VERMONT — Hundreds of activists are descending on the Statehouse today to demand climate justice. This is the culmination to the Next Steps Climate Solutions Walk organized by 350 Vermont. Many of the walkers — including our reporter Christopher Ross — have been trekking along Vermont’s roads since last Friday. They covered 65 miles from Middlebury to Montpelier, marching some days through wind, rain and hail. Here are some of Ross’ dispatches from the road.
 

DAY ONE
 
Around 11 a.m. on Friday, April 5, more than 100 activists left the Middlebury town green, headed on foot toward their first stop, Bristol.

They arrived in Bristol to some dark imagery.

Kids from North Branch School made it to Bristol.

DAY TWO
 
On Saturday, April 6, Ross sent us his first audio diary. 
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Near the end of that day, he captured this jubilant moment — complete with a band in red jumpsuits and a melodica — in Hinesburg, the marchers’ destination for the day. 

DAY THREE
 
In his audio diary on Sunday, April 7, he describes the criticism climate marchers have encountered on the road to Montpelier. “We’ve gotten plenty of middle fingers from drivers,” he reports. 
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Their destination that day: Richmond.

DAY FOUR
 
On Monday, April 8, Ross sent us this reflective audio diary, in which he describes a rain ceremony in Hinesburg’s Geprags Park. He also talks about encounters with supporters of the march — of which there are many — including a woman with a sign quoting Kurt Vonnegut: “Sorry we were rolling drunk on petroleum.”<br /> If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/GIf9Nh

Ross captured the faces of a few of his fellow walkers.

DAY FIVE
 

On Tuesday, April 9, about 200 activists crossed over Route 89 en route to Montpelier to call for climate justice.

By the time they reached the Statehouse, they were more than 300 strong.
 

They gathered inside the Statehouse to sing.

Cilck here to read Ross’ full story about the walk, which appeared in the April 11 issue of the Addison Independent.

 
Want to read more? Christopher Ross wrote several stories leading up to the climate walk:
Walk for climate has deep roots at Middlebury College (March 24, 2019)
Climate activists gear up to walk from Middlebury to Montpelier (March 27, 2019)
North Branch students to join 5-day climate walk (April 3, 2019)
Scientist explains global warming’s effect on Vt. wildlife (April 3, 2019)
Hope flickers in Bill McKibben’s latest book, Falter (April 3, 2019)
Ross also followed up the big walk with two more stories:
After walk, climate activists intensify calls for action (April 14, 2019)
Climate experts size up hope for the future (April 14, 2019)