Page Type: Stay Safe

Staying Safe:Weather Conditions Weather conditions often cause the most likely threats to your safety. Vermont weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains. Summer months can be hot and humid; chilling rain and wind can come at any time. Thunder, lightning, severe rain storms, and snow can bring danger to the unprepared hiker, in the…

There are an estimated 4,500 to 6,000 black bears living in Vermont, concentrated in the spine of the Green Mountains, and their habitat overlaps with the Long Trail and other trail systems. Most bears will avoid people, but increasingly, bears are associated humans with food sources and may become habituated or persistent. It is every…

Summer Weather  Hiking Season runs unofficially from Memorial Day Weekend in May to Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend in October. Temperatures can vary, from cool and wet to hot and humid. Keep in mind that temperatures can drop as much as 5 degrees per 1,000 feet of elevation gain. High temperatures can reach into the high…

Black Bears in Vermont Black bears have become more active around the Long Trail System in the last few years. Most bears want to avoid humans, but as humans recreate more in the backcountry, some bears are associating humans with food and will become persistent. To avoid human-bear interactions and ensure the safety of both wildlife and trail users,…