Creating and Maintaining Our Footpaths - Farm & Wilderness

Imagine being able to play in waterfalls, explore old cellar holes, and see vistas of mountain peaks spreading into the distance, all while not going any further than around the block. That’s the opportunity that awaits Farm & Wilderness campers and staff!

With our new Ninevah Foundation partnership, and agreements with the State of Vermont, The US Forest Service, the Green Mountain Club, the Catamount Trail Association, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST), and local property owners, the camps are afforded access to endless miles of trails. And, with our trail connections to the well-established Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail, one could literally walk from camp to Canada or Georgia.

However, along with good times and fun, getting lost is most likely one of the memories brought home by those who have participated in one of our local trips. Many of our trails are not heavily traveled; some have been impacted by flooding and logging, are not regularly maintained, and/or suffer from less-than-stellar marking, mapping, and recording. That means these trails can be hard to find and follow. While Type 2 fun (the kind that is fun after it’s over) provides one with great stories, the woods and our trip groups hold plenty of Type 1 fun opportunities!

This summer, I spent three weeks enjoying the variety of terrain, and the frequent adventures that were to be had on F&W trails by Saltash Mountain Camp, Flying Cloud, and Red Spruce Grove. I skirted massive beaver swamps, challenged myself hiking up to the ridgeline of Tiny Mountain, and soaked my feet in the falls and pools of Money Brook. I also cleared brush, tagged trails, and noted conditions of trails and shelters. My objective: making our local trails more accessible to us!

Now, many new green F&W signs are hanging at trailheads, and more trees are sporting our white diamond blazes. Numerous projects to clear trails are in the works. Plans have been made to add or improve kybos at local shelters and camping sites, and preliminary discussions have occurred about the potential to create new local sites. Most exciting, Farm & Wilderness is in the process of updating and improving the local trail map.

This is a multi-year, multifaceted project, and you might have the opportunity to help out. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that engaging in any of the aspects of creating footpaths in the woods can be fun! And, hopefully, a time will soon come when, upon returning home, campers will be able to brag about finding their way in our woods.