GMC Killington December 2019-March 2020 Download PDF
Newcomers and nonmembers are welcome on our outings. Bring drinking water and a lunch. Wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared for weather changes. This is Vermont!
Meeting up & Carpooling: Unless otherwise noted, all trips leave from Main Street Park, near the east end of the fire station off Center Street in Rutland City. Distances are round trip and are approximate, as are elevation gains. Trips vary considerably in level of difficulty. Call the leader if you have any questions. Hike Leader has the discretion to determine if a person is adequately prepared for the trip and can join the group.
NOTE: Hike details may change at the last minute due to various unexpected conditions – always a good idea to confirm with hike leader in case of changes.
December 14, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Rutland or 9:30 a.m. at Shrewsbury Meeting House parking lot
Lottery Road Wildlife Corridor Loop, Shrewsbury Sandy Bragg 492-2143
The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife is planning to conserve a 500+ acre property in Shrewsbury as a new Wildlife Management Area.
We’ll hike on a wood road that follows a north/south ridge on the property, starting from the foundations of a former barn of the Shrewsbury
Town Poor Farm, connecting to the LT/AT near Clarendon Shelter, then head north on the LT/AT to Lottery Road, concluding with a road walk
back to our starting point. Moderate, approximately 4 miles.
January 25, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Route 4-The Elbow-Catamount Loop, Mendon Larry Walter 775-3855
This is a hike that Sue led last winter, but with the Catamount Trail thrown in for a nice complete loop. We’ll car pool to the AT/LT parking lot
on Route 4 (not the Sherburne Pass trailhead). From there, we’ll hike/snowshoe northerly to the Elbow, passing Willard Gap and our new
Tucker Johnson Shelter. After hitting the Elbow and some recent cutting, we return via Elbow Road and then branch off onto the Catamount
Trail. As you probably know, the Catamount Trail merges with the AT/LT about 5 minutes north of Route 4. There’s quite a bit of up and down
on this hike, so I’d rate it as moderate if the snow is firm, and difficult if we’re breaking through powder - approximately 6 miles. Definitely
bring traction devices and snowshoes, and I would recommend hiking poles with baskets. I’ll make sure to recon the route well enough to
determine what we need on hike day. Hope to see you there!
February 2, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Mount Zion, Hubbardton Sue Thomas 773-2185
Celebrate Groundhog Day with a short climb to a view overlooking the mountains and the Hubbardton
Battlefield at Taconic Ramble State Park. Snowshoes or spikes may be needed. If it’s too icy, we’ll
hike a lower-elevation trail. Moderate, 2 miles and 260’ elevation gain. (Option to continue on other
trails for more views.)
February 8, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:10 a.m. Emerald Lake State Park access road
Emerald Lake State Park Vista Trail, North Dorset Herb Ogden 293-2510
Pass under cliffs east of Route 7 and enjoy good views to the west over the Lake and the Taconics.
Moderate to difficult depending on snow, 2.8 miles and elevation gain of about 500’, but steep in a
couple of places.
February 15, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Rutland or 10:40 a.m. East Poultney Green
East Poultney Area Snowshoe Diane Bargiel 413-687-1109
A moderate to moderately difficult co-hike with the Slate Valley Trails group.
February 22, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:15 a.m. Shrewsbury Town Clerk’s Office
East Poultney Area Snowshoe Sue Thomas 773-2185
Follow the Appalachian Trail through Gifford Woods, around Kent Pond past a small waterfall, and
among some very impressive boulders, ending at Thundering Brook Falls. Moderate, 4 miles.
February 22, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:15 a.m. Shrewsbury Town Clerk’s Office
Plymsbury Trails, Shrewsbury Gerry and Chryl Martin 492-2244
Snowshoe through the winter woods at the Plymsbury Recreation Area. Moderate, approximately 4 miles.
March 1, Sunday, 9:00 a.m.
Wilton Preserve, Wilton, New York Allison Henry 779-4404
Snowshoes may be needed for this moderate, 4-5 miles.
March 7, Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center
24th Annual Winter Trails Day
Try out winter hiking with experienced GMC leaders and join our great community for a fun-filled day at GMC.
There will be guided group hikes around the Green Mountains, winter skills workshops, snowshoe demos, kids’
activities and a campfire with s’mores all day. Then stay for the après party and raffle! For schedule and further
details (TBD), go to greenmountainclub.org or see the Long Trail News (Winter 2019 issue - when published).
March 8, Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
Merck Forest, Rupert Larry Walter and Vivian Bebee 775-3855
We’ll hike from the Visitor’s Center to the Ridge Cabin to see the view, which will be new to us. More clearing
has been done to open up the view since we were there last. We may take different trails out and back, but the
total hike will be approximately 4 miles, moderate to difficult, with a couple of steep stretches.
Meeting up & Carpooling: Unless otherwise noted, all trips leave from Main Street Park, near the east end of the fire station off Center Street in Rutland City. Distances are round trip and are approximate, as are elevation gains. Trips vary considerably in level of difficulty. Call the leader if you have any questions. Hike Leader has the discretion to determine if a person is adequately prepared for the trip and can join the group.
NOTE: Hike details may change at the last minute due to various unexpected conditions – always a good idea to confirm with hike leader in case of changes.
December 14, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Rutland or 9:30 a.m. at Shrewsbury Meeting House parking lot
Lottery Road Wildlife Corridor Loop, Shrewsbury Sandy Bragg 492-2143
The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife is planning to conserve a 500+ acre property in Shrewsbury as a new Wildlife Management Area.
We’ll hike on a wood road that follows a north/south ridge on the property, starting from the foundations of a former barn of the Shrewsbury
Town Poor Farm, connecting to the LT/AT near Clarendon Shelter, then head north on the LT/AT to Lottery Road, concluding with a road walk
back to our starting point. Moderate, approximately 4 miles.
January 25, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Route 4-The Elbow-Catamount Loop, Mendon Larry Walter 775-3855
This is a hike that Sue led last winter, but with the Catamount Trail thrown in for a nice complete loop. We’ll car pool to the AT/LT parking lot
on Route 4 (not the Sherburne Pass trailhead). From there, we’ll hike/snowshoe northerly to the Elbow, passing Willard Gap and our new
Tucker Johnson Shelter. After hitting the Elbow and some recent cutting, we return via Elbow Road and then branch off onto the Catamount
Trail. As you probably know, the Catamount Trail merges with the AT/LT about 5 minutes north of Route 4. There’s quite a bit of up and down
on this hike, so I’d rate it as moderate if the snow is firm, and difficult if we’re breaking through powder - approximately 6 miles. Definitely
bring traction devices and snowshoes, and I would recommend hiking poles with baskets. I’ll make sure to recon the route well enough to
determine what we need on hike day. Hope to see you there!
February 2, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Mount Zion, Hubbardton Sue Thomas 773-2185
Celebrate Groundhog Day with a short climb to a view overlooking the mountains and the Hubbardton
Battlefield at Taconic Ramble State Park. Snowshoes or spikes may be needed. If it’s too icy, we’ll
hike a lower-elevation trail. Moderate, 2 miles and 260’ elevation gain. (Option to continue on other
trails for more views.)
February 8, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:10 a.m. Emerald Lake State Park access road
Emerald Lake State Park Vista Trail, North Dorset Herb Ogden 293-2510
Pass under cliffs east of Route 7 and enjoy good views to the west over the Lake and the Taconics.
Moderate to difficult depending on snow, 2.8 miles and elevation gain of about 500’, but steep in a
couple of places.
February 15, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Rutland or 10:40 a.m. East Poultney Green
East Poultney Area Snowshoe Diane Bargiel 413-687-1109
A moderate to moderately difficult co-hike with the Slate Valley Trails group.
February 22, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:15 a.m. Shrewsbury Town Clerk’s Office
East Poultney Area Snowshoe Sue Thomas 773-2185
Follow the Appalachian Trail through Gifford Woods, around Kent Pond past a small waterfall, and
among some very impressive boulders, ending at Thundering Brook Falls. Moderate, 4 miles.
February 22, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Rutland or 10:15 a.m. Shrewsbury Town Clerk’s Office
Plymsbury Trails, Shrewsbury Gerry and Chryl Martin 492-2244
Snowshoe through the winter woods at the Plymsbury Recreation Area. Moderate, approximately 4 miles.
March 1, Sunday, 9:00 a.m.
Wilton Preserve, Wilton, New York Allison Henry 779-4404
Snowshoes may be needed for this moderate, 4-5 miles.
March 7, Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at GMC Visitor Center, Waterbury Center
24th Annual Winter Trails Day
Try out winter hiking with experienced GMC leaders and join our great community for a fun-filled day at GMC.
There will be guided group hikes around the Green Mountains, winter skills workshops, snowshoe demos, kids’
activities and a campfire with s’mores all day. Then stay for the après party and raffle! For schedule and further
details (TBD), go to greenmountainclub.org or see the Long Trail News (Winter 2019 issue - when published).
March 8, Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
Merck Forest, Rupert Larry Walter and Vivian Bebee 775-3855
We’ll hike from the Visitor’s Center to the Ridge Cabin to see the view, which will be new to us. More clearing
has been done to open up the view since we were there last. We may take different trails out and back, but the
total hike will be approximately 4 miles, moderate to difficult, with a couple of steep stretches.
