Appalachian Trail Reroute

new boardwalk, originally uploaded by kezee.

A grant to complete a section of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont has been given.

WATERBURY CENTER — The Green Mountain Club has received a $15,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The award was one of almost 100 grants totaling almost $800,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations that help people living with disabilities become more fully integrated members of society.

The GMC will use the grant to complete construction of a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, graded packed-stone pathway and elevated-viewing platform providing access to the base of Thundering Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Vermont.

The new trail is a relocation of a portion of the Appalachian Trail in Killington. Previously, the trail was located along a half mile of road. Now it is a scenic boardwalk, including a short spur trail to the foot of the falls, which can be enjoyed by a wider spectrum of visitors.

According to Ben Rose, GMC executive director, "Maintaining Vermont's hundreds of miles of rugged hiking trails is a huge annual undertaking. The Thundering Falls relocation presented an opportunity to do something special and unique on the Appalachian Trail in Northern New England. Because the Ottauquechee River's floodplain is flat, this stretch of trail is unlike most of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont."

It will be a much better section of trail than the road walk that is there now. Plus it goes by a waterfall. The reroute has been going on for years. There are more photos here from flicker user Kezee. It looks like she has worked on the reroute over the years. Thanks Kezee!