2013-14 News Scroll.
Updates and media posts.
June 29, 2014
Rock Work Saturdays. And sometimes on Sunday. Volunteer trail building work parties, every weekend in July. We're doing some classic dry stone construction on trails in East Montpelier - come on out for a few hours or longer!
Full schedule and more info.
June 19, 2014
Central Vermont Cycling Tour - SUNDAY!
Read more about the tour.
Register now.
June 15, 2014
The limits of disturbance are expanding - at the Waterbury State Office Complex. (Their words, not mine!)
As the office construction project gears up for the next phase, the fenced in area is getting bigger. As much of the back side of the property as possible will remain open, though, for public access to the path along the river and by the woods. That's good news - it's a real treasure to have this open property right down town. The exact trail route will be adjusted as needed during construction, to stay out of the way of all the big machines (which look a little like the ones in the flashback scenes in Terminator, and so are worth staying clear of.)
Thanks to CVTA volunteers who helped reposition the trail signs this past weekend! Keep posted on further developments at our What's up with the WSOC page.
June 6, 2014
National Trails Day - Saturday June 7 - all across the country, at the same time, volunteers will be cleaning up trails for summer. There is a certain bizarre energy to that thought.
There are two NTD events on XVT. Meet at 9 AM at either Blue Mt Union in Wells River, or at the Plainfield Park and Ride in Plainfield Village. Or go to American Hiking Society website for details on hundreds more events - I'm having trouble picking between Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l Monument and St. Croix beach access trail; might just default to Wells River, simpler.
May 29, 2014
Registration is open for 2014 Central Vermont Cycling Tour - June 22 at Morse Farm in East Montpelier. Well marked courses, great local food, and fun prizes. See you there!
April 30, 2014
Green Up on the Cross Vermont Trail this Saturday. We'll meet 9 AM at the Schoolhouse Commons in Marshfield Village and work our way along the trail route east to Groton. There will be bike and pick up truck options.
I think we got the final remaining large historic dump last year. But there's always hope, and beer cans.
April 22, 2014
Pop a wheelie for Earth Day.
As seen on the East Coast Greenway (it's signed!), this past Easter Sunday, Baltimore. (City kids aren't afraid of a little traffic.)
March 29, 2014
Hello Friends,
We don't make many posts that ask you to Take Action - but here is one good one.
Of course, it's about money and contacting the state legislature.
The State Transportation Funding bill for next year includes some money for helping to build the Cross Vermont Trail ($84,000). The House put this money in the bill, but now the Senate is considering taking it back out.
Please consider contacting the Vermont Senate Transportation Committee and asking them to LEAVE IN funding for Cross Vermont Trail in the current Transportation Bill.
Reach them through Committee Assistant Kenneth Feld - kfeld [at] leg.state.vt.us
This money will help us to get the Cross Vermont Trail off of Route 2 in East Montpelier - which is the hardest job remaining on the entire state wide route. The reason it's the hardest is because it's the most expensive. If it were just a matter of elbow grease, we'd be out there right now getting it done! But, this one is going to take money, especially for a 200 foot multi-use bridge over the Winooski River. 1.6 million dollars if you can believe it. Most of the money will go to materials and specialized contractors. But a good bit will hire crews from the Vermont Youth Conservaton Corps. Hiring local young people not only gets the trail built, it also builds the next generation of people who are excited about trails and being active outside.
To date, we've raised almost 1.3 million dollars in Federal money (from several grants) and over $100,000 in local money. If the State can help with $84,000, we'll really be within sight of having what we need to finally do this work.
Earlier this winter, we met with legislators from the House, and presented testimony from dozens of community members, businesses, and organizations, from Waterbury to Groton as well as the Barre-Montpelier area, all of them strongly supporting the completion of the next piece of the Cross Vermont Trail.
Your action TODAY could make the difference.
Here is a letter format you can use if you like.
I am a Vermonter from ______________ in support of a building a new bridge over the Winooski River in East Montpelier to connect the Cross Vermont Trail. Please maintain the TBill funds allocated by the House Transportation Committee to make this possible!
Thanks for reading, and see you on the trail.
CVTA Board of Directors.
January 28, 2014
Just miss out on making the team for Sochi? Maybe, by more than a little?
Their loss. Come out instead to the Green Mountain United Way ski and snowshoe day at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, March 9. Their website has details.
It's a "thon". You get people to sponsor you for how far you go. Contributions to GMUW helps build trails, by the way (and many other things).
January 1, 2014
brrr-tastic 1st day hike on trail at Ricker Pond
(to coin a phrase)
December 29, 2013
Snow + cold = forecast on our side. Gearing up for the 1st Day hike on XVT this Wednesday!
December 17, 2013
At the turn of the year, seeking owls' eye view of possible trail routes - Spruce Peak tower sunset/moonrise.
December 3, 2013
It is a 5 year plan, and there is a Chairman, but not like what you're thinking. Help write new regional plan, win prizes. centralvtplanning.org
So, add your two cents re: bike-ped infrastructure and the value of conserved greenways. Not kidding about prizes.
November 26, 2013
Lambeau Field weather. Is still trailbuilding weather.
November 13, 2013
Snow! It has begun. Of course, for some it never has to end (seen today on trail.)
November 4, 2013
Football weather. Is trail building weather, on the Norwich University "National Day of Service" this past weekend. (And more volunteer work parties to come this year. We'll be going until playoffs.)
October 29, 2013
Cross Vt Trail is outside the perimeter. (But not beyond the pale, presumably.) It is open behind the state office complex in Waterbury during current phase of demolition/construction. Eventually the work will involve the trail area, next year? Here, from behind the state police building over to Hope Cemetery, is the first mile of Cross Vt Trail officially designated, back in 1993.
October 26, 2013
October flowers. On the trail behind Hope Cemetery in Waterbury, Jerusalem Artichoke rampant. (Where we've been working to put the knotweed on its heels with some success, amazingly.)
October 15, 2013
Back from rally for a bike friendly Montpelier. Celebrating City's recent recognition by League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org). This group ride was the fastest I've ever traveled across town, by any means. Perhaps because the bicycle is the most efficient way to transfer energy to motion. Perhaps because of the police escort waving us through the red lights. Maybe a combination.
October 11, 2013
Spreading the word - Bike Rally next Tuesday in celebration of Montpelier's achievements as a "Bike Friendly Community". Meet at steps of City Hall, 5:15, on Oct 15. Mayor Hollar will say some good words and then all will ride together over to the High School (where, conveniently, there will be a Harvest Festival going on.) Really, I think, Montpelier is a Multi-Sport Friendly Community - exhibit A, I like that the recently (nicely) repaved section of path from Bailey Ave over to Dog River includes permanent markings showing the bounds of the soccer field!
October 8, 2013
They say many hands make light work. Throw in matching t-shirts and it's lightening fast work as well - looked to me like on the trail in Plainfield last weekend. Finished the "fall maintenance cruise" this weekend. All the trail sections along the statewide route look good, clean and open. Thanks to Ameriprise community service day for making short work of annual maintenance needed on the Plainfield section of XVT.
October 3, 2013
Support Cross Vt Trail, when you shop in downtown Montpelier during October. It's the "bag that bag" campaign sponsored by Montpelier Alive. Participating businesses will donate a nickel to CVTA for every disposable shopping bag customers don't use. (Note, we also accept dimes.) Artisan's Hand, Athena's, Bear Pond Books, Capitol Stationers, The Drawing Board, Global Gifts, The Knitting Studio, Splash, Onion River Kids, Onion River Sports, The Shoe Horn. There is a different charity supported every month. Neat! More info at montpelieralive.org/bagthatbag. And, here's a "Mike Rallies the Troops" photo to sub in for the remaining 900 words of this post.
October 1, 2013
Colors of all kinds at the Fall Foliage Ride last Saturday. A pleasant day for riding, and the cookout at the end was a feast.
September 19, 2013
Many Thanks to all the folks who helped with this summer's volunteer trail crews! (Currently taking a well deserved rest while the wheelbarrows are repaired.) Fall weekend work parties are now scheduled, though, of course. Check out schedule at crossvermont.org.
July 5, 2013
Railroad Day in Woodsville/Wells River was actually very cool. Hopefully we'll get some of the presenters to tell more of their stories about the old Montpelier - Wells River RR days to trail folks in the coming year. Stay tuned.
June 22, 2013
June 11, 2013
Trails day was nice, but Twinfield Walk and Roll to school day was more quotable. Standing next to old railbed teacher asks young students "if we were standing here 100 years ago, what large noisy thing might pass by?" A period of silence. Then the answer: "dinosaurs!"
June 11, 2013
Cleaning up trails for summer. Thanks to everyone who helped out last week, from Northfield Savings Bank and Newbury Conservation Commission!
May 9, 2013
Green Up Day in Marshfield, pleasant. Prize winning trash pile mix of beer and whiskey bottles, Tony Robbins tapes, and Magic: The Gathering game cards. Some party.
