- Skiers on Section 29 of the Catamount Trail cross a bridge built for the CT by Jan Rozendaal. The bridge is located within the recently conserved Hodgeman Easement.
CTA Conserves Trail Corridor in Lowell, Vermont
With the purchase of a new trail easement across the Hodgeman Property in Lowell, Vermont, the CTA has established a protected backcountry ski trail corridor from the top of the Lowell Mountains to the base of Hazen’s Notch that is over 6 miles in length. Jan Rozendaal, CTA chairman and Trail Chief for the Lowell section of the Catamount Trail was instrumental in initiating this easement and others in the Lowell area.
The new Trail Easement across the Hodgeman property includes two significant bridges that are key to crossing the Missisquoi River and connecting the Catamount Trail to the historic Bailey Hazen Road on the east side of Hazen’s Notch. The scenic easement corridor parallels the Missisquoi River through open meadows, crosses a brook on a pedestrian bridge built for the Catamount Trail by Mr. Rozendaal, and then follows an old logging road to a large field with expansive views of Hazen’s Notch.
For generations, the Hodgeman family has lived, worked, and recreated on the flanks of the Green Mountains, just east of Hazen’s Notch. “We choose to host the Catamount Trail so that others may experience and enjoy the landscape we are fortunate to call home,” says landowner Kevin Hodgeman. “We are happy to have had the opportunity to work with the Catamount Trail Association to conserve the Trail on our property, insuring backcountry skiers will have access to this resource for years to come.”
The Catamount Trail is a fully connected 300-mile public-access ski trail spanning Vermont from Massachusetts to Quebec. Because 165 miles of the 300-mile Catamount Trail cross private land (the other 135 miles are already conserved on public lands), development pressure and changing landowners threaten the trail’s integrity. To protect the trail, CTA works with landowners to acquire permanent trail easements across their properties. Over 80 miles of the Catamount Trail are already permanently conserved on private land. Each year, with the support of families like the Hodgemans, CTA works to acquire additional easements and increase the number of trail miles that are protected. Ultimately, the CTA aims to reach its goal of a fully conserved public-access ski trail that spans the length of Vermont.
The CTA first began holding easements on its own in April 1995. A variety of easement models have been developed and are modified to meet each landowner's need while ensuring a high-quality and safe ski experience on the Catamount Trail. The purchase of the Hodgeman Easement was made possible with funding support from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
We invite you to learn more about CTA's Trail Protection Program.
Questions? Contact Amy Kelsey at akelsey@catamounttrail.org, 802-864-5794 .