Vermont AT management transfer

[Snowflea]

The Green Mtn. Club has accepted management responsibility for an additional 22 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, from Route 12 to the Connecticut River. Previously this section was under the management of the Dartmouth Outing Club.

Story: http://www.greenmountainclub.org/news.php?id=281

 

[Guthook]

This is pretty cool. I remember hearing from folks high up in the GMC trails committee that they didn't care much for how DOC was managing that section of trail. I guess they felt DOC was directing all its effort to the mountains on the NH side of the river, and neglecting the trail in VT. I can't remember much about the trails in either of those sections, but I do know that the GMC does great work on trails, so the transfer certainly won't hurt that section of the AT.

 

[TDawg]

I think this is a good thing that the DOC focus more energy on the AT and trails in NH. I mean, how many resources does the DOC really have for quality maintenance?

The AT in Vermont is in good hands.

 

[David Metsky]

I spent a lot of time in my undergrad days on that section of trail. We built a bunch of new sections of trail in the early 80's as the land was purchased. It's a bit sad that the DOC has been unable to keep that section of trail but perhaps understandable.

The DOC has at times a large group of dedicated trail workers and at times a scarce pool to call upon. It fluctuates over time so it may make sense to concentrate on the trail between Moosilauke and Hanover.

 

[Jason Berard]

I remember hearing from folks high up in the GMC trails committee that they didn't care much for how DOC was managing that section of trail. I guess they felt DOC was directing all its effort to the mountains on the NH side of the river, and neglecting the trail in VT.

To be fair, The VT section requires less management. The terrain is less prone to needing intensive work. Not that more work couldn't be done...it could. Everywhere.

Having been minimally involved with the discussions about the transfer, I can say that DOC agreed that the transfer made sense. I can also say that GMC has been inquiring about making this change since I started volunteering for DOC in 2006.

All things considered, I think it will be a positive change for the trail on both sides of the river.

 

[Guthook]

To be fair, The VT section requires less management. The terrain is less prone to needing intensive work. Not that more work couldn't be done...it could. Everywhere.

True, it is all low elevation stuff on that section. And regardless of how well it was maintained, it just seems nice that the Green Mountain Club oversees all of Vermont because it's such a Vermonty group.

 

[Jason Berard]

Well, speaking as someone whose family has lived in VT since before it was a Republic, let alone a State, I'm for all things being more Vermonty.

Dave Hardy and the rest of the folks at GMC, including all the folks at the "O" section (a few of whom were also Adopters for DOC) will do a great job, and from their standpoint, I can understand why they wanted this. Now they can say "We manage the entire AT in VT" in their outreach materials, which sounds a heck of a lot better that "We manage the AT from the MA border to Route 12 in Woodstock, VT".

Going forward, DOC will perhaps bear better fruit of fewer trees, so to speak.

 

[Peaks]

I chatted with a few GMC folks over the weekend. The feeling is that DOC is always hot and cold, depending often on how engaged the students are. GMC says they have the willing volunteers right there in the "O" section, so it's not going to be a strain on their work.

Gotta like GMC maintaining the entire AT in Vermont, not just most of it.