Experience life on the Long Trail. Sponsored jointly by the Green Mountain Club and ATC, the Vermont Long Trail Patrol (VLTP) works on heavy construction projects on hiking trails in Vermont, including the coaligned Appalachian Trail and Long Trail.
The experiences of working together, learning new skills and backcountry living make an unbeatable combination of fun. No experience is necessary, but you must be 18 years or older. Training, equipment, and room and board are provided. Crews will travel to primitive backcountry sites from the base camp.
Field Life and Working Conditions
Trail work is hard, physical labor. Trail construction involves working with hand tools, and getting dirty is guaranteed. The crews work eight-hour days, rain or shine, hot or cold, regardless of black flies, mosquitoes, and other insects. During the course of the crew season, the weather can vary from sweaty, summertime heat to freezing, winter-like cold.
Read an interview with VLTP crew leaders Sam and Darcy about what VLTP is and what to expect.
Base Camp
The crew is based at the Green Mountain National Forest Mount Tabor Work Center, on the site of the historic Danby Camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, builders of Forest Road 10 and many original A.T. shelters in Vermont. The camp has full amenities including plumbing, electricity, and big screen TV and is shared with seasonal Forest Service employees. Crew members sleep in four-bunk dorm rooms. Ample parking is provided.
Crew Week
The Vermont Long Trail Patrol works a Friday-Tuesday crew week. Crew members arrive the afternoon before their work session for dinner and orientation. Volunteers are welcome to stay at the base camp between sessions.
Contact Us
Give us a call at (540) 953-3571 or e-mail
[email protected] with any questions.
2013 Trail Crew Schedule
| Week 1 | 7/12 - 7/16/2013 | Cold River Relocation | Constructing new trail, tread work, brushing, blazing and vegetation rehabilitation. Car camping and a short hike to the project site
Rating: Beginner/Moderate. |
| Week 2 | 7/19 - 7/23/2013 | Cold River Relocation | Constructing new trail, tread work, brushing, blazing and vegetation rehabilitation. Car camping and a short hike to the project site
Rating: Beginner/Moderate. |
| Week 3 | 7/26 - 7/30/2013 | Cold River Relocation | Constructing new trail, tread work, brushing, blazing and vegetation rehabilitation. Car camping and a short hike to the project site.
Rating: Beginner/Moderate |
| Week 4 | 8/2 - 8/6/2013 | TBD | Tread work, brushing, and vegetation rehabilitation. Car camping and a short hike to the project site.
Rating: Beginner/Moderate |
| Week 5 | 8/16 - 8/20/2013 | Bucklin Trail | Erosion control and treadway widening, building new waterbars and a staircase, rehabbing bootleg campsites. Be prepared to hike approximately 3 miles with heavy loads (20+ pounds).
Rating: Advanced |
| Week 6 | 8/23 - 8/27/2013 | Bucklin Trail | Erosion control and treadway widening, building new waterbars and a staircase, rehabbing bootleg campsites. Be prepared to hike approximately 3 miles with heavy loads (20+ pounds).
Rating: Advanced |
| Week 7 | 8/30 - 9/3/2013 | TBD | Erosion control and treadway widening, building new waterbars and a staircase, rehabbing bootleg campsites. Be prepared to hike approximately 3 miles with heavy loads (20+ pounds).
Rating: Advanced |
| Week 8 | 9/6 - 9/10/2013 | TBD | Erosion control and treadway widening, building new waterbars and a staircase, rehabbing bootleg campsites. Be prepared to hike approximately 3 miles with heavy loads (20+ pounds).
Rating: Advanced |