Outings
MVTA hosts a variety of outings primarily during the winter season. The majority are cross-country skiing focused, but many can include snowshoeing. If weather doesn't cooperate, maybe just hiking boots! Full moon outings are another popular activity. Locations include National Forest Trails we help maintain and private trails on members' property. Many outings are somewhat last minute and are announced primarily via email to members.
Meetings
Starting in October of each year and carrying through April, we have monthly potluck dinner meetings to get to know fellow members better and conduct any necessary business. Members receive emails with details and locations.
Trail Maintenance
MVTA is responsible for annual fall maintenance of the Greendale Loop trail, Rootbeer Ridge, Little Michigan and Jones Brook Trails. Member help is very important to make the job easier! Chainsaw operators need certification and first aid training, which we help coordinate each year.
The Mountain Valley Trails Association (MVTA) came into existence as one several groups formed in 1991 under a main organization called the “Mountain Valley Challenge”. The MVTA formulated around a need to revitalize trails in the National Forest that had formerly been maintained and used by the Peru Outdoor Recreation Club (PORC) - trails better known as the “PORC trails”. In addition to rekindling maintenance efforts on those trails, the MVTA gained some great members in John and Judy Stearns. John was the Chair of the Board of the Catamount Trail Association at the time and got the MVTA to be instrumental in maintenance of the sections of the Trail that ran through our area, from Somerset Reservoir to Healdville. Several MVTA members became members of the Catamount Trail Board of Directors at different periods and several became maintenance custodians for various sections of the Trail in this part of Vermont.
Today, MVTA focuses on maintenance of four trails in the Green Mountain National Forest. Overall, however, our membership organizes and participates in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trips on those trails, as well as other public and private trails in our area.