The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) re-opened many sections of the 150 miles of the A.T. in Vermont late this afternoon. However, in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, there are still areas that are closed and some that sustained considerable damage.
Closed sections include:
An 18-mile continuous section:
•86.8 – 104.2 Vt. 103 (just north of Clarendon Gorge) to US 4 (Killington/Rutland)
As best we can determine from GMNF closure maps, several small pieces of the A.T. throughout the state are also closed. Though these pieces are short, in some cases long-distance hikers may potentially need to miss much longer sections to get around them. We do not yet have specific re-route information. Trailhead closure postings will be the most accurate source of info; the information below is only our best reading of the maps and should not be considered definitive.
Short pieces that are closed:
•51.6 - Spruce Peak Shelter area
•54.4 Vt. 11 & 30 possibly a mile from road heading south
•70.9 Big Branch Shelter and possibly from there 0.3 north to Danby-Landgrove Rd. (USFS 10)
•109.7 - 109.9 Thundering Falls Boardwalk
•127. 9 - Vt. 12 parking area and A.T. immediately south – bridge is out over Gulf Stream
Numbers above are distances from the Massachusetts/Vermont line.
The official press release with more information and closure maps can be found at http://bit.ly/GMNFpartialOpeningPostIrene.
Both the Thundering Fall boardwalk and the bridge and parking area at Vt. 12 were damaged significantly by Tropical Storm Irene and will not be open anytime soon.
Many roads accessing the A.T. are closed.
Laurie Potteiger
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Laurie Potteiger, ATC