Page Type: Our Work
-
Protecting Alpine Zones
What Are Alpine Zones? Alpine zones of the Northeast are biologically diverse, isolated, and rare ecozones found above treeline on some of the highest points of the region’s mountains. These zones are characterized by harsh winds and colder temperatures. Alpine areas provide us with a look back in time to what the landscape was like…
-
-
Land Conservation
Conserving the Long Trail Through the Years: One Foot at a Time Since the 1980s, the Green Mountain Club has sought to secure a permanent route for the unprotected portions of the Long Trail. In the early decades of the Long Trail, the club could rely on simple handshake agreements with landowners to secure the trail’s route of passage. But…
-
Land Stewardship
Our Stewardship Principles GMC is committed to responsibly managing GMC conservation lands and easements. Properties owned by the club are managed for high quality recreation, conservation of natural resources, and sustainable timber management. Timber harvests on GMC land have been used to enhance wildlife habitat, provide revenue for the Club’s work, and supply firewood for…
-
-
Backcountry Caretakers
What do GMC Backcountry Caretakers Do? Caretakers are professional, paid seasonal staff employed by the Green Mountain Club. They may have backgrounds in trail work, environmental studies, or education, and are passionate about protecting Vermont’s natural resources. Caretakers are stationed at the most high-use and vulnerable sites on the Long Trail, and spend 4-5 nights…
-
-
-
Sustainable Trails
New England’s Trails: Legacy and Challenge Hikers often joke that switchbacks don’t exist in New England, and it’s kind of true! Many trails in Vermont, and New England as a whole, were built more than 100 years ago before sustainable design standards or other environmental impacts of human recreation were even considered. They tend to follow the “fall-line” of a hill,…
-
