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The Hurricane Hike – Sunday, September 8th, 10AM

Long Trail Day – Saturday, September 21st, 8AM

This year Team Kingdom Express will hike the Long Trail south from Jay Pass (VT 242) to Hazen’s Notch (VT 58) . We will start hiking from Jay Pass at 8AM, bring lunch, water and snacks for this hike.Total: 7.1 miles, elevation gain 1480 feet, estimated hiking time 5 hrs.

There is limited parking at Hazen’s Notch, so we will make a car drop prior to starting the hike.

Join Team Kingdom Express and donate to the Green Mountain Club.

Westmore Mountain Challenge, Saturday, September 28th

We (GMCNEK) will sponsor a rest station at the Mad Brook Trailhead supplying snacks and refreshments to participants of the Westmore Mountain Challenge hosted by Northwoods Stewardship. We are looking for volunteers to spend time at this station throughout the day. Other volunteers will be needed by Northwoods Stewardship to flag and sweep the trails before and after the event. Our trail adopters will be asked to check their trails prior to the event.

Wood Stacking Weekend – Friday, October 11th – Sunday, October 13th

Join us for a weekend of wood stacking, hiking, camping, and fun! The weekend starts Friday night sitting around a campfire listening to stories. Saturday morning will start with coffee and delicious treats, then wood stacking, a lunch break and an afternoon hike. Saturday night and Sunday will be a repeat of the Friday and Saturday. Camping choices will be Hadsel Mares and Jean Haigh Cabin. RSVP gmcnek@gmail.com

Fall NEK GMC Meeting – Sunday, October 13th, 9AM

Join us at Jean Haigh Cabin as we wrap up Wood stacking Weekend at Wheeler Pond, with early morning wood stacking, followed by lunch, then our quarterly meeting begins at 1PM. If wood stacking is finished we will do a short hike. Contact gmcnek@gmail.com for details.

Mad Brook Lumber Carry – Saturday, August 24th, 10AM

NEK GMC, Northwoods Stewardship, and Vermont FPR had 46 volunteers show up for a lumber carry up the Mad Brook Trail to the summit of Bald Mountain. The lumber was staged about a mile into the woods. Volunteers carried white oak lumber for about 1 1/4 miles to the summit for the firetower restoration. Many of us met at NorthWoods Stewardship Center and shuttled to the trailhead. It was a fun day and FPR was very appreciative.

Bluff Community Trail Hike – Saturday, August 10th

GMCNEK Quarterly Meeting – Sunday, July 14th

We started our day with a hike to Beaver Pond, 1.6 miles out and back, then a potluck, and quarterly meeting. A few people took a swim and some kayaked. Mike Debonis (GMC Executive Director) reviewed upcoming plans for the 2025 Kingdom Heritage Land Corridor Management. Luke O’Brien provided a FPR season overview. It was a great day to share with friends.

Map: AllTrails – Bill Sladyk WMA – Beaver Pond Trail

Norton Pond Paddle (Repeat) – Monday, July 1st

Four of us paddled at Norton Pond in Warren’s Gore, just south of Norton. We explored the inlet where Hurricane Brook comes in.

Norton Pond Paddle – Tuesday, June 25th, 9AM

Susan volunteered to lead a paddle at Norton Pond in Warren’s Gore, just south of Norton. This 583 acre pond is considered an overlooked treasure. One person joined her on this adventure. They explored the coves and inlets on the south end, and they explored the inlet, where Hurricane Brook comes in, spending 6 hours exploring.

Owls Head Hike – Monday, June 24th, 10AM

Victor volunteered to  lead a hike on the Owls Head Trail, 5 miles, 700 ft elevation, easy-moderate, 2.5 hours. Like a true hiker Victor hiked though nobody else signed up.

Map: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/groton-state-forest-owls-head-mountain

Brighton Trails Day – Saturday, June 22nd

Another Brighton Trails Day in the books. Volunteers led hikes on Bluff Community Trail, Bluff Ridge Trail (PDF map), Middle Mountain Trail, Moose Bog Trail, and Nulhegan River Trail. Thank you to Susan Winsor for organizing this. Thank you to the volunteers that made this happen. Also thank you to Brighton Recreation , Town of Brighton, Vermont , Brighton State Park, Vermont State Parks , Silvio O’ Conte Wildlife Refuge, Vermont ANR, and landowners.

Green Mountain Club Annual Meeting – Saturday, June 15th

Victor, Cathi, and I represented the Northeast Kingdom at the Annual Meeting. Cathi was presented with the GMC President’s Award for all her years of volunteerism. Yay Cathi!

Gore East Trail Hike, Monday, June 3rd

John led and impromptu hike on the Gore Mountain East Trail, joined by Susan. This hike was posted on our Facebook Page on Saturday. We left Island Pond at 8AM for the 1 hour drive on Henshaw Rd, 4 Mile Rd, and Lewis Pond Rd. to reach our destination. There were many ladyslippers along the drive, both pink and white. The hike is 2.3 miles to the summit and started off by surprising a young moose. During the hike we enjoyed our surrounding, while also looking for Steve’s glasses along the way (Steve lost them while doing trail work). We enjoyed a snack at the summit, then headed back.

Jean Haigh Cabin Grand Opening, Saturday, June 1st, 2024

Saturday we celebrated the grand opening of the GMC Jean Haigh Cabin with Jean’s Family, GMC, GMC NEK, and a select few guests. Because of limited parking this was an invitation only event. During the event there were presentations by GMC Executive Director Mike Debonis, GMC President Nancy McClellan, Director of Land Conservation Molly Klepack Flanigan, and GMC NEK Director Cathi Brooks, all speaking kind words and memories of Jean.  A plaque was unveiled to Jean’s family that will hang at the cabin. After many of us enjoyed a hike on the Wheeler Pond Trail.

Haystack Mountain Loop Hike, Sunday, May 26

Essentials of Map & Compass, Sunday, May 19th

NEKGMC Member Gordon Dubois and Burlington Section Member David Hathaway led this workshop to help people understand the information provided on a topographical map, the proper use of a compass, and how to put the two together. They learned about magnetic north, true north, and magnetic declination, and pairing a compass to a map. Then learned how to use a map and compass to find a bearing with a map and follow it in the field, and to take bearings on visible landmarks and use them to determine where location. After covering these fundamentals, they practiced orienteering skills in the woods around the Green Mountain Club campus.

Trail Work at Cow Mountain Pond Forest, Sunday, May 19th

East Haven Cabin Hike, Saturday, May 11th, 9AM

Gordon DuBois led a day hike to The Cabin on East Haven Mountain, in East Haven, VT., where they enjoyed lunch. The Cabin sits on the edge of a cliff offering a spectacular view of Umpire Mountain and the White Mountains. After lunch, they hiked to the summit of East Haven Mountain (3,060′), the summit of East Haven Mt. is another mile from the Cabin.

NEKGMC Annual Meeting, Sunday, April 7th

We met at the CCC road trailhead and hiked the 2.9 mile Middle Loop, then enjoyed a potluck at the Burke Community Library. The meeting started at 1PM, we honored Cathi Brooks with an NEK Section Award & Gift Certificate for all her volunteer work for the past 19 years. Next we asked for nominations, then reelected all members of the Executive Committee to continue for another year. We are still in search of a Director to replace Cathi when she leaves later this year.

Map: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/willoughby-state-forest-ski-trails

Hike South America Pond Rd, Friday, March 8th

We met at the Community National Bank in Island Pond then carpooled to the Moose Bog Trailhead. We hiked the  South America Pond Road to the Firing Range, about 5 miles out and back. Then, we hiked out to Moose Bog and back.

The Mooseway at Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, February 15th

https://www.forestsociety.org/the-rocks