Tonight on Points North, hike the oldest long distance hiking trail in America -- the Long Trail -- and meet the people who protect its mountain tops ...and those who hike along its scenic footpath.

The Long Trail

We hike along Vermont's longest hiking trail, the Long Trail, and discover its rich history and unforgettable beauty. Vermont's footpath in the wilderness is the oldest of its kind in the United States and plays host to thousands of hikers each year. We caught up with a few of these hikers trailside. Beau Boucher, an avid hiker with the trail name of The Bleeder, has a form of hemophilia, making every step of the way a danger. But that doesn't deter this Burlington man from hiking in the remotest parts of Vermont. Mike Thibault from Biddeford, Maine, repairs small engines for a living and values the peace and quiet he finds hiking in Vermont. His two sons will join him in a few days but for now he enjoys the solitude of hiking alone. Mike and Beau represent the variety of people that hit the trail, and together they set up camp at Skyline Lodge in the Breadloaf Wilderness portion of Vermont's footpath in the wilderness.

Steward of the Mountain
Who polices the Long Trail and the Mountaintops of Vermont? We caught up with one of these mountain stewards whose job is to protect and maintain Vermont's hiking trails, and learned about the challenges he faces. Pete Ketchum works for the Green Mountain Club, the organization that watches over Vermont's highest peaks and the Long Trail. With an increasing number of hikers each year, the trails management relies heavily on caretakers like Pete to educate the ever-increasing number of hikers that hit the trail and mountaintops each year.

Veteran Hiker

78-year-old Bob Northrop has end-to-ended the Long Trail numerous times and plans on doing it again for his 80th birthday. We hiked alongside Bob just a few miles from his Underhill home. His love affair with the Long trail dates back to his teens when few people knew of this path that spans the entire length of the state. With a lifetime of hiking experiences, Bob shares some little know facts that have shaped and preserved the trail he knows so well.