- Catamount Trail
The Catamount Trail is a 300+ mile nordic ski trail that spans the length of
Vermont , extending from the border with Massachusetts (Readsboro, Vermont) to the Canadian border (North Troy, Vermont).The trail was first skied in 1984 by its founders, Steve Bushey, Paul Jarris, and Ben Rose. It was initially conceived as Bushey's thesis project when he was a geography student at the
University of Vermont .Since then, the Catamount Trail has been maintained by the Catamount Trail Association, initially incorporated in 1984. The Association coordinates volunteers, publishes a guidebook, and works to protect and preserve the trail.
The terrain of the trail ranges from challenging, for which climbing skins, metal edges and
telemarking skills are often necessary, to gentler terrain where lightweight classic nordic equipment is more appropriate. It interconnects several of Vermont's nordic ski centers.Twenty-nine skiers1 have reported to the Association that they have skied the entire length of the Catamount Trail.
Notes and References
1Catamount Trail News, Volume XXIII, Number III, Spring/Summer 2007, page 5.Further Reading
"The Catamount Trail Guidebook." Catamount Trail Association, 2003.External Links
[http://www.catamounttrail.org Catamount Trail Association]
[http://www.visitvermont.com/attractions/vermont-back-country-skiing Southern Vermont Access]
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