Category: Hiking
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Alpine ID: 15 Plants to Find above Treeline
This post was first written on August 5, 2021 by Angie Hilsman and was updated with additional information on June 27, 2023 by Lily LaRegina. State botanist Bob Popp kneels beside a flat rock, just in front of the Mt. Mansfield Visitor Center. He points out mountain cranberry and bluets to a dozen GMC staff…
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Winter Hiking FAQs
Winter hiking can be glorious, but intimidating to get started. Below, we answer your frequently asked questions about winter hiking. What’s so great about hiking in the winter anyway? Hikers choose to hike in winter for many reasons, whether it’s fewer people on the trails, the different views and experiences from summer and fall, no…
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Hiking During Hunting Season in Vermont
September 1st marks the start of Early Black Bear Season in Vermont, followed by many other hunting seasons throughout the fall. Hunting is allowed on all GMC owned and managed lands, including along the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail corridors in Vermont. Please be safe when you are hiking and be respectful of all trail…
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Everything to Know About Hiking with Kids
Hiking with kids is intimidating. There are more needs to anticipate and plan for. You will carry more. There’s new gear to navigate. We get it. Keep reading to get the whole family outside and hiking. How to Start Hiking How to hike with kiddos depends greatly on their age and abilities. Infants can generally…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…