Please excuse all the cut and pasting but hopefully you will be able to make
some sense out of this.  It directly affects all lovers of back country
skiing in Northern VT.  Hope you can help in some way.

There are a couple of new developments here at Bolton that I would like to
share with everyone so you know what is going on if and when you get
questioned about it:

 First for those that do not read the Burlington Free Press I have included
the link to the story that The Essex is contracting with the owner of the
Ponds to take over the operation and functions of the facility. The F&B
department of BV will be shut down at the end of ski season and regroup in
the fall for next year’s ski season. The James Moore Tavern will not be open
by Bolton during the summer months. The Deli will continue to operate as it
has in the past.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011110222025

Second item is the sale of the large parcel of land that contains the
majority of the Nordic skiing and trail system. The Nordic center will
return next season and will operate with 6KM of trails made up of Valley
Loop, Picnic Loop, Pond Loop, World Cup and  Broadway to the Water Company
Shed. The sale will be to a private individual and there is no easement or
agreement to use the existing trail network.  Bolton Valley and the Bolton
Valley Ski Patrol will only be responsible for maintaining and patrolling
the 6 KM previously mentioned. Appropriate signage, markings and gates will
be implemented based on the final sales agreement.

  As more details and information about these changes become available I
will try and keep everyone updated.  In the mean time let’s look forward to
enjoying the snow that is anticipated in the next 24-36 hours. Next year’s
season passes go on sale March1st.
-----

The Bolton ZA just confirmed that the land sale will require subdivision
approval.  Essentially creating the lot to be sold from the larger BV land.
 There will first be an informal sketch plan review, followed by a public
hearing, 15 days warning required, followed by the DRB decision, and they
have 45 days to issue that decision.  There is no public information
available at this time on the boundaries of the parcel.  That would be an
item reviewed at the sketch plan meeting.
 
I am going to cc this to some of the BV Nordic patrol - for you folks, Beth
is a former Bolton resident, long time Bolton/back country skier/Thursday
tele instructor, and is interested in productively mobilizing to preserve
this resource, and wanted to be in touch with you folks, or a point person
from your group.  Any takers?
 
I'll be sure to forward public information on dates as that information
becomes available.  Amy

I want to get this information out to all who have worked clearing the
trails at Bolton Nordic. 
  
I will be a point person.  If you wish to contact me, please use my home
email address
[log in to unmask]
 
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Ann Gotham
Bolton Valley Nordic Ski Patrol and member of the Old Goats

Hope….you and I have met on the trails a few times, lastly when you and your
partner swept the trails after a friend and I (the cabooses) met you at
Raven’s Wind on last year’s CTA race/tour.  Yep, we were really slow!

I’ve never mobilized anyone before but I spent much of last night and this
morning alternating between extreme frustration and deep sadness, and now
I’m in a more positive and productive “let’s solve this” mode.  I keep
thinking of Gardiner’s sign on his beloved Lane and the countless hours of
hand-clipping along those spectacular trails, all of the Nordic teams that
rely on Bolton’s early/late snows, the women’s groups that come to learn
about themselves and Nordic skiing, etc., etc.  Another friend, and former
Nordic patroller, Victor Morrison, and I brainstormed a bit this morning and
I’ve left messages for Larry Williams and Jim Fredericks (CTA).  Someone
else may already be mobilizing folks and I’ll share whatever I learn with
you all.

Vacation week may be a tough time to move anything forward. I’ll be in touch
as I know more, and please send whatever you hear through your connections.
  I’ve started a spread sheet of contacts and groups that may be interested
in helping Larry/Redstone to achieve their goals while preserving this area
for all to enjoy. 

Best regards,
Beth Gilpin
244-4145 Home
233-0799 Mobile

Wonderful!!  Hopefully one or more of us will learn whether there are any
large organizations interested in joining the discussion, and/or already
trying to engage with Larry Williams and Doug Nedde, both of whom I attended
UVM with.

Some of the groups Victor and I hoped would be find this of interest/concern
include:

VYCC
CTA
GMC
Vermont Land Trust
Vt. Department of Forest and Parks
National Land Trust
NATO
NENSA
New England Telemark
High school/college Nordic teams
Others to add to the list?

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