[at-l] Green Mountain Club opens Thundering Falls AT relocation

[Trailwife at aol.com]

This was sent to me today. Forwarded FYI.    ORR
 
Greetings,

We received the OK to open the Thundering Falls AT relocation yesterday.
There still is some work to complete to achieve full handicap
accessibility the route from the falls to River Road, and we intend to
complete that work next summer (boardwalk from River Road to the bridge,
viewing deck at the falls, and finished railings). 



Thank you to all involved to get us to this juncture. More planning than
can be remembered went into this project, and three seasons of VYCC
public lands corps crews, two seasons of Volunteer Long Trail Patrol,
and about one full Long Trail Patrol season has gone into the effort to
date. Special mention must be made of both John Kamb's design and GMC's
Matt Wels efforts to turn the design into bridge, boardwalk, and
treadway from steel, lumber, crushed and sifted stone, and composite
decking.



The relocation eliminates 0.5 miles of road walk on Thundering Brook
Road and shortens the Appalachian Trail just a little. A 200 ft spur
trail provides access to the base of 140 ft Thundering Falls.



Old AT Description (northbound)



0000 ft  Junction of south end of new relocation

0149 ft  AT joins Thundering Brook Road and turns left to follow road
downhill

0341 ft AT (on road) crosses new relocation

2780 ft AT crosses River Road and enters woods opposite Thundering Brook
Road

3120 ft Junction of north end of new relocation; AT continues to Hanover
NH and beyond





New AT Description (northbound)



0000 ft Junction where relocation leaves old AT; trail turns left here

0306 ft Relocation crosses Thundering Brook Road

1123 ft Junction with spur to base of Thundering Falls; 200 ft spur to
left and remainder of AT from here to River Road will be handicap
accessible in fall 2008

1247 ft Begin boardwalk across Ottauquechee flood plain (length of
boardwalk and bridge is 850 ft.)

2096 ft Descend stairs from bridge

2150 ft Cross River Road

2855 ft Junction where relocation rejoins the AT; bear left to NH and
Maine




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