60-degree temps are returning; so is hiking

Flowers shine in the sun in Killington, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

We haven’t been able to say this in a while: We have four days of over-60-degree weather in the Woodstock, Vermont, forecast from Wednesday to Saturday. Tuesday is close, expected to hit 57.

The increasing warm weather has meant more time outside, more sports, more wildlife — all the things we love about the warmer season. It also means mud season, which requires some careful attention when planning hiking trips. The Green Mountain Club, which maintains the Long Trail, asks people to avoid using trails with mud, even if they’re not officially closed (as many state forest trails are, due to the conditions). 

But lower-elevation trails dry out faster, and the club has some suggestions for what trails to hike that are below 2,500 feet. Mount Ascutney in Windsor, Mount Philo in Charlotte, and “dirt roads statewide” are on the list of staff favorites. Also on the site are suggested day hikes by location and mileage, as well as state-owned trails that are open by location and mileage. The Green Mountain Club has some words of wisdom for hikers at its website, under their “Other things to consider” section.

The group also correctly states, “Mud season is also the time when the natural world comes alive.” They provide some additional ways to explore the natural world, such as this article on spring peepers or their video on Alpine plant communities. For those history-lovers, the video shares some historical notes on the Green Mountain Club and its many contributions to Vermont.

The joy of such familiar outdoor activities, like the gladness of seeing old friends again, adds a certain freedom to life. It’s a freedom that a sunny spring day with a calm breeze uniquely provides, with its natural atmosphere of progress. That uplifting feeling supports us as we continue through 2021, it helps sustain hope, and it reminds us that so many of the things we love about the Green Mountains are still there to greet us in the outdoors. That’s a comforting thought — one that makes the sun shine a little brighter.

— Gareth Henderson

Taking a hike

A stunning view from the top of Cadillac Mountain. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After no camping at all in 2020, we opted to break that pattern this weekend and head to Maine for our first family camping trip of the year.  Mount Desert Island is home to many campgrounds dotting the Island’s edge, including the Oceanside KOA, where we stayed.

We headed to Bar Harbor in one of Maine's numerous "green" counties — meaning Vermont has given Hancock County the green color on its non-quarantine travel map, so we don’t have to quarantine upon the return trip. 

As one does in Maine, we took full advantage of the outdoors. We met some friends for several enjoyable outdoor excursions — including a bike ride around Eagle Lake and a day hike up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. Between the autumn beauty of riding a bike with woods all around, and the incredible blending of scenery up the mountain, these were special places to behold. 

I'm sure I haven't done this much hiking at once since my mid-teens, but it's well worth the experience of being surrounded by nature's harmonious beauty and its many expanses. The hike has some lovely forested sections going up, with some fun, half-hidden shaded spots where you could sit on a rock and write for a while. Eventually, forest blends with rock faces until the rock takes over. In one spot fairly high up, you dip down into a forested trail with a beautiful field off to the side — including a few more autumn colors. Then it's quickly back up the rock faces, over some more shaded trail, to the summit — where you can see the Maine coast and its numerous harbors. On the other side, the view is nothing but ocean. It was a moment of awe to see that majestic wall of blue meeting the sky, especially when, on the way back down, you can view it over the tops of pine trees. A Vermonter doesn't get to put those two things together in his writings, unless he's somewhere like Maine. To finish off our day, we headed to the Thirsty Whale for the lobster rolls and enjoyed a lovely late dinner overlooking the harbor.

Though the mountain and ocean scenes were beautifully inspiring, for me the most inspiring part was interacting with other hikers on Saturday, though these were mostly little more than friendly greetings. They were multiple moments of kindness, and those moments always do good things for you. One memorable moment later that night was when our car battery died just before heading out for lobster, and not one, but two, total strangers stepped forward to help get our car started.

During the Cadillac trek, everyone was wonderful and always ready to share a smile and sometimes a bit of humor. Mask-wearing was common along the trail, as was social distancing, very respectfully done. It appears many have become used to hiking in these unique times of change, but one thing hasn't changed: Our inclination toward being inclusive and kind to others. That was the best part of the weekend, and one I plan to take home with me. 

— Gareth Henderson

Hiking still a big draw in 2020

More hikers hit the trails in Vermont earlier than usual this year, as people sought the calm of the outdoors during the initial weeks of the pandemic. That interest in outdoor recreation keeps bringing locals and visitors out to the wilds of nature as summer goes on.

The uptick in trail activity started in April, according to Keegan Tierney, director of field programs for the Green Mountain Club, which oversees the Long Trail.

“Once lockdown orders started to go into place, we saw a significant uptick in trail usage, at least in Vermont,” Tierney said. “The parking lots were full on any nice weekend.” 

The club certainly heard a lot about how glad hikers were — and still are — to escape into nature for a while.

“Folks are just looking for a way to get out and just feel safe, getting to a place where they can relax,” Tierney said. 

While the Green Mountain Club has delayed some trail maintenance due to the pandemic, the group continues to monitor trail and summit activity, as usual. Early-season activity at the major summits of Mansfield, Killington and Stratton dropped while summer resorts were shut down, but those numbers bounced back soon after resorts reopened. However, Tierney said some of the club’s less frequented trails saw increased usage, such as the Stratton Pond Trail/LT loop in southern Vermont and the trails at Camels Hump. Thru-hiker numbers on the Appalachian Trail continue to be low as most thru-hikers left the trail when Appalachian Trail Conservancy put out a closure order in March. As of June 26, all trails and facilities on the Long Trail and AT in Vermont were opened. 

The AT released safety information for hikers amid the pandemic, and the Green Mountain Club also published COVID-related guidelines on its website.

The region’s numerous trails continue to offer an escape from daily life and a chance to reconnect with nature, as they always have. While those needs take on a unique meaning now and are clearly a draw for people beyond these borders, the groups managing the LT and AT have been proactive in dealing with this new normal. With that being said, these special places will continue to be important resources in 2020 and beyond. 

— Gareth Henderson