- Catamount Trail Week Long Tour 2009
2010 Multi-Day Tours
This season we are offering two Weeklong Tours (WLTs) and two 3 Day Tours (3DTs). Multi-Day Tours (MDTs) provide an opportunity to ski a large portion of the Catamount Trail in one winter. Skiers may sign-up for as many days as they wish, even one. If you would like to sign-up for more than 1 day of a tour, you must follow the registration procedures below. If you would like to sign-up for only one day of a tour or ask questions about the tour, contact the Tour Coordinator listed for each tour.
Registration: To register for a Multi-Day Tour, contact the CTA office at 802-864-5794 or info@catamounttrail.org. Space will be reserved for the first 30 skiers, and skiers are asked to indicate the days they plan to attend.
To register for an MDT you must be a CTA member. Registration will be complete when the following have been received by the CTA office:
a. A non-refundable donation to the CTA to hold a position on the tour of $50 for WLTs and $25 for 3DTs.
b. A signed waiver form, good for all four MDTs.
Waiver Form for Multi Day Tours
Lodging: A list of suggested lodging opportunities along the Tour route will be made available by the tour coordinators, and all participants will be responsible for arranging their own lodging and meals.
The Tours
Three Day MLK Weekend: Jan 16 to 18, 2010
Three Day Presidents’ Weekend: February 13 to 15, 2010
Week Long Tour North: February 20 to 28, 2010
Week Long Tour South: March 6 to 14, 2010
Please Scroll Down for more details.
Three Day MLK Weekend Tour: Central Vermont
Saturday January 16 to Monday January 18
Tour Coordinator: Dean Bloch, 802-899-5127
This tour provides a real backcountry experience on moderate terrain in some very beautiful parts of Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. Participants may sign up for as many days as they wish.
Section 15 - Route 73 (Goshen) to Widow’s Clearing - Intermediate
Saturday, January, 16
This 9-mile route has some steep gullies and route passes through the groomed trails of Blueberry Hill Nordic Center.
Section 17 - The Bridges Trail to Lincoln Gap – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, January 17
This section had a major reroute in 2008 and is now about 11 miles on rolling backcountry trails and old logging roads with a few short, steep climbs and descents. The finale is a climb to the top of Lincoln Gap that provides wonderful views of Mt. Abraham and the Breadloaf Wilderness.
Section 16 - Widow’s Clearing to The Bridges Trail – Easy Intermediate
Sunday, January 18
This 8-mile tour is over rolling terrain and passes through the groomed trails of Rikert Ski Touring Center.
Three Day Presidents’ Weekend: Southern Vermont
Saturday, February 13 to Monday, February 15
Tour Coordinator: Andrew Harper, 802-824-3139
This tour is on easy-to-moderate terrain in Vermont’s beautiful National Forest. The event is designed to appeal to skiers who would like to experience the joy of real backcountry skiing and perhaps whet their appetite to ski many other sections of the Catamount Trail.
Section 1 - Mass Border to Harriman Dam - Easy
Saturday. February 13
This 8 mile tour is on one of the easiest sections of the CT. The route is flat and follows an ungroomed, old railroad bed that runs along the scenic Deerfield River.
Section 3 - Route 9 (Wilmington) to Somerset Dam – Intermediate
Sunday, February 14
This is a 7-mile backcountry tour along a remote section of the Deerfield River with some nice gentle downhill runs.
Section 4 - Somerset Reservoir to Kelley Stand Road (Grout Pond) – Intermediate
Monday, February 15
This scenic backcountry tour of 8 miles includes 5 miles along the shore of beautiful Somerset Reservoir. There are numerous short climbs and descents but very little elevation change overall.
Weeklong Tour: Edson Hill Manor to Canadian Border
Saturday, February 20 to Sunday, February 28
Tour Coordinator: Jan Rozendaal, 802-862-2735
This tour starts on groomed tour center trails and quickly moves to the real backcountry of northern Vermont. Participants may sign up for as many days as they wish.
Section 24 - Edson Hill Manor to Farm Resort - Easy
Saturday, February 20
This section is 12 miles and follows rolling countryside and includes groomed ski center trails, ungroomed backcountry terrain, snowmobile trails, open farm fields and a golf course.
Section 25 - Farm Resort to Route 15 – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, February 21
This 13-mile tour is primarily on backcountry trails of both intermediate and advanced terrain. The route climbs and then descends steeply over the shoulder of Elmore Mountain from which there are great views of Mt. Mansfield and concludes with a downhill run on a snowmobile trail to Rte. 15.
Section 26 - Route 15 to Wiley Brook - Intermediate
Monday, February 22
This tour of 11.5 miles is on gently hilly terrain which is mostly wide and moderate. A steep but wide-open hill 400 yards south of Sand Hill Rd is good for telemark practice. The southern half is mostly ungroomed while much of the northern half follows VAST snowmobile corridors.
Section 27 - Wiley Brook to Craftsbury – Intermediate
Tuesday, February 23
This 10 mile tour covers a gentle and rolling ungroomed terrain through the woods and the groomed trails of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. A short stretch is shared with snowmobiles.
Wednesday, February 24
REST DAY
Section 28 - Craftsbury to Lowell Village – Advanced Intermediate
Thursday, February 25
This is a long of 13.3 miles that starts on ski center trails but is mainly on backcountry and snowmobile trails. The route crosses the Lowell Mountains and travels through many open farm fields, utilizing the historic Bayley-Hazen Rd. for much of the way, providing many wonderful views.
Section 29 - Lowell to Hazen’s Notch (West Side) – Easy Intermediate
Friday, February 26
This 7.5 mile tour is mostly on easy to intermediate terrain, but there is a narrow, twisty decent on a snowmobile trail. From the top of the Hazen’s Notch the route offers a long and fun descent to the beginning of plowing on Rte. 58.
Section 30 - Hazen’s Notch (West Side) to Jay Pass – Advanced Intermediate
Saturday, February 27
This 6.5 mile section offers a variety of terrain from nearly level groomed snowmobile trail and logging roads to steep, narrow and twisting trail and, therefore, requires intermediate to advance skill. The ridge below Buchanan Mountain offers fine views of Jay Peak to the north and Burnt Mountain to the south.
Section 31 - Jay Pass to Canadian Border – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, February 28
The first half of this 12.3 mile section is a 1000-foot descent through the woods between Jay Pass and Jay Village. It is north facing and has great early and late snow coverage. The second half mainly follows snowmobile trails on flat, open terrain from Jay village to the Canadian border.
Weeklong Tour: Greendale (Weston) to the Bridges Trail
Saturday, March 6 to Sunday, March 14
Tour Coordinator: Pete Lane, 774-249-9649
This MDT will start in the north on relatively sections and then gradually move to more difficult sections. Participants may sign up for as many days as they wish.
Section 16 - Widow’s Clearing to The Bridges Trail – Easy Intermediate
Saturday, March 6
This 8-mile tour is over rolling terrain and passes through the groomed trails of Rikert Ski Touring Center
Section 15 - Route 73 (Goshen) to Widow’s Clearing - Intermediate
Sunday, March 7
This 9-mile route has some steep gullies and route passes through the groomed trails of Blueberry Hill Nordic Center.
Section 14 - Mountain Top to Route 73 – Intermediate
Monday, March 8
This section of 10 miles tour has several steep climbs and descents. The route is largely within the Green Mountain National Forest and follows the groomed trails of Mountain Top Ski Center and a snowmobile corridor trail.
Section 13 - Route 4 to Mountain Top - Intermediate
Tuesday, March 9
This 10-mile tour is on both backcountry and snowmobile trails. It provides wonderful views of Chittenden Reservoir and ends on the groomed trails of the Mountain Top Ski Center.
Wednesday, March 10
REST DAY
Section 9 - Greendale (Weston) to Healdville - Intermediate
Thursday, March 11
This tour of 13 miles is mainly on snowmobile trails. The last 3 miles of the section has recently been rerouted off the snowmobile trail to an adventure in the woods.
Section 10 - Healdville to Ninevah Four Corners – Easy Intermediate
Friday, March 12
This section of 8.5 miles is on rolling terrain groomed by snowmobiles.
Section 11 – Tin Shanty to Ninevah Four Corners – Advanced Intermediate
Saturday, March 13
This 11-mile tour is mostly intermediate but with some real challenges, particularly with deep snow. For the first 3 miles the route follows a lightly-used snowmobile trail, and the remainder is on a beautiful ungroomed wilderness trail with views to the east through the trees. Midway there is a nice downhill where turns can be had. Climbing skins are recommended.
Section 12 - Tin Shanty to Route 4 – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, March 14
This is a challenging tour of about 14 miles with some steep downhill sections in the Rutland City Forest backcountry. It is on a mix of snowmobile and backcountry trails. Climbing skins are helpful.
Mar 5-7 - 3DT Fallback date if one of the tours is postponed due to conditions.