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LTN vv n is used as an abbreviation for The Long Trail News Volume vv Number n; The Long Trail News is published by The Green Mountain Club.
1970
LTN XXX 1 February 1970
An article on Will Monroe notes:
The "Monroe Skyline Trail from Camel's Hump (Couching Lion)
south to Middlebury Gap, a distance of over 40 miles" was completed in
1919.
"He refused to call his mountain Camel's Hump. To him it
was Couching Lion."
"Dr. Morse was the founder of the New York Section of the
Green Mountain Club, which he organized in 1916."
"
(Montpelier Section report)
"Fall and winter activities here this year have included hikes
on the Long rail and Larraway Mountain, Mount Mansfield on the Maple Ridge Trail
to Butler Lodge, and from Brandon Gap to Middlebury Gap. One canoe trip on
the Missisquoi River had the group of paddlers in and out of Vermont and into
and out of Canada several times. An afternoon walk on the gravel roads on
Scrabble Hill in Duxbury in View of Camel's Hump was enjoyed on of those
gorgeous autumn days. One out-of-state jaunt was hiking on Colvin Mountain
in the Adirondacks. The Montpelier Section cleared and marked a
cross-country ski and snowshoe trail in Berlin which it is using regularly on
Tuesday nights. No problem of snow. Following Christmas day the snow
started falling in Vermont and did so steadily with no variance in the size of
the snow flakes nor the spaces between them for three nights and most of three
days.
"
Leah Denton, Reporter"
LTN XXX 2 May 1970
For Green Mountain Club Work Day, Saturday May 16 1970, the Montpelier Section will have two work parties, one from French Camp south to Whiteface Mt. and another from Smuggler's Notch to Sterling Pond. Dave Otis is the organizer.
In Memoriam
"Eugene F. Bamforth died February 26, 1970 of intestinal
cancer. Former Vice-President and Trustee of the Green Mountain Club;
Long-time member-at-large, a member of Montpelier Section and an honorary life
member of the New York Section; many time End-to-Ender, Adirondack 46er, an
early member of the New Hampshire 4000-footer Club, and A-T hiker from Maine to
Pennsylvania; and a willing and indefatigable trail worker. Gene Bamforth:-
a quiet, shy little man, with a big smile; an institution at annual meetings and
intersectionals; a regular consultant on guide book revisions and trail
conditions; an incomparable bushwacker and trail-painter.
"Gene was already retired (as a civil engineer?) and a legend
when I first heard his name in 1950 and met him in 1951. He was a regular
advisor to the New York Section's Vermont Trails Chairman and he outlasted
several of us; he always knew the trail and shelter conditions before the crew
hit the trail in early June. (How, I don't know; it still amazes me as
snow usually limits hiking on the Monroe Skyline until late May.) He once
suggested that the Monroe Skyline needed new signs, and then drew up a layout
for each of those 180 odd signs indicating location and arrowheads; a job that
required hiking almost all of the approximately 50 miles of trail in Vermont
maintained by the New York Section. When the signs were produced, he
installed them; in most cases he had to return a couple of years later to
install a second set of signs because of defects in the manufacturing process
for the first set. Over a period of 3 years he painted the blazes on this
same set of trails; this effort left the landscape unmarked except for the
neatly painted 2 by 6 inch area but he returned to his car with paint all over
himself including his eyeglasses.
"Gene Bamforth was a solitary hiker in all sorts of
weather. I ran into him late one fall on Scragg Mountain on a cold and
rainy day; he had bushwacked up the ridge on the other side while we got
moderately wet just hiking up the shorter trail. In later years he usually
camped in his car, first a Jeep station wagon, then a V-W microbus. Both
vehicles he had personally fixed up with some of the comforts of home including
running water and I often found him parked along side of a back road, frequently
drying his clothes after a day of bushwacking or hiking in the rain.
Earlier, he must have been a strong backpacker as he covered a lot of terrain;
his name occurred at least once in any L.T. logbook that I perused. I
believe there isn't a hill in the State of Vermont that he hadn't stood on and
there weren't many in New England; he knew all the old logging roads and retired
trails, and where the blowdowns were the worst on every prospective trip that I
asked him about.
"I think one of Gene's favorite areas was the Worcester
Mountain Range. The several trails on White Rock, Hunger, and Worcester
Mountains were well maintained solely by his efforts. Within the last
couple of years, Gene marked a trail across the ridge from Hunger to White Rock
which is a very pleasant hike any time of the year.
"Gene was a retiring individual who always had a wide and
friendly greeting for a friend. He and Roy Buchanan had a humorous
discussion after one annual meeting about whose ridge out to get moved away from
whose cabin or vice-versa; a subject Gene was somewhat sensitive about since he
believed that buildings and landmarks should not be named after living
persons. But, in a group, he never seemed to be at ease the way he was
with only one or two others. He always attended intersectional but usually
hiked alone or with Roy MacDonald. Normally, he scouted the trails near
the intersectional area just before its first weekend and anybody who wanted the
latest information on trail conditions could get it by asking him.
"Gene is gone, his long-continuing efforts on behalf of the
Green Mountain Club will be missed by many. This observer already misses
him.
"
D.M.W [Donald M. Wallace]"
(Montpelier Section report)
"It does seem looking back over the winter hikes that the snow
and temperatures have been just right; from the first moonlight snowshoe hike
for a Christmas party at Buchanan Lodge on the Bamforth Ridge Trail up through
to a snowshoe hike up the Stowe pinnacle on March 1. During that time
there have been seven outings. The annual oyster stew supper was held
January 16, at Taylor Lodge on The Long Trail.
"For those of us who get out and enjoy the winter hiking, we
watch the temperature now wondering if there will be a few more hikes on
snowshoes or cross country skis before this particular wonderful season end.
"
Leah Ruth Denton, Reporter"
LTN XXX 3 August 1970
Montpelier Section member Cynthia Brady won the Grand Prize in the Anniversary Year photo contest with a colored print of a winter scene on Camel's Hump.
There was no Montpelier Section report.
LTN XXX 4 November 1970
(Montpelier Section report)
"During this summer season this Montpelier Section canoed,
camped and hiked in New York State in the Adirondacks areas of Forked Lake and
Heart Lake. It hiked in the New Hampshire Mountains on the Percy Peaks and
the Carter-Maria Range. There was one Long Trail hike in the northern part
of the state on Jay Peak. One hike was scheduled for out of the United
States on Owl's Head Mountain in Canada. It was a rainy gloomy day by two
hikers showed up at the appointed time and place and they - Doris Washburn and
Dorothy Babcock - true dye-hard hikers, traveled the two and one half hours to
the mountain and hiked it for a couple of hours.
"
Leah Ruth Denton, Reporter"
1971
LTN XXXI 1 February 1971
David Otis organized the Montpelier Section's efforts for Green Mountain Club Work Day, Saturday May 15; the Section was assigned Division 10.
There was no Montpelier Section report.
LTN XXXI 2 May 1971
(Montpelier Section report)
"The snow fall on the first day of spring this year broke the
all time record with the season of 1970-1971 having a greater fall than the
previous record which was made in the winter of 1886-1887. (On March 21
the recorded depth at the Gauge at the Weather Bureau in Burlington, Vermont,
was 132.2") Due to this there has been plenty of snow and there still
is plenty for many good winter snow shoe and ski touring hikes.
"This winter this Section has had hikes and 2 cookouts on the
Long Trail; steak cookout at Wiley Lodge and an oyster stew supper at Taylor
Lodge. The November hike in the Adirondack was changed from a climb up
Giant Mountain to a hike along the Ausable River due to the inclement
weather. The winter hike scheduled for a ski touring one along the Ausable
River was changed to ski touring at the Trapp Family Lodge trails in Stowe,
Vermont, also due to the kind of weather.
"All winter hikes have been well attended with 10 to 12
persons on each hike.
"
Leah Denton, Reporter"
LTN XXXI 3 August 1971
(Montpelier Section report)
"Our annual meeting in April had about forty members
present. Officers elected were President - Sally Sairs, Treasurer - David
Hine, Secretary - Charlotte Langer. Our spring trips were spent mostly
canoeing, as snow did not leave the upper trails until very late in the
season. There trips included one in the Dead Creek area, moderate white
water canoeing on the Mad River, and one the Lamoille River, rescheduled
form the Winooski River as that became too low and too polluted.
"The section aided in Green-Up Day around Montpelier. On
May 15, deep snow kept us in the low country, so to speak, as we worked on the
section of the Trail south of Bolton Lodge. Several families hiked Scragg
Mountain in Northfield, following the older, overgrown trail from the
east. A week later, we worked on cleaning up around Sterling Pond Lodge,
removing as much of the dumps as could fit in a Scout and its trailer.
Work was also done on the Long Trail in that area and on the Elephant's Head
Trail.
"
Charlotte Langer, Reporter"
LTN XXXI 4 November 1971
23 Montpelier Section members attended the Intersectional at Camp Ondawa in Sunderland.
(Montpelier Section report)
"Several members of the club spent the 4th of July camping at
Forked Lake in the Adirondacks. Canoeing to their campsites and to other
places on the lake provided a welcome change from the traditional noisy
celebration of the 4th. A large group of hikers came out for each of the
Long Trail trips. In July we hiked from Brandon Gap and, in August, from
Vt. 242 over Jay Peak to Vt. 105, the Jay-Richford Highway.
"Again in August, we had a supper outing at Crystal Lake in
Barton, and climbed nearby Wheeler Mountain., 22 people attended. Later
on, a chili supper at Barrows Camp was scheduled and 31 people turned out.
These type of outings are specifically planned with moderately short and easy
hikes so that families with young children can participate also.
"A couple of trips were cancelled because of poor weather
conditions. A hike up Mt. Worcester was held in August, and the clear
weather at the end of September provided members with a beautiful day for a hike
on the Crawford Path in New Hampshire.
"
Charlotte Langer, Reporter"
1972
LTN XXXII 1 February 1972
(Montpelier Section report)
"We had a good fall season for hiking which shifted suddenly
and definitely to snowshoeing and ski touring after the Thanksgiving
snowstorm. In October, two sections on the Long Trail were hiked, one in
the pouring rain when one of our members finished his last section to become an
End-to-Ender. The other was in bright autumn sunshine where members
watched hundreds of wild geese flying near or below them as they hiked from
Burnt Rock Mountain to Montclair Glen.
"Members climbed Camel's Hump, Mount Monadnock in New
Hampshire and, during the hunting season, hiked over Hawk Cliff and Indian Head
Mountain in the Ausable Lakes area. Two cookouts were held, both well
attended. One, an overnighter, was to Taylor Lodge, the other to Beaver
Meadows Lodge, into which we snowshoed and skied for a grilled steak dinner.
"Hikes have had anywhere from two to sixteen people attending,
our short hikes enabling families with young children to come.
"This winter holds a variety of ski-touring, snowshoeing and
winter mountaineering trips, with the Section's Annual Meeting set for April 7.
"
Charlotte Langer, Reporter"
LTN XXXII 2 May 1972
(Montpelier Section report)
"Early snow this winter has made for an extra long season on
skis and snowshoes. The section held its annual oyster stew in January,
which was well attended. About half the group remained overnight in Taylor
Lodge and enjoyed an oyster stew breakfast, also.
"Other hikes have all been in the central Vermont area to
places such as Wiley Lodge, for a beef stew dinner, Mt. Hunger, Camel's Hump and
Ranch Camp. Attendance has varied widely with the average being about
seven persons per hike.
"
Charlotte Langer, Reporter"
LTN XXXII 3 August 1972
12 Montpelier Section members attended the GMC Annual Meeting in Weatherfield.
There was no Montpelier Section report.
LTN XXXII 4 November 1972
Membership counts: Montpelier has 63 adult + 11 junior members. The New York and Burlington Sections each have more than 400 members.
(Montpelier Section report)
"The major accomplishment of this section was the rebuilding
of the Sterling Pond Lodge which burned down last spring. Work on the new
structure which is a lean-to, was begun during the Intersectional with much
appreciated help from other GMC members. Three weekends and many man-hours
later we completed the lean-to. A cookout for twenty people was held to
celebrate the event.
"Hikes this summer and fall have ranged from Giant Mountain in
the Adirondacks to Mount Moosilauke in New Hampshire via several outings on the
Long Trail. Our annual blueberry hike in the Worcester Range was less
productive than usual, but we enjoyed some fine views on a magnificent
day. Another Sunday four avid bicyclists covered thirty-two miles in the
Hardwick-Craftsbury area.
"We have three new End-to-Enders this time: Fred Osborne,
Charles and Alan Bristow. Alan completed the Long Trail just before his ninth
birthday, and we are all very proud of him.
"
Charlotte Langer, Reporter"
Reconstruction of Sterling Pond Shelter
"On Friday, September 1, 1972, the Madonna Mountain
Corporation loaded two of their bombardiers with lumber and other building
materials purchased by the Green Mountain Club and proceeded up the slopes of
Sterling Mountain. Six volunteers of the GMC rode up with them and started
transporting the material by hand from the top of the ski lift to the site of
construction, which is the same spot where the Sterling Pond Lodge sat.
The former lodge was burned to the ground in April 1972 from the result of a gas
stove getting out of hand by a group of school boys spending the night
there. Sterling Pond is located on the Long Trail about one mile north of
Smuggler's Notch. Two volunteers stayed with the materials Friday night to
protect it from porkies and other vandals.
"On Saturday, eight volunteers from the Intersectional again
rode up the mountain on the Spruce Peak maintenance road in two four-wheel drive
vehicles. The stone piles were erected and the floor was laid; also, the
rest of the lumber was carried to the site.
"On Sunday, ten volunteers from the Intersectional again rode
up the mountain, one of them being Roy Buchanan. Roy was invited to advise
the group because of his previous experience in building GMC shelters. All
of the uprights and the back wall were installed, and the lumber used so far was
creosoted. All of the burned logs left from the old lodge were cut up for
firewood.
"Monday found six hardy volunteers again riding up the
mountain. They installed the bunks and put on the roofing boards.
"On Sunday, September 10th, a group laid the roofing material,
closed in the sides, put up the overhang and built a table.
"The Montpelier Section of the GMC planned an overnight supper
hike to the new shelter September 23rd and 24th to finish the details. A
two foot wrap-around was constructed on each side of the open front of the
shelter for wind, rain and snow protection. The final creosoting was
done. The group enjoyed a hot dog roast and a beautiful full moon.
"Hikers are warned that the water supply is very, very poor at
the site, and it is suggested that they carry a supply of water if they plan to
be in this area."
1973
LTN XXXIII 1 February 1973
(Montpelier Section report)
"This section has just come down from Taylor Lodge and the
annual oyster stew supper. Twenty-three people showed up to savor that
delectable liquid, expertly cooked by David and Anne Otis. Those who made
a week-end of it, had two beautify, clear days up in the mountain. A
foretaste, we hope, of other winter days to come.
"Fall and hiking on bare ground seem a long time away.
We did, however, have a busy fall with many hikes in Vermont and a canoe-camping
trip to Azicohos Lake in Maine. Between two and thirteen people took part
in these outings. A slide show was presented by Richard and Dorothy
Babcock and Doris Washburn on their summer hikes in the Swiss Alps.
"Another slide show is scheduled for February with all members
contributing. We are further planning a snowshoe hike on Camel's Hump,
several moonlight hikes in the Montpelier area, ski-touring over the Middlesex
Notch, on the Vasa Trail, and on Burke Mountain - just to mention some of things
we are looking forward to. If only the thermometer would hover somewhere between
32° and -10°F . . .
"
Reidun D. Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXIII 2 May 1973
(Montpelier Section report)
"This section arranged three popular moonlight hikes in nearby
woods and on a golfcourse while the snow still lasted. In all more than
twenty people showed up to ski and snowshoe after work hours. This seems
to indicate that hikers feel a need to exercise on weekdays, too, not just to
make that big push on week-ends.
"One of the longest "pushes" we made this winter was
on the Vasa Trail. A party of four skied twelve miles from Madonna to
Underhill and then some as they missed the right turn. The snowshoers did
not push this far, but quite a bit higher, when they climbed Camel's Hump on a
cold Sunday in February. Perfect visibility on the summit was their
reward. Several short snowshoe and cross-country hikes were scheduled,
too, the most popular being a family outing to Beaver Meadow Lodge.
"As heavy rainfalls in the middle of March washed away most of
the snow in Central Vermont, our last ski touring hike had to be
cancelled. Instead, the first canoe trip of the year took place. Four
canoes paddled down Dog River into the Winooski to the Middlesex Dam. This
was two weeks earlier than last year.
"Coming up next on our calendar: a spring planning session and
the Annual Meeting of the Montpelier Section.
"
Reidun D. Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXIII 3 August 1973
4 Montpelier Section members attended the GMC Annual Meeting in East Poultney.
(Montpelier Section report)
"This spring the Montpelier Section tried a new kind of
outing: a combination canoe and bicycle trip. While canoeists paddled down
the White and Lamoille Rivers, other section members biked alongside to watch
them slide through the rapids - and sometimes capsize! We liked these
combination trips, and are ready to try them again.
"A family hike to Cantilever Rock on Mount Mansfield was the
biggest turn-out. Eleven children and ten adults scaled the short but
steep path to the Rock where they stopped for lunch. Other spring hikes
went to Mount Elmore, Middlebury Gap, and Cardigan Mountain, N.H.
"The annual clean-up of Sterling Pond took less effort than
usual as it was found to be in relatively good shape. Trail clearing took
place in the middle of June.
"New officers for the year 1973-74 are: President Charles
Bristow; Secretary Reidun Nuquist; Treasurer Richard Babcock; Trustee Sally
Sairs.
"
Reidun D. Nuquist, Reporter
"(P.S. Reidun's report arrived air mail from Oslo, Norway,
prior to the "deadline" and that's a record for distance and
timing.)"
LTN XXXIII 4 November 1973
There was no Montpelier Section report.
1974
LTN XXXIV 1 February 1974
There was no Montpelier Section report.
LTN XXXIV 2 May 1974
(Montpelier Section report)
"There is a working stovepipe at Taylor Lodge! David
Otis from the Montpelier Section installed a new one in January on the day of
our annual oyster stew hike. He also cooked us a generous pot of steaming
stew, with the help of his wife Anne. Those of us who found sleeping space
in the lodge, spent a dry, warm night indoors. Others who were not so
lucky, had a less comfortable time outside in sleeting rain.
"Rain and an early thaw forced us to cancel more outings than
usual this winter - including a moonlight sliding trip and several snowshoe and
cross-country hikes.
"In spite of this we did enjoy some fine times with outings to
Mt. Moosilauke, N.H., Camel's Hump, Burke Mtn. and Mt. Hunger. A
cross-country trip around Charles and Claudia Bristow's home in East Montpelier
saw the biggest turn-out when 30 adults and children skied on a sunny afternoon
with perfect snow conditions.
"Now, that the snow is soon due to disappear for good, we look
forward to another white-water canoeing season. (Four foolhardy members
were out paddling as early as March 9!) In the meantime, we will be
socializing at another slide-show and the annual meeting which is scheduled for
April 5.
"
Reidun D. Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXIV 3 August 1974
1 Montpelier Section member attended the GMC Annual Meeting in North Bennington.
(Montpelier Section report)
"We have had a busy spring and early summer. In April,
Stephen Young from the Center for Northern Studies at Wolcott gave a most
interesting talk about Alaska to the section's Annual Meeting. Later in
April there was some good white-water canoeing on the Mad and White
Rivers. A few paddlers found an unscheduled dip more than
refreshing! A number of family hikes were well attended in May,
particularly the corn chowder supper prepared by Sally Sairs at French
Camp. Rich Czaplinski entertained the kids by making willow whistles for
all. We tooted all the way home! Our best turn out was for
breakfast (food always attracts a crowd!) followed by a full day of trail
clearing on our section of the Long Trail: Rt. 108 to Sterling Pond Lodge and
Elephant's Head Trail. Hikers will find Jon Sairs and furry friend Bert as
caretakers at Sterling Pond Lodge this summer.
"
Wendy Hamilton, Reporter"
LTN XXXIV 4 November 1974
(Montpelier Section report)
"Blueberries, anyone? ?
"Lots of folks turned out for the Montpelier Section Annual
Blueberry Hike up Mt. Worcester in mid-August. Nineteen of us tromped up
the mountain loaded with buckets and visions of blueberry everythings dancing in
our heads. A fine day and off we went! Near the top, echoes of
"I found some!" and "WOW! Look at these!" filtered down to
the slow-but-steadies and hopes were high. Once on top, picking began in
earnest. But after a few hours we met for lunch and found that our
imaginations were fuller than our buckets. ( few tell-tale blue grins on the
younger pickers told part of the store!) So, even if our shelves won't be lined
with blueberry preserves this fall, we did have a great day and some tasty
muffins or sundaes for our efforts. Next year we'll head up a little later
in the season and hope for a better harvest.
"An extra note: Congratulations to Dave Otis from Montpelier
who completed his Long Trail End-to-End at Intersectional this summer - after
lo, these many years!
"
Wendy Hamilton, Reporter"
1975
LTN XXXV 1 February 1975
(Montpelier Section report)
"
"
Wendy Hamilton, Reporter"
LTN XXXV 2 May 1975
(Montpelier Section report)
"Our section membership has increased greatly in the past
year. In 1973-74 we had 28 adult and nine junior GMC'ers while 1974-75
brought 48 adult and 15 junior members. We've also had a dozen or more
inquiries about the GMC from prospective members. We thus hope our ranks
will continue to grow this year.
"During the past fall and winter we scheduled outings for
almost every weekend. Some of the winter trips have been made to the White
Mountains by the hearty climbers who prefer rugged winter climbing while others
have preferred snowshoeing and ski touring in nearby parks and on the trails
which we cut in the Berlin area. Our section seems to have a core group of
6-12 folks who turn out for most of the trips. But we did have 30 or
more members participate in some of our family outings and trailwork
trips. All day outings plus supper were well attended; food always
draws a great crowd.
"We spent a good day in June working on our section of the
Long Trail, which is the three miles from Vermont Rt. 108 to Chilcoot Pass plus
Elephants Head Trail. Sterling Pond Shelter was in good shape but some
minor repairs were needed on the outhouse. Later in the summer we had a
day of clearing and painting trail blazes up both sides of Mt. Hunger.
"As in the past we schedule other activities in addition to
hiking and right now we are looking forward to canoeing and biking this spring.
"
Wendy Hamilton, Reporter"
LTN XXXV 3 August 1975
(Montpelier Section report)
"In addition to regular hiking, canoeing and bicycling
activities, the Montpelier Section is in the process of relocating several small
sections of the trail in the Sterling Pond area to higher ground. We'll
also be doing some intensive work on other parts of our stretch of the LT
system. This will include placement of waterbars, construction of stone
steps and the bridging of some mucky spots. We expect to do this later in
the summer in cooperation with the caretaker at Sterling Pond Shelter, Jonathan
Sairs.
"
Sally Sairs, Reporter"
LTN XXXV 4 November 1975
(Montpelier Section report)
"On Aug. 10 members of the Montpelier Section relocated
several hundred yards of its assigned part of the Long Trail. The stretch
runs from the top of the Madonna Mountain Ski Area lift to a point near the
Sterling Pond Shelter, which the section rebuilt two years ago after it had
burned down.
"The decision to reroute had been taken a few weeks before, at
one of the section's regularly scheduled planning meetings, but had been in the
making for several years. The Long Trail receives heavy use (sometimes
abuse) in the Mt. Mansfield/Smuggler's Notch area. In this area in
particular too many feet had exposed tree roots along the trail, creating an
obstacle course for anyone but the very agile, and standing water in places had
necessitated new patches of "corduroy paving" each spring.
"About a dozen people showed up to help with the relocation of
the trail. Leader was Dave Morse, trustworthy and long-time member of the
Montpelier Section. The party also included Robert and Wendy Hamilton,
Kathy Sharp and Doris Washburn, as well as Trustee Sally Sairs and President
Andrew Nuquist. A few hikers also gave a helping hand on their way by.
"The new route had already been surveyed and marked with ribbons
by John Sairs, son of Sally and caretaker at Sterling Pond, and the work party
was able to go right in with shovels, axes, saws and pruning shears. The
handsaws went in first, removing the biggest obstacles; then came other tools,
in teams or alone, to smooth the trail floor and cur off obstructing
branches. After a long morning of hard work the Long Trail had a new
location on top of the ridge instead of down the side as before, all neatly
denoted by a string of fresh white blazes.
"Rumor has it that section member Paul Brodeur showed up just
as the weary laborers were ready to sit down to lunch. We will not attempt
to find out what kind of reception he received, but we can guess. We hope
he responded in kind.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
1976
LTN XXXVI 1 February 1976
(Montpelier Section report)
"We don't know about other sections, but in Montpelier we
celebrate the holidays. Celebrating means a party and party means food,
and we must all love to eat because the turn-out is always large when there is
something edible thrown in. Our kind of party is usually held in some
Godforsaken shelter with three walls so rain and snow can blow right in on the
canapes and, of course, you have to hike a few miles across icy and treacherous
terrain to get to them. So maybe we aren't just gourmands but masochists
as well. Or perhaps that amounts to the same thing in this case.
"Our 1975 Christmas party was held on December 13 at Duck
Brook Shelter which we usually reserve for the occasion. I, for one,
appreciate the fact that there is now a sturdy footbridge across the
brook. One year we made a long detour, looking for a ford, but ended up
with icy feet all the same.
"This year we had to contend only with icy rain and strong
wind. The fire we managed to build outside the shelter did not make much
difference to the body temperature. However, the carried-in delicacies
did. We had homemade cranberry bread, Cabot cheddar, crackers, cheese
puffs, popcorn, apples, cookie bars, and hot cider. Mmmh.
"A Christmas party is no proper affair without presents, as
any child can tell you. We had five children with us. Sally Sairs,
trip leader, acted as master of distribution ceremonies when each of us got to
reach into the depths of a sleeping bag cover - no looking! - to pull out a
small, wrapped present. We "oh'ed" and "ah'ed" as a
bright bandana kerchief, a chocolate bar, an everlasting candle, or a packet of
Lipton's dried soup was uncovered.
"According to tradition, a unison "Jingle Bells"
then resounded through the wintery woods. That meant the end of the party
and time to return to civilization and central heating for those of us who are
masochistic enough to eat out in the cold, but not sleep in it. But four
hardy souls chose to stay at Duck Brook until the next day.
"Among them was Robert Malvern who at age fifty-plus has taken
up winter camping. For him we reserve an additional adjective:
heroic. We feel he deserves a medal or, failing that, a cup of hot
Lipton's soup.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXVI 2 May 1976
(Montpelier Section report)
"At our annual meeting April 2, our treasurer, Richard
Babcock, noted that the section has a respectable balance for this year, but
recommended that dues for next year be raised as the main club has increased its
section assessments. The dues were then raised to $5.00 for adults and
$2.00 for students aged 12-18 years. It was decided not to retain the
children's membership category.
"The membership was reported to have gone down to about
thirty, and concern was expressed regarding the fact that participation for outings
has also decreased, despite a wide variety of scheduled activities and regular
news releases.
"Following the business meeting the two speakers were
introduces. Conrad Moteyka, Vermont District Forester based in Morrisville
and responsible for the Worcester Range, discussed his work and suggested ways
that the Montpelier Section could help with trail clearing and blazing on Mount
Hunger.
"Larry Van Meter, Executive Director of the GMC, followed with
a review of the present activities of the club. He touched on interaction
with Vermont state agencies, the trustees' decision not to become part of a
national trail system, the ranger and caretaker programs as planned for the
summer, and the relationship between the main club and the sections. There
was a general feeling that Larry's presentation did much to strengthen this
relationship which can sometimes be unclear to those who do not attend the board
meetings of the main club.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXVI 3 August 1976
(Montpelier Section report)
"The Montpelier Section's annual trail-clearing breakfast,
Sally Sairs' famous sweet rolls, and how the two are "baked" together
is the subject of this report.
"As most GMC'ers in and around Montpelier know, Sally is the
"primus motor" of this section. She is a former president and
trustee, an avid hiker (End-to-End, of course), canoeist and camper. When
life gets a bit too oppressive, she is likely to take off alone for a weekend on
the Rangeley Lakes in Maine or a week in the White Mountains in New
Hampshire. If she cannot leave home, she camps in the back yard, even if
the snow is flying. When she is not doing something for the GMC (which is
most of the time), she raises three fine teenagers, volunteers in the elementary
school library, works as a nurse - her real vocation - and runs her own painting
and wallpapering business. She also makes the world's best, sticky, gooey,
sweet rolls.
"As for the trail-clearing breakfast, it is served on a Sunday
in June (June 13, this year) at 8 a.m. at the state picnic area near Smuggler's
Notch. While orange juice, fried and scrambled eggs, coffee and milk are
served, it is the unlimited supply of Sally's rolls that makes the breakfast an
annual event. Members and guests come back year after year to build
waterbars and saw out blow-dons, knowing that the menu will remain the same.
"The recipe for Sally's rolls? I'm afraid it is a secret
not for sharing, but it involves lots of brown sugar and nuts and whole wheat
flour. If you want to make your trail-clearing day a success,
you'll have to find your own gourmet cook with a different crowd-gathering
recipe.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXVI 4 November 1976
(Montpelier Section report)
"The Montpelier Section holds a Planning Meeting three times a
year to draft a new Outing Schedule which is then stenciled shortly afterwards
and mailed to all paying and prospective members.
"The Planning Meetings (which are always listed as one of the
last events on the previous schedule) are open to all who care to attend.
In reality, very few but the most ardent hikers show up although all members are
urged to participate. With calendars in hand, we sit down to schedule
outings for every second Sunday and every weekend during the fall foliage
season, and the goal is to fill the calendar for the next four months. We
schedule work parties, hikes, bicycle, snowshoe, X-country ski, and canoe trips,
some combined with overnight camping or cookouts. We usually stay in
Vermont, but occasionally go to New Hampshire or the Adirondacks.
"Destinations and leaders are chosen in the course of a
general discussion, sometimes lengthy, where everybody has the opportunity to
air his/her preferences which are then approved or vetoed. If the Planning
Meeting is well attended, the schedule is filled relatively easily. If the
attendance is poor, there are not enough ideas generated to make this basically
democratic approach to planning work.
"What we want to achieve with this short report, is a possible
exchange of ideas with other sections. How do you schedule your
hikes? How do you recruit new trip leaders to relieve the old ones?
What ensures a good turnout where you are? Let us have a discussion about
what makes a local GMC section work.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
1977
LTN XXXVII 1 February 1977
(Montpelier Section report)
"
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXVII 2 May 1977
(Montpelier Section report)
"The Montpelier Section was found to be alive and well at its
annual meeting on April 1 at Bethany Church. In fact, the turnout was most
satisfactory considering the precarious (we almost said foolish) choice of date,
about 30 adults and children in all.
"The location and dinner was a departure from previous years'
covered-dish supper at the Old Brick Church in East Montpelier. This time
it was pot luck in the purest sense, and the meal was amazingly varied and
well-balanced. And cheap.
"Following dinner we conducted our annual business
meeting. We elected new officers and talked briefly about our Sectional
state of affairs. The membership count holds steady at about 40. We
have enjoyed a healthy fiscal balance since we raised dues last year to $5.00
for adults. For our size we continue to offer an impressive variety of
activities throughout the year, sometimes as often as once a week. We have
seen several new faces lately and hope that some of them will stay with
us. Like most Sections we find it difficult to attract younger members.
"In addition to the routine maintenance of our part of the
Long Trail and Sterling Pond Lodge, we cleared and blazed trails on both sides
of Mount Hunger with expert advice from District Forester Conrad Motyka.
We also built a waterbar for a private property owner on the East Montpelier
side of the mountain.
"
Reidun Nuquist, Reporter"
LTN XXXVII 3 August 1977
(Montpelier Section report)
"After several whitewater canoe trips early this spring, May 1
was a change-of-pace day for 18 members and friends of the Montpelier
Section. Shunning the higher, snow-covered and probably muddy trails, we
hiked that section of the Appalachian Trail between Pomfret and Hartford,
Vt. It was an easy ten-mile walk through rolling country scented with
budding wild apple trees. The weather cooperated and spring flowers were
on full display to the enjoyment of all, especially the camera buffs. Some
of those identifying various species were Dot Babcock, Sally Sairs, Reidun
Nuquist and Trip Leader Dave Morse. One new member, Gary Shangraw, was
particularly helpful in spotting and describing various insects, all of which
were very friendly and not the least bit hungry. Wildlife seen were some
mice "underfoot" in a hollow log, snakes bathing in the sun, a hawk's
nest and a pair of chickadees working diligently on a nest of their own.
Various types of lichens and mosses were beautiful but some of us preferred the
leeks we found, which were edible.
"
Fred Osborne, Reporter"
LTN XXXVII 4 November 1977
(Montpelier Section report)
"
"
Fred Osborne, Reporter"
1978
LTN XXXVIII 1 February 1978
The GMC board approved moving the GMC offices from Rutland to Montpelier on October 15, 1977; the move took place in December. The new offices are in the Chittendon Trust Company bank building on State Street. The corresponding change in the Articles of Association was approved at a special membership meeting on March 12.
End-to-Ender number 1000 was recorded in 1977.
The Nature Conservancy has purchased over 15 square miles of land near Stowe from Burt Forests, Inc.; the land will be added to the Mt. Mansfield and Putnam State Forests and Camel's Hump State Park.
(Montpelier Section report)
"A highlight of the Montpelier Section's summer was the long
canoe and camping excursion to Labrador enjoyed by five of its members, Reidun
and Andy Nuquist, Sally Sairs and Wendy and Bob Hamilton. The trip was
well recorded on film and relived for other Section members who attended our
fall slide show.
"Among other annual events last fall was the Halloween Party
held at Groton State Park campground instead of the usual site, Taylor Lodge,
which was lost in a fire. The yearly Christmas get-together was held again
at Duck Brook Shelter and drew in 14 people by way of cross-country skis and
snowshoes - in 5º weather! More recently, some of us enjoyed a day of ski
touring in the Spruce Mountain area of Plainfield with John Wires as host.
"
Fred Osborne, Reporter"
LTN XXXVIII 2 May 1978
Buchanan Lodge on the Bamforth Ridge Trail was destroyed by fire on April 17. The Lodge, built as Wiley Lodge in 1949, was renamed Buchanan Lodge in 1964. The New York Section and the main club decided that it should not be rebuilt at that site because it was too close to River Road.
The Burlington Section announced plans to replace Taylor Lodge, which had burned down last September; the dedication of the new Taylor Lodge was on September 2, 1978.
Montpelier Section member Roioli Schweiker's book on canoe camping in Vermont and New Hampshire (published by New Hampshire Publishing Company in 1977) was reviewed by Montpelier Section member Reidun Nuquist.
(Montpelier Section report)
"Membership in our Section is 50 for the past year, a number
which sustains the average of the past five years. We continue to schedule
around 40 outings a year of a wide variety, including canoeing, bicycling,
cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. Two slide shows proved to be
very popular, one about Iceland and the Nuquists' home and one about Labrador at
the Hamiltons'. Our annual work party on the LT from Smuggler's Notch
north to Chilcoot Pass attracted 14 and 14 also turned out to paint-blaze and
clear the Mt. Hunger trails from the Waterbury and Middlesex sides.
Unfortunately, the weather last year was uncooperative for several of the
events. Average outings attendance remains around 12.
"
Fred Osborne, Reporter"
LTN XXXVIII 3 August 1978
At the GMC Annual Meeting, the Montpelier Section was recognized for Most Outstanding Service to the Main Club for its help in establishing the Club's new offices in Montpelier.
Montpelier Section membership is reported as 32, a decline of 10 from the previous year.
No Montpelier Section report
LTN XXXVIII 4 November 1978
(Montpelier Section report)
"This past summer has been an active one for many of our
members. In addition to local hikes, some of our Section took their hiking
shoes to faraway places. Gary Shangraw hiked and camped on mountain trails
down under in Tasmania, Australia. Richard and Dorothy Babcock toured the
highlands of Scotland. Andrew and Reidun Nuquist visited and hiked some of
the islands of Norway. Doris Washburn returned to Switzerland for some
real high-altitude trekking. Sally Sairs did the Mt. Katahdin-To-Monson,
Maine section of the Appalachian Trail, thereby completing all of the AT north
from the Massachusetts border.
"A dozen Section members and guests attended the GMC Autumn
Outing in Lincoln (see detailed report elsewhere). For those of us who
hiked the Monroe Skyline, views of the early fall foliage were truly
spectacular. The site was an exceptionally pleasant one and the
informality if the gathering leads one to look forward to other Club
get-togethers of this same type.
"
Fred Osborne, Reporter"
1979
LTN XXXIX 1 February 1979
No Montpelier Section report
LTN XXXIX 2 May 1979
The GMC receives 501(C)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service; donations are now automatically tax deductible.
The GMC budget will exceed $100,000 this year.
(Montpelier Section report)
"Membership in our section for the past year increased by one
for a total of 45 adults and six juniors. Our best turnout for section
events was a fund-raising auction with 25 present. Other well-attended
outings were: overnight canoe camping trips, corn roast after hiking, slide
shows of summer trips, and cross-country skiing followed by homemade
chili. Average attendance remains around 11.
"
Wendy Hamilton, Reporter"
LTN XXXIX 3 August 1979
Montpelier Section membership is reported as 29, a decline of 3 from the previous year.
(Montpelier Section report)
"The Montpelier Section began the spring season with a sunny,
late-March hike over the packed snow of the Forestry and Dean Trails to
Montclair Glen. There were fine views across the frozen beaver pond to a
perfectly clear and almost snowless Camel's Hump.
"As spring advanced, the Section enjoyed a mid-May wildflower
hike in the Duck Brook - Jonesville area. This day of botanical
identification and spring fever is fast becoming a Montpelier Section tradition.
"In spring we always focus on our duties maintaining the Long
Trail north from Smuggler's Notch to Chilcoot Pass. The hazy June morning began
with a breakfast at the Smuggler's Notch picnic area. This repast
was cooked by Sally Sairs and Bob Hamilton. Featured among the delectables
were Sally's famous nut, whole-wheat coffee cakes.
"Nine people turned out to eat and help with the trail
work. It soon became apparent that we were too few and had too little time
to work on all the problem areas of this heavily-used section of the Long Trail
as well as work on Sterling Shelter, the Sterling Pond loop and the Elephant's
Head Trail. Additional work days and the help of more Montpelier Section
members will be needed to get some sections of the trails back into shape.
"Julie Hand, our caretaker at Sterling, has been at work with
her mattock and other tools on some of the steep, well-worn trail just above
Smuggler's Notch.
"Besides our trail work we plan a summer of hiking and
canoeing in four states. August hikes will take in the Gothics and Lake
George areas of the Adirondacks.
"
George Longenecker, Reporter"
LTN XXXIX 4 November 1979
(Montpelier Section report)
"Canoeing has become a major focus of the Montpelier Section's
summer activities. while not as numerous as hikes, canoe trips are among
our section's most popular outings. Trips this year ran from April though
October.
"The first of July found us waking to the cries of loons on an
island in Green River Reservoir north of Morrisville. Arriving early we secured
the same tiny, birch covered islet as the previous year. The weekend was
an enjoyable one of swimming and short canoe jaunts.
"Later that month Montpelier GMCers canoed another section of
Maine's Saco River. With almost all flat water but enough curves and
isolation to make an interesting trip, the Saco is a fine river on which to
learn canoeing. Its numerous sand bars, its shores lined with huge silver
maple and its warm waters have made for delightful trips three years in a row.
"In August, two of our members, Andy Nuquist and Sally Sairs,
were on the wilderness lakes of western Labrador. Joined by Andy's
brother-in-law from Norway, they had a truly international journey.
Attention to map and compass were essential because wrong turns in the myriad of
lakes that wind through the coniferous wilds of Labrador can well mean that the
canoeist will not return. Our navigators had little difficulty and
returned home having had fine weather and fair fishing.
"
George Longenecker, Reporter"
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