Trails & Trail Work

Trail Notes/Updates in the Bread Loaf area

Our section of the Long Trail is from Sucker Brook Shelter northward through Middlebury Gap (Vt. route 125) to Emily Proctor Shelter.

  • Notice: Since storm Irene in late August 2011, there is still some Long Trail south of Killington that is still closed, but north of it the Long Trail is open. The only trails that are still closed in the Bread Loaf Section north to Camels Hump are side trails: Clark Brook Trail and Cooley Glen Trail. 
  • Along the Bread Loaf section of the Long Trail, the Worth Mountain Lodge is located on Middlebury College's Snow Bowl property, and is managed by the College Mountain Club (not GMC). According to the club's blog the shelter is closed until further notice. Alternative shelters are Sucker Brook and Boyce. 

Please check the GMC Headquarters website's Trail Updates for notices about trail conditions along the entire Long Trail. 

Contact Us About Trail Work
Our Trail Manager for the Bread Loaf Section beginning in 2013 is Heather Bessette. If you are interested in learning more, read our Trail Work Procedures at Bread Loaf. Heather will send out email alerts a few weeks prior to each workday. Weather permitting, there are always volunteer opportunities which can be done individually or in a group! If you have questions about trail maintenance in our section or to volunteer, please contact Heather at hbessette69@yahoo.com or phone 802-453-3919. 

Thank you!

Photos of Trail Work 

It's been a wet fall so far, and the waterbars need to be cleared of sediment & leaf litter.
Check out how rewarding the work is that our volunteer trail work parties are. Take a look at some photos of recent trail work parties.
 



...and learn a little about Trail Work: Watch our videos!

NOTE: Tools are provided by the Middlebury ranger station, Green Mountain National Forest.
  • What is "Weed Whacking"? (Tool: "swizzle stick")
(less than 1 minute)
  • How do you clear a waterbar? (Tools: Hoe, rake & hazel hoe)
(2 minutes)

Weather Reports of Vermont Peaks

Mountain Point Forecast gives you real-time weather reports on Vermont Peaks!

Trail Work Schedule 2013

May 18

August*


 October *		 Spring clean-up  (rain date May 19)

Summer weed whacking at 
Sucker Brook & Worth Mountain

Fall waterbar maintenance & clipping
*dates to be scheduled All will Saturday dates.

There is work for all abilities, so please our Trails Manager if you are interested in participating.

2012 Trail Maintenance Report

by Chip Morgan, Bread Loaf trail manager (reported at
Jan. 26, 2013 GMC Bread Loaf Annual Meeting)

Once again the Bread Loaf trails crew turned in an outstanding work season.  Nineteen workers put in 138 hours of work over four workdays. The Long Trail was left in fine shape for the winter. In addition, 16 students from the Mount Abe Environmental Club, plus 8 parents and advisors, made up work party that spent a day improving and cleaning the Sucker Brook Trail on April 30.  A plan for improving the Abbey Pond Trail is in the works, which will serve as a memorial to Levi Duclos. If approved by all relevant parties, the project should go forward this summer. 

This is my final report to the Bread Loaf Section as Trails and Shelters Chair. I am turning over my hazel hoe to Heather Bessette who will take over as Trails and Shelters Chair as of this meeting. Heather is extraordinarily qualified for this position as she has been spending her summers, recently, leading trail crews up in the Moosalamoo Forest. I hope you will give Heather all the assistance and encouragement that you have given me in the last six years. I want to thank everyone who has helped me on the LT over the last six years. Several people in particular made my time on Trails and Shelters much easier. Doug McKain, Al Stiles, Tom Smith, Dave Anderson, and Brenda Ellis and been stalwart members of the crew, working on two or more parties every year. Thank you, guys.

I intend to continue working on the trails in the Bread Loaf Section for years to come, so Heather will see me on her work parties regularly. 

Raking out

- Chip Morgan (Trail Manager 2007-2013)

Remember that anyone who can hike 3-5 miles and wield a rake, hoe or clippers can do trail maintenance. We love to have new folks on the crew. And sometimes there are even cookies! 

Safety Tips & Hunting Seasons

Also, before heading out to enjoy outdoor treks or paddles, please check our Section's page of Safety Reminders including dates of Vermont's hunting seasons.