- Weeklong Tour North crossing "Jan's Bridge" in Lowell
2011 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: 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. (Download waiver below and send into the CTA office with fee and indicate which tour you would like to do.)
For more information contact the CTA office at 802-864-5794 or info@catamounttrail.org.
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.
Multi-Day Tour Dates and Contacts
Martin Luther King Long Weekend Tour in Central Vermont
Saturday January 15th to Monday January 17th
Tin Shanty (~10 miles s. of Rte 4) to Rte 73 (Brandon Gap) (Sections 12-14)
Contact: Paul Kendall, pkendallb@gmail.com, 802-728-3726
Tour Details
Section 13 - Route 4 to Mountain Top - Intermediate
Saturday, January 15
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.
Section 14 - Mountain Top to Route 73 - Intermediate
Sunday, January 16
This 10 mile section 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 12 - Tin Shanty to Route 4 – Advanced Intermediate
Monday, January 17
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. It should be noted, however, that a six mile portion of Section 12 is in the process of being re-located off of the snowmobile trail between Tin Shanty and Brewer´s Corner. If completed in time for the tour, this new portion of the Trail will be more like the portion described from Brewer´s Corner to Route 4, making Section 12 even more strenuous than the Guidebook’s present description.
Weeklong Tour in Central Vermont
Saturday January 29th to Sunday February 6th
Natural Turnpike to Stowe (Sections 17-23 & 12)
Contact: Richard Larsen, larsen007@aol.com, 802-878-6828
Tour Details
Section 17 - The Bridges Trail to Lincoln Gap – Advanced Intermediate
Saturday, January 29
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. This day might be shortened or moved because of logging operations scheduled for the winter.
Section 18 - Lincoln Gap to Route 17 – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, January 30
This 11 mile tour has a long challenging descent from Lincoln Gap on ungroomed terrain that meanders through the woods of the Mad River Valley.
Section 19 - Rt 17 to Camel's Hump Road (Waitsfield) – Advanced
Monday, January 31
This 10 mile outing will take us up over Huntington Gap and through the western portion of Camel's Hump State Park. This is a strenuous trip with significant climbs and descents. Climbing skins are required.
Section 20 - Camel’s Hump Rd. to Duxbury Rd. (Route 2) – Intermediate
Tuesday, February 1
This 8-mile tour includes a gentle climb through the groomed trails of Camel’s Hump Ski Area in Huntington and a fun, downhill descent along the Honey Hollow Trail.
Rest Day
Wednesday, February 2
Section 21 - Bolton Valley to Route 2 – Easy Intermediate
Thursday, February 3
This tour of 7-8 miles will run north to south, providing a very nice downhill run with a total decent of about 2000 feet. The route starts with a long downhill, first on the groomed trails of Bolton Valley and then on backcountry trails. It then moves onto a lightly used snowmobile trail for the second half of the route which includes some fairly steep downhill stretches.
Section 22 - Bolton Valley to Trapp Family Lodge - Advanced
Friday, February 4
One of the MOST challenging sections of the CT, this is a 9-10 mile backcountry tour through remote terrain that climbs 1300 feet and descends 2300 feet. The tour features ridgeline skiing, narrow chutes and abrupt turns and is for advanced skiers in good physical condition with strong downhill and backcountry skills. It ends with an ascent on old logging roads and a descent on the groomed trails of Trapp's. Climbing skins are required.
Section 23 – Trapp Family Lodge to Edson Hill Manor (Stowe) – Easy Intermediate
Saturday, February 5
This 13 mile tour runs mostly, but not entirely, on groomed trails of Stowe's four ski touring centers: Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe Mountain Resort (a/k/a Mt. Mansfield) Touring Center, Topnotch Resort, and Edson Hill Manor. Parts of the last three miles of this section - between Topnotch and Edson Hill Manor – are groomed only occasionally, if at all.
Section 12 - Tin Shanty to Route 4 – Advanced Intermediate
Sunday, February 6
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. It should be noted, however, that a six mile portion of Section 12 is in the process of being re-located off of the snowmobile trail between Tin Shanty and Brewer´s Corner. If completed in time for the tour, this new portion of the Trail will be more like the portion described from Brewer´s Corner to Route 4, making Section 12 even more strenuous than the Guidebook’s present description.
Northern Vermont Valentines' Long Weekend Tour
Saturday February 12th to Monday February 14th
Stowe to Eden (Sections 24-26)
Contact: Paul Demers, pdemers@vmec.org, 802-660-0971
Tour Details
Section 24 - Edson Hill Manor to Farm Resort - Easy
Saturday, February 12
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 13
This 14-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 toward Rte. 15.
Section 26 - Route 15 to Wiley Brook - Intermediate
Monday, February 14
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.
Weeklong Tour in Southern Vermont
Saturday February 19th to Sunday February 27th
Mass. border to Greendale (Sections 1-8)
Contact: Sam Bartlett, sam@bart-tech.com, Put "CTA" in the
subject box or it will be put into spam folder. 413-624-0192
Tour Details
Section 1 - Mass Border to Harriman Dam - Easy
Saturday. February 19
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 2 - Harriman Dam to Route 9 (Wilmington) - Easy/Intermediate
Sunday, February 20
This tour is ten miles of fairly flat and easy skiing. There are many attractive views of the Harriman Reservoir before rejoining the old railroad bed adjacent to the Deerfield River.
Section 3 - Route 9 (Wilmington) to Somerset Dam – Intermediate
Monday, February 21
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
Tuesday, February 22
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.
Rest Day
Wednesday, February 23
Section 5 - Kelley Stand Road to Kendall Farm Road – Intermediate
Thursday, February 24
This 9-mile tour is now entirely off snowmobile corridor. The route visits two beautiful ponds and stops at one GMC shelter.
Section 6 - Kendall Farm Road to South Road – Intermediate
Friday, February 25
A 9 mile tour on the “The Golden Spike” section of the CT which was completed in the fall of 2008 and made the CT a trail that really runs the length of Vermont. The route is primarily in beautiful backcountry through the Green Mountain National Forest.
Section 7 - South Road to Danby-Mt. Tabor Rd (Landgrove) - Easy Intermediate
Saturday, February 26
This 9 mile tour is almost entirely on beautiful backcountry trails that are mostly gently rolling with a few slopes. The trail passes through a remarkable hemlock forest, beautiful Flood Brook, and the famous Stone family plot. This day might be shortened or moved because of logging operations scheduled for Section 7.
Section 8 - Danby-Mt. Tabor Rd to Greendale Rd (Landgrove to Greendale) – Intermediate
Sunday, February 27
This 10 mile tour is on both snowmobile and beautiful backcountry trails with one tricky downhill. The last mile is an easy and fun downhill run on a wide snowmobile trail.
March 5-14 – Rescheduling period if any MDTs are postponed due to conditions.