Trail work outings completed for the opening of summer hiking

Manchester section has completed 5 trail work days this month. As a result all the blowdowns have been removed and all the water bars (for drainage) have been cleaned out on our section of trail from Rt 11/30 to Griffith Lake. many thanks to all the adults who came out to work, the Mountain School at Winhall  students in grades 5-6-7-8 who came out to work, and the Burr Burton sophomores who built a new drainage ditch including some fine rock work.

Trail Work Day

We had a great trail work day today, organized by our trails and shelter chair, Dave Ratti. Nine of us headed out with our hoes and other digging tools and hiked in from the end of FR 58 to Griffith Lake. We hiked south on the Long Trail from Griffith Lake, clearing water bars, until the summit of Peru Peak. After a well earned lunch we continued working on water bars as well as some clipping back of spruce branches until the summit of Styles Peak.
Because the remainder of the way back to Mad Tom Notch is going to have the water bars cleaned by a school group we simply walked the rest of the way out, enjoying a well earned rest from further work.

Manchester Section Green Mountain Club officers elected at April 3rd meeting

         President – Marge Fish marge.fish@gmail.com

         Secretary – Dale Malekoff dmalekoff@myfairpoint.net

         Treasurer – Alyson Ruby alyruby@gmail.com

         Trails and Shelter Chair – Dave Ratti dbrspruce@gmail.com

         Membership – RuthAnn Barrick ruthann_barrick@verizon.com

         Board Representative – Marge Fish marge.fish@gmail.com

         Alternate Board Rep – Dale Malekoff dmalekoff@myfairpoint.net

         Webmaster – Jeremiah Goyette jeremiahgoyette@gmail.com

Spring Pot Luck and Planning Meeting and Election of Section Officersof

Join us Wednesday evening, April 3 at 6 pm at Keld and Mary Alstrup's house (see calendar for how to RSVP and get directions) for our spring planning meeting - plan spring/early summer work trips and outings, elect our section officers to the next year and enjoy a great potluck dinner - bring something to share - the company is always good.

Aiken Wilderness Snowshoe

Six adventurous and hardy snowshoers and one hardy dog spent 7 hours in the Aiken Wilderness today 3/10, 6 of them snowshoeing. Weather was fantastic - bluebird sky and temperatures up into the 50's - hiking in shirtsleeves, no gloves or hats, but the snow was deep and heavy and there were some intersting spruce traps for added interest. We passed many frozen beaver ponds, including our lunch stop, and multiple moose trails.

Young Adventurer's Club

The first YAK hike occured on saturday 2/16, followed by a second family friendly hike on 2/18. The next YAK meeting is being planned for March 23. Hope to have more children with their families join us.

Announcing the new Young Adventurer's Club

Manchester Section is excited to be starting our own Young Adventurer's Club, for parents and young children. The goal is to have monthly hikes with parents and their young children, encouraging engagement in outdoor adventures from an early age. This a great way for parents who already are involved in hiking and snowshoeing to get together with others who enjoy doing this with their children. It is also a great way for parents who have not done any or much hiking to strt doing so with their children. All adventures will be taylored to the needs of young children. The first meeting is on Saturday 2/16 to hike Equinox Pond Loop. Meeting at 9:30 AM @ West Union St. Gate - snowshoes if we get snow, otherwise it is a boots only hike - contact Jason Pergament <jpergament@burrburton.org> for details and to RSVP