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.)

2013
Terri Armata's Spring flora and Wildlife notes
          If we have a warm, rainy evening, watch for amphibians (frogs, salamanders)  as they journey  across roads to pools to breed.  If you find a vernal pool, take a look for jelly-like masses of frog and salamander eggs. 
           Look up! Raptors are making their way north too. The Broad-Winged Hawks should be moving through our area in mid-April to the beginning of May. 
           Be on the lookout on nice warm days for Mourning Cloak, Eastern Comma, and Compton Tortoiseshell Butterflies on dirt roads or forest trails.  In rich hardwood woods, the white butterfly seen weakly flying is either the West Virginia White or the Mustard White. 
          Check out an exciting new Citizen Science website: eButterfly! Now you can enter your observations just like eBIrd. Vermont Center for Ecostudies is coordinating it in this State. 
So... Binocs, field guides and pencils in hand everyone. This is an exciting time of year.

​2007 
On February 24 Hamilton led a larger group than usual, 13, on the 8-mile cross-country ski to Heartwellville. The trip had had to be cancelled in 2006 but this year blue skies, golden sun, and enough snow (Valentine’s Day gift to us!) to ski on the river - made for perfect conditions. Even some comic relief, as our leader was the one to break through and make a moose-sized hole, from which he accepted help in getting out.
(Note: the Heartwellville trip was traditionally one of our more ambitious winter outings, until a hurricane in a later year created a tangle of brush that made the route impassible.)