Little Rock Pond Hike

Join us for an afternoon hike to Little Rock Pond on the Log Trail on Sunday June 1. Check the activities calendar for details.

Root Beer Ridge hike

On Saturday 5/24, 12 hikers walked the Root Beer Ridge trail in Weston VT. In spite of a forecast for rain, we had just ashort time with a light drizzle and then partial sunshine and a fine day. The woods were beautiful, there were several views, and the company was great.

Trail Work

We have completed all the blow down removal and water bar cleaning for the spring walk through of our trail section (Rt 11/30 to Griffith Lake) over four trips - three with groups from the Mountain School in Winhal and one with a dedicated group of adults. Thanks to all these volunteers for their hardwork. With the new norm of torrential rains, keeping those water bars open to help with drainage from the trail and decrease the speed of erosion is really critical.

Trail Work time

Join us this Saturday May 10 to clean waterbars and remove blowdowns Griffith Lake to Styles Peak.
Lots of help needed. Meet 8 am Peru Town Office/Park and Ride. We will drop a vehicle at the Stlyes peak end and drive to the trail head for FR 58 trail, hike into Griffith Lake and then work south. If you have them bring a hoe or shovel, clippers, pruning saw - but we have extra tools for those who need them. Bring food and fluids, extra clothing, rain gear.
RSVP to Dave Ratti 802-362-0698 <dbrspruce@gmail.com>

Report on the Snowshoe in the Aiken Wilderness on 3/22

Snowshoe at Aiken Wilderness with Dave Ratti, Jayne Della Ratta, Bob Whitney, and Ken from Hoosick Falls, NY.  We met at 9 a.m.  and put on our snowshoes at the entrance to Woodford State Park.  We headed south along the west side of Adams Reservoir before heading east cross country.  We investigated beaver flows.  Tracks of animals were visible - coyotes, mice, squirrels and moose.  We then headed south and west as a blizzard began making visibility poor.  Lunch was in a protected area of fir trees with sandwiches provided by Dave and Jayne.  Our compass direction was then north on the east side of the reservoir returning to our start point.  Distance covered about three and a miles in 3 and 1/2 hours.      
           -Bob Whitney

New Executive Director for GMC

GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WATERBURY CENTER, Vt., March 26 –– The Green Mountain Club’s Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Michael DeBonis as the organization’s next Executive Director. Mike is currently the Executive Director of the Forest Guild, a national non-profit forestry organization.  “It is an honor to have the opportunity to join the dedicated team of staff and volunteers at the Green Mountain Club. I very much look forward to getting back out on the trail in Vermont,” said DeBonis.

Mike is a native Vermonter and longtime member of the Green Mountain Club. He and his wife Jennifer will be relocating from Santa Fe, New Mexico where the Forest Guild is headquartered. Mike grew up hiking, camping, and backpacking in the Green Mountains and has hiked both the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail. A Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, he also served as a park manager for Lake Carmi State Park in Vermont. Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Johnson State College and a master's degree in Forestry from Yale University.

“We have been impressed by Mike’s intellect and his quick understanding of the issues,” said Jean Haigh, President of the Green Mountain Club. “Mike’s strengths and experiences lie in the areas of organizational, financial, and personnel management – skills that he has used to successfully manage organizational change within the Forest Guild, and which are very important to the Green Mountain Club.  And he already has a number of positive and collegial relationships in Vermont. Mike is very much a fit for the club!”

The Green Mountain Club looks forward to officially welcoming Mike as its new Executive Director in mid-May.

The Green Mountain Club is recognized by the state of Vermont as  "the founder, sponsor, defender, and protector" of the Long Trail System.  With its 273-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails, and nearly 70 primitive shelters, the Long Trail is the oldest long distance trail in the United States. In addition to the 450-mile Long Trail System, the club also maintains Vermont’s Appalachian National Scenic Trail and many hiking trails in the Northeast Kingdom in collaboration with partners including the U.S. Forest Service, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Contacts:             Maisie Howard, Interim Executive Director - (802) 241-8322

Trail Work Trip

Saturday March 8 Bob Whitney and Marge Fish went into Bromley Shelter, which the Manchester section of GMC maintains, and sandpapered off the graffiti that some rude people had put into the shelter. Then Bob carried out on a pack frame the old catcher from the composting privy. This had been weathering for 6 years, ever since it had been replaced by a beyond the bin catcher. Thank you Bob!