The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), Catamount Trail Association (CTA), and the U.S. Forest Service have released a new resource, The Vermont Backcountry Ski Handbook. The goal of this resource is to give public and private land managers the tools and information they need to manage land for backcountry skiing in a sustainable way that complements forest management and ecological protection goals. Join us as we sit down with representatives from the State of Vermont, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Catamount Trail Association to learn more about this new publication! The discussion will be moderated by guest host David Goodman, a backcountry skiing legend and author of Best Backcountry Skiing In The Northeast (https://bestbackcountryskiing.com/). Learn more about the Catamount Trail Association at: http://www.catamounttrail.org Download a copy of the Vermont Backcountry Ski Handbook here: https://catamounttrail.org/vtbchandbook/

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

On March 1, 1984, three young men — Steve Bushey, Paul Jarris, and Ben Rose — set off to ski across Vermont on something they called the Catamount Trail. By completing their trip they made history, and a new long-distance trail was born. Join the three founders for a virtual reunion as they discuss that first Catamount Trail adventure, where it led them in life, and their thoughts on the trail today. This interview was conducted on Zoom and will include an audience Q&A at the end. The discussion is moderated by guest host David Goodman, author of the bestselling guidebook, Best Backcountry Skiing In The Northeast (https://bestbackcountryskiing.com). Learn more about the Catamount Trail at http://www.catamounttrail.org

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

During winter 2021 Aidan Powell set out to do something special... Ski the entirety of the Catamount Trail faster than anyone has before. This endeavor required a significant amount of planning and preparation and in the end Aidan accomplished what he set out to do. During this Trail Chatter episode we sit down with Aidan to learn more about what it takes to ski over 300 miles of trail quickly and efficiently. We'll dig into his planning process, and talk about the challenges he faced out on the trail. You can learn more about Aidan and keep track of his current adventures over at https://www.instagram.com/aa.powell Learn more about the Catamount Trail at http://www.catamounttrail.org

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

The Vermont Huts Association (VHA) was founded in 2016 to create a network of backcountry huts that would help connect trails and facilitate adventure here in Vermont. During this episode of Vermont Trail Chatter we will be sitting down with VHA founders RJ Thompson and Devin Littlefield to learn a bit more about the people behind the organization, and to discuss how things are going. You can learn more about the Vermont Huts Association Network and become a member at https://vermonthuts.org

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

Join us as we sit down with Milan Kubala of Stowe, VT. We first connected with Milan at our weekly skimo races in 2016. Since then a lot has happened. During our talk we'll learn how Milan became known as the Denim Ghost, about his journey from racing by headlamp at Bolton Valley to competing in Europe, and what led him to join the board of directors of the United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA). We'll also talk to Milan about what he's been up to this season and his plans for the future. Milan has been working with Bolton Valley and Sunrise Mountain Guides to build instructional programs focused on uphill skiing. You can connect with Milan through the links below: Bolton Valley https://www.boltonvalley.com/winter/lessons-teams-guiding/backcountry-lessons-guiding Sunrise Mountain Guides https://www.sunrisemountainguides.com/backcountry-skiing US Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA) https://ussma.org

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

In this episode we sit down with Matt Williams, Executive Director here at the Catamount Trail Association. Matt joined us in the spring of 2018. This interview was done as he approached the end of his third year at the helm, we sat down to talk about how things have been going and what the future holds. You can learn more about the Catamount Trail Association at: http://www.catamounttrail.org

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

Join us as we sit down with Al Karam and Mitch Rovito the founders of SplitboardVT.com. We chat with them about how they got into splitboarding, where the idea for SplitboardVT came from, and what they hope to accomplish. Learn More At: http://www.splitboardvt.com

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.

Interest in "earning-your-turns" has exploded during recent history in Vermont, and the small number of individuals roaming Vermont's backcountry or skinning up our local ski areas have grown into a wave of stoke for the uphill experience. Recreational organizations, communities, and volunteers have responded by building an expanding network of "managed zones" throughout the state and region. Ski areas have adjusted and adapted their uphill policies, and ski shops have stocked-up on the latest gear. However, demand is outpacing supply. How can communities adjust to meet the demand for more managed zones while balancing other recreational, economic, or environmental goals? This moderated panel discussion brings together representatives from Vermont’s backcountry community, ski areas, and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) to discuss success stories and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Note: Season 1 episodes of Vermont Trail Chatter were originally recorded via Zoom and appeared on the Catamount Trail Association YouTube Channel. The audio from those videos has been published here. Season 2 will bring new episodes recorded specifically for this format.