Take a Hike Vermont boasts the oldest hiking trail in the nation. Go and explore the grandeur of the Green Mountains following the well trodden Long Trail! Camel’s Hump at a distance (far center)

History The Long Trail was the grand vision of one James P. Taylor ( ) who, in 1910 after a disastrous trip from Killington to Pico with his students, gathered 23 men together simultaneously starting both the Long Trail and the Green Mountain Club who serve as its maintainers. His vision was to create a “high, scenic mountain pathway” (Curtis and Lieberman) which all persons could enjoy. Early GMC workers on the Long Trail

History It took twenty years to complete the Long Trail with individual groups working on it section by section until in 1930 when the last link was cut to Canada. In the end, a 270 mile “footpath in the wilderness” (GMC) was blazed. ‘Trails End’ marker mounted with hat, Vermont, Canada boarder

History After its completion, the Green Mountain Club took on the task of maintaining and furthering the Long Trial which now boasts over 175 miles of additional side trails and over 70 shelters. In 1971 the Vermont legislature voted to make the Green Mountain Club "the founder, sponsor, defender, and protector” (GMC) of the Long Trail and gave it all rights and responsibilities in order to provide "the preservation, maintenance, and proper use of hiking trails for the benefit of the people of Vermont.“ (GMC)

The Green Mountain Club The Green Mountain Club is a group largely comprised of volunteers which work to maintain and protect the Long Trail and its 175 miles of side trails. The group is comprised of over 9,500 members, around 800 of which work on maintenance and upkeep.

The Struggle For Preservation As of 1986 the Green Mountain Club has worked to permanently protect the Long Trail. Through their ‘Long Trail Protection Program’ they have conserved over 60 miles of the Long Trail and 17 miles of side trails. However, There are still about 10 miles of trail that are unprotected, meaning that they are privately owned, and could be closed to the public at any time. View west from Baker Peak

Crossing State Lines It was Will Monroe, creator of the “Skyline Trail” who was the first to demand that out-of-staters (mostly from New York and New Jersey) be allowed to participate in the building of the Long Trail. Many Vermonters were outraged at this and pointed to the club constitution as providing exclusive privileges for Vermonters only. However, the original document was lost, and the copy found made no mention of having a Long Trail that was solely the possession of Vermonters. Even today, the New York section is a vigorous and energetic supporter of the Green Mountain Club, helping aid and maintain the Long Trail.

Ties with the AT The Long Trail boasts as being not only a continuation of the Appalachian Trail, but its inspiration! “ Because it predates the AT, even today many Long Trail hikers regard the AT as a sort of “little brother”. Regardless, the Appalachian Trail is another amazing achievement inspired in large part by the Green Mountains. The Long Trail boasts as being not only a continuation of the Appalachian Trail, but its inspiration! “What the Green Mountains are to Vermont the Appalachians are to eastern United States. What is suggested, therefore, is a ‘long trail’ over the full length of the Appalachian skyline.” (Mackaye) Because it predates the AT, even today many Long Trail hikers regard the AT as a sort of “little brother”. Regardless, the Appalachian Trail is another amazing achievement inspired in large part by the Green Mountains.

Still a Revolution Even to this day the Long Trail provides the inspiration it must have evoked in Taylor all those years ago. Last summer when I was hiking a section of the trail I met a man whose grand vision was to see the Long Trail become ‘a destination for all of New England’. ‘If we could each have a month off during summer, we could all flock to the Long Trail and through hike it’. This is certainly a bold idea, but to many, Taylor’s dream to create his “footpath in the wilderness” was just a crazy. Even to this day the Long Trail provides the inspiration it must have evoked in Taylor all those years ago. Last summer when I was hiking a section of the trail I met a man whose grand vision was to see the Long Trail become ‘a destination for all of New England’. ‘If we could each have a month off during summer, we could all flock to the Long Trail and through hike it’. This is certainly a bold idea, but to many, Taylor’s dream to create his “footpath in the wilderness” was just a crazy. Skylight Pond at night

Take a Hike! Interested in hiking the Long Trail or supporting the Green Mountain Club? Visit their website at: for more information including hiking tips, rules and popular destinations.

Lake Champlain at a distance

A view from Mt. Mansfield (above) gives the majestic lay of the Green Mountains while Sterling Pond (right) has a more intimate tranquility

The End

Thanks and Bibliography Pictures are thanks to the Green Mountain Club website and to “Aeolus” and his trip in Info courtesy of the: Green Mountain Club, Green Mountain Adventure, Vermont’s Long Trail an Illustrated History, Curtis and Lieberman, 1985, Whitman Press, N.H. The Green Mountains of Vermont, W.S. Lee, 1955, Henry Holt and Co., New York An Appalachian Trail, a Project in Regional Planning, Benton MacKaye, 1921