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Green Mountain Club Bennington Section
The Green Mountain Club Bennington Section is for anyone interested in hiking, walking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trail maintenance, and other outdoor activities. Bennington is located in the beautiful Green Mountains and close to the Appalachian/ Long Trail. We are one of the sections of Vermont's Green Mountain Club (GMC) which, since its founding in 1910, has been the protector of Vermont's backcountry - the forests, ridges and mountains that make the Green Mountain State a special place to hike and explore the outdoors. Our first members built the 270 mile Long Trail from Massachusetts to Canada, completing the nation's first long-distance hiking trail.
Our club's members have a wealth of outdoor experience in the local area, with interest in a wide range of outdoor outings. Since our members include a wide range of abilities, ages, and experience we offer outings for people of various skill levels. As all skill levels are welcome to attend our events, please check the specific activity to see the description and difficulty range. We look forward to exploring the outdoors with everyone! Check the Green Mountain Club Bennington Section Meetup Site to see upcoming activities. https://www.meetup.com/benningtongmc/ You do not have to join the GMC in order to attend events with us. If you do choose to join the GMC you will be a part of protecting and maintaining the beautiful Vermont Long Trail. Click here to join the Green Mountain Club.
In April and May we have trail maintenance trips to spruce up sections of the Long Trail, including from Harmon Hill, south of VT Route 9 in Woodford, north to the top of Glastenbury Mountain. We also take care of the Nauheim shelter (Maple Hill, near Route 9) and the Goddard Shelter (Glastenbury Mountain).
We have two potluck get-togethers a year, usually in November and March, and usually with a speaker or slide show, as well as a summer picnic at Lake Shaftsbury where we can swim and kayak.
Club officers
President: Reed Goossen - the point person, the prime mover, the communication conduit
Vice President: Tim Marr - may be given special responsibilities by the president, based on the special needs of the section
Treasurer/Membership: Bill Lyons - custodian of a section’s funds
Trails: Matt Vezina - coordinates work on trails and shelters
Director: Martha Stitelman - section’s voice and ears at the GMC board meetings, and participates in the board’s decision making process
Newsletter: Hal March and Lorna Cheriton - creates the quarterly newsletter
Website and Meetup: Ann and Billy Martin - develop and maintain Bennington GMC website and Bennington GMC Meetup page
Please use the CONTACT page to get in touch with us.
Our club's members have a wealth of outdoor experience in the local area, with interest in a wide range of outdoor outings. Since our members include a wide range of abilities, ages, and experience we offer outings for people of various skill levels. As all skill levels are welcome to attend our events, please check the specific activity to see the description and difficulty range. We look forward to exploring the outdoors with everyone! Check the Green Mountain Club Bennington Section Meetup Site to see upcoming activities. https://www.meetup.com/benningtongmc/ You do not have to join the GMC in order to attend events with us. If you do choose to join the GMC you will be a part of protecting and maintaining the beautiful Vermont Long Trail. Click here to join the Green Mountain Club.
In April and May we have trail maintenance trips to spruce up sections of the Long Trail, including from Harmon Hill, south of VT Route 9 in Woodford, north to the top of Glastenbury Mountain. We also take care of the Nauheim shelter (Maple Hill, near Route 9) and the Goddard Shelter (Glastenbury Mountain).
We have two potluck get-togethers a year, usually in November and March, and usually with a speaker or slide show, as well as a summer picnic at Lake Shaftsbury where we can swim and kayak.
Club officers
President: Reed Goossen - the point person, the prime mover, the communication conduit
Vice President: Tim Marr - may be given special responsibilities by the president, based on the special needs of the section
Treasurer/Membership: Bill Lyons - custodian of a section’s funds
Trails: Matt Vezina - coordinates work on trails and shelters
Director: Martha Stitelman - section’s voice and ears at the GMC board meetings, and participates in the board’s decision making process
Newsletter: Hal March and Lorna Cheriton - creates the quarterly newsletter
Website and Meetup: Ann and Billy Martin - develop and maintain Bennington GMC website and Bennington GMC Meetup page
Please use the CONTACT page to get in touch with us.
Green Mountain Club
"The mission of the Green Mountain Club is to make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering, through education, the stewardship of Vermont’s hiking trails and mountains."
The main Green Mountain Club website has a wealth of information about the Long Trail, the environment, conservation, activities and more. GMC is composed of 14 sections throughout Vermont, of which Bennington is one. (Bennington, Brattleboro, Bread Loaf, Burlington, Connecticut, Killington, Laraway, Manchester, Montpelier, Northeast Kingdom, Northern Frontier, Sterling, Upper Valley Ottauquechee, and Worcester.)
Vermont’s Long Trail System, with its 272-mile footpath, 166 miles of side trails, and approximately 70 backcountry campsites (many featuring shelters) offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter, and extended backpacker. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont state line to the Canadian border, crossing Vermont’s highest peaks.
Although the Long Trail is known as Vermont’s “footpath in the wilderness,” its character may more accurately be described as backcountry. On its way to Canada, this “footpath in the wilderness” climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine sedge, hardwood forests, and swift streams. It is steep in places, muddy in others, and rugged in most. Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied terrain of the trail as it passes through the heart of Vermont.
Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides with the Long Trail for 100 miles in the southern third of the state.
As maintainer and protector of the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club works in partnership with the Green Mountain National Forest, state of Vermont, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, United States Forest Service, and private land owners to offer a world-class hiking trail.
Vermont’s Long Trail System, with its 272-mile footpath, 166 miles of side trails, and approximately 70 backcountry campsites (many featuring shelters) offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter, and extended backpacker. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont state line to the Canadian border, crossing Vermont’s highest peaks.
Although the Long Trail is known as Vermont’s “footpath in the wilderness,” its character may more accurately be described as backcountry. On its way to Canada, this “footpath in the wilderness” climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine sedge, hardwood forests, and swift streams. It is steep in places, muddy in others, and rugged in most. Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied terrain of the trail as it passes through the heart of Vermont.
Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides with the Long Trail for 100 miles in the southern third of the state.
As maintainer and protector of the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club works in partnership with the Green Mountain National Forest, state of Vermont, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, United States Forest Service, and private land owners to offer a world-class hiking trail.
Bennington, VT
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Nestled in the Green Mountains, Bennington is located in the Shires of Vermont which is a beautiful region from Bennington in the south to Manchester in the north. Bennington has a long history, chartered in 1749 and the home of Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys. Surrounded by Vermont’s famous mountain range and enriched by the many waterways including the Battenkill and Walloomsac, The Shires of Vermont is world-renowned as a four-season destination for those seeking the authentic Vermont experience. Explore the Shires of Vermont here.
The town is known in particular for the Battle of Bennington, which took place during the Revolutionary War. Although the battle took place approximately 12 miles (19 km) to the west in what is now the state of New York, an ammunition storage building located in Bennington was an important strategic target. On August 16, 1777, Gen. John Stark's 1,500-strong New Hampshire Militia defeated 800 German (Hessian) mercenaries, local Loyalists, Canadians and Indians under the command of German Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum. German reinforcements under the command of Lt. Col. Heinrich von Breymann looked set to reverse the outcome, but were prevented by the arrival of Seth Warner's Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont militia founded by Ethan Allen. In 1891, the Bennington Battle Monument was opened. The monument is a 306-foot-high (93 m) stone obelisk that is the tallest human-made structure in Vermont. It is a popular tourist attraction. Explore more about Bennington here. |
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