Take a HikeTake a Hike

Vermont boasts the oldest hiking trail in the Vermont boasts the oldest hiking trail in the nation. Go and explore the grandeur of the nation. Go and explore the grandeur of the

Green Mountains following the well Green Mountains following the well trodden Long Trail!trodden Long Trail!

Camel’s Hump at a distance (far center)

HistoryHistory

The Long Trail was the The Long Trail was the grand vision of one James P. grand vision of one James P. Taylor (1872-1949) who, in Taylor (1872-1949) who, in 1910 after a disastrous trip 1910 after a disastrous trip from Killington to Pico with from Killington to Pico with his students, gathered 23 men his students, gathered 23 men together simultaneously together simultaneously starting both the Long Trail starting both the Long Trail and the Green Mountain Club and the Green Mountain Club who serve as its maintainers. who serve as its maintainers. His vision was to create a His vision was to create a “high, scenic mountain “high, scenic mountain pathway” (Curtis and pathway” (Curtis and Lieberman) which all persons Lieberman) which all persons could enjoy.could enjoy.

Early GMC workers on the Long Trail

HistoryHistory

It took twenty It took twenty years to complete the years to complete the Long Trail with Long Trail with individual groups individual groups working on it section by working on it section by section until in 1930 section until in 1930 when the last link was when the last link was cut to Canada. In the cut to Canada. In the end, a 270 mile end, a 270 mile “footpath in the “footpath in the wilderness” (GMC) was wilderness” (GMC) was blazed.blazed.

‘Trails End’ marker mounted with hat, Vermont, Canada boarder

HistoryHistoryAfter its completion, the After its completion, the

Green Mountain Club took on the Green Mountain Club took on the task of maintaining and furthering task of maintaining and furthering the Long Trial which now boasts the Long Trial which now boasts over 175 miles of additional side over 175 miles of additional side trails and over 70 shelters. In trails and over 70 shelters. In 1971 the Vermont legislature 1971 the Vermont legislature voted to make the Green voted to make the Green Mountain Club "the founder, Mountain Club "the founder, sponsor, defender, and protector” sponsor, defender, and protector” (GMC) of the Long Trail and (GMC) of the Long Trail and gave it all rights and gave it all rights and responsibilities in order to responsibilities in order to provide "the preservation, provide "the preservation, maintenance, and proper use of maintenance, and proper use of hiking trails for the benefit of the hiking trails for the benefit of the people of Vermont.“ (GMC)people of Vermont.“ (GMC)

The Green Mountain ClubThe Green Mountain Club

The Green Mountain The Green Mountain Club is a group largely Club is a group largely comprised of volunteers comprised of volunteers which work to maintain which work to maintain and protect the Long Trail and protect the Long Trail and its 175 miles of side and its 175 miles of side trails. The group is trails. The group is comprised of over 9,500 comprised of over 9,500 members, around 800 of members, around 800 of which work on which work on maintenance and upkeep.maintenance and upkeep.

The Struggle For PreservationThe Struggle For Preservation

As of 1986 the As of 1986 the Green Mountain Club has Green Mountain Club has worked to permanently worked to permanently protect the Long Trail. protect the Long Trail. Through their ‘Long Trail Through their ‘Long Trail Protection Program’ they Protection Program’ they have conserved over 60 have conserved over 60 miles of the Long Trail and miles of the Long Trail and 17 miles of side trails. 17 miles of side trails. However, There are still However, There are still about 10 miles of trail that about 10 miles of trail that are unprotected, meaning are unprotected, meaning that they are privately that they are privately owned, and could be closed owned, and could be closed to the public at any time.to the public at any time.

View west from Baker Peak

Crossing State LinesCrossing State Lines

It was Will Monroe, creator of the “Skyline It was Will Monroe, creator of the “Skyline Trail” who was the first to demand that out-of-staters Trail” who was the first to demand that out-of-staters (mostly from New York and New Jersey) be allowed (mostly from New York and New Jersey) be allowed to participate in the building of the Long Trail. Many to participate in the building of the Long Trail. Many Vermonters were outraged at this and pointed to the Vermonters were outraged at this and pointed to the club constitution as providing exclusive privileges for club constitution as providing exclusive privileges for Vermonters only. However, the original document Vermonters only. However, the original document was lost, and the copy found made no mention of was lost, and the copy found made no mention of having a Long Trail that was solely the possession of having a Long Trail that was solely the possession of Vermonters. Even today, the New York section is a Vermonters. Even today, the New York section is a vigorous and energetic supporter of the Green vigorous and energetic supporter of the Green Mountain Club, helping aid and maintain the Long Mountain Club, helping aid and maintain the Long Trail. Trail.

Ties with the ATTies with the AT

The Long Trail boasts as being not only a The Long Trail boasts as being not only a continuation of the Appalachian Trail, but its continuation of the Appalachian Trail, but its inspiration! “inspiration! “What the Green Mountains are to Vermont the Appalachians are to eastern United States. What is suggested, therefore, is a ‘long trail’ over the full length of the Appalachian skyline.” (Mackaye) Because it predates the AT, even today Because it predates the AT, even today many Long Trail hikers regard the AT as a sort of many Long Trail hikers regard the AT as a sort of “little brother”. Regardless, the Appalachian Trail is “little brother”. Regardless, the Appalachian Trail is another amazing achievement inspired in large part another amazing achievement inspired in large part by the Green Mountains.by the Green Mountains.

Still a RevolutionStill a Revolution

Even to this day the Even to this day the Long Trail provides the Long Trail provides the inspiration it must have evoked in inspiration it must have evoked in Taylor all those years ago. Last Taylor all those years ago. Last summer when I was hiking a summer when I was hiking a section of the trail I met a man section of the trail I met a man whose grand vision was to see the whose grand vision was to see the Long Trail become ‘a destination Long Trail become ‘a destination for all of New England’. ‘If we for all of New England’. ‘If we could each have a month off could each have a month off during summer, we could all flock during summer, we could all flock to the Long Trail and through to the Long Trail and through hike it’. This is certainly a bold hike it’. This is certainly a bold idea, but to many, Taylor’s dream idea, but to many, Taylor’s dream to create his “footpath in the to create his “footpath in the wilderness” was just a crazy. wilderness” was just a crazy.

Skylight Pond at night

Take a Hike!Take a Hike!

Interested in hiking Interested in hiking the Long Trail or supporting the Long Trail or supporting the Green Mountain Club? the Green Mountain Club? Visit their website at: Visit their website at: www.greenmountainclub.orgwww.greenmountainclub.org for more information for more information including hiking tips, rules including hiking tips, rules and popular destinations.and popular destinations.

Lake Champlain at a distance

A view from Mt. Mansfield (above) gives the majestic lay of the Green Mountains while Sterling Pond (right) has a more intimate tranquility

The EndThe End

Thanks and BibliographyThanks and Bibliography

Pictures are thanks to the Green Mountain Club website and Pictures are thanks to the Green Mountain Club website and to “Aeolus” and his trip in 1998to “Aeolus” and his trip in 1998http://hometown.aol.com/vtlthiker/index.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/vtlthiker/index.html

Info courtesy of the: Green Mountain Club, Info courtesy of the: Green Mountain Club, Green Mountain Adventure, Vermont’s Long Trail an Green Mountain Adventure, Vermont’s Long Trail an

Illustrated History, Illustrated History, Curtis and Lieberman, 1985, Whitman Curtis and Lieberman, 1985, Whitman Press, N.H. Press, N.H.

The Green Mountains of Vermont,The Green Mountains of Vermont, W.S. Lee, 1955, Henry W.S. Lee, 1955, Henry Holt and Co., New YorkHolt and Co., New York

An Appalachian Trail, a Project in Regional Planning, An Appalachian Trail, a Project in Regional Planning, Benton MacKaye, 1921Benton MacKaye, 1921