by Lou Varricchio
SALISBURY | Members of the Bethel, New York-based Churchill Classic and Vintage Automotive took a small group of classic, foreign-made off-road trucks on an unusual trek through the Green Mountain National Forest over the Labor Day holiday weekend earlier this month.
The group of 4x4ers navigated several of the deeply rutted and muddy forest roads around Salisbury, Vermont, in order to test the mettle of their rare and unusual collector vehicles.
Churchill specializes in the service and restoration of British 4×4 Land Rovers, but the owners also repair and maintain all European and British vehicles.
According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), transportation around and within the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) can be characterized as a rural road system.
“There are no freeways, interstates, or expressways that cross the area,” according to the USFS website. “Paved state roads and paved and graveled town roads typify the roadway network around and leading to National Forest land, while smaller, mostly graveled roads define the Forest Service owned system of roads within the Forest. Forest roads are primarily used for recreation and forest management activities. They also provide some access to private landholdings within the GMNF. Forest roads are typically unplowed and closed to automobile use during the winter season, although many of them are open for use by snowmobiles.”
Forest roads are typically single lane with few pull-outs. Almost 60% of Forest roads have a graveled surface, while about 40% of the roads have only a native material surface. Less than 2% of Forest roads are paved. There are 243 miles of forest roads within Vermont’s GMNF.
Photographs of the Churchill 4×4 expedition were shared with the public and posted to the U.S. Forest Service’s Facebook page on Sept. 8.
In addition to its rugged, deep-forest roads, the national forest supports a variety of wildlife, such as fox, deer, beaver, moose, coyote, black bear, turkey, raptors, and grouse. The forest is situated along with Vermont’s ancient Green Mountain range, known as the “backbone of Vermont”.
This report is reprinted with permission from the Sept. 12 Vermont Eagle, a weekly newspaper for Addison County.
VT Watercooler Comment of the Day:
ZUCKERMAN WOULD HAVE ENFORCED MASK BAN SOONER: “Zuckerman sold his soul to Big Pharma. It’s pretty sad.”
Comment on VTWatercooler news by going to www.vtwatercooler.com:
It’s simple John. Iran is run by a group of Islamic extremists who would prefer YOU were dead. Trump is…
The antenna array on top of Mt Mansfield is visible for dozens of miles in many directions but i appreciate…
Common sense. Gotta love it. i blame those teacher’s Unions…..and a lot of dumber than dirt legislators.
Still waiting on that answer, Rich.
Didn’t we go through all this crap in the eighties over microwave towers? They could put in one of those…
Recent News
Thurston: Carbon taxes are on the ballot
If Phil Scott is not reelected there will likely be no more vetoes of Vermont’s very aggressive climate policies.
Kronick and Ashe vie for Vermont Auditor… and why you should care
Vermont voters will choose a new state auditor on November 3, filling the seat Doug Hoffer has held since 2013. On the ballot: Democrat Tim Ashe of Burlington, the current deputy auditor and former Senate president pro tempore, and Republican Ivar Kronick of Poultney, a former city councilor in Pittsfield, MA.
Smith: Why is an ugly tower going up next to Lake Willoughby?
Lake Willoughby, recognized for more than a century as one of the most beautiful places in New England with a National Natural Landmark designation, was failed by everyone except the local residents who fought valiantly to protect the scenic beauty of an extraordinary place.
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Society & Culture
Recent Comments