NEK GMC 2025

GMC’s 115th Annual Meeting and Hike, Saturday, June 14th

The Green Mountain Club held its 115th Annual Meeting at club headquarters in Waterbury Center. Three NEK Members attended the meeting. We enjoyed interacting with other sections and the main club staff. We sat in three separate groups and learned about Corridor Management and protecting the trail, trail maintenance and educational opportunities, and this year’s planned work on the Long Trail.  After the meeting, I will be les a hike on the Long Trail to Duxbury Window. This is a 3 mile out and back, with 1093 feet of elevation gain. Members from the Bennington, Manchester, and Burlington sections joined me on the hike.

Map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/vermont/duxbury-window-viewpoint-and-long-trail  (trail description is inaccurate, if you read the description they hiked past Duxbury Window)

Mount Mansfield Hike, Saturday, June 7th

Marcia, Barbara, and I participated in this National Trail Day Hike, on the Laura Cowles Trail hike to the summit of Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, returning on the Sunset Ridge Trail. The views were limited by clouds and smoke from the Canada wildfires, but we were able to have a few. We met at the Community National Bank in Island Pond and carpooled about 2 hrs. to Underhill State Park. This hike is was very challenging, a steep, rocky, and steady uphill climb about 6.2 miles round-trip with 2546 feet of elevation gain. The hike down had plenty of open views of the mountain and valleys below, we did encounter some wet and slippery terrain.

Map & Directions: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/underhill-state-park-hiking-trails

Award Presented to Michael Chernick and Local Hike, Saturday, May 3rd

Saturday, Cathi and I made a trip to Montpelier to present Michael with his award that he received at the Annual Meeting on Zoom. Michael was very appreciative of the award and expressed that we caught him by surprise, and that he was very thankful. After, Hope led us on a wildflower hike in Calais.

NEK GMC Annual Hike, Potluck, Meeting, Sunday, March 30th

The weather caused us to change our plans from an in-person hike, potluck and meeting to a virtual Zoom meeting. Seventeen people participated and reelected all members or our executive committee. We also celebrated volunteer Michael Chernick and virtually presented him with the Treeline Terrains NEK GMC Section award for his 25 years of volunteerism and service to our section and the Green Mountain Club. Luke O’Brien, Steve Farrow, Mike Debonis, and Cathi Brooks all expressed gratitude and shared memories. Cathi, Luke, Mike and Maria all shared news and updates. Kevin is busy organizing trails and adopters for another season. Paul, Victor, Susan, and Beth all provided updates. Summer hiking events are in the planning stages.

 

Burke Mountain Hike, Saturday, March 22nd

Green Mountain Club Member Matt Dickstein led a hiking expedition on Burke Mountain, he was joined by one other person. They switched from spikes to snowshoes, back to spikes, and finally to bare boots. The snow-covered trail heading in was a dirt trail on the way out. Gorgeous day. Tons of snow up top, gorgeous views, a fire tower and nice company. Hike total 6 miles round trip x 2,000′ vertical ascent.

Codding Hollow to Laraway Lookout, Monday, March 3rd, 2025

As always, this was an amazing winter hike! It’s a 4.4 miles out and back on the Long Trail with 1,547 feet of elevation gain. Snowshoes were required. Eight of us participated in this challenging hike, mostly uphill with some steep sections.

Map & Directions: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/laraway-mountain

Victory Basin to Stone Dam – Saturday, February 8th

Cathi led us to the Stone Dam in the Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area from Damon Crossing. This one is accessible only in the winter when the bog is frozen, and snowshoes were required. The trail follows an old railroad line and is not maintained, parts of the trail were marked by orange flags. We hiked this 3.5 mile out and back with 174 feet of elevation gain.

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

Split Rock Snowshoe – Friday, February 7th

Morgan and John met at the Community National Bank in Island Pond just before 8AM and left for the Gore Mountain Trailhead. We received weather alerts on our phones and had blinding snow squalls along the way. The trail was unbroken and we were sinking 14″ to 15″ into the snow from the start. As we took turns leading, we decided our goal for the day would be Gore Junction. This hike was a 2.5 mile out and back with 434 feet of elevation gain.

Map: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4520791483

Jean Haigh Cabin Wood Project – Tuesday, February 4th

The weather prevented a good turnout for this event. Paul moved wood between the two cabins. After that, he removed ash from the wood stoves. It was tricky getting in and out of there with the weather.

Kettle Pond Snowshoe – Sunday, February 2nd

Victor Caamano led small group of 3 on this sweet 3 mile+ loop which circles a beautiful glacial pond passing by numerous primitive camping areas and lean-tos. It was -14F at the start, 1 degree when we finished.

Map and info: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/groton-state-forest-kettle-pond

Unknown Pond Snowshoe – Friday, January 24th, 8:30AM

Starting at the Unknown Pond Trailhead we snowshoed to the Kingdom Heritage Trail, then to the elusive Unknown Pond. This was a 4.25 mile out and back with several stream crossings. It was a challenging hike, because we were breaking trail all the way.

Bluff Community Trail Snowshoe – Saturday, January 18th

The trailhead was not plowed, so we parked beside the road. We snowshoed the Bluff Community Trail to the Overlook. This hike is 3.5 miles round-trip with 1216 feet of elevation gain, it’s considered a moderately difficult hike. We were lucky that two others had broke trail ahead of us. The wind at the overlook was steady and we didn’t stay long.

Map & info: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/bluff-mountain-community-trail

NEK GMC Winter Meeting – Sunday, January 12th

We held our quarterly meeting at Northwoods Stewardship Center. The morning started with skiing and snowshoeing and 20 people participating, followed by a potluck lunch, then 18 attendees stayed for our quarterly meeting. Activities started at 10AM, followed by potluck at 12:30PM, and meeting beginning at 1PM. The day will ended around 2:44PM. A special thank you to Maria for leading the skiing event and to Northwoods Stewardship Center for hosting us.

Brighton State Park First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1st

Nine joined us for a First Day Hike at Brighton State Park, a tradition of the Vermont State Parks and the Green Mountain Club. We followed the Shoreline Trail to Council Point then returned on the Main Loop Trail. Total distance was 2.5 miles.

More information: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/brighton-state-park

Bartlett Mountain First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1st

Susan led a First Day Hike (Snowshoe), a tradition of the Vermont State Parks and the Green Mountain Club.
Following the CCC Road in Willoughby State Forest for a nice leisurely snowshoe with lots of conversation! Four miles and a temperature that had most everyone shedding a layer, but happy to say, no rain!!!! And of course, being we do trail maintenance, this tree across the trail had to be removed! Have saw, will clean up!

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

Past Events

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events – 2024

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events – 2023

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events – 2022

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events – 2021

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events – 2020

If you would like to see more of our past events just follow this link: History of Past Events prior to 2020