2012 Vermont Trail Symposium Presentation GMC Bridge over the Winooski Dave Hardy 2:30pm-4:30pm
Receiving his first trail maintenance seminar from Seymour Smith, the second maintainer/manager of Connecticut’s Appalachian Trail since 1925, Dave Hardy led volunteer maintenance trips in New Hampshire for Appalachian Mountain Club before moving to Vermont in 1991 to pursue his calling to work with volunteers and seasonal staff on the Long Trail in Vermont. Since 1999 he has been Director of Trail Programs for Green Mountain Club and during his tenure GMC has forged enduring relationships with VYCC and VT Forests, Parks and Recreation. GMC also works closely with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Green Mountain National Forest to manage the entire Appalachian Trail in Vermont and help move the North Country National Scenic Trail into Vermont. GMC, a private non-profit club with membership open to all, is Vermont’s largest non-profit organization with over 10,000 members. GMC mobilizes 1,000 volunteers per year contributing over 30,000 hours annually to hiking trails in America’s 14th state. When not permitting suspension bridges, Hardy is an enthusiastic and award winning homebrewer. He shares a home with his partner Carol and two Maine coon cats. Dave will explain the process of proposing, developing the plans for, and implementing the construction of the new Long Trail Winooski Bridge.