top of page

14-15 September 2024

The Tracks: Ways to participate in the Pilgrimage Walk

​

Track 1 – 25-mile Walk: About 25 miles of walking on trails over two days, about 5 miles of which are difficult. (“Difficult” means some steep, rocky paths and/or sometimes muddy ground.) This amounts to about 6-7 hours/day of actual walking.

 

Walkers meet at the Old School Community Center,  1 School St., Wilmington at 8 am on Saturday, Sept. 14 and register by 8:30 am.  They will depart at 9:00 am.  They will arrive at the lunch point along Brown  Road, Wilmington at noon, where they will be joined by Track 2 Walkers.  At 1 pm, they will proceed to the West Dover Congregational Church, arriving about 3:30. A dinner will be served at the church from 4 pm to 6 pm.  Presentations and discussions will occur over both lunch and dinner.

 

On the second day, Sunday, Track 1 will meet at the Dover Town Hall at 7:30 am and depart at 8:00 am, arriving at the Ephesus House by mid-afternoon. The lunch break will be at the South Wardsboro Congregational Church, Cobb & Reed Road, South Wardsboro.

 

Track 2 – 10-mile Walk: About 10 miles of walking on trails, over two days, about 1.5 miles of which are somewhat difficult. This amounts to about 2.5-3.0 hours/day of actual walking on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

 

Track 2 walkers should register during the morning at the Old School in Wilmington by 9 am, or they can register when they join the route.  (Volunteers will carry registration forms.) At 11:30, transportation will be provided to the lunch spot near Higley Hill Road, or you may drive there for lunch with Track 1, and Tracks 1 and 2 will complete the day’s walk together.

 

On the second day, Track 2 walkers will meet at the Congregational Church, South Wardsboro, 64 Cobb and Reed Road, at 11:00 am for lunch and depart thereafter for downtown Wardsboro in a guided group. There they will be joined by Track 3 and then continue with the entire pilgrimage walk group to the Ephesus House.

 

It is also possible for people to join the walk at other points as the guides will have registration forms with them.

 

Track 3 – 2.5-mile Walk: On Sunday only, 2.5 miles of walking.  The Walk goes from the library in downtown Wardsboro to the shrine of Our Lady of Ephesus.

 

This is a 1.5 hour walk over dirt roads from the center of Wardsboro to the Ephesus House. Participants will register at the Wardsboro United Methodist Church by 1:30, and we will start out at 2 pm.

 

Track 4 – Closing Activities:  Attendance at either Saturday or Sunday or both day-end events. Minimal walking is involved. 

 

Please note: Walkers may opt-out during the walk.  A van and cars will circulate for this purpose at points where the trails are near or on roads.


To join our mailing list, please contact us at vtpilgrim@gmail.com or by calling or texting 802-319-9202. You may also contact us by mail at the following address: 

Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc., 50 Lisle Hill Road, Wilmington, VT. 05363-9779.

 

SUBJECT TO CHANGE! CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

Pilgrims arrive at Mount  Snow.jpg

Preliminary Program and Itinerary

Program and Itinerary: Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024

 

Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, 6:00-8:30 pm (All participants, friends and community welcome)

  • Early Registration and sign in at , during and after the welcome dinner.

  • Welcome to the Valley Dinner at St. Mary’s, 6-8 pm.

 

Saturday September 14, 2024

  • 7:30-8:30 Registration open for all participants but Track 1* participants must register by 8:30 am. . (Registration open until 9:30 for others, as well as along the route)

  • 8:45 Introduction to the Tradition of the Stones 

  • 9:00 Track 1 participants begin walking.

  • 12:00 Lunch break near Brown Road. Track 2 participants join the group for lunch. (If you plan to join group at lunch, call “Transportation” for instructions where to park and get a ride to the site.)

  • 1:00 Pilgrimage continues to West Dover.

  • 3:30 Arrival in West Dover.

  • 4:00-6:00 Dinner at W. Dover Cong. Church. Presentations on Pilgrimage. Shuttles back to cars available from 3:30 onward.

Overnight in homes and local inns.

 

Sunday September 15, 2024

  • 8:00 Track 1 participants leave for South Wardsboro, VT from the Parking available here. Call “Transportation” if you need a lift to the start.

  • 10:30-12:30 Optional stroll through Gardens on Newfane Road in South Wardsboro. (To be confirmed)

  • 11:00 Track 2 joins Track 1 at the , for lunch. (If you are joining at this point, please park near the church.) (.) Walkers will next be driven the 3 miles to Wardsboro center.

  • 1:00 Tracks 1 and 2 arrive at Wardsboro. Track 3 joins them at the . (Registration for new participants)

  • 1:30 Commencement of the walk to the Shrine from Wardsboro: 2 miles.

  • 3:30 Events at “the Replica”,

  • 4:00-6:00 Farewell Barbeque at Our Lady House of Prayer (i.e. the conference center) at .

  • 4:00 Catholic Mass open to all will be offered onsite at the conference center at 4 pm for those who wish to attend.

  • Shuttles back to cars available from the Ephesus House and the conference center.

 

Departures, or overnight in homes, local inns.

*See website for explanation of the Tracks. Track 1 is doing the entire walk. Track 2 walks certain parts as they choose. Track 3 walks the final two miles to Ephesus House.

​

Note: Cellphone service in South Wardsboro and Wardsboro is spotty to non-existent. Speak to a volunteer (red hats) if you need help.

​

Untitled.jpg

Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc. Waiver & Release of Liability Agreement

The Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc., its officers, employees, and volunteers (“Released Parties”) are non-commercial, not for profit activity providers. The purpose of this Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc. Waiver & Release of Liability Agreement is to exempt, waive, and relieve Released Parties from any and all liability for any harm, wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to liability arising from the negligence of Released Parties. “Released Parties” include the Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc., and their affiliates, successors, predecessors, parents, subsidiaries, owners, representatives, administrators, directors, officers, agents,, employees, contractors, assigns, and volunteers; other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, and advertisers; and, if applicable, the owners, operators, and lessors of premises on which the activities or events take place.

In consideration of the undersigned Participant being allowed to participate in any way in Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc. related events and activities, the Undersigned (“Undersigned” means the Participant or the Participant’s parent, legal guardian, or legal representative when the Participant is under the age of 18 or legally incapacitated) agrees and acknowledges as follows:

1. Risks of Activity. Participant will be taking part in activities that can be hazardous and involve the risk of physical injury and/or death. The activities are inherently dangerous and Undersigned fully realizes the dangers of participating in the activities. The dangers and risks of the activities include but are not limited to the condition of the premises and equipment, and the acts, omissions, representations, carelessness, and negligence of the Released Parties. Recognizing the risks and dangers, the Undersigned voluntarily chooses for Participant to participate in the activities and expressly assumes all risks and dangers of the participation in the activity, whether or not described above, known or unknown, inherent, or otherwise.

2. Risks of Participation. The Undersigned recognizes and understands that while Released Parties have undertaken reasonable steps to lessen the risk of transmission of communicable diseases, including but not limited to, COVID-19, in connection with participation in the activities, the Released Parties are not responsible in any manner for any risks related to communicable diseases in connection with Participant’s participation in the activities. Specifically, the Undersigned understands that COVID-19 is a highly contagious and dangerous disease, and that contact with the virus that causes COVID-19 may result in significant personal injury or death. The Undersigned is fully aware that participation in the activities carries with it certain inherent risks related to transmission of communicable diseases (“Inherent Risks”) that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid such risks. Inherent Risks may include, but are not limited to, (1) the risk of coming into close contact with individuals or objects that may be carrying a communicable disease; (2) the risk of transmitting or contracting a communicable disease, directly or indirectly, to or from other individuals; and (3)injuries and complications ranging in severity from minor to catastrophic, including death, resulting directly or indirectly from communicable diseases or the treatment thereof. Further, the Undersigned understands that the risks of all communicable diseases are not fully understood, and that contact with, or transmission of, a communicable disease may result in risks to the Participant including but not limited to loss, personal injury, sickness, death, damage, and expense, the exact nature of which are not currently ascertainable, and all of which are to be considered Inherent Risks.

The Undersigned hereby voluntarily accepts and assumes all risk of loss, personal injury, sickness, death, damage, and expense for the Participant arising from such Inherent Risks. Furthermore, the Undersigned represents and warrants that Participant does not knowingly carry any communicable diseases that may be transmitted during participation in the activities.

3. Release and Indemnification. Undersigned (a) unconditionally releases, forever discharges, and agrees not to sue the Released Parties for any claims or causes of action for any liability or loss of any nature, including personal injury, death, and property damage, arising out of or relating to Participant’s participation in any Deerfield Valley Pilgrimage, Inc. events or activities or the Participant’s presence on or travel to the premises where such events or activities take place, including, but not limited to claims of negligence, breach of warranty, and/or breach of contract the Undersigned may or will have against the Released Parties; and (b) agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any liability or damage of any kind and from any suits, claims, or demands, including legal fees and expenses whether or not in litigation, arising out of, or related to, Participant’s participation in such events or activities or the Participant’s presence on or travel to the premises or areas where such events or activities take place.

 4. Medical Treatment. Undersigned understands that the Released Parties do not have medical personnel available at the location of the activities. Undersigned hereby grants the Released Parties permission to administer first aid or to authorize emergency medical treatment, if necessary. Undersigned understands and agrees that any such action by the Released Parties shall be subject to the terms of this agreement and release, including any liability arising from the negligence of the Released Parties when administering first aid or authorizing others to do so. Undersigned understands and agrees that the Released Parties do not assume responsibility for any injury or damage which might arise out of or in connection with such authorized emergency medical treatment.

5. Miscellaneous. Undersigned agrees (a) Participant will not engage in any activities prohibited by any applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and ordinances; (b) this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Vermont and the exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any claim shall be located in the state courts located in Windham County, VT; (c) this Agreement shall be binding upon the subrogors, distributors, heirs, next of kin, executors, and personal representatives of the Undersigned; (d) this Agreement shall be construed as broadly as permitted by applicable law; and (e) that in the event that any clause or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such clause or provision shall not otherwise affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

6. Media/Photo Waiver.  Undersigned authorizes and gives full consent to Released Parties to copyright and/or publish for public view any and all photographs, digital recordings, videotapes and/or film in which Participant appears.  Undersigned agrees that Released Parties may transfer, use, or cause to be used, these digital recordings, photographs, videotapes, or films for any exhibitions, public displays, publications, commercials, art and advertising purposes, television programs, and internet without limitations or reservations.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT I AM RELEASING LEGAL RIGHTS THAT OTHERWISE MAY EXIST. BY SIGNING BELOW, I HEREBY REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AND FULLY COMPETENT TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT ON MY OWN BEHALF.

 

FOR PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 OR LEGALLY INCAPACITATED`

Undersigned parent, or legal guardian, or legal representative acknowledges that he/she is not only signing this Agreement on his/her behalf, but that he/she is also signing on behalf of the minor or legally incapacitated adult and that the minor or the legally incapacitated adult shall be bound by all the terms of this Agreement. Additionally, by signing this Agreement as the parent, or legal guardian, or legal representative of a minor or legally incapacitated adult, the parent, legal guardian, or legal representative understands that he/she is also waiving rights on behalf of the minor or legally incapacitated adult that the minor or legally incapacitated adult otherwise may have. The Undersigned parent, or legal guardian, or legal representative agrees that, but for the foregoing, the minor or legally incapacitated adult would not be permitted to participate in the activities. By signing below, I hereby represent that I am the parent, legal guardian, or legal representative of a minor, or legally incapacitated adult Participant and that I have the authority to sign on the Participant’s behalf.

 

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT I AM RELEASING LEGAL RIGHTS THAT OTHERWISE MAY EXIST. BY SIGNING BELOW, I HEREBY REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AND FULLY COMPETENT TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT ON MY OWN BEHALF.​

bottom of page