Finding the perfect hiking trail has never been easier, as the Green Mountain Club introduces their Downloadable Day Hikes in Vermont series.

The series consists of a dozen day hikes that are now available for download to a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Each download will cost ninety-nine cents and will download in PDF format, which can be saved or printed once the download is complete.

The two-page PDF file will consist of a trail description, driving directions and a photograph of the trail, along with what you should look for while hiking the trail and obstacles you may encounter.

“We felt that there was a lot of people and visitors who could utilize this,” said the Green Mountain Club's executive director, Will Wiquist, who added the idea stemmed from requests for more single-hike resources.

The series highlights local trails with varying degrees of difficulty from all around the region.

With some of Vermont's most popular hiking destinations featured, such as Camel's Hump in Huntington and Stratton Mountain, hidden gems like Mount Ascutney in Windsor, which are less known to the public, are also available.

The Green Mountain Club has been producing top-quality hiking guidebooks for nearly 100 years and sees the electronic day hikes as just another way of satisfying the needs of Vermont hikers, as well as out-of-staters who are looking to experience some natural Vermont attractions.

“It welcomes people into the world of hiking at their own pace,” said Megan Duni, communications director for the club, explaining that purchasing a complete trail guide may be overwhelming for first-timers. Duni said she believes the transition to the electronic versions will encourage a new group of hikers to get involved in the hiking community.

For the complete story, see Tuesday's Rutland Herald.