Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-04-19
..THE LONG TRAIL.
A Foot Trail Along the Skyline OF
the Green Mountains.

The Christian Science Monitor of
Boston dated April 8, 1922, contains
a page illustrated with seven pic
lures and a map telling of 'The Long
Trail" a trail with shelters along the
skyline of the Green Mountains OF
Vermont. The Green Mountain trail
was started and is fathered by the
Green Mountain club, and Is recelv-
ing much attention from city vaca-
tionists who want to tramp. The
article. which is by Allen Chamber
lain is as follows.
In Vermont they have two unmls-
taxable signs of spring. One is the
appearance of the sap pals on the
maple trees, the other is the annual
meeting of the trustees of the Green
Mountain club. They appear almost
simultaneously, and before the SHOWS
of winter have shown much more
than a mere tendency to melt. Both
are joyful signs to any who live even
beyond the borders of that state, for
who does not at times think longing,
ly of cakes and maple syrup ana
at this season is not dreaming plans
for the summer hikes? Although
maple trees elsewhere yield sap, TINS
forest sweetening has long been rec
ognized as a synonym for Vermont.
This distinction it has lately had to
share with the Long Trail OF the
Green Mountain club. for, although
there are MANY famous trails In other
states, there is but one Long Tran.
New England's highland regions
have come to be widely celebrated as
| a tramper's paradise. They began
cutting trails in the White mountains
more than a century ago, ana !or
more than 40 years the Appalacnlan
Mountain Club and other agencies
have been progressively and compre-
hensively developing the walking
/ possibilities of the region. 1t is only
within the last dozen years, however,
| that Vermont has come to Inquire on
! the walking map.
When James p. Taylor of Burling-
TON conceived the idea that the three
hundred odd-miles long forested back
bone of that state might be MADE an
attractive feature for Vermonters ana
their visitors, through the simple eA-
Incident of footway along us cfese'
| ifs institutional quality was prompI-
lv recognized and the Green Mou.-
tain club was born. 1t was pig
tosIr hut the club soon demonstrated
that II was composed of practical en-,
thusiasts 1t cost them time ana
money and Drawn, mostly their own,
hnt thew have built the trail, III A
miles of it, to be exact, from the
Massachusetts, border to polnt
whole davis march north OF MT.
Mansfield. Another 80 miles, or a
trifle more. will carry it to Jay Peak
and the Canadian line close to Lake
Memphremagog.
No one should approach the Green
Mountain Long trail expecting TO
Find it a raded cinder path. NO one
should undertake to tramp 1t In any
mart who is not fit. The mere fact
that one is inexperienced in woods
lore need not, however, discourage an
ambition to try trip of few days,
or of a week or two along it. Last
season deal of labor was devoted to
clear marking of some of its less
frequented reaches, signs at all
doubtful corners, and painted blazes
on rocks and trees, along the way be-
ing made sufficientlv numerous to
lead the town bred ones safely
through the mysteries of the woods.
| Trail-side hotels need not be expect
ed except on Mt. Mansfield.
If anyone with the time and ener-
to travel the trail from end to end, it
must be with the expectation OF
camping out on the majority OF
nights. Within few years this will
be possible without the necessity OF
packing tentage, for the club is
building series of tight and tidy
cabins, a short days march apart,
where all wayfarers are welcome
without price. Already there are six
or eight such shelters, and the trus-
tees have now voted to erect i've
more this summer. On Mansfield
and on COUGHING Lion Gamers
Hump) there are cabins with keep
ers where bed and board may be had
for moderate charge. and before
the coming season is far advanced
they plan to offer similar service at
the summit of Killington, and at
Lake Griffith camp near Mt Tabor
farther south.
Before setting forth to perform
such stunt as that of tramping the
trail from Massachusetts to Mt.
Mansfield and beyond, it would be
we'll to consult the concise little
guidebook issued by the club, to be
had for so cents and postage by adj
dressing the Green Mountain Club,
Rutland, VT. or the Appalachian
Mountain Club in Boston. From it's
text and maps it will be readily seen
that the through trip of 211 miles
would require from three to four
weeks of steady walking for the aver
age pack-laden tramper. A coming
of those pages will also show that a
thoroughly enjoyable trip NAV be
planned for shorter period and dis
lance without sacrificing anything in
enjoyment.
At several points along the course,
it is possible to break in upon the
trail, either by railroad or by motor
bus lines. At the extreme northern
end the Mt. Mansfield section of the
trail affords a three days tramr be-
tween the two valleys through which
the railroads cross the range. Three
days walk farther south the rail-
road on the western flank of the
mountains is easily reached at Bris-