Title: Shadowing of GMC
1- Shadowing of GMCs Susan Shea
- By Nicole Rowand
2GMC Facts
- Founded 1910, James P. Taylor
- Nearly 9000 members nationwide, although focus is
statewide - Primary focus is preservation and protection of
Vermonts Long Trail - Also safeguard Vermonts other hiking trails
- More than 800 volunteers work to maintain,
manage, and protect the Long Trail System - Long Trail constructed from 1910-1930
- Oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country,
inspiration for the Appalachian Trail - 270-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails, and
nearly 70 primitive shelters
3GMC Mission
- MISSION To make the mountains of Vermont 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 Vermonts hiking trails and mountains. - The state of VT has declared GMC the "founder,
sponsor, defender and protector" of the Long
Trail System and develops policies and programs
for "the preservation, maintenance, and proper
use of hiking trails for the benefit of the
people of Vermont."
4GMC Fundraising
- Yearly membership dues Individual 27, family
35, sponsor 45, Protector 100 - State grants
- Other grants donations
- Sale of publications, maps, merchandise
- Fees for education workshops outings
Tshirts
5Long Trail Bound
- Education program
- MISSION The goal of Long Trail Bound is to
create a connection and understanding between
your students and the mountains, by teaching
travel, environmental, and stewardship skills
through the participation in these activities and
the preparation and execution of a safe and
enjoyable day hike on the Long Trail.
6Long Trail Protection Campaign
- Launched 1986 to acquire land or easements where
the trail crossed private land - Prior to 1980s land agreements made with a
handshake - Also in 1986, seven mountaintops in northern
Vermont, complete with ridgeline views, thirty
miles of the Long Trail, and historic shelters
were for sale - Landowners closed sections of the trail, creating
a 2.5 mile road walk for hikers - Goal is to have 1000 foot wide corridor for the
Long Trail - Susan Shea, Director of Land Protection
7Land Acquisition Challenges
- Jonesville tower built on ridge and house built.
Builders response, sorry. Hikers must hike
around this. Plan to relocate trail. - Need to build foot bridge over river, still need
some key land, railroad permission, local permits
8Long Trail Land Acquisitions
9Land Negotiations
- Johnson Waterville GMC outbid by Mo Harvey,
who built a camp - Adjacent land, outbid again by homeowners
(Browns) - GMC acquired nearby land and ended up trading
this for the land they wanted (Harvey-Brown
Agreement)
10Land Negotiations
- Acquire land with state money, so must buy at
appraised price - Sellers often ask for more
- Negotiations can last for years
- Negotiations can include land splits, logging
before sales - GMC representatives must be subtle, but strong
negotiators
11GMC Milestones
- Bolton Mountain Uplands, 2.5 mi LT, 1080 ac,
Bolton, 03 - Jay Peak, 1.8 mi LT right-of-way, Jay, 02
- Smuggler's Notch, 1 mi LT right-of-way, Stowe, 02
- Elbow Gap, 1 mi LT, 58 ac, Killington, 01
- Bear Hill, 0.2 mi LT, 98 ac, Johnson, 01
- Mad River Glen, 1.5 mi LT right-of-way, Fayston,
01 - Black Falls, 3764 ac, Richford, Montgomery,
Westfield, 01 - Elbow Road, 113 ac, .25 LT, Mendon, 01
- Hazen's Notch, 110 ac, Westfield, VT, 00
- Dry Ridge, 0.2 LT relo, 20 ac, Johnson, VT, 00
- Eden Crossing, 0.2 LT, 20 ac, Eden, 00
- 58 miles of Long Trail
- 14 miles of side trail
- over 23,500 acres protected
- 72 projects completed
12Change in Method?
- 22 parcels left to acquire
- Prefer legal agreements with private landowners,
or purchase of land - Have taken conservation easements
- Lately, have gone after right of passage
13Land Acquisition Methods
- Quarterly newsletter goes out to landowners to
increase awareness - Susan tries to write a letter and call these
landowners once/year - Yearly phone calls are too much contact for some
more sensitive individuals - Anything more aggressive than the newsletter and
phone call would not work - Subtleness, sympathy is effective
14Choosing Battles
- 1980s, pressure to pursue national scenic trail
designation mainly for fed govts condemnation
authority - Chose not to pursue because did not want
increased traffic on Long Trail - 1990s, looked again because people not happy
with rate of progress - Decided to pursue with Dean and state
legislators support - Backed out because state money supply was
threatened and there was not a good chance of
winning with Clinton and the current Congress
15Choosing Battles
- 1930s opposition to Green Mountain Parkway, GMC
and VT citizens win! - 1958 US Air Force want to build military facility
on Mt. Mansfield, plans dropped, another win for
GMC! - Current issue wind power, official stance of GMC
is neutral because visual impact is not large
enough - Instead, GMC is offering input on the lighting of
the gt200ft structures
16Key Partnerships
- VT Dept of Forest Recreation new commissioner
recently to adjust to, land gets transferred
after GMC buys it - VT Housing Conservation Board have given grants
and funded employees of GMC - Nature Conservancy
- VT Land Trust
17Themes Summary
Works?
Doesn't Work?
- Quarterly newsletter, member dues
- Subtle begging
- Making partners
- Tradition sympathy
- Battle selection
- Personal reminders of trail etiquette when you
hike
- Downright demanding
- Forcing people of their land
- Making ANY enemies
- Aiming too high on projects to tackle
- Relying on state grants