Trail crews, caretakers, volunteers and contractors finished important trail and structure projects and started others in a field season marked by early rain, summer drought, another historic flood, and one of the most glorious autumns in recent memory.
One trail crew worked on the North Country Trail, a National Scenic Trail recently extended into Vermont, installing stonework on the Sucker Brook Trail, now part of the NCT. They also built 0.3 miles of new trail in East Middlebury, eliminating a dangerous walk on Route 125. The crew worked the rest of its season on the Burrows Trail on Camel’s Hump, completing the demanding three-year restoration project.
The southern crew spent the season at two sites on the LT/AT: the Lye Brook Wilderness between Stratton Pond and Rootville Road in Manchester; and south of Risky Ranch Road in Stamford. This was the first of three years of investment planned between Risky Ranch Road and Massachusetts, including relocating the trail where it spans the border from private to public land. Much of this project was stone work on the tread, and several small realignments to drier ground.
Our experienced backcountry carpenters built a new wood truss bridge on the Forest City Trail on Camel’s Hump, and a parallel laminated deck bridge on the LT/AT at Rootville Road. Both bridges replaced unsafe ones, and will provide safe passage in most conditions.
They also completed three new moldering privies: at Lost Pond Shelter, Wintturi Shelter, and Minerva Hinchey Shelter. This achieved our long standing goal of eliminating pit privies on the Long Trail System!
In addition to receiving a new privy, Minerva Hinchey Shelter was moved onto the federally owned LT/AT corridor. GMC coordinated the move from private land this fall by a contractor with support from the U.S. Forest Service. A new entry porch, ramp and stairs will be installed in the spring. Navigation note: The shelter is now west of the trail, clearly visible from the trail through open hardwoods. New signs will be installed.
The last major project wrapped up was the Bromley Mountain Tower, a steel structure replacing a decayed wooden tower demolished in 2012. Since then the Manchester Section, led by Marge Fish, spearheaded fundraising for planning and construction. Regional flooding in 2023 delayed construction a year.
The caretaker program conducted an excellent season of backcountry stewardship and public education. Early data shows increased visitation from 2023. Caretakers composted 27 batches of human waste. It was an excellent year for composting, thanks to diligent caretakers, unusually dry weather, and of course, hikers like you consistently adding bark mulch when using privies. Caretakers also helped install dozens of new moldering sump systems for campsite grey water (also known as wash water).
— Keegan Tierney