Read Jeff Schoellkopf's blog about GMC's New South Barn. He is chair of GMC's Headquarters Planning Committee and the Lead Architect for the project.

Kids and parents, join the (Young Adventurers Club)!

Getting the journal stamped after another successful outing

Subscribe to the section mailing list.

Planning a trip? Check the sunrise/sunset times and some past easier trips and trip sequences

Vermont Hunting Season posted at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.

Under development:
Section Leaders' Handbook
The GMC Volunteers Committee is in the process of updating this handbook.

July 2009

July 5, Sunday - Hike. Barton. Moderate. 4 miles. Mt. Pisgah overlooking Lake Willoughby. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at MHS or 10:00 A.M. at the Marshfield Schoolhouse Common (off Rte. 2). Leaders: Cynthia Martin and George Longenecker, 426-3874 or marlong@fairpoint.net

July 7, Tuesday - Bike Ride. Enosburg. Easy. 20 miles. Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail from Enosburg to Richford. Helmet required. Call Leader: Steve Lightholder, 479-2304 or steve.lightholder@yahoo.com for meeting time and place.

July 11-12, Saturday and Sunday - Hike. Manchester. (Originally scheduled for July 18-19.) Difficult. 15 miles. "Side-to-Side" trail, Div. #3. Overnight hike in the Manchester area. Saturday - Lye Brook Trail to Bourne Pond (7 miles), Sunday - Branch Pond Trail to Rootville Road (8 miles). Tent required. Call Leader: Steve Lightholder, 479-2304 or steve.lightholder@yahoo.com for more details and meeting time and place.

July 11, Saturday - Paddle. Middlesex. Kids Easy. PFD required. An afternoon canoe trip to Wrightsville Reservoir, followed by a barbecue on the beach. Call Leader: Lexi Shear, 229-9810 for meeting time and place.

July 12, Sunday - Paddle. Peacham Pond. Moderate. 4+/- miles. PFD required. Call Leader: Fred Jordan, 223-3935 for meeting time and place.

July 14, Tuesday - Bike Ride. Hardwick. Moderate. 27 miles. Rte. 14 to No. Wolcott and return on Rte. 15. Helmet required. Call Leaders: Mary Garcia, 229-0153 or Mary Smith, 505-0603 for meeting time and place.

July 17-24, 2009 - 2009 Appalachian Trail Conservancy Biennial Conference at Castleton State College. Volunteers are needed to lead hikes and excursions; register and greet guests; sell T-shirts; staff workshop information centers; manage logistics including signs, parking and camping; and much, much more. Please contact Jean Anderson to let her know when and how you would like to help out. See http://www.vermont2009.org/ for more information on the Conference.

July 18, Saturday, Rain Date: July 19, Sunday - Hike. White Mountains, NH. Very Difficult. 12.6 miles, 9+ hours on trail. Summit Mt. Adams and Mt. Jefferson via Castle Trail, Edmunds Col to Gulfside, Israel Ridge and Castle Trails. Must contact Leader: Paul DeLuca, 476-7987 or pdeluca420@msn.com

July 18-19, Saturday and Sunday - Rescheduled - new date is July 11-12 . Hike. Manchester. Difficult. 15 miles. "Side-to-Side" trail, Div. #3. Overnight hike in the Manchester area. Saturday - Lye Brook Trail to Bourne Pond (7 miles), Sunday - Branch Pond Trail to Rootville Road (8 miles). Tent required. Leader: Steve Lightholder.

July 25, Saturday, Rain Date: July 26, Sunday - Hike. White Mountains, NH. Difficult. Climb Mt. Washington via Huntington Ravine. Must call Leader: Paul DeLuca, 476-7987 or pdeluca420@msn.com for meeting time and place.

July 26, Sunday - Bike Ride. Hardwick to Greensboro and return. Moderate, except 2 mile initial uphill. 23.3 miles. Helmet required. Group will stop at Highland Lodge for lunch. Call Leaders: Reidun and Andrew Nuquist, 223-3550 for meeting time and place.

July 29, Wednesday - Walk. Montpelier. Easy. 3+/- miles. Walk up North Street toward the Sparrow Farm. Meet at 4:30 P.M. Leader: Charlene Bohl, 229-9908 or charlenebohl@comcast.net

August 2009

August 1-2, Saturday and Sunday - Hike. Adirondacks in NY. Difficult. 20 miles. Backpack to Mt. Marcy, John Brooks Trail, camp at Bushnell Falls lean-to. 13+ miles first day, various options on second day. Must Call Leaders: Paul Demers, 793-0888 or pdemers@vmec.org or Paul DeLuca, 476-7987 or pdeluca420@msn.com for meeting time and place.

August 2, Sunday - Hike. Plainfield. Easy/Moderate. 5 miles. Spruce Peak or leader's choice. Call Leader: Ken Hertz, 229-4737 for meeting time and place.

August 4, Tuesday - Rescheduled - new date is August 11. Paddle. Peacham. Easy. Martin's Pond and hike Devil's Hill. 1 mile. PFD required. Leader: Steve Lightholder.

August 5, Wednesday - Hike/Walk. Middlesex. Easy/Moderate. 6 miles. Walk the Bear Swamp Loop. East Bear Swamp Road to South Bear Swamp Road to North Bear Swamp Road and return. Meet at Rumney School. 4:00 P.M. Leader: Charlene Bohl, 229-9908 or charlenebohl@comcast.net

August 9, Sunday - Paddle. Colchester. Malletts Bay. Moderate to Difficult. 5-8 miles, depending on group's interest. PFD required. High winds cancel. Call Leaders: Reidun and Andrew Nuquist, 223-3550 for meeting time and place.

August 11, Tuesday - Paddle. Peacham. (Originally scheduled for August 11.) Easy. Martin's Pond and hike Devil's Hill. 1 mile. PFD required. Call Leader: Steve Lightholder, 479-2304 or steve.lightholder@yahoo.com for meeting time and place.

August 15, Saturday - Hike. Adirondacks in NY. Difficult. 8+ miles. Climb Mt. Alquonquin (5,100 feet), 2,900 feet elevation gain. Possible side trip to Wright to see B-47 bomber wreckage from the 1950s. Must call Leaders: Paul Demers, 793-0888 or pdemers@vmec.org, or Paul DeLuca, 476-7987 or pdeluca420@msn.com for meeting time and place.

August 16, Sunday - Bike Ride/Swim/Picnic. Elmore. Moderate. 20+/- miles. Helmet and PFD required. Meet at 12:30 P.M. MHS or 1:00 P.M. Elmore State Parking Lot. Fee. Bike Elmore, Wolcott, Morrisville loop. Some gravel roads. Swim and picnic to follow. Leader: Fred Jordan, 223-3935.

August 22-23, Saturday and Sunday - Rescheduled - new date is August 29-30. Hike. Stratton Pond area. Moderate. 6 miles each day. "Side-to-Side" trail, Div. #3. Overnight hike to Bourne Pond via Kelley Stand Road and Branch Pond Trail. Sunday, return via Lye Brook Trail and Stratton Pond Trail. Tent required. Leader: Steve Lightholder.

August 23, Sunday - Bike Ride. East Montpelier. Easy/Moderate. Helmet required. Route depends on group, but will use unpaved roads. Rain cancels. Call Leader: Ken Hertz, 229-4737 or kenneth.hertz@myfairpoint.net for meeting time and place.

August 29, Saturday, Rain date: August 30,Sunday - Hike. White Mountains, NH. Difficult. 11+ miles. Climb Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Passaconway. Blueberry Ledges, Rollins and Dicey Mills Trails. Involves rock scrambling. Must Call Leader: Paul DeLuca, 476-7987 or pdeluca420@msn.com for meeting time and place.

August 29 - 30, Saturday and Sunday - Hike. Stratton Pond area. (Originally scheduled for August 22-23.) Moderate. 6 miles each day. "Side-to-Side" trail, Div. #3. Overnight hike to Bourne Pond via Kelley Stand Road and Branch Pond Trail. Sunday, return via Lye Brook Trail and Stratton Pond Trail. Tent required. Call Leader: Steve Lightholder, 479-2304 or steve.lightholder@yahoo.com for meeting time and place.

August 30, Sunday - Hike. Killington. Moderate. 7 miles. Pico Peak from US Rte. 4. Start at former LT across from the Inn at the LT, and return via the new LT. Call Leader: Ken Hertz, 229-4737 or kenneth.hertz@myfairpoint.net for meeting time and place.

Contact Leader.  Notify the trip leader if you plan to participate.  You don't want to be left behind, and the leader wants to know how large the group will be. Check the suitability of the outing for your fitness, skill and equipment.

Always contact trip leader before bringing a dog.

Be prepared.  Always bring appropriate gear for the event you are attending - lunch, liquid, snacks, footwear and clothing appropriate to the season and weather. For example, a flashlight is recommended for all-day and winter events  since return after sunset is possible. And remember that weather in the mountains can be more severe than in the valleys.

Meeting Place.  Unless otherwise noted, trips leave from the Montpelier High School (MHS) parking lot.

Difficulty Ratings.  The rating levels of difficulty are easy, moderate, and difficult. See guidelines from the Trip Leaders' Handbook.

• Easy - Accessible to all in good physical condition; suitable for families with children.
• Moderate - Requires a degree of stamina; some previous experience is desirable.
• Difficult - Challenging events for people in good physical condition; previous experience necessary.