Author: Green Mountain Club

  • Explore New Trails with these List Challenges

    Cindy Griffith and Ira Sollace are list people. They tackle lists of peaks and trails to reach places they’ve never even heard of, like Cow Mountain. Cindy recently found that one on the NorthWoods Stewardship Center’s list of mountains in the Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont. The couple completed the NEK 20 in October of…

  • Making Space for LGBTQ+ in the Outdoors

    Making Space for LGBTQ+ in the Outdoors

    A trans woman was murdered in Morristown last week. Why am I, the Green Mountain Club’s Backcountry Construction Field Coordinator, relaying that in this space? Because I began April at the LGBTQ Outdoor Summit, hosted at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. To understand the joy I felt there, you must first…

  • The Long Trail in Less Than a Week with an FKT Record Holder

    Inside the Mind of Mikaela Osler, FKT Record Holder When I finally removed my socks, at the end of a 20-hour hiking day, my feet were a waxy grey-white. My skin was grotesquely wrinkled and loose at the heels. When I ran my thumb across my sole I felt a jolting, ticklish sensation I later…

  • 8 Tips for Avoiding Search and Rescue Services

    There can be no denying that 2021 was been an active year for search and rescue (SAR) in Vermont. While no database provides exact numbers, there have been an estimated 25 percent more incidents than usual. A backcountry rescue can require more time and resources, so it’s important to know how to get yourself out…

  • Section Hiking the Long Trail over Three Winters

    Sue Johnston and her husband, Chris Scott, park at the Route 9 trailhead in Bennington. No hikers greet them, nor do they expect any to at 3 a.m. on a March morning. Chris says his goodbyes as Sue slips into socks, boots, and Microspikes. She heads northbound up the Long Trail carrying enough gear for…

  • Dupuis Hill: A Case Study in Maintaining Appalachian Trail Open Areas Views

    What makes a National Scenic Trail scenic? What is the significance of one scenic vista? How much time and money should be put into maintaining one view? These were some of the questions debated by US Forest Service (USFS), Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and Green Mountain Club (GMC) staff as we stood on the Appalachian…

  • 18 Recipes & Snacks to Try on Trail

    Arguably, food occupies the most brain space when it comes to backpacking trip planning. What will you eat on a multiday hike? How much should you pack? Fresh or dried? Hot food or stoveless? There’s so much to consider to appropriately fuel you while keeping pack weight low. And if you’ve ever planned a long-distance…

  • What a Day Looks Like for GMC Caretakers

    This article previously appeared in the Spring 2021 Long Trail News under the title “Day in the Life of a GMC Caretaker.” As many more people than usual took up hiking last summer, the Green Mountain Club had to manage their impacts while making them feel welcome. Fortunately our caretakers can tap more than 50…

  • Backpacking Advice from End-to-End Hikers, Part 2

    If you’re curious about the Long Trail or planning a thru-hike, learn from folks who have completed an end-to-end hike on the Long Trail. Panelists shared advice with the hiking community based on their recent experiences on the Long Trail. Check out attendees’ questions below — about technology, training, pacing, transportation needs, solo hiking, and…

  • Backpacking Advice from End-to-End Hikers, Part I

    Last week, seven end-to-enders took questions from the hiking community about their experiences hiking the Long Trail. Whether you’re simply curious about the Long Trail, or you’re actively planning an end-to-end hike over its 272 miles, browse the attendees’ questions and the answers from panelists and GMC staff. [Part One of this Q&A covers gear,…