Shadowing of GMC’s Susan SheaShadowing of GMC’s Susan Shea

By Nicole RowandBy Nicole Rowand

GMC FactsGMC Facts• Founded 1910, James P. Taylor• Nearly 9000 members nationwide, although focus is

statewide• Primary focus is preservation and protection of Vermont’s

Long Trail• Also safeguard Vermont’s 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

GMC MissionGMC 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 Vermont’s 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."

GMC FundraisingGMC 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

Long Trail BoundLong 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.

Long Trail Protection CampaignLong Trail Protection Campaign

• Launched 1986 to acquire land or easements where the trail crossed private land

• Prior to 1980’s 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

Land Acquisition ChallengesLand 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

Long Trail Land AcquisitionsLong Trail Land Acquisitions

Land NegotiationsLand Negotiations

• Johnson & Waterville: GMC outbid by Mo Harvey, who built a camp

• Adjacent land, outbid again by homeowners (Brown’s)

• GMC acquired nearby land and ended up trading this for the land they wanted (“Harvey-Brown Agreement)

Land NegotiationsLand 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

GMC MilestonesGMC Milestones

• 58 miles of Long Trail

• 14 miles of side trail

• over 23,500 acres protected

• 72 projects completed

• 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

Change in Method?Change 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

Land Acquisition MethodsLand 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

Choosing BattlesChoosing Battles• 1980’s, pressure to pursue national scenic trail

designation mainly for fed gov’t’s condemnation authority

• Chose not to pursue because did not want increased traffic on Long Trail

• 1990’s, 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

Choosing BattlesChoosing Battles

• 1930’s 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 >200ft structures

Key PartnershipsKey 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

Themes SummaryThemes Summary

• 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