Backpacking

The Long Trail runs 270 miles from Massachusetts to the Canadian border. The nation's first long-distance hiking path, this high-elevation trail remains one of the best, following Vermont's gusty ridges, dipping into shady cols, and crossing federal, state, and private lands. Open-sided shelters are located about a day's hike apart. To hike the entire length requires stamina and experience.

The best source of information about backcountry opportunities is the Green Mountain Club, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center, VT 05677 (tel. 802/244-7037; www.greenmountainclub.org), which publishes the Long Trail Guide. Club headquarters are on Route 100 between Waterbury and Stowe, and the information center/bookstore is open weekdays, usually 9am to 4:30pm. Annual membership dues, which get you a newsletter and discounts on guides, are $30 for an individual, $40 for a family.