the history of the processed automatically every area and described their experiences, first as PHOTO BY KRISTIN MCLANE month and we’ll send you your fire observers and then as caretakers, for more lands the club owns or on which it holds new membership card and year than forty years. They also gave small groups easements. Lorne Currier and Membership end giving statement each January. special tours of their cabin. and Communications Coordinator Kristin • You get to hike! Each year Individual giving supports our caretaker McLane stood by to answer questions and monthly donors will be invited on program, so we especially appreciate our talk about their roles at the club. a special hike with GMC staff. Ridgeline donors who make this program The Ridgeline Society is a group worth possible. Without their financial support, our celebrating. The society was formed in 2010, Wondering how much to give? mountains and trail would suffer. and today has more than ninety people. Last Give what you can, but know that Society members spent the day year contributions from society members your monthly gifts will add up and connecting over our shared interest in the exceeded $170,000. That’s ten percent of make a big difference. Consider Long Trail, Vermont’s Appalachian Trail, our annual budget, and 43 percent of our giving $10, $20 or $30 a month and the Northeast Kingdom Trails while individual giving. ($85 a month will make you eligible swapping hiking stories and enjoying fall We are grateful to these individuals to become a $1,000 Ridgeline foliage. for supporting Vermont’s premier trails at Society member). At a reception after the hike, GMC such generous levels. As we all know, trails With your help, we can protect President John Page and Executive Director don’t just happen; they need constant care and maintain the Long Trail for Mike DeBonis summarized the work of and attention. Ridgeline Society donations future generations. the club and the value of contributions enable us to maintain and protect our trails by members of the Ridgeline Society at an internationally recognized standard of Join today! to Vermont’s most popular trails. Land excellence. Greenmountainclub.org/monthly Stewardship Coordinator Mollie Flanigan —Alicia DiCocco described the special challenges of managing Director of Development

If you would like to support the Long Trail and Vermont’s Appalachian Trail by becoming a Ridgeline Society Member, email Alicia DiCocco at [email protected] or give her a call, (802) 241-8322.

The Ridgeline Society represents the importance that I feel for preservation and development of the Green Mountain Club trails and its other activities. Being a consistent and substantial donor to the club is my way of participating in this important effort. —Steve Klein, Ridgeline Society Member and GMC Treasurer

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 17 Land Stewardship New Volunteers Monitor the Jay Tracts

reen Mountain Club volunteer corridor monitors help to protect Gthe Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the diverse wildlife habitat of the Green Mountains, all while exploring remote areas in Vermont. Along the Long Trail, volunteers adopt properties that the club has protected, either by purchase or by holding conservation easements. These properties form a corridor of land of varying width, which the trail traverses. Corridor monitors visit their properties at least twice a year, monitor them to make sure the terms of the conservation easement are being followed, and maintain boundary lines. Two new sets of volunteers recently joined our corridor monitor team: Dan Potter and his partner Amy, GMC’s Visitor Center manager; and Hannah Dan and Amy Potter monitoring the Big Jay Tract Hutchinson and her partner Lenny, PHOTO BY MOLLIE FLANIGAN GMC’s database manager. Dan and Amy will monitor the Big Jay tract, and GMC), and Jay Peak, which is owned for backcountry skiing. A backcountry Hannah and Lenny will monitor the Jay by the state and hosts some of Jay Peak skier myself, this was of special interest Peak tract. Our new volunteers walked Resort’s ski trails. to me. One of our main duties will be to their properties with Land Stewardship The Big Jay parcel is 1,572 acres, and visit this area to monitor for any further Coordinator Mollie Flanigan this fall stretches from Route 242 to the western illegal cutting. and shared their experiences. flanks of Big and Little Jay peaks. It hosts Near the top of Big Jay we looked for, half a mile of the Long Trail and Jay but failed to find, the boundary line. We Camp Shelter. were not too surprised, because the last Walking Big Jay On our visits we will ensure that the boundary maintenance had been done by Dan Potter terms of the conservation easement are decades ago. Hoping for better luck, we being met; locate, walk, and mark the traveled to the Long Trail at Route 242 As an avid outdoor recreation enthusiast, boundaries; and assess usage. On our first to search for the pin marking that corner I believe we should all be stewards of the visit this fall with Mollie, we took the of the property. It was hard to find, even places we love, but I have only recently tram to the summit of Jay Peak and hiked with a GPS and a survey map of the started walking the walk. Literally. to Big Jay. The trail to Big Jay evolved property. But after thrashing around in Club membership is a great method through repeated use, and it is not a the woods a while we found it. We then of support, but Amy and I recently took designated trail. Big Jay is, however, on bushwhacked through the woods to flag it to the next level and volunteered the AMC New England Hundred Highest and repaint that boundary. as corridor monitors. I hope our peak-bagging list, so the trail sees a fair Amy and I are grateful for the involvement will help ease the pressure amount of traffic. It winds through dense chance to learn new skills, engage with on our resources as outdoor recreation spruce-fir forest along the ridge between the landscape in a deeper way, and visit continues to grow in popularity. Jay and Big Jay. a place we probably would not visit We chose to monitor the Big Jay On our walk with Mollie, we went otherwise (OK, maybe when there is parcel; the tract is surrounded by land to see the “scar” on the eastern flank of enough snow!). It feels good to give back conserved and owned by the State of the mountain, which made headlines in to a community and an organization Vermont and GMC. Neighboring parcels 2007 when two people illegally cut more that has protected many of the places I include the 3,764-acre Black Falls Basin than 750 trees along a swath of forest cherish in Vermont, especially in such a (protected in 2001 and the largest land approximately 2,000 feet long in the rewarding and adventurous way. acquisition project ever undertaken by glacial cirque between Jay and Big Jay

18 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Navigating Jay Peak Jay Peak tract, protecting two miles of the in the Jay Peak tract baseline documenta- Long Trail and 166 acres of alpine forest. tion report—the club’s official document by Hannah Hutchinson Our job would be maintaining the bound- containing the history, policies, and needs If you just looked at the sky, you might aries of the tract and alerting the club of of the tract. have imagined it was August—a bluebird encroachments, such as the cutting of trees Lenny and I are elated to be able to day, as it’s affectionately known. And, to create glades or ski trails. monitor a corridor surrounding Jay Peak’s unlike most mid-winter days in Vermont, On this outing, we carried compasses summit. We ski and splitboard at Jay most there was no wind. The silence was remark- and orange paint. We learned how to winter weekends, and our now twice-yearly able considering that Lenny and I had trav- use—really use—a compass off trail as we outings for GMC not only give us the eled only half a mile into the woods away followed official survey maps, quadrant chance to be stewards of the land, but the from the flurry of activity at the summit of bearings, and orange blazes on trees. Mol- opportunity to scout promising backcoun- Jay Peak Resort. lie explained that only licensed surveyors try to ski. Fresh fluffy snow covered the trees and could legally establish the boundary line After our day with Mollie we went home forest floor. As we made our way around the markings we followed, but volunteers can covered with scratches and mud—exactly woods, passing the well-known Beaver Pond repaint them. Surveyors blaze trees with how all good adventures should end. Glades, we did so more for the quiet of the axes, making flat spots by peeling off bark winter woods and the adventure of un- and a little wood, then paint the blazes marked terrain than the thrill of long carves. orange. They also set metal rods at the If corridor monitoring sounds like a rewarding We were exploring, excited to check out the corners of the property. volunteer opportunity to you, contact Land The three of us set out to find the short Jay Peak tract—corridor land that we had Stewardship Coordinator Mollie Flanigan at recently volunteered to monitor for GMC. metal rods. Once we found them and got [email protected] or The next September Lenny and I head- our bearings we got to work repainting (802) 241-8217 to learn more. Properties are ed back for official training with Mollie. faded blazes, and replacing old flagging Mollie told us that a three-way land (florescent-colored plastic tape commonly available along the Long Trail in the north, swap among GMC, Jay Peak Resort, and used by land managers). We compared and the AT in the Upper Valley. the State of Vermont had resulted in the what we saw with what we had studied

Hannah Hutchinson and Mollie Flanigan walking north on Jay Peak. Photo by Lenny Crisostomo. LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 19 Meet The Staff

And check out GMC clothing available in the GMC Visitor Center and online store. Stop by headquarters in Waterbury Center, visit the web (greenmountainclub.org), or call (802) 244-7037 to purchase any of these items. When you do, you will be supporting our work to protect and maintain the Long Trail. Members receive a 20% discount on all GMC merchandise.

JASON BUSS is GMC’s direc- LENNY CRISOSTOMO manages tor of finance. He manages the club’s extensive database. our budget, accounting, and He did similar work for the information technology needs. Appalachian Mountain Club Before joining GMC Jason before coming to GMC. was director of finance and Tired of driving from the technology for the Vermont city to the mountains to play, Youth Conservation Corps. he and his wife Hannah left He has a B.A. in environmental Boston for Vermont in 2015. science and policy and a certifi- Lenny is an avid snowboard- cate in nonprofit management er, and is looking forward to from Marlboro College. Jason another winter of exploring moved to Vermont at age four, Vermont’s backcountry. The and now lives in Burlington. rest of the year Lenny regu- To escape numbers and computer screens Jason spends free time larly seeks the hiking trails and waterways of New England. hiking and canoeing throughout Vermont. Wearing: Men’s quarter zip long sleeve. Color: Charcoal gray. Wearing: Men’s Long Trail T-shirt. Color: Olive green. Price: $39.95. Price: $21.95. LORNE CURRIER serves as ILANA COPEL became field GMC’s group outreach and supervisor this spring. A 2009 field coordinator, an Ameri- transplant from New York, Corps position funded by the she studied natural resource Vermont Housing and Conser- ecology at the University of vation Board. A Maine native Vermont’s Rubenstein School. and veteran of the Appalachian Though she grew up hiking, Mountain Club’s hut system, Ilana discovered trail work Lorne began his first term of at Griffith Lake while on a service with GMC in March, Vermont Youth Conservation and is excited to remain for a Corps Wilderness Crew in second term. Lorne’s favorite 2010. That inspired her 2011 hobbies include exploring Long Trail hike, which further Lake Champlain by sailboat, inspired her to become a GMC caretaker in 2012. When she’s not baking bread in his Burlington hiking, she can be found on a chairlift, at a concert, or in one of kitchen, or struggling immensely with the crossword puzzle of the Northern Vermont’s many delightful breakfast establishments. local paper. Wearing: Long sleeve performance shirt. Men’s and women’s Wearing: Trucker hat. Color: Emerald green. Price: $18.95. styles. Men’s color: Green. Women’s colors: Green or red. Price: $25.95.

20 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB MIKE DEBONIS returned to his DAVE HARDY has been main- home state to become GMC’s taining trails since the 1970s, executive director in 2014. starting in New Hampshire’s Before that he was executive White Mountains. He joined director of the Forest Guild, GMC as southern field as- a national organization of sistant in 1992, and has been professional foresters. Mike is director of trail programs since an Appalachian Trail thru- 1999. A lifelong hiker, he thru- hiker and a two-time Long Trail hiked the Long Trail in 1982, end-to-ender. An inveterate and has bagged countless peaks tinkerer, he is learning the art throughout the Northeast. of blacksmithing and trying to He has been employed as an turn pieces of scrap metal found around the house into something engineer, cook, and baker, and useful. Mike, his wife Jennifer, and their two dogs live in Moretown. is renowned for his fine homebrewed beer. Wearing: NEW! Men’s fleece jacket. Color: Black.Price: $49.95. Wearing: Baseball cap. Colors: Blue, green, or stone. Price: $18.95.

ALICIA DICOCCO joined the Following a Long Trail thru-hike staff as director of development in 2010 JOCELYN HEBERT left a in 2014. She got her start in twenty-year career as a real estate development at Boston University appraiser behind. This September while volunteering with their she began her seventh year with community service center. She GMC, serving as Long Trail News spent several years doing trail editor for the last five years. Now and conservation work out a three-time Long Trail end-to- West before finding her way to ender, she’s decided it’s time to Vermont by way of Massachusetts, explore the side trails. Always with Texas, California, and Colorado a camera in hand, Jocelyn’s goal is with her husband Shay five years to capture the beauty of Vermont’s ago. She loves living in the Green mountains and share it with oth- Mountains and exploring the ers who may not find their way Long Trail with her two young children, Lane and Hugh. into the woods. Jocelyn is a Vermont native and lives in Calais. Wearing: Women’s long sleeve Long Trail shirt. Color: Iris. Wearing: Women’s Long Trail T-shirt. Color: Sage green. Price: Price: $25.95. $21.95; Baseball cap. Colors: Blue, green or stone. Price: $18.95.

As land stewardship MATT KREBS manages GMC’s coordinator, MOLLIE FLANIGAN operations and publications. Be- oversees management of GMC- ginning at GMC in 2009, he has conserved lands, coordinates been an information specialist in the land protection effort to the Visitor Center, stewardship conserve the last few miles assistant, interim business man- of unprotected Long Trail, ager, and editor of the Long Trail and manages GMC’s Camps Guide. As a father of three he has Program. She has a B.S. in a passion for getting kids out on environmental studies from the trail. He loves great adven- the University of Vermont; her tures, and his have included minor was in plant biology. thru-hiking the Appalachian Before joining the staff, Mollie Trail and the Long Trail. These did land stewardship and days Matt may be found reading invasive species management work at the Vermont Chapter of The books and playing pirates with Nature Conservancy and UVM Extension. Mollie enjoys making his three children. Matt and his family live in Craftsbury. music, art, and gardening as well as hiking. Wearing: Performance T-shirt. Men’s and women’s styles. Color: Wearing: Wind proof vest with GMC logo. Men’s and women’s Charcoal gray. Price: $21.95. Baseball cap. Colors: Blue, green, or styles. Color: Black. Price: $44.95. stone. Price: $18.95.

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 21 Meet The Staff (continued)

KRISTIN MCLANE is a trans- While earning a degree in animal plant to Vermont, happy to be science from the University of in the Green Mountain State Vermont, AMY POTTER discov- after living mostly in the more ered a love of the outdoors. She crowded Philadelphia area. An has since become an enthusiastic avid hiker, she first hiked on hiker, climber, and backpacker. the Long Trail during a 2013 She, her husband Dan, and their Appalachian Trail thru-hike. two adventure dogs, Mika and After experiencing many other Lucy, completed a 2015 Long hikes and adventures, Kristin Trail thru-hike. As the Visitor decided to leave her previous Center manager, Amy values her career and focus on the trails position because it enables her that she loves. As GMC’s to share her knowledge of and membership and communica- passion for the Long Trail with the public. tions coordinator, she is thrilled to be able to inspire more people Wearing: Toboggan beanie with GMC logo. Colors: Black or to become involved with GMC. green. Price: $25.95; T-shirt with “Along this Skyline” across back. Wearing: Women’s quarter-zip long sleeve shirt. Color: Iris. Men’s and women’s styles. Color: Heather or stone. Price: $21.95. Price: $39.95. GMC logo buff. Price: $25.00. Volunteering and outdoor KURT MELIN has worked education have guided ROB seasonally at GMC since 2008. RIVES’ life decisions since He began as an intern, and his formative years in the today is foreman of the back- Piedmont of North Carolina. country construction crew. Rob believes that a strong and Kurt grew up near Indianapolis passionate volunteer base is but fell in love with Vermont necessary to maintain recre- after hiking the Long Trail in ational resources, and is eager 2007. He met his wife Mari at to continue and expand the GMC when she was employed club’s tradition of volunteerism as the director of membership as our education and volunteer and volunteers. They now live coordinator. Rob completed in Jericho with Twiggy, their the first recorded thru-run of the Cohos Trail in New Hampshire, overweight cat. Look for Kurt and has summited the New Hampshire four-thousand-footers in this winter at Mad River Glen, winter. An endurance athlete, he can usually be found training for where he will be working and, of course, skiing. his next ultramarathon or climbing the nearest rock.

Wearing: Winter beanie with GMC logo. Color: Black. Wearing: Men’s long sleeve Long Trail shirt. Color: Pacific blue. Price: $18.95. Price: $25.95.

Winter Travels Photo Credits Left Page Top: Jay Peak by Brenda Buckbee Middle, left: Sun setting through trees on Laraway Mountain by Brenda Buckbee Middle, right: Handstand on the Stowe Pinnacle by Jocelyn Hebert Bottom, left: Skiing through Bolton backcountry by Sheri Larsen

Right Page Top, left: Hikers entering the woods from clearing on Camel’s Hump by Jocelyn Hebert Top, right: April hike up Camel’s Hump by Sheri Larsen Middle, left: Stowe Pinnacle summit by Jocelyn Hebert Middle, right: Ice formation on way to Laraway Lookout by Jocelyn Hebert Bottom, left: Sunset Ridge Trail on Mount Mansfield by Jocelyn Hebert Back Cover: Mount Mansfield by Tom Anderson

22 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Board Report

he GMC Board met on September board reviewed and then unanimously geographic information systems technology 10 at club headquarters in approved the final draft of the 2018- to monitor hundreds of miles of boundaries Waterbury Center for a full day of 2022 GMC Strategic Plan. The plan is of trail corridor lands under GMC Tbusiness, including officer and staff reports; a an aspirational and living document that management. review of current year finances; the fiscal year includes goals, outcomes and strategies The board unanimously approved the 2017 auditor’s report; and discussion of the for each of four themes: protecting and roster of committees and committee chairs club’s strategic plan. managing the trail resource; operational for 2018 proposed by John Page. Executive Director Mike DeBonis excellence; engagement and inclusion; and Mike DeBonis announced that the reported that income and expenses were strengthening our sections’ membership 2018 annual meeting will be hosted by the tracking close to budget. Brett Hodgdon of and volunteers. The board briefly discussed Ottauquechee Section in Fairlee, June 1-3, Davis & Hodgdon Associates presented the its fiscal implications, and will review it in 2018. results of the accounting firm’s audit of the more detail during GMC’s annual budget Dates for future board meetings are: club’s financial records for fiscal year 2017, development at the January board meeting. January 6, 2018; March 17, 2018; June 2, which ended April 30. For the second year President John Page provided an 2018; and September 22, 2018. All Green in a row, the club received a clean audit, and overview of the Bromley Observation Tower Mountain Club members are welcome to Brett complimented staff members on the replacement, a project proposed by the attend. Locations vary; inquire at the club as improvements they had made to financial Manchester Section. After discussion, the dates approach. systems and controls. board voted unanimously that the project The meeting adjourned just before After two years of interactive and should move forward. 1:00 p.m. so board members could join the iterative discussions among club staff, board, Land Stewardship Coordinator Mollie Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. standing committees, and members, the Flanigan explained how the club is using —Lee Allen, Secretary

A Century of Long Trail Guidebooks: A Retrospective

n A Century of Long Trail relentlessly cheerful, indefatigable, Guidebooks: A Retrospective, Reidun and startlingly witty. When Andrew Nuquist masterfully weaves the was GMC President, Reidun was the twenty-eightI Long Trail guidebook Montpelier Section President and on the editions together, incorporating the GMC Board of Directors, but she also characteristics of Green Mountain Club’s cranked out a series of contributions to finest editors, illustrators, cartographers, the Long Trail News which brought the and trail builders. cultural history of the Long Trail into A Century of Long Trail Guidebooks sharp focus. Drawing on her professional is a comprehensive volume embracing skills as a librarian and researcher, she GMC’s rich one hundred years of guide- explicated stories of the Long Trail and book publishing. its builders and stewards, culminating in From the introduction by former “A Century of Change – And Growth,” Executive Director Ben Rose: the chapter Reidun contributed to A Century of Long Trail Guidebooks: A “The history of theLong Trail Guide GMC’s centennial publication, A Retrospective, available at our Visitor Center and is a wonderful lens through which to Century in the Mountains. online store, store.greenmountainclub.org. view the history of the Long Trail itself. “In A Century of Long Trail Guide- Price: $9.95 There is nobody better to bring that his- books, Reidun has done it once again. Or purchase your limited-edition collector’s tory to life than Reidun Nuquist. The topic may sound slightly dry or ar- set, including both the retrospective and 100th “I thought of Reidun and her cane, but you will see: in Reidun’s hands, anniversary edition of the Long Trail Guide. husband Andrew as the very heart of it is not! This is a book of good stories, Price: $26.91. GMC, epitomizing the best of GMC and it is full of joy, beauty, and humor— Members receive 20% discount on all GMC volunteers. They were understated, just like its author.” publications and merchandise.

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 23 Green Mountain Club Outdoor Programs

At GMC we are always looking for Ice Climbing with Petra Cliffs will discuss food, base layers, mid layers, ways to help you have fun, be safe, Date: Winter 2018 shells, socks, snowshoes, hats, handwarm- 9 a.m.–4 p.m. ers, hydration, boots, traction, and more! and learn more about the outdoors. Smugglers’ Notch State Park, If you don’t own winter traction devices Educational workshops are added to Stowe or have never worn the ones you have, this Learn the exhilarating sport of ice climb- workshop is for you. The evening session is our website all year, so be sure to visit ing! Join the Green Mountain Club and required for participation in the day hike. greenmountainclub.org periodically Petra Cliffs for a full day of climbing in Instructor: GMC Education Staff. Limit: to sign up. Workshop full? Ask to be beautiful Smugglers’ Notch. You will learn how to move over easy to moderate terrain 25 for the evening class, 10 for the day hike. added to the waiting list. Here are a while ascending frozen waterfalls. No Fee: $35 for the evening class. Additional few of our current offerings: climbing experience is necessary. American $10 for the day hike (spots are reserved for Mountain Guides Association certified ice the first ten registrants). GMC members re- ceive 20 percent off. Snow or shine. Register Adirondack Pack Basket Workshop instructor. Technical climbing equipment rental included. The group will meet in the at least one week in advance. Dates: Winter 2018 morning at Green Mountain Club Head- GMC Visitor Center, Full Moon Snowshoe Walks quarters in Waterbury Center for boot fit- Waterbury Center Wednesday, January. 31, 6:30 p.m–8 p.m. and ting, harness sizing, and an introduction. Take part in one of the most ancient craft- Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 6:30 p.m–8 p.m. ing traditions: basketry. Andy Paonessa is Instructor: Petra Cliffs Mountaineering GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center a craftsman, naturalist, and farmer from School. GMC Members $100. Non-mem- northern Vermont who has been mak- bers $125. Limit: 6. Register at least two Strap on a pair of snowshoes and enjoy ing Adirondack style pack baskets and weeks in advance. a winter walk under the full moon. We teaching workshops for more than ten will explore meadows and woods around years. In this two-day workshop partici- Introduction to Cold Weather Trekking the GMC’s Waterbury Center campus as pants will build pack baskets from start Evening Portion: we learn about winter wildlife and winter to finish, complete with cedar skids and Wedesday, January 24, 2018, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. astronomy (weather permitting). After- canvas straps. The cost includes all materi- Day Hike: ward we will enjoy hot chocolate in our Saturday, January. 27, 2018, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. als. Please check Green Mountain Club’s cozy Visitor Center. This family-friendly GMC Visitor Center, outing is for all ages. Bring your snowshoes education page on the website for dates Waterbury Center or rent a pair for an additional fee. and times. Whether you plan a winter backcountry Instructor: Andy Paonessa. Limit: 10. Fee: trip of one day or several, you need to know Instructor: GMC Education Staff. Limit: 20. $200. Rain or shine. Register at least two the fundamentals of safe winter travel. This Fee: $25 ($45 with snowshoe rental). GMC weeks in advance. workshop provides hands-on instruction members receive 20 percent off. Snow or on what to wear and what gear to use. We shine. Register at least one week in advance.

24 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Volunteers

Green Mountain Club Volunteer of the Year: BEATRICE BONETTI with work programs all over the world. When told early in the season that her VFP has helped the Green Mountain stint in the patrol was exceptionally long, Club find international volunteers for the Beatrice seemed puzzled: “Why wouldn’t Volunteer Long Trail Patrol (VLTP) for I come for all five weeks?” This expressed several years. Most people join the patrol the essence of her volunteer spirit: though for a week or two, but Beatrice decided she could have worked just a week, she to register for the whole 2017 season: five chose to dedicate most of her summer to weeks on projects along the Branch Pond maintaining trails in Vermont, a place she Trail in the southern portion of the Green had never been. Beatrice Bonetti (left) Mountain National Forest. The point of the Volunteer Long Trail As Beatrice worked alongside other vol- Patrol is not merely trail maintenance. n the afternoon of June 29, 2017, a unteers and VLTP staff in July, she learned At its core the patrol joins volunteers in Ocommuter bus stopped at the Mount about backcountry living, puncheon build- a celebration of community. It offers a Tabor Country Store in Mount Tabor. ing, and trail relocation. Other volunteers chance for all of us to take time out of Beatrice Bonetti, nineteen, stepped off and came and went, but Beatrice stayed, helping ordinary life to work together, create stood on Vermont soil. It was her first visit staff restock supplies between work sessions and strengthen friendships, and contrib- to the United States. and becoming a close friend of Mary Beth ute to the Long Trail System. We thank From her home near Bologna, Italy, Herbert, the patrol’s leader. She learned op- Beatrice for joining the Volunteer Long Beatrice had researched summer volunteer erations so well that she effectively became Trail Patrol, becoming a part of our trail programs organized by Volunteers for an additional GMC staff member, guiding community, and leaving her imprint on Peace (VFP), which connects volunteers new volunteers each week. the Branch Pond Trail. Group of the Year: Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association nyone who has carried building Amaterials into or out of the woods knows how taxing and time-consuming shelter and trail maintenance can be. The network of more than sixty shelters and miles of puncheon that constitute the Long Trail and the Vermont Appalachian Trail systems can’t be maintained practically without motorized help. Sometimes we hire helicopters, but they are too expensive to use often. Fortunately, the Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association (VASA) has stepped in to lighten our load. In the last two field seasons VASA has provided vehicles and drivers to move material. Projects that would otherwise have taken many days of human power have become one- or two-day jobs. In June, 2016, VASA moved lumber for fourteen new lengths of puncheon to Stamford VASA members receiving Group of the Year award Meadows. In October, 2016, they helped transport two large loads of lumber uphill cord of firewood into Bryant Camp. members for helping the Vermont hiking to Bryant Camp, and removed all scrap It is essential for outdoor groups to community, and we look forward to metal from the site. In 2017, VASA made work together for our common goal: cooperating with them on future projects. more trips to Stamford Meadows with to protect and conserve recreational —Rob Rives puncheon lumber and moved almost a and natural resources. We thank VASA Education and Volunteer Coordinator

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 25 Section Directory Sections Bennington Maintenance: Harmon Hill to Glastenbury Mountain President: Lorna Cheriton, (802) 447-1383 E-mail: [email protected] Website: meetup.com/gmcbennington Brattleboro What’s a GMC Section? Maintenance: Winhall River to Vt. 11 and 30 President: George Roy, (603) 381-7756 f you’re new to the Green Mountain ➋ Compare GMC’s membership model E-mail: [email protected] Club, you may have heard of GMC with others from similar organizations, Website: brattleborogmc.com “sections” and wondered, “What the Bread Loaf I and identify potential improvements. Location: Middlebury area heck is a section?” Our model has served the club well, but Maintenance: Sucker Brook Shelter to Emily Proctor Simply put, sections are membership Shelter membership has leveled off in the past President: Ruth Penfield, (802) 388-5407 chapters. They are the key building blocks few years. Increasing usage of our trails E-mail: [email protected] of the Green Mountain Club, and are Website: gmcbreadloaf.org represents an opportunity to better engage Burlington essential to the club’s mission “to make the the trail community and reinvigorate Maintenance: Winooski River Footbridge to Smugglers’ Vermont mountains play a larger part in section membership with new energy. Notch President: Ted Albers, (802) 557-7009 the life of the people.” E-mail: [email protected] The sections are the foundation of the ➌ Improve GMC communication, both Website: gmcburlington.org volunteer workforce that maintains the internally and externally. While we have Connecticut redesigned the main club’s section web page Location: Hartford, Connecticut Long Trail, Appalachian Trail in Vermont, Maintenance: Glastenbury Mountain to Stratton- Kingdom Heritage Trails, and all the side and vigorously employed social media tools Arlington Road like Facebook and MeetUp, many of these President: Jim Robertson, (860) 633-7279 trails the club manages. Approximately E-mail: [email protected] 3,500 of GMC’s 9,500 members belong to advances have not propagated to the section Website: conngmc.com level. Killington sections. Location: Rutland area Section members are geographically These three recommendations are now Maintenance: Vt. 140 to Maine Junction in the club’s five-year strategic plan. President: Barry Griffith, (802) 492-3573 dispersed ambassadors who promote E-mail: [email protected] GMC’s mission, support its goals So, how can you take advantage of Website: gmckillington.org financially, and provide organizational opportunities in your local section or Laraway join it? It’s easy. Check the GMC website Location: St. Albans area focus for members in Vermont, Maintenance: Lamoille River to Vt. 118 Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Healthy under “Members” for a list of sections, President: Bruce Bushey, (802) 893-2146 key contacts, and information on joining. E-mail: [email protected] and robust sections are critical to a healthy Website: gmclaraway.org and robust future for the Green Mountain Review the online calendar for recreational Manchester Club. and trail maintenance outings, and head Maintenance: Vt. 11 and 30 to Mad Tom Notch for the trail. Read the to President: Marge Fish, (802) 824-3662 Today fourteen sections maintain Long Trail News E-mail: [email protected] more than 200 miles of trail; organize find activities you’d like. When you join Website: gmc-manchester.org a section, you’ll get its newsletter and Montpelier hiking, cycling, kayaking, snowshoeing, Maintenance: Camel’s Hump to Winooski River Foot- Nordic skiing, backpacking, and high activities schedule too. bridge and Smugglers’ Notch to Chilcoot Pass Joining a section is a great way to President: Steve Bailey, (609) 424-9238 adventure trips; and promote the goals of E-mail: [email protected] the Green Mountain Club by providing make new friends, enjoy the outdoors Website: gmcmontpelier.org organizational leadership and hosting in Vermont and beyond, and, most Northeast Kingdom importantly, to experience the satisfaction Maintenance: Willoughby and Darling State Forests and training and educational events. the Kingdom Heritage Lands As part of GMC’s strategic planning of helping to maintain the oldest long- President: Cathi Brooks, (802) 626-8742 distance hiking trail system in the country. E-mail: [email protected] effort, an ad-hoc committee was formed in Website: nekgmc.org March, 2017, to develop recommendations —Jim Fritz, Section Working Group Committee Chairman Northern Frontier to strengthen sections and ensure their Location: Montgomery Maintenance: Hazen’s Notch to Canada long-term vitality. With representatives President: Jane Williams, (802) 827-3879 Website: gmcnorthernfrontier.org from most sections, the committee met Ottauquechee several times to discuss opportunity Location: Upper Valley, and New Hampshire areas, including leadership development, Maintenance: Appalachian Trail: Maine Junction to NH border membership, outreach, and collaboration President: Dick Andrews, (802) 885-3201 among sections. E-mail: [email protected] Website: gmc-o-section.org Three basic recommendations Sterling resulted, with supporting sub-tier Location: Morrisville/Stowe/Johnson recommendations: Maintenance: Chilcoot Pass to Lamoille River President: Greg Western, (802) 655-6051 E-mail: [email protected] ➊ Form a standing committee to Website: gmcsterling.org establish, promote, and coordinate best Worcester practices for trail maintenance and section Location: Worcester, Massachusetts Maintenance: Stratton-Arlington Road to Winhall River operation, health, recruitment, and President: Ram Moennsad, (603) 767-2962 leadership development. Jim Fritz E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gmcwoo.org New Killington Section Board Member: CYNTHIA TAYLOR-MILLER indy Taylor-Miller recently became the new Killington Section Cmember of the GMC Board of Directors. I was the Killington Section director for the last six years, so Cindy and I got together for a Long Trail hike to Clarendon Gorge and Airport Lookout to talk about her new role. Just a glance at Cindy tells you that she lives and breathes trails. She wore an Appalachian Trail-themed T-shirt emblazoned with “Hike your own hike,” “Flip Flop,” and “Springer Fever.” Her daypack bore a Green Mountain Club patch with three end-to-ender rocker patches, and an Appalachian Trail patch supplemented with “Lifetime Member,” “Trail Maintainer,” and three two- thousand-miler rocker patches. Even the custom license plate on her car is a tribute to the local mountains. I’ve spent a lot of time with Cindy at Killington Section events, but during our walk I was impressed once again by Cynthia Taylor-Miller her extensive hiking experience and her volunteer work for several other hiking What other trail related organizations have What challenges do you believe the Green organizations. Here are a few questions she answered for me: you joined, and what have your roles been? Mountain Club will face in the near future? I’m a member of the Appalachian Long Getting the message out to fellow Vermonters What have you enjoyed so far about being on Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), about the Green Mountain Club and the the Green Mountain Club Board of Directors, which is made up of hikers and friends Long Trail. Many people don’t know the club and what do you hope to contribute? of trails, primarily the Appalachian Trail. exists, even if they are aware of their local I have enjoyed getting to know the other Its goals are to promote and support the hiking trails. As with all the organizations I board members and learning about their long-distance hiking community. We belong to, our core membership is aging, and backgrounds. I’m waiting to find out work to communicate trail related issues we need to continue to recruit new members what committees I’ll be invited to join. to current and potential hikers. so that the next generation can carry on the A sections working group was formed to I am working on two publications club’s mission and goals. address issues like how to strengthen the for ALDHA and the Appalachian Trail What future personal adventures do you hope sections and improve communication Conservancy (ATC): The Appalachian to accomplish? between sections and the club staff, and Trail Thru-Hikers’ Companion, and board. Hopefully it will become a fully The Appalachian Trail Guide to New I have no big travel plans for the near fledged committee soon, and I’ll have an Hampshire-Vermont. I was the editor of future, but I do hope to finish the opportunity to become a member. the thru-hikers’ companion guide in 2006 Continental Divide Trail someday. I’ve and 2007, and I am now one of the two completed both ends, including New What has surprised you? Vermont field editors, and creator of the Mexico, Montana, and some of Idaho The scope of the Green Mountain Club’s [data] tables for each section of the book. and Colorado. I’ve been section hiking duties and responsibilities in Vermont. I was I have been editing the New Hampshire- this trail since 2009, and have about a especially surprised by the number of partner- Vermont guide since 2007. That guide thousand miles left to complete. ships we have with landowners, and the large and the corresponding ATC maps are —Allison Henry amount of land the club owns or manages. updated every five years. Former Killington Section Director

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 27 26th Annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series

FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS the Long Trail has inspired Day Hiking and Other History of the Vermonters to seek adventure in the Green Mountains and beyond. The Adventures in Iceland 10th Mountain Division James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series, named after the man who first Sheri and Rich Larsen Brian Lindner envisioned the Long Trail, brings such adventures to you through stories, Thursday, January 25, 7 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 7 p.m. photographs, and videos. Join us for inspiring presentations that will GMC Visitor Center, GMC Visitor Center, transport you to mountains and waterways near and far as we celebrate Waterbury Center Waterbury Center twenty-six years of the Taylor Series—a great way to spend an evening! Admission is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers; kids under Iceland has a lot to offer: great The famed 10th Mountain 12 are free. Tickets are available at the door only. Proceeds support local hiking, beautiful scenery, Division was America’s ski troops sections and the GMC Education Program. interesting geology, hot springs, during World War II, and key Please check the GMC website, greenmountainclub.org for full good birding, lovely wildflowers, to defeating German forces in calendar, updates, and changes. and lots of summer daylight. Italy. Many know the returning Rich and Sheri Larsen traveled veterans from the 10th formed to Iceland last summer and the backbone of America’s ski Mike DeBonis will tell tales Outdoor Adventure spent two weeks day hiking and industry, but fewer know that the from his 2017 retro end-to end Storytelling Night sightseeing in the southwest division traces its roots to Vermont. hike, celebrating one hundred part of the country. Join them Lindner’s talk will recount the Attending storytellers years of the Long Trail Guide- to learn more about hiking and history of the 10th Mountain Thursday, January 4, 7 p.m. book. You’ll enjoy the fun of other activities in Iceland as well Division from its conception GMC Visitor Center, hiking the trail in 1917 but Waterbury Center as enjoy photos from their trip. through its final victory in the without the wool, bugs, and Italian Campaign of 1945. Let’s kick off this year’s Taylor canned fish. Fourteen Days on the Series with stories told by Walking the Coast to YOU! Throw your name in the Finding Traction and Walker’s Haute Route: hat for a chance to get up and Vermont Trail Running Panel From Chamonix to Zermatt Coast Path share your five- to six-minute Kevin Craft Deb Van Schaack & Aliza LaPierre, Kasie Enman, Nancy Custer Carroll adventure-related story at this Lindsay Simpson Thursday, February 1, 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 7 p.m. National Public Radio Moth- Thursday, January 18, 7 p.m. GMC Visitor Center, Champlain Valley Unitarian like storytelling night. All stories GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center Universalist Society, Middlebury Waterbury Center should be true, first person What do you do when you Sponsored by the Bread Loaf Section accounts with a good story arc, receive a wedding invitation Finding Traction is the inspira- Deb Van Schaack and Nancy including a beginning, a middle, to Switzerland? You begin tional story of ultrarunner Nikki Custer Carroll will share images and an end. Contact us for more planning a hiking vacation--what Kimball’s quest to become the and stories of their fifteen-day storytelling tips! else?! When Kevin and his wife, fastest person to run America’s self-guided walk on the 192-mile, Guylaine, received an invitation Wool Knickers and White oldest long-distance hiking unmarked and unofficial coast to attend a wedding in Zermatt, trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. to coast walk across England. Blazes: A Retro Hike on it didn’t take much to convince Through Nikki’s incredible Through three national parks the Long Trail these two enthusiastic hikers journey, racing towards a dream from the Irish Sea to the North to embark on a fourteen day Mike DeBonis and against time, we gain a new Sea, Deb and Nancy encountered excursion following the famed Thursday, January 11, 7 p.m. perspective on what we all value sun, wind, rain, magnificent Haute Route from Chamonix GMC Visitor Center, in endurance and the human countryside, thousands of sheep, Waterbury Center to Zermatt. Join them as they spirit. Join local ultrarunners and some very fine folk with recount their experience of Have you ever wondered what Aliza LaPierre, Kasie Enman, whom to walk and share a pint at hiking in the “tidy country.” it was like to hike the Long and Lindsay Simpson for a panel the end of the day. Trail a hundred years ago? discussion of Vermont trail and GMC Executive Director ultrarunning following the film.

28Walking | THE the Coast GREEN to Coast MOUNTAIN Path CLUB 26th Annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series 26th Annual Taylor Series Calendar

All shows at GMC Visitor Center in Waterbury Center unless otherwise noted.

Outdoor Adventure Storytelling Night Storytellers Thursday, January 4, 7 p.m.

Wool Knickers and White Blazes: A Retro Hike on the Long Trail Mike DeBonis Thursday, January 11, 7 p.m.

Finding Traction and Vermont Trail Running Panel Aliza LaPierre, Kasie Enman, Lindsay Simpson Thursday, January 18, 7 p.m.

Day Hiking and Other Adventures in Iceland Sheri and Rich Larsen Thursday, January 25, 7 p.m. Haute Route 14 Days on the Walker’s Haute Route: Lessons from the Arctic Out on a Limb: What Black From Lisbon to Oslo From Chamonix to Zermatt Kevin Craft Susan Koch Bears Have Taught Me about by Bike Thursday, February 1, 7 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 7 p.m. Intelligence and Intuition Mary Lou Recor ✁ History of the 10th Mountain Division GMC Visitor Center, Benjamin Kilham Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m. Waterbury Center Brian Lindner Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m. GMC Visitor Center, Thursday, February 15, 7 p.m. Join Grosvenor Teacher Fellow GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center Susan Koch for an evening of Waterbury Center In June 2017, Mary Lou Walking the Coast to Coast Path Arctic exploration. Susan will Deb Van Schaack & Nancy Custer Carroll Ben Kilham is a wildlife Recor rolled her bike out of Wednesday, February 21, 7 p.m. share images, impressions, and biologist from Lyme, New the Lisbon airport armed with Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist lessons from an Arctic journey Hampshire. His love of and five Michelin maps and faith Society, Middlebury aboard the National Geographic devotion to black bears has in the kindness of strangers. Lessons from the Arctic Explorer to Svalbard, Norway. enabled him to study their No GPS, no cell phone, no Come see images of polar ice, Susan Koch habits and interact with them tour guide, no mace. Two Thursday, February 22, 7 p.m. Arctic wildlife, and the impact for more than twenty years. months, three thousand miles, of climate change on this remote Ben has been the focus of news and a hundred bakeries later Out on a Limb: What Black Bears and expansive part of our world. articles and documentaries she rolled into Oslo with the Have Taught Me about Intelligence and Intuition Susan is the 2016 Vermont including National Geographic’s same five maps and faith in Teacher of the Year, and teaches Benjamin Kilham A Man Among Bears and the kindness of strangers. She Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m. first grade in Montpelier. Animal Planet’s Papa Bear. will entertain you with her He is also co-author of the stories and pictures from her From Lisbon to Oslo by Bike book unplanned route through the Mary Lou Recor Among the Bears: Raising Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m. Orphaned Cubs in the Wild. EU. The Salkantay Trek: The Other Inca Trail Michelle Cournoyer Thursday, March 15, 7 p.m.

Beyond Glamping: Hut-to-hut trekking in the High Tatras of Slovakia Caitlin Cusack Thursday, March 22, 7 p.m.

Finding Resilience on Scandinavia’s Arctic Trail Pavel Cenkl Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. Iceland From Lisbon to Oslo

LONG TRAIL NEWS • WINTER 2017 | 29 Advertise in the LongTrailNews call Jocelyn: 802-241-8215

30 | THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB Journey's End Searching for White Blazes HIKING THE LONG TRAIL IN WINTER

ow would you like to Only you miss the Forest Road join an elite hiking 67 junction, and wind up on the group? A group trails at Blueberry Hill Ski Center. Hthat gives out no patches or No problem, you think, you’ll find certificates, keeps no records, your way to the lodge, where you’ll and holds no induction hitch a ride with an end-of-the-day ceremonies. A group so esoteric, skier. Except that when you get there, no one except the members the place is deserted, like the body know who they are. And even snatchers have come and gone. With they don’t know the other no obvious other option, you all members. start walking north on the Ripton- I am talking about people Goshen Road hoping to hitch a ride who have hiked the Long Trail with the next passing vehicle. This in winter. Before you scoff, think being rural Vermont, someone is about this: the number of people bound to stop. who have climbed Mount Only the first car swerves Everest and returned to give a to avoid you. The next one—a PowerPoint presentation: More big hulking suburban that could than 5,000. The number who accommodate all of you plus the have day hiked the Long Trail in Middlebury Nordic Team—barely winter: A handful. The number slows as the driver grumbles Snowberry of winter thru-hikers: A really something mercifully unintelligible. teeny-tiny handful. You pause in front of a house, and But before you set your alarm for 4:00 Glastenbury Mountain. The U.S. Forest the residents turn out the lights when they a.m., there are some things you should know. Service won’t be much help. Their answer to see you coming up the drive. Did I mention First, you will need to recruit about a dozen most of your questions is “No.” Is there a way that it is now nearly dark? You have no cell friends—twenty would be even better— to break up that stretch into shorter hikes? service, and it’s ten cold miles back to your because you will run through them like AAA “No.” Is there a convenient woods road that cars. WWJD? batteries. Many will join you for only one intersects the Long Trail? “No.” Do you Sound farfetched? Believe me, it can hike because once they see first-hand how know any snowmobilers who offer shuttle happen. wonderfully frustrating it is to search for services? “No.” My advice: hold out for a low- And finally, there is no glory in this white blazes in a bleached landscape, they snow winter; start early; bring a headlamp; endeavor. Most people you tell of your quest will take up other hobbies. Like tweeting or eat plenty of chocolate. Not my advice: spend will give you that how-can-I-top-this-story fashioning grapevine wreaths. a frigid night shivering at Goddard Shelter look. Then, with a certain smugness, they will Warning: According to the Long Trail wishing you were home fashioning grapevine relate the tale of the legendary lumberjack Joe Guide: the Long Trail and its shelters are wreaths. Bleau who thru-hiked the entire Long Trail not designed for winter use. If they were, Even with zealous precautions, you may back in the winter of 1856—when we had the paint blazes would be the color of traffic still take a wrong turn. For example, imagine real winters—before there was even a trail, cones, and the shelter roofs would be covered that you, four experienced hiker friends and and while wearing scratchy underwear. in solar panels. GMC, are you listening? If two dogs, park at Middlebury Gap intending So if anyone asks you what you are up to you know anyone who can operate a GPS to climb Worth Mountain. When you reach this winter, tell them you’re spending your unit in cold weather, be inordinately kind to the summit, you decide to continue south for free time watching cat videos. Then smile and them. a bit, and end up going all the way to Sucker set your alarm. Further, you need to think of this as a Brook Shelter. After more consultation, you —Snowberry long-term goal, like say thirteen years, two descend on the benign Sucker Brook Trail months and sixteen days. If you are in your to Forest Road 67. Then it’s an easy 3.8-mile Special thanks to Bruce Bushey, Laurelae eighties and have bad knees, it may not be snowshoe north to Vermont Route 125, a Oehler, Dan Fenn and the late Chris Hanna. for you. half-mile east of your cars at Middlebury Without them, I would have been lost. Then, there’s the 22.5-mile stretch over Gap. A perfect loop.

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