Fall 2024 Speaker Series: Connected Communities
The Velomont: Creating the Largest Hut-Supported Trail System in the U.S. with RJ Thompson

Imagine a continuous trail and conservation corridor that links mountain ridges to Vermont villages, all supported by a backcountry hut network. This ambitious project has the potential to conserve landscapes, connect communities, build economies, and create an incredible recreational resource. This is the Velomont. The Velomont invites people on bikes, skis, and foot to one day explore 485 miles of trail which will connect 30-45 backcountry huts & downtown hostels and 27 communities, potentially conserving over 200,000 acres of crucial wildlife corridor. When complete, the Velomont will represent the largest hut-supported trail network in the United
States - and the public can already enjoy select huts connected by new trail segments.
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RJ Thompson
Executive Director, Vermont Huts Association

RJ lives to be in the mountains, and he loves sharing his passion for the outdoors with anyone who is willing to join him on foot, skis, or bike. His love for the Green Mountains began in 2002 while studying at the University of Vermont, and, after a three-year stint in Jackson Hole, he received an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College. RJ also serves on the Green Mountain Club’s Camps Committee and the Moosalamoo Association’s board of directors. He has also visited hut systems across the US and Europe. When RJ is inside, you can find him chasing his children around the house with his wife, Olivia.