Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-08
WORK IN PROGRESS
ON SKYLINE TRAIL
Lodges Being Put into Habit.
able Condition in Order That
Mountain Climbers May Get
Full Worth of Wonderful
Scenery Without Discomfort

Monroe Skyline Trail, which extends
from Camel's Hump to Middlebury Gap,
arrived in Burlington Tuesday to com
mence his seventh year Of teaching in the
Summer School of the University of Yer
mont Professor Monroe occupies the
chair of psychology In the State Normal
School at Montclair, N. j., during the
greater part of the year He spends his
summers in Vermont, working on his
trail before and after the summer school,
and during week ends, while the school
is in session.
1t was five years ago that Professor
Monroe began work on the skyline !
Trail, the idea of which he conceived |
while assisting the Green Mountain Club !
in putting through the Long Trail In the
heart of the Green Mountains. Professor |
Monroe felt that a trail through these |
mountains SHOULD connect the most scenic |
points to be found, giving the hiker the |
fun worth of the wonderful scenery Of |
the Green Mountains. Not everybody |
among the out -of-door enthusiasts In this
section agreed with Professor Monroe as
1t was felt by some that such n trail
would be too diff1cult to make, and to
follow, and that the easier grades should
he taken. regardless of scenic points But
Professor Monroe stuck to his Judgment
and the trail which he has built. largely
through his own efforts. with several able
| assistants, is considered one of the finest
in the mountains.
During the five years that the professor
has been at work on this trail, he has
completed IS miles of trunk line trail from
Montclar Glen. near Canhers Hump to
Middlebury Gap. Besides this main trail
a number Of branch trails have been con-
structed. Professor Monroe has spent
the last two weeks in the mountains with
Ara1 Ill. -.
lie expects to put into the trail this sea-
son about $1,000 Of which $500 was appro-
pria.ed by the New York section of the
Green Mountain Club the other $500 be-
ing his own money.
Much of this will he used in cea ming
up the trail. in building and repairing
lodges. and in blazing where the old
;blazes have become obscured. Professor
Monroe states that much trouble is en-
countered each year in keeping the trail
in condition. This spring. the party which
came here from New York about two
weeks ago found IS logs across the trail
4 between Birch Glen and Cowles Cove, a
very short distance. These had blown
down during the winter. and had to be
cleared away. Wet weather, of which
there is a great deal here in the spring.
causes rank growth and this has to he
cleared away if good trail is kept open.
During the past two weeks, Professor
Monroe has had a group Of men working
on the trail from Middlebury Gap to
Mount Wilson. and they have done a
very good piece Of work in clearing it UP.
Professor Monroe himself has been
working on lodges along the trail. and
experimenting the clearing of the north
ern section. His idea is that there should
he plenty of shelter for all mixers on the
trail. These shelters should be so abun'
dant. he says that nobody need carry tents
or cooking utensils. as each cabin is sup
piled with stove and other necessities.
The cabins on the trail therefore. are
: being placed about three miles apart.
Although the placing of cabins near
together has been criticized by some men,
: bers of the Green Mountain Club. Profess
sor Monroe gives his reasons for this.
= He says that he wants to make this trail
fit for people who want to learn to hike
, giving them places where they can rest
at intervals Of an hour or so. Then, in
case of a large party, those who tire
P easiest can stop at the nearest lodge for
the night, while the harder ones can 60
= on to the next lodge. Another reason is
. that open fires on the trail are dangerous
and Professor Monroe wants to avoid this
= danger. Having more lodges. with stoves
!. in each will do away with building fires
p; on the trail. The professor also wishes
'. to guard against cutting wood along the
trail. 1t takes much more wood to bulc
: n fire in the opon than inside Wood Is
n becoming scarce and it is worth while
Y TO save it,
= The lodge at Birch Glen. the site fol
( which was given by Miss Emily Proctor
Y and which was first built by the Greer
= Mountain Club. is being rebuilt this veal
= by Professor Monroe. who is adding more
in, hunks in dOllblt
tiers so as to accommodate II people. 4
good stove is also being installed. Mos
| of the lodges accommodate from II to ]
}. people.
A shelter is being constructed at Cowles
Cove. The greater part OF the lodges
5. built thus far have been of the Adirondack
q type with a lcan-to. Professor Monroe
E. is building the new lodge at Cowles' Cow
: according to the Swiss type. running t.
e a point at the top. This type is NOR
1, picturesque. though the Adirondack typ
e is somewhat cheaper to build. C.
c Cowles Of this city for whom Cowles
u Glen is named, is to furnish stove TO
z the lodge which is being constructed there
a Six workers have been employed in build
"a ing this lodge. Two of them are Stiii
1t work there. Professor Monroe will &
y back there this Weekend and hopes T.
complete this lodge at that time. lie ex
u poets to build one more shelter TINS sea
IL son. This will be called Theron Deal
10 shelter after T. S. Dean OF this city, VIII
To has given Professor Monroe considerabl
"a assistance m his work in the mountains
re- Professor Monroe Is depending at pres
4 ent almost entirely upon volunteer labo
re 20 do the work on the trails and lodges
y A number Of professional men have as
e. sisted him by coming into the mountain
D. and working for "A week or two each sum
e. mer The professor finds that people VIII
spend time working on trail in this wa
have much more interest in it.
There are several units, with five o
m six in each unit who are now intereste
m in working on the trail. One of thcs
o. units is composed entirely of women fror
p New York, and is led by Miss Grace Gal
,r penter of New York city. Professor Mon
re roe states that this unit has done som
in very good work on the trail.
10 One of the important parts OF the wor
st this season will be the re-blazing OF IN
trail in some sections. The blazes
this trail are painted in white. and hav
TO be kept bright. as there are "A numpo
is of wood roads crossing the tran whic
q will lead the hiker astray unless the ira
IN is Mainly marked. Professor Monroe ha
III the trail so marked that there is Away
IN one blaze in sight, and there is usual
is moro than one to be seen from any on
sc point 81.
n. An accident to the lodge at Cooley Glei
Of In which the roof and part OF the pore
h. were practically destroyed, will necessita
..-l. H..