Valley of Vermont Rambles are a 4 day/3 night trip, meet at our shop in Arlington, and are offered on: This trip is currently on hiatus, but is available as a FIT Custom Departure Requested Single Supplement: $135.00 Private Bath: all nights Canoe and equipment rental included in trip price Airport Transfer: Taxi transfer $85.00 per person round trip. Questions jim@battenkill.com

Valley of Vermont Rambles The best of Vermont, walking and canoeing to explore the Valley of Vermont  Our home is right in the center of one of the fines valleys in southern Vermont. The Green and Taconic mountain ranges along with the Batten Kill provide a spectacular background for our unique adventure. The combination of canoeing and walking allows us to fully discover this magical valley. We will gain an understanding of why Norman Rockwell, Ethan Allan, and Dorothy Canfield Fisher all chose to call this place home. Our stay during this trip is at the Hill Farm Inn. Located just down the road from our shop the inn offers the perfect location to fully explore and discover this wonderful valley. The classic farmhouse has wide board floors, antique furnishings and true country charm. Innkeepers Al and Lisa Gray will be on hand to welcome us and make us feel immediately at home. We'll soon sense the warm feeling of timeless relaxation. We settle into Hill Farm Inn for our entire trip allowing us the opportunity to fully explore this valley by foot and canoe. The Batten Kill is the focal point of our paddling. With over 40 miles of sparkling water and gentle rapids we will have plenty to choose from. The Batten Kill rises in the Green Mountains, flows through beautiful countryside and passes under four covered bridges on its way to the Hudson. Your guides will be happy to share their favorite sections of river along with sunny lunch spots and refreshing swimming holes. The Taconic and Green Mountains offer an abundance of hiking and walking choices for us. We will explore backroads and pathways that lead us to hidden lakes and quiet overlooks. We will hike sections of America's most famous trail - the Appalachian Trail, and sections of our state's on wilderness footpath - the Long Trail. What ever our activity choices are days will be filled with adventure, friendship and spectacular scenery. At the end of each day we return to Hill Farm Inn to relax on the large warp around porch enjoying refreshing drinks, late afternoon sun, a cool breeze and the camaraderie of friends. Dinner options are plentiful in the Arlington and Manchester area and your guides will be happy to make recommendations on where to enjoy your evening meal. After our four days of adventure our journey comes to a close. As we conclude our trip in the Valley of Vermont we look back on our time of stretched out space, of peace and quiet beauty, and begin to plan our next trip to this magical area. Valley of Vermont Rambles Itinerary Where and when to go...and how to get there. Day 1 We meet at our shop, located on route 7A midway between Arlington and Manchester, after lunch at 1:00pm. From points south follow routes into Bennington. Once in Bennington take route 7 north to the Arlington exit. Follow the signs into Arlington and route 7A. Continue traveling north on 7A for about 5 miles. Our shop is on the corner of Hill Farm Road and 7A. From Albany take NY 7 east to Vermont 9 into Bennington. From the north travel south on route 7 to Manchester. Just north of Manchester take route 7A south into the village. Our shop is 5 miles south of Manchester on the left side, just past the Basket Barn. We generally choose to paddle a quiet stretch of the Batten Kill this afternoon, but we may also choose to enjoy a walk at Equinox pond. Nestled at the base of Mount Equinox this preserve offers some wonderful wooded trails and overlooks with breathtaking views of the surrounding valley.. At day's end we all find ourselves at the Hill Farm Inn. The inn is unique, permeated by the peaceful nature of its location. The Hill Farm Inn provides a tranquil serenity and harmony with nature, rare in this day and age. Dinner is on your own this evening at one of the many fine restaurants in the area. Welcome. Lodging: Hill Farm Inn, Innkeepers Al and Lisa Gray, phone 802.375.2269 Day 2 After a full country breakfast our journey continues down the river. We plan a full day of paddling on the Batten Kill and let the river do it's magic. Gentle current will lead us through quiet countryside and under several covered bridges. The river is truly magical, we will find isolated riverbanks for our picnic lunch and inviting swimming holes to cool off in. After a full day of activity we return to the Hill Farm Inn to relax and enjoy another peaceful evening. Dinner is on your own this evening at one of the many fine restaurants in the area. Lodging: Hill Farm Inn, Innkeepers Al and Lisa Gray, phone 802.375.2269 Note--Dinner is on your own this evening. Day 3 This morning we plan to set out on the Long Trail. The Long Trail is a long distance footpath that travels the length of the state along the spine of the Green Mountains. Along the way our efforts are rewarded with shady picnic spots, panoramic views and open meadows. The Long Trail is interconnected with other local trails so we can be creative and select the length of hike that we want. Some may want a long hike covering Griffith Lake, Styles Peak, Peru Peak and Mad Tom Notch, while others opt for a leisurely walk into Griffith Lake or Little Rock Pond. These mountain lakes offer a wonderful excuse to be lazy, soak your feet in the cool water and leave the hectic pace behind. By days end we will have regrouped and returned to the Hill Farm Inn for our final evening. Before heading off to dinner you may enjoy relaxing on the porch, or wandering down to the river to cool your feet. After returning from dinner a stroll down a quiet country lane soaking in the star filled sky is the perfect ending to any day. Dinner is on your own this evening at one of the many fine restaurants in the area. Lodging: Hill Farm Inn, Innkeepers Al and Lisa Gray, phone 802.375.2269 Note--Dinner is on your own this evening. Day4 Our final day is filled with choices. Perhaps we will choose to paddle another section of the Batten Kill. It's quick water and enticing scenery calling us back one more time. We have barely touched the surface of the hiking trails in the area so there are still many to choose from if we wish to don our hiking boots today. Whatever our choice we will be sure to soak in the wonderful views of the Valley of Vermont while appreciating our week's accomplishments and delights. By mid afternoon we will be back at BattenKill Canoe saying our final good-byes and begin our journey home. For those that want to linger awhile we will are happy to make suggestions of additional activities in the area. Many guests decide to extend their trip an extra day or two in Vermont. We can help you with these arrangements if you wish. We won't be surprised if you remain awhile. WHAT TO BRINGThis list is intended to be skeletal, and we anticipate you will have your own ideas of what is "necessary." In general bring half the clothes you think you will need and twice the film. Getting wet is always a possibility when participating in outdoor activities. Clothing has to keep you warm even when wet. Try to avoid cotton. The problem with cotton is that once it is wet it absorbs water and does not dry out quickly. *Inns and B&B are casual so cotton or cotton mix clothing--for off river and evenings is appropriate. *Polypro or capilene undershirt and pants for Fall trips *Lightweight nylon pants (the type where the legs zip off into a pair of shorts are very handy) *Lightweight/medium weight long sleeve top. *Wool sweater or fleece top for Fall trips *Rain jacket and pants *Wide brimmed hat. *Sunglasses with security strap. *Sunscreen, insect repellent *Lip balm, chapstick *Water bottle *Personal toiletries *Personal medications *Small hand towel *Bandana *Camera and film *Day use backpack *Hiking boots Additional Clothes for Paddling *Shorts *T-shirts or comfortable paddling tops *Canoe shoes that can get wet for paddling such as sandals, or booties. Optional Gear *Binoculars *Pocketknife *Swimsuit *Field guides, bird books, and travel books *Journal notebook, pen, good book *Extra eye glasses, sunglasses, security straps *Walking stick If you have any questions on what to bring or how to pack please give us a call at 1.800.421.5268 Trip Notes Supplement General Information If you have any questions or need special arrangements please call our office. Regular office hours are 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday in season. We are open Saturday and Sunday for day trip rentals, but our office staff is limited on weekends. We are generally closed Saturday through Tuesday November through April, although you may catch us in by chance other times. Trip prices include lodging, all meals (except when noted) guide services and accompanying support van. Trips generally meet mid to late afternoon of the first day, and disband mid to late afternoon of the last day. We may be compelled to increase or decrease trip prices on trips due to matters beyond our control, such as currency exchange, airfare, taxes or price increases. Gratuities for BattenKill guides and other staff are appreciated, but are left entirely to your discretion. Reservations and Confirmation We request a deposit of $100.00 per person for the two to four day trips, $250.00 for five to six day trips, and $350.00 per person for longer trips. Immediate confirmation is possible using your credit card for the deposit. On receipt of your deposit we will prepare a complete confirmation packet, including a full itinerary, person equipment list, meeting location with directions, and application for short-term trip cancellation insurance. Your confirmation letter will outline the balance that is due at the trip meeting for domestic trips, and 60 days prior for Canadian and other International trips. We strongly recommend that you obtain this cancellation insurance, which reimburses you for nonrefundable costs and deposits should you have to cancel your trip due to a personal emergency. Final Payments Your balance is due when we meet on the first night of the trip and may be paid by cash, check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover). Please refer to your confirmation letter for the amount due. Cancellation and Refunds Notification must be received by BATTENKILL CANOE LTD. (BCL) in writing. If you must cancel, but wish to reschedule for another trip, we will do our best to accommodate you. If you must cancel more than 45 days prior to departure, a refund of 50% of the per person deposit, OR a 100% credit valid for another trip is possible. There are no refunds or reschedules possible with less than 45 days notice or for leaving a trip early or arriving late. Tips and Gratuities Gratuities for the inn and food portion of your trip are paid by BCL. Gratuities for BATTENKILL guides are appreciated, but are left to your discretion. As a general guideline, a tip of approximately 10% of the trip price is generally average for attentive guiding. However, if you are not satisfied with your guide service, please also outline your feelings on your evaluation so that the office will be able to address your concerns with our guide staff. Each year the guide staff of BATTENKILL CANOE pledge to pool a portion of their tips and donate them to an outreach program. Over the past several years these outreach programs have included a scholarship program for a high school student in the remote village of Yorkin in Talamanca, Costa Rica, supporting the Ninos in la Calle program (alternative education program for the street kids) in Somotillo Nicaragua, financial and educational support to the BattenKill Watershed Council and an annual donation to the Vermont ACLU. If you would like to find out more about these projects or have suggestions for other projects your guides would be happy to visit with you. This is just one of the ways we are able to reach out to the greater community and practice socially responsible travel. Custom Trips We are delighted to arrange private and custom trips. Any of our scheduled trips can be reserved for private groups. This is important for groups whose desires; dates or goals may not fit into one of our regular departures. Our published price and small trip surcharges apply on private trips. A custom trip allows the flexibility to alter the itinerary, dates, and to introduce other activities into your outing. Don't let our current selection of adventures set the limits of your wanderlust. Please call our office to begin planning a custom trip. Airline Reservations Our airline desk is able to assist you in making your airline reservations, and we are pleased to do so. We can book with all the major carriers and would be happy to assist you with your travel plans. Non-Performance We almost always follow through with our entire trip schedule. However, we must reserve the right to cancel a trip or to make changes to the itinerary if necessary due to weather and/or water conditions, insufficient reservations or other factors outside of our control. Although it is unlikely, if we must cancel your trip, you may choose between: 1. A 100% refund of all monies paid, or 2. A 150% credit of your original deposit for a future trip with BATTENKILL. This constitutes full settlement, and BATTENKILL cannot be held responsible for other costs incurred. Guaranteed Dates and Small Trip Charges Since you plan your vacation around our trip, it is our responsibility to run every trip scheduled if four or more persons are on the roster. A number of fixed costs make it more expensive to operate a trip with six members than one with 12. We budget our trips with a nearly full sign?up, to enable us to price them at the lowest possible cost. We will still run your trip if four or more guests are on the roster. However, we will be obliged to add a small trip surcharge if there is a low sign?up of between four (4) and seven (7) participants. The small trip surcharge is ten (10) percent of the published price. If you make your reservations 6 months prior to departure, you will qualify for our Earlybird Discount which guarantees your departure regardless of the number of people on the roster. Value Vouchers In the event that we discount a trip on which you are booked, we will automatically extend to you a courtesy voucher representing the value of the promotional discount. You may apply the discount certificate to any future BattenKill trip. You may combine discounts, however the maximum is 20% off any one trip. Accommodations & Meals Our standard accommodation is two per room, generally with a private bath. Usually singles and triples are available. BCL provides three meals per day, beginning with dinner on the first evening and ending with lunch on the last day (except where noted). On our Voyageurs we provide top quality tents along with all other group camping gear. You are requested to bring only a sleeping bag and pad, as well as your personal gear. If you choose not to bring your own sleeping bag, you may rent one of ours, which includes a cotton liner and foam pad. Solo Travelers If you're traveling alone and would like to assure yourself of a private room, there is a single supplement surcharge of $45.00 per evening. Singles willing to share will be matched with a roommate. If unavailable, a forced single supplement of 50 percent of the full supplement will be charged. Bringing the Kids We believe that sharing an adventure with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. Children twelve years of age or older are welcomed on all trips. Special arrangements must be made for all children 7-12. Regular discount is 25% off the trip price for folks under 18 years old. Guest Responsibility You must understand that river trips involve some risk. Guests are responsible for: choosing a trip that suits their abilities, level of fitness and state of health; arriving at the trip start with the clothing and gear recommended in the confirmation packet; respecting the laws and customs of the countries visited; following environmental guidelines and regulations while on the trip in accordance with guides direction; and respecting the rights and privacy of other trip members. You will be asked to sign a Hold Harmless and Release of Liability form prior to your trip. BATTENKILL CANOE reserves the right to substitute lodges, leaders and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary or advisable. BCL shall not be liable, directly or indirectly for any delay, cancellation, mishap, inconvenience, expense, personal injury or death, or damage of property for any reason whatsoever, including acts of God. BATTENKILL reserves the right to decline to accept, retain, or ask to leave any person whose actions or deportment impede trip operation, or rights, welfare and enjoyment of other trip members. No refund is possible under these circumstances. Payment of deposit, and release of credit card number represents your acceptance of these terms and conditions. All disputes shall be settled by binding arbitration in Bennington County Vermont. About BattenKill Trip Guides We are proud of the folks who lead our trips, and help make an extra special adventure for you. Each recognizes, welcomes and encourages the varying skills and interests of each guest. On the first evening of our get-together, we will conduct a simple orientation of the trip to come, and go over safety regulations. You will be asked to sign a liability of release form, and we will collect your final payment then. A Word About Equipment Canoe rental is included in your trip price. You are welcome to bring along your own canoe if you would like, just let us know. We furnish premium canoes, paddles and PFD's (life jackets). We feature canoes by Mad River, Dagger, Old Town, Swift and others. If you have a particular canoe you would like to demo, please give us a call and we will attempt to have one available. What Happens if it Rains It does rain, so rain gear is a must. So are dry clothes, which can be stored in the waterproof bag that we furnish. If it's raining hard, we don't all have to go canoeing. The nice thing is that there are plenty of other things to do...visit museums or go antiquing...spend some time in a general store. Or, we can just have another cup of coffee and wait till the rain abates. Whatever makes sense, we'll do. And So On... Also, enclosed is our suggested personal equipment checklist. Little things like lip balm, sun block, dry socks and good rain gear make a big difference so check it over carefully. Contact Us BattenKill Canoe, Ltd. 800.421.5268 or 802.362.2800 fax--802.362.0159 ©2002 BattenKill Canoe, Ltd.. All rights reserved