Dear Friend,

Hiking, it seems, is thought of as a summer pasttime. There's no denying the joy of a mountain stream after a sweaty hike on the Long Trail, but for nineteen years the Green Mountain Club has been welcoming and encouraging the public to experience the beauty of winter hiking. 

On February 7, our visitor center felt lively as volunteers and guests gathered for GMC's Winter Trails Day. Groups of eager winter travelers ventured off to snowshoe well-established local favorites like Stowe Pinnacle, Hunger Mountain, Bingham Falls and The Little River Trail. Others set out to explore trails that represent our future, like the new Winooski Valley Long Trail Relocation passing over Stimson Mountain and a hike through Bolton Nordic Center featuring a tour of the soon-to-be renovated Bolton Lodge.

We couldn't have asked for better weather or better company! Fresh snowfall on a 20-degree day raised heart rates as friends, old and new, walked through the shimmering landscape, swapping stories. 

In moments of quiet the birds of winter could be observed flitting from tree to tree. The joys of winter hiking were hard to miss on such a day. 

In the late afternoon fresh snow had begun to fall while the rosy-faced hikers made their way back to GMC's Visitor Center. Our day ended with hikers warming themselves around the bonfire, celebrating the gift of winter hiking. 

Happy Trails,

Thorin Markison
Winter Trails Day Coordinator 

P.S. Thank you for being a part of the Green Mountain Club, we hope you are enjoying the beauty of winter! 

Upcoming Taylor Series 

Mountains at 15 Knots: Norway from the Deck of Hertigruten
Friday, March 6
7:00 p.m. at GMC's Visitor Center in Waterbury Center

Montpelier Section members Reidun and Andrew Nuquist have taken three round trips onboard Hurtigruten, a coastal express ship that travels up Norway's west coast.

Join Reidun and Andrew for an evening of dramatic scenery and Norwegian history. 

Ski, Snowshoe and Celebrate!
 
Saturday, March 7
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Bolton Valley 

Celebrate the conservation of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry Lands. Ski and snowshoe tours from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and apres ski from 4:00-6:00 p.m., with catering by Bon Temps. 

Tours include an obstacle course for children, naturalist explorations, snowshoeing, and varying levels of backcountry and Nordic skiing. Register here to join the fun. Event hosting by Green Mountain Club, Vermont Land Trust, Catamount Trail Association, and Friends of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry. 

 Keeping Forests as Forests: The Threat of Forest Fragmentation in Vermont

Tuesday, March 10
6:30-8:30 p.m.
GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center 

For the first time in over a century, forests are declining in Vermont due in large part to development. Join Green Mountain Club's Mike DeBonis, Vermont Natural Resources Council's Jamey Fidel, and Michael Snyder from Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for presentations on this critical issue followed by a discussion facilitated by Mark Nelson from the Sierra Club.  

Food, drinks and networking before the presentation. 

The Appalachian Trail: Conserving and Connecting Habitats

Tuesday, March 24
7:00 p.m.
Mayer Room, Howe Library in Hanover, NH 

Join Appalachian Trail Conservancy staff for a presentation and discussion on opportunities to conserve wildlife habitat along the Appalachian Trail in New England.  This event is sponsored by the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group and co-sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Dartmouth Outing Club, Green Mountain Club, Howe Library, Hanover Conservancy, the Hanover/Norwich Friends of the AT, Upper Valley Land Trust, and Upper Valley Trails Alliance. 

(Photo by John Compton.)

Mud Season Egg Hunt in April

Green Mountain Club & Laughing Moon Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 4
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  
Green Mountain Club's Visitor Center in Waterbury Center

Stop by to hike the Short Trail and hunt for eggs! All children, even adults, will receive a goody bag provided by Laughing Moon Chocolates.

An obstacle course will be set up for kids ages 6 and up to learn about trail maintenance and hiker safety. The winner will receive a special chocolate prize and a free, year-long GMC family membership! Event is free and open to the public.

Snapshot of the Month: 

Journey's End Cabin: once on the Long Trail, now on The Short Trail. 
Photo by Jocelyn Hebert (Guest appearance by Abi the Dog.) 

If you are inspired by what you read, you can donate here to support our trails.