A new backcountry ski zone is coming to central Vermont! After years of careful planning, staff from the CTA and the Vermont Dept of Forests, Parks, and Rec, along with volunteers from MRVBC, have worked hard to flag and cut two new backcountry ski lines this fall.
The Old Callahan Backcountry Zone project was developed by the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) and the Mad River Backcountry Coalition (MRVBC) over the course of several years and will be the first zone co-managed by the CTA and one of its chapters. The zone will be accessed via the existing winter parking for the Monroe Trail and will feature a dedicated skin track and two primary lines, each offering approximately 900 vertical feet of beginner to intermediate backcountry skiing. It will be the second managed zone on State land, and the first in Chittenden or Washington counties. Matt Williams, Executive Director of CTA, shares his enthusiasm: “We are so excited to be opening the Old Callahan Zone this fall! This zone is a great opportunity to both enhance the skiing experience in an area that already sees a lot of use, while reducing the ecological impact of that use at the same time. It is a big win for backcountry skiing in central Vermont, and we hope you’ll join us for a volunteer day this fall to help make it a reality!”
The first public work day to open to zone is October 25th, with several more to follow. We hope you’ll join us and help get this new zone ready for skiing this winter!
