Backcountry Rescue on the Long Trail

Brian Lindner (left, photo taken by Jeb Wallace-Broder) is a trained Emergency Medical Technician, and founder and leader of the Waterbury, Vermont Backcountry Rescue Team. Listen as Brian describes how and why his teamed was created, what equipment they use, and how they respond and execute when they receive a call that someone needs to be rescued from backcountry locations inaccessible by emergency vehicles. Brian recalls some recent rescue situations and provides important information on what to bring, how to assess an inury to yourself or someone in your party, how to get help, and what to expect.

Whenever you're planning a hike on the trail, for a day or overnight, our conversation with Brian is worth a listen on longtrailpodcast.com

How Far Is It to Clarendon Gorge?

Planning your hike on the Long Trail is an all-important first step toward a successful outing. And part of that plan is determining how far you can and want to go, for a day or for your entire trip . Now you can help fill in the blanks by using our new Long Trail Distances Calculator. Select your starting and ending location from the pull-down menus and then click the "Calculate Distance" button. This handy tool will consult the GMC's Long Trail Guide and report the total Long Trail distance in miles. Hey, did you know that from Little Rock Pond to Clarendon Gorge it's 12.5 miles? Check it out!

Keld - Long Trail Enthusiast

Keld, a sixty-something Vermont resident, resumed hiking a few years ago after a 30-year absence from the trail. At right, he stands on the Long Trail in Ladder Ravine on the north side of Burnt Rock Mountain. Listen to Keld as he enthusiastically talks about his participation in a group which is day hiking the entire Long Trail over six years. Keld was in on the journey from the beginning and now, 3 years in, has hiked halfway from the Canadian border to Massachusetts. Enjoy your stay on longtrailpodcast.com.

Rough and Tumble at Duxbury Window

Tumble cools her boots while she relaxes on the GMC's Montpelier Section's memorial bench overlooking Duxbury Window. She and Rough have just backpacked south on the Long Trail up Bamforth Ridge on a cool July day. Listen in as they relax and chat about other hikers they met and how much they enjoy being out on the trail. Tumble even reveals what she has planned for that evening's vegan dinner. Enjoy this and other podcasts on longtrailpodcast.com.

75 Year-old Ted Lennox 1st Time Hiker

Ted's unique perspective on the challenges he faced and the pleasures he experienced as a first-time hiker will delight and entertain listeners, including those, who like he, are blind. At top left, Ted is pictured with Rough reading the sign at the start of the Beane Trail. He describes his training hikes and overnight backpacking trips on the Beane Trail and Skylight Pond Trail. At right above, Tumble and Ted ford a stream on the Skylight Pond Trail. Ted also offers advice and tips for other first-time hikers. At left below, Ted celebrates his safe completion of a two-day backpacking trip. Listen to Ted on longtrailpodcast.com as he tells the world about his exciting and satisfying adventure.

Joe Figura's LongTrailHiking.info

Joe Figura, known on the trail as "Rolling Stone", sits peacefully at the MacArthur Bridge on the Long Trail near Route 9 (right). Joe is doing what he loves to do, that is, hiking on the Long Trail. In 2009 he and his daughter "Blue Tang" (pictured, below) backpacked from the Mass. border to Killington.
Joe is bringing the Long Trail community together online with his new website longtrailhiking.info, available to users now on the Internet. Listen to our podcast with Joe as he describes his concept for the site as well as its features which include hiker discussion boards, the Green Mountain Club's End-to-Enders Guide, trip reports, and much more.
Joe plans to continue to enhance the site so that LT hikers can find the information they need when planning a trip.

Day Hike the Long Trail End-to-End?

Yes, that's right. Aaron Schoenberg is coordinating and leading a series of week-long day hikes in his quest to complete the entire Long Trail. He is pictured, at left, in July 2008, on Mount Mansfield's Adam's Apple overlooking the Lake of the Clouds. For the six-year journey at one week per year, Aaron plans the daily itineraries and makes arrangements for his groups of 14-23 hikers to get to and from the trail and stay overnight in nearby housing. Through 2009 they have hiked south from the Canadian border to Middlebury Gap. Listen to Aaron describe how he does it and what he has experienced so far in our podcast at longtrailpodcast.com
2010 Update:  In August, Aaron and his group completed their 4th year (of six), day hiking from Middlebury Gap to Route 4 in Killington.  Only 2 more years of week-long outings and just over 100 miles to go!