The transformation from an abused and dying ecosystem to a lush, thriving wilderness is a long road, but Glastenbury Mountain and the Green Mountain National Forest are proof that Vermont is racing along the right track.
Glastenbury Mountain
"There are less than a handful of places left in the East where you can stand and see nothing but the work of nature – where man has been removed from the equation and the land has reclaimed its own. Glastenbury Mountain is one of those rare places." Peter Sterling, Wilderness Organizer for The Wilderness Society, speaks so passionately about this particular mountain because it is Vermont’s last chance to permanently undo the remnants of development in such an expansive tract of land.
At one time, 70-75 percent of Vermont was clear-cut to make room mostly for sheep and dairy farms, and opened to unrestricted logging that left scars across the land. Luckily, though, Glastenbury Mountain was purchased by the federal government to become part of the national forest system. The proposed Glastenbury Mountain Wilderness is already part of the much-larger Green Mountain National Forest and it would be a 39,599-acre addition to the 58,844acres of Wilderness already designated in Vermont.
Today, it is truly a wilderness healed by the hand of nature. In fact, it is the last wild peak in Vermont over 3,700 feet that has no mechanized access. That accomplishment makes Glastenbury Mountain a haven for an array wildlife, hikers, birdwatchers, and all outdoorsmen and women who seek an experience undisturbed by the noise and air pollution that accompanies motorized vehicles and crowds.
For those brave souls who endeavor to climb to the top, they are rewarded with a panoramic view of Vermont’s legendary Green Mountain chain to the north and the Berkshires of Massachusetts to the south. There is even a fire tower that visitors can climb up to get above the highest trees to really take in the unbroken backbone of southern Vermont’s wilderness. Combine this with the fact that both the Long and the Appalachian trails criss-cross through the Glastenbury Mountain area and you have the recipe for one heck of a relaxing, yet tiring outing.
Green Mountain National Forest
Piece by piece, the 373,039-acre Green Mountain National Forest has come together. It is a patchwork of formerly private lands purchased by the federal government to protect the tired and fading environment after years of uncontrolled logging and clear cutting. The results were devastating fires, floods, and land that was teetering on forever barren – that is until 1932 when concerned Vermonters approached the Roosevelt administration with an offer to sell some of the little undisturbed land that remained to the federal government for the sake of preservation.
Nearly 75 years later, it is the definitive self-sustaining forest for all-season outdoor recreation, and it’s just a day’s drive from 70 million people. Summers are hot and bright, making pick-nicks, canoe trips, camping, and backpacking attractive options. The color explosion of autumn draws the most visitors to the forest, but it is winter’s famous skiing and show shoeing that keeps them coming back. In the Green Mountains spring brings blooming fields of flowers, budding trees, and fisherman to the trout streams.
None of these activities enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year would be possible without the stunning transformation that took place on these special lands. The proposed Glastenbury Mountain Wilderness is a huge opportunity to continue the healing and preservation that makes the Green Mountain National Forest so unique.
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