Green Mountain Road, Bolton, VT 05676 - Chittenden County

Introduction

82 Crag Forest's best use is as a significant recreational resource, as well as conservation, and potential timber use, depending on a buyer's ability to establish legal access for those purposes.

Property highlights include:

Significant rock-climbing faces managed by Crag-Vt, a local rock-climbing group;

Scenic landscape that includes a significant peak and views of Camel's Hump;

VAST trails and Catamount Trails running through the property;

Mature hardwood timber resource with an estimated value of $143,100;

Rare natural communities including a Red Pine Natural Community and large vernal pool.

Location

The property is located in central Bolton, a rural town in close proximity to Interstate 89, well-known for it's significant recreational opportunities. Bolton Valley Ski Resort is located just a few miles north of the property, as well as the expansive Mount Mansfield State Forest and associated hiking and backcountry ski areas. The property is landlocked, accessible by foot through the Crag-Vt property to the south, which separates the land from major highways such as Route 2 and Interstate 89.

The property is located squarely in the Green Mountains, a portion of the Appalachian Mountains extending south from Massachusetts and terminating in Canada near Richford, Vermont. This particular area of the mountain range contains some of the state's highest peaks, including Mount Mansfield, Camel's Hump, and Hunger Mountain. This mountainous region is characterized by small hamlets and rural towns connected by State/Town roads, and contains some of the states most productive hardwood and softwood forests, as well as unique high-elevation natural communities.

The property is found approximately 25 miles from Burlington, Vermont's largest city and cultural center, and approximately 7 miles from Waterbury, the nearest city containing amenities and services.

Access

The property is landlocked, a term used to describe a property that has no direct access to a public road. Access to the property by foot is approachable from the south, where a parking area and trailhead has been established off Us-2 by Crag-Vt, or from Green Mountain Drive, where a similar parking area exists. From these points, foot trails can be found that lead to the property. A map of the property access points is found in this report.

The Catamount Trail system also leads through the property, heading east-west, providing additional access points from the Bolton Valley Access Road. In the winter months, Vast snowmobile trails traverse the property.

Access for timber harvesting in the past has been accomplished via temporary crossing agreements with neighbors to the south. Legal access for vehicles would need to be established by negotiating a deeded or legal Right-of-Way to the property.

Site Description & Timber Resource

The property is generally high-elevation, ranging from 1,000' ASL (above sea level) to 1,600' ASL at the highest point. Behind the land to the north, the land becomes significantly more steep as it rises to form Woodward and Ricker Mountains. Despite this, the property is generally formed by moderate slopes containing upland hardwood timber, represented by mature red and sugar maple, yellow birch, beech and some ash. These upland slopes may once have even been pastureland, however this use would have been stopped and the land reverted to forest around 120 years ago.

The property is characterized by a tall peak, which drops off precipitously to the south, forming large cliff faces. In this area, rocky outcrops can be found with alpine vegetation, with one forming an excellent lookout point to Bolton Valley and Interstate 89. Streams and water features can also be found through small intermittent and headwater streams.

The property contains several natural features which are considered rare communities. The forest features a large vernal pool in the central region, a significant breeding ground for various amphibians, as well as a temperate acidic cliff of local significance. Soil quality is generally good to excellent and well-drained, featuring Lyman and Marlow-series loams as well as rock-outcrop complexes found on high-elevation slopes. In some areas, large glacial erratics can be found littering the forest floor. The slopes are not significant to hamper logging or sugaring on the property, and most areas are operable save for the steep rock outcrops.

Recreational

The property represents an important recreational and cultural resource for the community. The 2008 Conservation Easement encumbering the property provides for non-motorized, non-commercial, dispersed uses by the public. The main uses of the property currently are summarized below.

Rock Climbing:

CRAG-VT (Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont) maintains cliff faces on the property, including the 82 Crag, the Yawn Wall, and the Chapel Crag. These faces were secured for their use via the conservation easement in 2008. Crag-Vt is a non-profit organization that supports Vermont's climbing community by securing, protecting & conserving access to cliffs and other climbing resources. Access to these faces is found from the Bolton Quarry parking lot south of the property.

Snowmobiling:

VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers) and the local snowmobiling club, the Green Mountain Roamers, maintain a winter trail through the property running east-west. Funding for trail maintenance comes from membership fees and state funding, resulting in no maintenance costs to the owner. This trail connects Bolton Valley Resort to Waterbury Center, as well as trails through the expansive Mount Mansfield State forest. Snowmobiling is an important economic driver for the state of Vermont, bringing in an estimated $500 million for the state yearly, in addition to being a popular winter activity for many locals.

Catamount Trail:

The CTA (Catamount Trails Association) maintains over 300 miles of backcountry ski trails, running the length of Vermont from Massachusetts to Quebec. Completed in 2007, this continuous trail is the longest backcountry ski trail in North America. The trail runs east-west through the northern region of the property.

Conservation Easement

The conservation easement on the property is held by the State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The easement was executed in 2008 to protect valuable recreational resources on the property, as well as protect rare natural communities. Additionally, the easement seeks to foster responsible management of the forest resource through sustainable forestry practices, including maple sugaring.

Easement highlights include:

Most sustainable and traditional forestry and sugarbush activities are permitted to support the long-term stewardship of the protected property;

The entire property is open to non-vehicular public recreation and hunting;

Silvicultural activities are allowed where consistent with Vermont timber harvesting regulations, including Amp's and Heavy Cut laws;

Sugarhouses and other forestry-related buildings are allowed to be built upon permission by the easement-holder;

Motorized and mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes and horses, are allowed on the property at the discretion of the landowner;

No logging may occur in the Red Pine Natural Community, designated as a Special Treatment Area.

Copies of the easement, as well as associated maps and the baseline documentation report, are available on request. Prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources for more information on easement terms.