Bolton, VT – If the Vermont Land Trust and a group of backcountry skiers have their way, the backcountry surrounding Bolton Valley Resort will be open again for skiing and riding next winter.
In February 2011, Redstone, a Burlington, Vt.-based commercial real estate developer and owner of Bolton Valley Resort, put 1,161 acres of land surrounding the resort on the market. Home to the majority of Bolton’s 100 km high-altitude nordic ski trail network, the land was also immensely popular with the local backcountry skiing community.
When an unnamed private party expressed interest in purchasing the land, it was closed to public access during the winter of 2011-12. After that private party backed out of a potential sale, however, the Vermont Land Trust stepped in and on March 23 signed a contract to purchase the land for more than $1.8 million.
The group has aligned itself with the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry (FOBVNB), a community organization formed to protect the land, to raise $1,050,000 over the next year. The Vermont Land Trust will approach the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for a public grant contribution to cover the remaining $800,000.
“Our next steps include broadening our base of supporters, engaging the Town of Bolton in our efforts, and raising just over a million dollars by May 2013,” said Ann Gotham, who is the coordinator of the FOBVNB. “Yes, it is a tall order, but we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve this incredible land.”
“This is great news for our Nordic friends as we will gain all the terrain back that we weren’t able to access this year,” added George Potter, president of Bolton Valley. “A small group of individuals expressed their concern regarding that potential private sale of the land, which ultimately didn’t occur. These people were the inspiration and the force behind preserving this land for backcountry and Nordic use so it’s exciting to see what passionate people can accomplish.”
The land is in the center of the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project (CCUCP) area—an area that has been a focus for forestland and habitat protection for more than 10 years. The Catamount Trail runs through the property and provides connections to other popular backcountry routes including Trapp Family Lodge, Mt. Mansfield State Forest, Underhill State Park, and Little River State Park.
The land in question is easily accessible to Vermont’s largest population center, located just 40 minutes from Burlington and half of Vermont’s population sits within 30 miles of this land. As a result, many public schools, colleges, and universities use the land for outing club events, outdoor education, and ski racing and training. Currently, the property is the practice area for several ski teams and clubs, including Essex and Burlington High Schools, Northwest Vermont Nordic Ski Club, and UVM’s top-ranked Nordic ski team.