What's with all the string on Mt. Mansfield? You're right- it's not native to the environment, but it does help protect the fragile plants that grow there.
Alpine zones are prone to strong winds and cold temperatures, making it hard for plants to grow there. The ones that do sprout use a lot of energy to anchor down and typically grow more slowly. This means that wandering trail users --who can quickly trample or uproot these plants-- are a huge threat. So prior to the summer hiking season, the GMC staff "string" the trail through alpine zones, which keeps hikers on the rocks and off the plants.
Learn how you can protect alpine plants: http://ow.ly/RPzA50K9Se1
Original source can be found here.
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