Trail Work

Trail Work is the major focus of the Bennington Section of the GMC in spring, so here's a look back at some of the highlights and memorable experiences of previous trail clearing years:

• Encountering hikers who expressed their gratitude for our work and told us our Section of trail is in better shape than so many others
• A day trip in which we hiked out of Spring, uphill and right back into Winter, finding a snow-covered trail and discovering that the white blazes we painted on dripping tree trunks ran like wet snow down the bark of the trees
• Hearing choruses of toads in vernal pools
• Seeing clouds of yellow trout lilies and getting right down on the ground to appreciate their delicate beauty
• When Celia was very new to the Bennington GMC, she volunteered for an ambitious trail work day trip and determinedly resolved to keep up with the experienced trail workers. She finished the trip very tired but, far from being cured of associating with us, looked forward to more hikes with the group, including trail work.  In 2012 Celia accompanied Lorna on a trail work trip up Harmon Hill, leading a group of 5 enthusiastic boy scouts earning backpacking badges and their 2 leaders.  (The boys favorite aspect of the trip was looking for trees they were justified in sawing, and yelling “Timber” when they did so.)