Town and students team up for annual Trek

Author: Hannah Wilson

On this past bright and sunny Sunday morning, a combination of approximately 75 Middlebury College students and townspeople met up at Marble Works to run, hike or bike to raise money for trail maintenance on the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM). This year's Fourth Annual TAM Team Trek (T3) proved to be the most successful yet.

The goal this year was to raise $10,000 to pay for next year's maintenance of the trail, a 16-mile loop that encircles the town of Middlebury and is a vital resource for both students and town residents. Trail activities and maintenance are all coordinated through the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT).

"It really is an unique community resource," said Chris Lizotte '07, a Project Coordinator at MALT. "You can't leave Middlebury without crossing the TAM."

The trail, Lizette continued, is an underutilized resource the trail is within the community. One of the goals of the T3 is to raise community awareness of the TAM.

"The TAM is a really fantastic resource for teaching and it is a great opportunity to see all parts of the landscape - from the wilder parts of Middlebury to the open fields," said Associate in Science Instruction in Biology Matt Landis. "The T3 is a great way to raise money to support it."

The planning committee this year, headed by Jono Chapin, a member of the executive board of MALT, solicited just under $6,000 from approximately 35 local businesses to support the T3. The main sponsor this year was Middlebury Fitness, a local athletic club. Other businesses chose to donate other items rather than money to help the event along. The Middlebury College Snow Bowl loaned its radio transmitters, and community restaurants donated items for a continental breakfast for the participants before they got started on their activity. Other businesses also donated gift cards to give away in a raffle to participating teams.

"The most rewarding part is seeing the variety of people who go out on the trail and to see that we are so supported by our sponsors," said Chapin. "You don't know until the day of the event who will show up and how the day will run. It's a great feeling when it goes well, like it did this year."

This year there were about 15 volunteers transporting participants to and from different pick-up and drop-off points. These core volunteers are also responsible for the majority of the maintenance of the trail. The group is led by staff member John Derick, who puts in an average of 100 hours a year maintaining the trails. Maintenance includes mowing down the trail, clearing trees and building the two bridges that connect the trail.

An increase in participants added to the success of this year's event. In an effort to boost participation, the planning committee made a larger effort to attract students from Middlebury College. They contacted various CRAs and advertised around campus. Wonnacott Commons organized its own team, as did several other groups of students. Many other students simply went out with a few of their friends.

"We love running and want to see more of the TAM and we care about its maintenance," said Jenn Giammattei '10. Giammattei, along with classmate Hilary Coleman '10, was out running the trail Sunday morning.

One of the most impressive teams this year consisted of a group of Middlebury cross country runners.

"Fourteen members of the College cross country team just trundled through in a herd," Bo, a checkpoint volunteer, called in over the radio to the home-base at Marble Works during the trek. "They were cooking, booking and moving out."

The 14 runners found time between practices and meets to support the TAM.

"We run these trails all the time and it's a great opportunity to give back to the community that maintains them," said Stanis Moody-Roberts '11, one of the team members who participated in the trek.

Other Middlebury students shared a similar point of view.

"[The TAM] is a nice outlet for community members and students to get outside in the local community," said Will Martin '07.5.