The Northeast Kingdom Mountain Challenge is a\u00a0program established in 1999 by NorthWoods\u00a0Stewardship Center and the Northeast Kingdom Travel\u00a0and Tourism Association (NEKTTA) in an effort to\u00a0build interest in local mountains, trails and\u00a0communities. NorthWoods has recently revived the\u00a0Northeast Kingdom Mountain Challenge in an\u00a0effort to rekindle local interest and promote low-impact recreation\u00a0throughout the region.<\/p>\n
Through the original Mountain Challenge program, hikers visited local\u00a0peaks, documented their travels, and shared stories and photos at a\u00a0\u2018Peakbagger Potluck\u2019 held at the end of the season. In 1999, the\u00a0list\u00a0included 12 peaks. In 2000, it was expanded to 20 mountains and included\u00a0MOST of the publicly accessible mountains with trails in northeastern\u00a0Vermont. Hikers who visited all of the peaks received an official Northeast\u00a0Kingdom Mountain Challenge patch and certificate.<\/p>\n
Like the many other \u201cpeakbagging\u201d groups in the Northeast \u2014the White\u00a0Mountain 4,000 footers, the Adirondack 46ers, the Long Trail End-to-Enders, and the New England 100-highest, to name a few\u2014 the Northeast\u00a0Kingdom Mountain Challenge captures the excitement of setting goals\u00a0and offers the opportunity to explore new areas in this region. Guy and\u00a0Laura Waterman write extensively on the subject of peakbagging in their\u00a0book Backwoods\u00a0Ethics, noting that hikers “go to the mountains for many\u00a0different reasons.” It is with this in mind, that NorthWoods encourages\u00a0hikers to not only challenge themselves through recreation but also to\u00a0explore new areas and, through exploration, learn more about the nature of northern Vermont. Below is a modified checklist of peaks, originally included in the 1999 and\u00a02000 Northeast Kingdom Mountain Challenge program.<\/p>\n
PLEASE NOTE: A number of these peaks are located on private property\u00a0with trails provided through the discretion and generosity of private\u00a0landowners. Please respect private lands so that others may continue to\u00a0have access. Trail conditions on all peaks may vary widely and not all\u00a0trails are described in this guidebook. Comments or changes in trail\u00a0conditions can be sent to the address below or by email to\u00a0corps@northwoodscenter.org.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>
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