Vermont Sports Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2020

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SEPT./OCT. 2020

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Keeping you on the trail Keld Alstrup resolved his knee pain and returned to hiking with the help of SVMC Orthopedics. They use a team-based approach to provide a full range of surgical and nonsurgical services and customized virtual rehabilitation programs that resolve pain and re-expand their patients’ horizons. Their goal is to get you back to “peak performance” as quickly—and painlessly—as possible.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Orthopedics maintains the highest standard in care, safety, quality, and cleanliness, and immediately adopted the CDC’s recommendations for COVID-19. Keeping our patients safe, healthy, and active is our top priority.

PA R T N E R S H I P I S P O W E R F U L M E D I C I N E

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SVMC Orthopedics patient Keld Alstrup resolved his knee pain and returned to hiking with the help of Orthopedic Surgeon Matt Nofziger, MD.

SPORTS INJURIES | FRACTURE CARE | RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY | HIP, KNEE, AND TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENTS 332 Dewey Street, Bennington, VT | 802-442-6314 | svhealthcare.org/ortho

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NEW ENGLAND’S OUTDOOR MAGAZINE ON THE COVER: Golden hour hits at Kingdom Trails Photo by Brooks Curran

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Angelo Lynn - publisher@vtsports.com

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Lisa Lynn - editor@vtsports.com

AWESOME INTERNS Luke Zarzecki

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Shawn Braley

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Nathan Endres, Dr. David Lisle, Dr. James Slauterbeck —University of Vermont Robert Larner College of Medicine; Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation; Jamie Sheahan, M.S., R.D.

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Brian Mohr, Phyl Newbeck, Leath Tonino

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5 The Start

Ride With Gratitude

Thanks to private landowners and volunteers, Vermont's trail systems keep growing.

6 News

Fresh Dirt

Tired of the same old trails? Here are new ones to check out.

8

News Where to Climb Now?

Vermont's climbing scene is blowing up. Here's where to get in on the action.

10 Feature

26 Featured Athlete

Meet two extreme hikers and see what they recommend for the best foliage hikes in Vermont.

See why Georgia Gould moved.

Epic to Easy: 12 Favorite Foliage Hikes

17

Feature 93 Miles of Rail Trail

Soon you will be able to ride from St. Johnsbury to Swanton on rail trail. Here's a preview of what's to come.

20

Feature 2020 Adventure Dog Contest

Meet the pups that won our hearts and read the stories behind their adventures.

VERMONT SPORTS IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

The Woman Who Changed Mountain Bike Racing

28 Featured Athlete

The Importance of Being Roxy

Roger Bombardier was a good cyclist. Then he became "Roxy."

11 Gear

Clean, Warm, Dry and Cozy These pieces of gear deliver!

30 Calendar

Race & Event Guide

34 Endgame

IA Perfect Fall Day. Whaddy Do? Vermont has a huge number of options for fun. Too many?

ADVERTISERS! The deadline for the November issue of Vermont Sports is October 18. Contact ads@vtsports.com today to reserve your space.

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 3

4 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

THE START

RIDING WITH GRATITUDE

THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS AND LANDOWNERS, VERMONT’S TRAIL NETWORKS HAVE EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY.

One of the new singletrack trails that cuts across Darling Hill at Kingdom Trails.

with t n o m r e V g Providin

e c i v d a t r e p x friendly, e nture. e v d a y r e v e or and gear f

wn s in downto Come visit u r u yo for all of Montpelier g, in p m ca iking, fall biking, h s. d e e n r r gea and outdoo

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Thanks to private landowners n a recent weekday, I got to savor something very, very rare: I had like the Crones and to volunteers, around the state, Vermont has seen Kingdom Trails to myself. With an enormous growth in its trail the Canadian border still closed and outnetworks this past year. Tom Stuessy, of-state travel restricted, the trails were president of the Vermont Mountain empty of the usual throngs from Montreal Bike Association estimates that more and Massachusetts. The weather was still than 25 new miles of trails have been warm and the hillsides tinged with the built and more are on the way. first shades of fall.

What’s more, new regions While I’ve ridden these trails are becoming mountain bike hundreds of times, I picked up a map all destinations.

Slate Valley, near the same. Last winter three owners of 20 Langdon St, Montpelier VT • 802-225-6736 • onionriver.com Poultney and Castleton, has seen a large properties off Darling Hill pulled huge influx of riders from around the their land from the network, unraveling state as it has built out its network of some of what Kingdom Trails and its 97 both mountain bike trails and gravel landowner partners had built over the last three decades. The “three T” trails rides. In Randolph, a new hotel and a (Troll Stroll, Tap n’ Die and Tody’s) that new network of trails near the Vermont were must-rides were gone from the map, Technical College campus will make this an easy stop and destination for and the river trail that connected two big anyone traveling up and down I89. networks was gone.

Near Middlebury, new trails in the Though miles of new trails have extended Kingdom Trails to the north and Moosalamoo National Recreation Area are projected to span a huge expanse of east (with new ways to connect to Burke wild land between the roads that lead Mountain from Burnham and the Moose over Middlebury and Brandon Gaps, Alley network) there was a big blank area with stunning campsites in between. on the trail map around Darling Hill, a For more on what’s being built see testament to the fragility of trail building “Fresh Dirt,” p. 8. on private lands in Vermont.

As I rode back along the open fields But what wasn’t yet on the map of Darling Hill, I knew that soon fall were some of the new trails that have foliage would be at full peak. Riders been built these past few months. Last would come back. At some point summer Jim and Marci Crone not only from outdoor adventures in your backyard or beyond? the trails would become busy again. resurrected Elmer Darling’s iconic 1904 But with more places to ride, more mansion Burklyn, but they revived his new trails to explore, Vermonters– community spirit. The California couple Our full service rehabilitation department can help you get back at least—can spread themselves out bought the mansion and 86 acres and around the state. outdoors. Our highly skilled rehabilitation team sees athletes and had their cousins, avid mountain bikers I glanced back at the trail map. active people of all ages, providing treatment for muscle and joint Bob and Sharon Morse take over as On the top left were reminders to: innkeepers. They worked with Kingdom injuries, balance issues, mechanical back pain, and more.

“Respect This Gift. Protect Nature.

Trails to put in a new trail, Burklyn, that Care for Others. Be the Example.” weaves around the property in a buffed Schedule an appointment today by calling (802) 763-8000!

But what caught my eye first was the singletrack. headline: Ride With Gratitude.

No referral required for some insurances.

“We wanted to help keep bikers off the Gratitude, yes! Thank you to road and to honor Elmer’s spirit –he did all the landowners, the chapters, so much for this community,” Crone said. the volunteers and the sponsors.

Learn more: Sharon Health Center On top of that, the renovated Burklyn, GiffordHealthCare.org Vermont’s trails are a gift we should Caring for you... for life. now an inn with 14 rooms, looks like it all cherish. —Lisa Lynn, Editor. belongs in the pages of Architectural Digest.

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 5

Feeling the stress and strain...

NEWS

I

t was no secret that during the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone spent more time outside.

Nationally, sales of bikes and bike equipment doubled in March alone, according to the NPD Group. And in Vermont, many of those bikes were getting out on the trails.

“We’ve seen an unprecedented level trail building and the only thing that supersedes that is trail use,” said Tom Stuessy, the executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), where family memberships were up almost 20 percent.

Around the state trail projects forged ahead with both pros and volunteers pitching in. “I just asked the VMBA chapters for updates and what they sent back blew me away,” Stuessy said.

Kingdom Trails lost some of its prime connector trails last year when three landowners pulled out, closing some main arteries of the network. But this past summer, 13.5 miles of new trails went in—"the most ever in one summer," says KT's Lilias Ide. Included in that are trails that are contracted to complete Phase 2 of the Moose connections, as well as a skills park and five new trails off Darling Hill. Perhaps the crown jewel is Burklyn, a buffed, easy singletrack that weaves for two miles through the open clover meadows that surround Burklyn, the historic yellow mansion that crowns Darling Hill. The trail then dives across Darling Hill road, down to the switchbacks of Emma’s Sanctuary (also new).

“We wanted to get people off the road as much as possible,” said Burklyn owner Jim Crone. Crone and his wife Marci bought the mansion and surrounding 86 acres in 2018 and reopened it as a supremely elegant 14-bedroom inn in August. Innkeeper Sharon Morse, an avid mountain biker who helped bring Elmer Darling’s 1904 mansion Burklyn back to life, also sits on a new committee of landowners that is now working with Kingdom Trails.

Closer to Burlington, a trail that Stuessy describes as one of the “best new downhills in the state” just opened. On Saturday, Sept. 19 the Fellowship of the Wheel planned a Covid-safe party with partners Outdoor Gear Exchange and others at Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski and Bike Center to celebrate the opening of

6 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

FRESH DIRT

THIS YEAR, A BUMPER CROP OF NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS BLOSSOMED AROUND VERMONT. HERE’S WHAT WAS BUILT OR IS IN THE WORKS.

BY LUKE ZARZECKI, ANGELO LYNN AND LISA LYNN

The Mad River Riders finsihed a number of trails this summer so you can now ride from Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak base area all the way into Waitsfield. Photo by John Atkinson

Kessel Run, a swoopy descent off Hans Solo (Star Wars fans, take note).

The Mad River Riders also found a creative way to celebrate its new trails with the “UnDuro.” As MRR’s John Atkinson wrote: “We’re celebrating all the new intermediate trails including Evolution II, the Featherbed and Localfolk Connectors, Sugarbush’s Lower Woods jump trail, last year’s Swell Hill and the Revolution upgrades with self-guided, any-time-you-want rides and hikes.” The new trails will help the network connect Sugarbush’s base

area at Lincoln Peak with Waitsfield village.

The UnDuro idea: ride, walk or run them any time from Sept. 6 through Oct. 2nd, then, as Atkinson notes, “ Share your adventure(s), including pictures, artwork, a poem, anything that captures the fun and beauty of the new trails. Our UNexpert judges will pick winners and there will be random draw prizes too (including a Sugarbush season’s pass).”

The Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association hired Brooke Scatchard of Sinuousity to build out

Fast and flowy, one of the new trails Sinuousity built in Montpelier. Photo by Brooke Scatchard.

trails in North Branch Park. Additions and upgrades include a beginner/ intermediate half-mile flow trail loop, a half-mile climbing trail, two short downhill flow trails and a hand-built single track downhill. A new pump track has also been built on Cummings Street.

All will be open by the end of September.

This summer, in the Putnam State Forest off of River Road, Waterbury Area Trail Alliance volunteers put in more than 800 hours to complete a half-mile climb with 250 feet of elevation gain. Good clay soil and nice rocks form the surface of the trail and “a lot of people really enjoy the way it climbs,” said John Dustin, the president of WATA. When it comes to climbing, the Rochester/Randolph Sport Trails Alliance has built trails to both climb and descend Abel Mountain in Randolph and is currently working on extending trails at Vermont Technical College. “We’re really excited about that network,” says RASTA’s Zac Freeman.

A beginner/intermediate loop just south of the college will connect (this fall) to another two-mile trail north of the college. “There will be views all the way to Barre’s granite quarries,” says Freeman.

“We’re also working with Silloway Maple and hope to extend trails onto some of their property,” he says. “I can see being able to ride both VTC loops from the proposed new hotel, then stop at Silloway for a maple creemee and ride back – all of this just off the Randolph exit on I89.”

Meanwhile in Addison County, the Vermont Mountain Bike Association in association with the Moosalamoo Association, the Addison County Bike Club and the US Forest Service, is currently working on a major project that will upgrade the Oak Ridge Trail.

The roughly $100,000 upgrade of this 8.3-mile trail will improv about 4.6 miles of the trail along the flanks of Mount Moosamaloo. Forest Service funding is covering 80 percent of the cost, with VMBA matching the remaining 20 percent. Tom Lepesqueur & Daughters are the trailbuilders.

The purpose of the upgrade, says ACBC board member Ashar Nelson, is to take “a rugged, backcountry, somewhat unrideable trial (because of steepness)

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Ascutney Outdoor Center to the entrance of Mt. Ascutney State Park. This trail will be opened in mid-October. The rugged climb is for intermediate riders.

However, the climb is very much worth it, notes Jim Lyall, the trail manager of the Ascutney Trails Association, as the view looks out over the entire Ascutney valley.

Across the statein Poultney, Castleton, and Wells Vermont, Slate Valley Trails has plans to finish over 25 miles of trail by the end of 2020. Slate Valley Trails used to be three separate biking networks: Endless Brook, Lake St. Catherine and Fairgrounds. As of this fall, it is now one integrated network with over 35 miles of trail.

One of the new trails out of the Endless Brook area is an advanced .9mile downhill trail with mandatory drops and rock jumps. The descent is about 541 feet from the top to the bottom, so make sure both the front and back brakes are tuned up for this ride.

Since it opened at the end of August, the reaction has been positive. “We’re getting a lot of people emailing us saying ‘this is the best downhill trail in Vermont, and we are excited about offering this kind of terrain to our users,” said Andy

Thrall Road

and make it into a rugged, backcountry ridable trail.” Adding switchbacks at “super steep sections” and addressing some wet spots, and other minor maintenance issues should complete the task by Nov. 1, 2020, Nelson said.

The trail sits within the 16,000-acre Moosalamoo National Recreation Area that lies between Route 125 (Middlebury Gap road) and Route 73 (Brandon Gap road). Connectivity is one of the goals with this project, which will connect East Middlebury and Ripton to the campground.

The Oak Ridge Trail upgrade is a precursor to a connector trail from the Moosalamoo Campground (which also has a new mile loop and a skills course built two years ago) to Silver Lake. Once that’s built, it would connect with the Chandler Ridge trail (4.3 miles) and the Leicester Hollow Trail (4.8 miles) and the Minnie Baker Trail (3 miles) — making a trail system spanning the MNRA for about 15 miles one way among the area’s 40-plus miles of designated trails.

Farther south, the Ascutney Trails Association has been improving their network to get more flow trails and finishing up a long-term project: the seven-mile connector trail from the

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SLATE VALLEY TRAILS SVT is a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association (VMBA).

Volunteers, membership dues and donations make these and other trails in the area possible. Please join or make a donation to Slate Valley Trails (SVT) if you appreciate these trails!

Report any issues to info@slatevalleytrails.org. Get more info and become a member at SlateValleyTrails.org.

Vermilyea, Slate Valley’s president.

Other new trails here include Porcupine a 2.2-mile-long, narrow single track that winds down a 614-foot descent with rest benches and lookouts with views of Lake St. Catherine State Park. The plan for the rest of the year

is to create two more trails in Endless Brooke, one climbing trail up to the high point, and then a trail coming down. No specifics can be released yet, but this path will be .75 miles long and should be done by November.

Most of the Endless Brook area trails are geared toward intermediate and advanced riders, so Slate Valley Trails is also working on projects for kids and beginners to try out off the Fairgrounds trailhead. In the next couple of weeks, a half-mile loop called Tight Rope will be a twisty, flat loop to get the legs moving and get outside.

With Tight Rope will also come an area for new riders to try out different mountain bike features, including small natural terrain features, like rocks, for newbies to practice jumps and hitting bumps. All of this should be completed by the end of the year, and one of the final projects for Slate Valley Trails. An added bonus to both of these new trails is a connector parking lot.

“It’s cool, if you’re there with a family, somebody could go out riding, somebody could be hanging with the kids, it’s a little bit for everyone,” Vermilyea said.

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 7

NEWS

WHERE TO CLIMB NOW?

SEPTEMBER MARKS GOOD NEWS FOR CLIMBERS WITH THE VERMONT CLIMBING FESTIVAL GOING OFF, CLIMBING GYMS REOPENING, AND NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE.

BY EMMA COTTON AND ZAK KEENE

F

or a week in September (Sept.

12-20), Vermont’s climbing community comes together for the Vermont Climbing Festival, a week of small group climbs, clinics, competitions and virtual speakers including climbing legends such as Ron Kauk and Pete Whittaker (the first person to free-solo El Capitan in a day).

While Vermont’s granite crags may not equal Yosemite’s walls, it has a fiercely loyal following. “I love climbing in Vermont,” says Kris Fiore, president of the Climbing Resources Access Group of Vermont (CRAG-VT). “The climbing here is scrappy and sometimes dirty— and it takes some finding. But I travel to climb all around the country, and I’m never sad to come home and climb.”

On a national scale, participation in rock climbing has exploded in the last decade. According to Climbing Business Journal, 4.6 million people participated in sport climbing, bouldering or indoor climbing in 2016. Today, that number has increased exponentially, and with that increase comes the challenge of getting people to use these climbing areas responsibly.

“We’re seeing trails more beaten out and parking lots get full,” says Fiore. “When I go to the crag, there are more people than there used to be.

It’s anecdotal, but climbers get good at climbing in the gym, and they want to go outside and see what it’s all about.”

Several climbing gyms have reopened now with Covid-19 precautions in place and offer belaying lessons, fitness classes and guiding services to get you ready for an adventure. In Burlington, visit MetroRock, home to the state’s tallest walls and PetraCliffs. PetraCliffs also offers professional guiding services for all types of mountaineering, plus lessons, classes and camps. In Rutland and Quechee, the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Centers are closed for indoor climbing but are offering outdoor guided sessions. In Brattleboro, the bouldering gym, the BrattCave just reopened for weekend climbing.

And as the climbing community grows, members of CRAG-VT, the official keepers of Vermont’s crags, continue to expand access to the state’s best outdoor climbing Lone Rock Point, a 55-foot limestone cliff in Burlington looking out over Lake Champlain opened in 2017 and Bolton Dome, the 250-foot cliff in 2019.

Both Bolton Dome and Smuggler’s Notch are well-known entities and

8 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

Fall climbing at Bollton is hard to beat.

Photo by Zak Keen

where most Vermont climbers get their start. But there are plenty of other places to check out.

If and when you decide to take the leap from the gym to the outdoors, proceed with caution. The world of outdoor climbing is not a controlled environment; there are objective hazards, unstable rock and dangers that you don't find in an indoor climbing gym. Be safe, be cautious, and as always, be courteous.

To really discover Vermont’s best climbing, hire a guide and consult Tough Schist, Travis Peckham’s guidebook for the state (also available as an app, at vermontrock.com). Mountain Project, an online guidebook, is another fantastic resource (mountainproject.com).

NORTHEAST KINGDOM “In Vermont, Lake Willoughby is one of the top ice climbing destinations in the country,” says Alden Pellet, who has made a number of Vermont’s first ascents and is considered one of the region’s most respected climbers. But that region is just as sweet in the fall.

Wheeler Mountain is what CRAG-

Black Mountain is not for beginners but is worth the trek north. Photo by Zak Keene

VT calls a “crown jewel” of Vermont climbing—granite with lots of cracks.

Mount Hor offers multi-pitch climbs for experts. Practice your slab climbing on the south-facing Bald Hill, one of the most remote crags in the state, with routes that range from a beginner’s 5.6 to an expert’s 5.10.

Black Mountain, outside the town of Norton in the northeasternmost corner of the state, is one of the newest and more remote climbing areas in Vermont.

Development only began here in the last few years and there is still endless potential on this vast cliff.

Fractured granite faces, riddled with cracks and tough face climbs makes this an attractive destination for the aspiring intermediate or the thirsty expert. Quality routes which range from 5.8 to hard 5.11 decorate the lower walls.

However, there are, as yet, few beginner routes to speak of at this crag and it should be approached with caution.

Also, be bear aware, because they are a presence at Black Mountain! Food must be stored responsibly, and as always, leave no trace.

SMUGGLER’S NOTCH Nestled between Stowe Mountain Resort and Smugglers Notch Resort on Route 108—the Notch’s giant schist, buttresses and hidden caves offer some of the best climbing and bouldering in New England. Climbs range from a 5.6 to a 5.14+, and the views are unbeatable.

Many climbers have made the Notch their home base, including Pellett. “It’s a very mountain-like experience,” he says.

Among the classics in the Notch are Quartz Crack, a featured 5.9 route with varied terrain and an airy crack traverse through a large roof at the top. A few feet to the right is a slightly smaller, but no less classic, route called The Diagonal with an exposed 5.8 right leaning crack to finish. Something else to bear in mind is that rock walls of Smuggler’s Notch are inherently unstable and a huge segment of rock slid last year. Even following a light storm, slides and rockfall are likely.

Sound judgement and responsible decision making are a must for this area. Better yet, skip the bigger routes and check out the endless collection of boulders! It’s hard to run out of things to climb here, even just off the ground.

PROSPECT ROCK Sitting astride the Long Trail in the town of Johnson is a modest bump of schist which, over the years, has been thoroughly developed. Prospect is the ideal, even the perfect location for beginning climbers, boasting a healthy variety of short, easy sport routes and a strong collection of slightly tougher trad pitches, all within short walking distance of each other. Plenty of 5.6’s to warm up on and 5.7’s, 5.8’s, 5.9’s work up to.

There is something for everybody, here, and is as great a spot for families or larger groups one is likely to find. Butcher’s Crag, just a hop skip and a jump south along the Long Trail (or north, if you hike from Route 15), is a smaller cliff, but with a pleasant collection of easy to moderate sport routes, most of which can top-roped.

there that beginners can get up. That’s really where I learned to climb.”

Up the road, Upper West Bolton holds 200-foot cliffs for trad and sport climbing. The Bolton Quarry is a great spot for beginners, with a variety of grades and excellent ice climbing in the winter. For experienced climbers, try out the 82 Crag, home to Bolton’s best 5.9 and 5.10 climbs, ranging even into 5.13 territory, and spectacular views. As of spring 2019, following a 20 year closure, climbers returned, once again, to Bolton Dome – a 250-foot cliff located off Route 2, and a climber’s dream. “There’s lots of boulders there, too,” Fiore says. “It’s got a little bit of everything.” Ease of access has rendered the Dome one of the area favorites, and one of the most heavily impacted. Enjoy, but take care that the parking lot does not get overcrowded.

BOLTON If you’re looking for beginner climbs, look no further than Lower West Bolton, located 0.4 miles up Bolton Notch Road from Route 2. “Lower West is great because there are anchors there, and there’s a path around to the top, so it’s very easy to set up a top rope,” Pellett says. “There are 30- to 40-foot climbs

CENTRAL VERMONT “There are more than 200 established bouldering problems in Groton State Forest [east of Montpelier],” says Fiore.“ If there was a good bouldering guidebook to this area, people would stop driving to the Adirondacks.” There are also good cliffs such as Marshfield Ledge, a granite cliff that rises 400 feet out of forests

and wetlands, with climbing that ranges from 5.7 to 5.14. “It’s beautiful—no street noise, no cars around, excellent beginner terrain, and a pretty easy approach,” Fiore notes. Marshfield ledge was also the site of the state’s first attempts at peregrine falcon recovery. The left and right sides of the wall open in the spring.

However, the main wall stays closed into August. Owl’s Head, also in Groton State Park, is a smaller cliff with steep rock and expert routes.

In Killington, just above the Inn at the Long Trail, Deer Leap hosts more than 25 routes of sport and trad climbing. If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, walk about two minutes on the Appalachian Trail near Kent Pond in Killington to the DEKD Boulders. Climb your way through the forest, with more than 80 problems already set, and many more that are currently unclimbed.

SOUTHERN VERMONT While you’ll find most of the state’s granite, schist and limestone up north, there’s climbing to be found in southern Vermont if you look hard enough. Head to Ball Mountain Dam in Jamaica State Park to find bouldering and a few top-rope routes with easy walk-around access.

The Mountain Goat Outdoor Clothing & Gear 4886 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT

get out there

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 9

From Epic to Easy:

FAVORITE FOLIAGE HIKES

SPENCER CRISPE HAS SUMMITED ALL THE PEAKS IN THE NORTHEAST ABOVE 3,000 FEET AND TRAVELED VERMONT END-TO-END. SUE JOHNSTON HAS HIKED THE LONG TRAIL MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALL OF ITS SIDE TRAILS. WHO BETTER TO ASK FOR A FEW FAVORITE FOLIAGE HIKES?

10 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

I

f Sue Johnston and Spencer Crispe have an obsession with hiking the Northeast, it’s a magnificent one.

When we last caught up with Northeast Kingdom native Susana “Sue” Johnston, (see Vermont Sports, March 2017 “A Year at the Top”) she had just completed The Grid, hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s peaks above 4,000 feet, each month, for 12 straight months. Yes, 576 ascents to a 4,000-plus foot summit in a year.

For Johnston, 52 at the time, the Grid just seemed like a logical progression from some of her other endeavors: she has won the Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run twice, set a record for the 210-mile John Muir Trail in California, stood on the highest peak of each state (caveat: she came within 400 feet of summiting Denali, but we’ll count that), skied the length of Vermont on the Catamount Trail

and she’s hiked Vermont’s Long Trail four times. Most recently, she finished hiking all 165 miles of the Long Trail access trails (the trails leading east and west up to the trail).

THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELED When we called Johnston to see what her favorite trails were in Vermont, she was hesitant. “Man, since Covid-19 the trails have been so packed I’m not sure I want to tell you,” she said by phone from her home near Kingdom Trails in East Burke.

“I was just over in New Hampshire and it’s worse than a holiday weekend: cars are parked up and down the roads near the trailheads. It seems ever since the pandemic set in, everyone’s gone out hiking. Part of me feels bad that I may in a small way have contributed to that being the Gridder,” she says remorsefully. She adds, “It’s not just

here, it’s all over the country. But you can still find solitude if you know where to look.”

Her first bit of advice is to eschew hiking the Long Trail and instead hike some of the side trails that lead up to or parallel it. “Everyone hikes Sunset Ridge – the Nose to the Chin on Mt. Mansfield,” she says. “But just off the sides of Mt. Mansfield are amazing trails. The Cliff Trail, which traverses the east flank, has all these ladders and natural tunnels,” she notes. Coming up from the west side, the Maple Ridge Trail ends up at the Forehead of Mt. Mansfield with equally amazing views to the West as does The Chin.

Johnston also recommends a number of trails near her home in the Northeast Kingdom. “All the trails around Lake Willoughby are amazing – Mt. Hor, Mt. Pisgah, Bald and Wheeler Mountain and often these are

not that crowded.”

As for a best-kept secret? “If you really want to get away, try one of the newest trails in the state,” she suggests. “The Kingdom Heritage Trail was just completed last year. It’s almost 20 miles and there are a couple of side trails you can do. You’re deep in the woods and there’s a good chance you might see a moose. The trail being new, it’s narrower and cushier and not super muddy or eroded like so much of The Long Trail is now.”

BEATING AROUND THE BUSH One of Vermont’s other high-mileage hikers, Spencer Crispe, lives at the other end of the state. Crispe, a ninthgeneration Vermonter practices law in Brattleboro, near where he grew up.

He went to college and law school in Vermont and his grandfather helped found Stratton Mountain.

Hiking the Montroe Skyline, above it all, Photo by Brian Mohr./EbmerPhoto

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 11

Crispe has hiked the Long Trail, skied the Catamount Trail, and both skied and hiked every mountain in Vermont over 3,000 feet –that’s 110 mountains he has summited in both summer and winter.

This past summer he added something else to his resume: He did what only 12 other people have documented doing: he summited all 770 mountains over 3,000 feet in the Northeast.

“I started around 2012 and 2020 felt like a good year to finish—hiking was one of the things you could still do, being outside and in the mountains,” said Crispe.

“With the 770, one thing lead to another. I had done the ADK 46ers.

There’s the 48 New Hampshire 4,000 footers. Before long I had done all 115 4,000-footers in the Northeast. Then I heard about a few really extreme hikers who had done all the mountains above 3,000 feet. Dennis Crispo, of Tewksbury, Ma., started in 1981 and finished in 1997.

He was the first one to do it. “ Only 12 people have done that since.

“I was attracted to it because it just seemed ludicrous,” Crispe says with a laugh. “I’ve always gravitated toward those types of challenges—ones where you say: Oh, this is ridiculous man! But I don’t take on challenges like people who climb crazy dangerous climbs without a rope. The other reason is doing these I could still be at my desk on Monday morning. This was something I could do on weekends, and my wife did about half of them. She’s really strong climber in her own right, though she said, ‘I’m not doing the crazy hard bushwhacks with you.’” Over 415 of the mountains have no trail to the summit so you have to bushwhack into them.”

Using GPS and maps, Crispe would navigate his way to the top. “McDonnel Mountain in the Adirondacks was the worst. The spruce and fir were so thick and there were so many blowdowns it was like being an insect trapped a million spider webs.”

For Crispe, negotiating his route was part of the fun. “Most people would say it was just nature beating up on you. I love bushwhacking because it’s like a coloring book with no lines. I’d get to lot of places no human being had been to. I could stand on a summit and think that no one else had probably ever stood there before or seen that view. That was a big part of the allure for me.”

One of Crispe’s hardest hikes was Barren Mountain in Baxter State Park in Maine. “That took 11 hours of excruciating difficulty. It’s thick, chaotic and steep. But you get to the top and you are above the trees and you can see everywhere. You can see this enormous expanse of wilderness in Maine. You earn your views.”

Crispe doesn’t like to take risks. “I

12 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

After hiking the Long Trail four times, NEK native Sue Johnston decided to tackle all the side trails that lead to it. She did all 165 miles of them. Photo courtesy Susana Johnston

bring a ridiculous amount of gear: two bivouac bags from Survive Outdoors, an InReach satellite phone so I can always SOS for help, water treatment tablets, two lighters, newspaper and firestarter sticks. And I always have extra clothes, Powerbars, some rope, a pocket saw and

a Swiss Army knife. I tell people where I am going and give them a copy of the map. And I check in after dark.”

Still, Crispe’s favorites hikes are in Vermont and not always so extreme.

“From Glastonbury Mountain in southern Vermont, you can see more

Ninth generation Vermonter Spencer Crispe just finished summiting every 3,000-footer (or higher) in the Northeast -- all 770 of them. Photo courtesy Spencer Crispe

uninterrupted wilderness than any other view in Vermont. You look out at beautiful forest, Stratton, Haystack and the Berkshires. And there’s a firetower you can climb. If you take the Long Trail, it’s 10 miles either way – it’s a long way in. If you are a local, you can find other trails in that no one knows about. There is a herd trail from the Harbor Rd. in Woodford but that’s still 6 miles. That route was where the Long Trail went in the late 40s.”

There are also some “easy” bushwhacks. “Knox Mountain in Orange is absolutely awesome. It’s an easy bushwhack and near the summit is an open fern glade that gives you views east all the way to the White Mountains. The approach is from the Topsham/Groton side on a snowmobile trail. The western side is all private property so don’t go up from there.”

For foliage viewing, he also recommends Cold Hollow Mountain, not far from Jay Peak. “You get huge views to the east thanks to a microburst and it’s not a particularly hard bushwhack as you approach it from the south.”

Up north, he says Monadnock Mountain near Canaan has one of the best views in the state. “The mountain towers above the Northeast Kingdom and it has a fire tower and a trail."

And in the central part of the state, Braintree Mountain is another of his favorites. “Thanks to RASTA, there’s a trail that has been cut and it’s not hard to reach the summit from the eastern side.

It’s in the center of the Northfield range with incredible views for foliage. And since it’s east of the primary Green Mountains, you are seeing the spine of the Greens but also the Whites and the rest of Vermont.”

Crispe, now 42, wasn’t always a consummate hiker. “I played in a band for 15 years which kept me out of the woods.

When I stopped doing music, I got more into outdoor exploring. As I saw society get deeper into the digital word—the box, the cell, the screen—that prompted me to get out all the more. People forget what a tree looks like. I feel like it’s not good for the soul to get disconnected from the natural world.”

And in the years since he has been exploring, he’s seen the natural world around him evolve and he’s made a point to volunteer for various trail organizations.

“Because of the climate we have here in Vermont, the forest is always alive and active. Where you have blow downs, you have saplings that grow back so, so fast.

The regrowth is unbelievable if the trails are not maintained and utilized.”

His parting words: “If you care about recreation in Vermont do some volunteer time. It’s not like the Rocky Mountains: trails in the Greens require constant attention, they are not going to maintain themselves.”

A fall classic, the view from Owl's Head of Groton State Forest and Kettle Pond.

12 VIEWS

HIKES TO

I

f you have a few hours, or even a few days, head for the hills during fall foliage. Here are a dozen hikes that range from popular to rarely traveled, from easy to epic. What they have in common is the promise of a view from the top—something that not all trails in our forested state can deliver on. Did we leave some obvious ones out?

Like Mt. Mansfield? Camel's Hump? Mt. Philo and Snake Mountain? Sure. But you know those. Any others? Send us your favorites. For all the beta on these others visit our website, vtsports.com to links to the trail descriptions online. All distances are round-trip (or out and back) and we’ve rated these from easy (*) to epic (*****). For links to maps, see vtsports.com.

FROM EASY TO EPIC, HIKING TO THESE SUMMITS AND LOOKOUTS WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF VERMONT AT ITS TECHNICOLOR BEST.

1. HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN, WILMINGTON. * Length: 4.5 miles. Trail: Though it can draw crowds, Haystack Mountain is a must-hike if you are in the southern part of the state. It’s a short, twisting, two-mile hike from the trailhead to the summit. There, you can see the entire Deerfield Valley, New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock, the Haystack Pond and Mount Snow. Part of the hike is on snowmobile trail and most of it on Green Mountain National Forest land.

Getting there: the trailhead is off Chimney Hills Road in Wilmington.

down the Long Trail toward the fire tower on Glastenbury Mountain. The trail is steep and you will be well away from roads and town so come prepared.

There are several campsites along the way. The reward, a view from the firetower over more than 36 square miles of uninterrupted forest and 12 peaks over 3,000 feet. Glastenbury itself is 3,748. You can loop back on the West Ridge trail. Getting there: the well-marked trailhead is on Route 9, 5.2 miles east of Bennington and 15.8 miles west of Wilmington.

2. GLASTENBURY MOUNTAIN, BENNINGTON. **** Length: 21 miles. Trail: If you want the biggest, best views of wilderness in Vermont – and are ready to make an overnighter, or two-night trek, head

3. STRATTON MOUNTAIN, STRATTON** Length: 6.8 miles; 9 miles with Stratton Pond loop. Trail: This classic section of the Appalachian/Long Trail begins at a gradual ascent from the parking area through a mixed hard/softwood forest.

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 13

At 1.4 miles the trail crosses Forest Road 341 and begins a steeper climb up the mountain. The trail flattens out while following a ridgeline, then climbs again using switchbacks. At the summit of

Stratton Mountain, you can climb a fire tower with views of Somerset Reservoir and Mount Snow to the south; to the

southwest, Glastonbury Mountain; to the west, Mount Equinox and the Taconic Range. You can return the way you came, or you can extend the hike for a possible overnight trip by continuing from the summit to Stratton Pond and then follow the Stratton Pond Trail 4.6 miles back to the parking lot. Getting there: Turn off Route 100 to the Arlington-West Wardsboro Road (also known as the Kelly Stand Road, the street sign reads Stratton-Arlington Rd.). Head west on Arlington-West Wardsboro Road for 7.1 miles to a large parking area on the north side of the road. The trailhead is marked by a United States Forest Service (USFS) sign.

4. MOUNT ASCUTNEY VIA WEATHERSFIELD TRAIL, ASCUTNEY** Length: 5.7 miles. Trail: The moderately Weathersfield Trail climbs through Ascutney State Park past waterfalls under hardwood canopy, passing scenic outlooks and geological features unique to Vermont. At the summit, the watchtower rewards hikers with views of, New Hampshire’s White Mountains and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Getting there: Take exit 8 (Ascutney off I-91 to Vermont 131 west.) Drive 3.3 miles to Cascade Falls Road and turn right. Bear left at the fork and continue to a right turn .3 miles later. Drive up a short, steep hill to the parking lot and the Ascutney State park information board.

5. DEER LEAP MOUNTAIN, MENDON. * Length: 2 miles. Trail: This is an easy day hike that includes portions of the Long and Appalachian trails, as well as a side trail that leads to stunning views of Pico Mountain from the Deer Leap Cliffs. The cliffs are a popular rockclimbing area as well. The hike starts on the north side of US 4 and follows the blue-blazed Sherburne Pass trail until a junction at .5 miles. Continue on the Appalachian Trail until another junction for the Deer Leap Trail just a few steps further, which will bring you to the cliffs.

Getting there: From Rutland, drive east on U.S. Route 4 for about 9 miles, driving past the sign for Pico resort, until you arrive at the Inn at the Long Trail at the top of Sherburne Pass. The parking lot is on the right side of the road (facing

14 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

Mount Hor

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12 Kingdom Heritage Trails

10 Mount Hunger

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Braintree Mountain

5 Deer Leap

4 Mount Ascutney

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1 Haystack Mountain

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SUMMITS WITH A VIEW

east.)

6. MOUNT MOOSALAMOO, SALISBURY** Length: 5.8 miles Trail: A classic hike with views of the Champlain Valley and Lake Dunmore, the trails around Mount Moosalamoo in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area can make for an exciting day hike or an overnight trip.

The Moosalamoo trail starts at the Silver Lake/Falls of Lana trailhead parking lot just 1/8 mile south of the Branbury

State Park entrance. The trail passes the plunging falls before it crosses the north branch of Voter Brook and climbs to the Oak Ridge Trail at 2.5 miles, a climb of 1,530 feet. The summit of Mt. Moosalamoo is 0.4 miles south on the Oak Ridge Trail. The trail goes past Rattlesnake Cliffs with spectacular views of beautiful Lake Dunmore, Fern Lake and Silver Lake, as well as the Champlain Valley, Adirondacks and peaks to the

south. Other hikes, or mountain biking, along Chandler Ridge and camping at Silver Lake’s designated sites can make this area good for multiple day excursions. Getting there: Follow Route 53 around Lake Dunmore to Branbury State Park is on the east side of Lake Dunmore and home to a cozy campground. Rock climbing on solid 80-foot cliffs is nearby. The trailhead is just south of the park.

7. BATTELL TRAIL TO MOUNT ABE, LINCOLN *** Length: 5.8 miles. Trail: Mount Abraham via the Battell Trail is a 5.8-mile round trip but with a 2,500foot elevation gain. The trail reaches the Long Trail just below the Battell Shelter. The route then follows the Long Trail north up some steep grades of exposed bedrock before reaching more open views at the summit. After chilly weather, watch for icy patches on the steeper ledges just below the summit.

Looking north, you can see, Mount Mansfield, Mount Ellen and Camel’s Hump. To the south are Mount Grant, the Breadloaf Wilderness and west to Lake Champlain. The summit of Sugarbush South (Lincoln Peak) is just a half-mile to the east along the Long Trail.

Getting there: From Lincoln, travel north on Quaker Street. Turn right Alder Hill Road and continue onto US Forest Road 350. After two miles, parking is on the right. An alternative route is to go to the top of Lincoln Gap, park and take the Long Trail for two miles to the summit; it’s slightly shorter and less steep.

8. BRAINTREE MOUNTAIN, BRAINTREE ** Length: 4 miles. Trail: One of the newest projects of the Rochester/ Randolph Sports Trails Alliance has been to put in a “Trail Hub” in downtown Randolph and to map the growing number of backcountry ski glades, mountain biking and hiking trails in the Braintree Mountain Forest.

The Braintree Range has four peaks: Round Top, Twin Peaks, Skidoo, and Braintree which tops out at 3030 (hence the nickname, 30-30). The view from Braintree Mountain is the stunner, with vistas across the Greens and to the Whites. From the trailhead, take the Haul Road up to the Bell Gates cabin (a winter warming hut for backcountry skiers) and from there, tak the Skidoo trail up to the summit. Or, for a longer hike, take Thunder Mountain Trail to the Braintree Mountain Trail. Signate is still limited so it's best to bring a trail map.Getting there: Stop in at the Hub (located next to The Gear Shop) in

Randolph. The trailhead kiosk is at 2576 Riford Brook Rd. in Braintree.

9. OWL’S HEAD, PEACHAM * Length: 3.6 miles. Trail: One of the most photographed scenes in Vermont – rolling hills, vibrant foliage and ponds tucked in the folds of ancient granite – is just a short hike, the last part on stone steps built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. To get to the flat, rocky outcrop that delivers these views, is just a 1.8 mile hike, one way. At the top, the vast expanse of the rest of New Discovery State Park, Groton State Forest, Lake Groton and Kettle Pond unfold below. While this trail is often popular on weekends, go during the week and you could have it to yourself.

There are lots of places to camp, including paddle-to sites on Kettle Pond.

Getting there: From VT-232 take the New Discovery State Park road leading to Osmore Pond and the parking lot is off the road. There is a second lot farther up if that is full.

10. MOUNT HUNGER, WATERBURY CENTER **** Length: 4.4. miles. Trail: This outand-back hike is a short drive from Waterbury Center and gains 2,300 feet in a straight shot to the summit, meaning you gain elevation with every step. The 3,539-foot high summit features views of the Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump to the west and Groton State Forest to the east. On clear days, you can see as far as the Presidential Range in New Hampshire. Accessible, short and popular, it’s a great half-day or shorter hike for most. If you want to make a day of it, leave a shuttle vehicle at the Pinnacle parking area and hike the Skyline ridgeline north 6.4 miles to the Pinnacle trail. Getting there: From the town of Waterbury, head north on Vermont 100 and take the first right after the Ben & Jerry’s Factory onto Guptil Road. After .9 miles, take the next right onto Kneeland Flats, which turns into Ripley Road. At the intersection with Sweet Road, turn right. Trailhead parking is on the right.

11. MOUNT HOR, SUTTON *** Length: 5.4 miles Trail: While the summit of this peak is wooded, the trail leads to two breath-taking vantage points on the cliffs, with views of Vermont’s deepest lake below, Lake Willoughby.

Carved by glaciers, Mount Hor’s unique characteristic is its sheer rock face which drops into Lake Willoughby, then plunges another 312 feet to the lake bottom. The cliffs have been designated as a National Natural Landmark. From the parking area, the trail follows a hillside walk through maples and nettles to a junction at .7 miles. From here, hike uphill on the faintly-blazed West Branch Trail to the wooded summit.

Return to the trail junction and follow the East Branch/Wheeler Pond Trail along the ridgeline to the overlooks above Lake Willoughby. As an alternative, you can hike Mount Pisgah, with parking just a short distance away from the Mount Hor trailhead. Getting there: To reach the Hawkes Trailhead, follow the CCC road from the Mount Pisgah South Trail parking lot. Bear right at a fork and continue to the trailhead 1.8 miles from Vermont 5A. There is a small parking area on the right.

12. KINGDOM HERITAGE TRAILS, CANAAN *** Length: Variable. Trails: Less than a year old, the Kingdom Heritage Trail network links together several trails in the region to form a network of over 20 miles of trails. For a starter taste of the area and stunning views of the Nulhegan Basin, take the Bluff Mountain Community Trail from Island Pond, to Lookout Junction and the Lookout Trail – a moderate 2.6-miles that lollipops its way through the Brighton State Forest with a variety of hard and softwoods.

Upper Lookout Trail to the summit is steep and has metal handholds so be prepared. The trail also connects to the Gore Mountain Trail and Middle Ridge trails, which offer limited views. The new trail system is managed by the Green Mountain Club and the Northwoods Stewardship Center. Getting there: From Island Pond head north on VT 105 for 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Curran Avenue and continue for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto Mountain Street and continue for about 0.5 miles after the road turns to dirt.

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this inset map is For brochUre Vers 93 MILES WITH MORE THAN $14 MILLION IN FUNDING RECENTLY APPROVED FOR THE LAMOILLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL, IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE YOU CAN RIDE FROM ST. JOHNSBURY TO SWANTON. HERE’S A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME.

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Once completed, the trail will total 93 miles from St. Johnsbury to Swanton.

Even more exciting is the prospect of linking the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail with the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail at Sheldon Junction.

This means you could eventually ride 18 miles from Sheldon Junction to Richford on the Canadian border. Or, head south on the Missisquoi Trail and ride 13 miles from the intersection to St. Albans and Lake Champlain.

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n August 12, funding for one of the biggest new trail projects in Vermont was approved by the Legislature: $14,150,000 to complete the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, with Vermont paying $2,830,000 and the federal government paying $11,320,000.

At present, two sections of the trail are open and mapped: St. Johnsbury to Danville and Morristown to Jeffersonville. Starting at the southern terminus in St. Johnsbury, you can currently ride 14 miles to Danville, take a dip there in Joe’s Pond and then ride back. The next section of trail, when completed, will let you continue northwest from Joe’s Pond veering away from well-traveled roads up to the quiet town of East Greensboro before following Routes 16 and 15 back toward Hardwick and on to Morristown.

The most popular section of trail, Morristown to Jeffersonville, was completed in 2015 and already sees an estimated 20,000 riders a year. Two smaller sections, 5 miles from Swanton to Highgate and 5 miles from Highgate to Sheldon will be finished late this fall or early winter.

The construction from Swanton to Highgate began August 31st, and the section from Highgate to Sheldon will begin two to three weeks after. Bids will go out to finish the bigger sections next summer: 15.7 miles from Danville to Hardwick, 11.5 miles from Hardwick to Morrisville, and 18.5 miles from Cambridge to Sheldon.

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Before the harvest, the trail is protected by farms with head high cornfields that can help serve as windbreaks.

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Trailheads in Jeffersonville, Johnson, Hyde Park and Morrisville have parking, with bathrooms and water fountains at Morrisville and Johnson as well.

traffic. She and her husband also offer tours. When I asked for an insider tip, she raves about the new café, Fork and Gavel, in Hyde Park.

“They’re a great new café, and oh man, their waffle fries are really good and their avocado toast, I could rave on an on,” she said.

As I rode east, I could see the peaks of Green Mountains rising on the horizon.

Close to the Johnson stop, I went through fields of high cornstalks and dense forests. As I paralleled the path the Lamoille had cut through rocks and mountains, I felt like I was witnessing Exit 22 history of past glaciers slowly moving

Walden Pond

North DaNville

to wash some sweat off or to take a break from the heat. The riverbed is mostly sand, but some parts have more dirt and muck than others. Yva Rose also told me about some great swimming holes, such as Dog’s Head Falls, Beard Park (both in Johnson) and Brewster River Swimming Hole in Jeffersonville.

through the Vermont landscape. I stopped my bike to run my hand along the massive boulders and found spiders, beetles and other insects fixing their small nooks or wandering along the rock.

Within a mile of the cornstalks and forests, I crossed one of the many old rail bridges that spans a section of the Lamoille River and made another stop.

Two paddlers passed under the bridge in kayaks. The river weaves along the majority of the trail, sometimes even crossing over it. Certain points are safe to venture down from the path and take a dip into the refreshing water

To Lyndonville, Newport Exit 22

North DaNville

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D A N V I L L E

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West Danville

Danville village

Kittredge Rd

Trestle Rd

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Penny Lane

ch R S t a g ec oa

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Exit 21

Crow Hill Rd

Hill St

ai Br

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Lodging

LVRT Trail

Information

Keiser Pond

Swanton

LVRT-Unfinished Trail Town Lines 0 mile 0 km

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1 1

Crow Hill Rd

LVRT constructed and maintained by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers.

Rd

Park & Ride lot.

St. Johnsbury

d St

Shopping

Caution: Cross Traffic

Rd

Downtown/services are less than half a mile from the trail head.

Railroa

Restrooms

ook

The 93-mile long LVRT spans the breadth of northern Vermont from St. Johnsbury to Swanton.

Wolcott Hardwick Walden West Danville

Dining

Danville

Key

LVRT Parking

Peacham Rd

Jo e ’s B r

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Fairfield Johnson

ch R S t a g ec oa

Jeffersonville

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Morristown

Ol

busy Crossing!

busy Crossing!

in S

Highgate

To Montpelier

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r y s b u h n j o

busy Crossing!

Joe’s Brook

Ma

Wightman Rd

Trestle Rd busy Crossings!

Lawrence Hill Rd

So Main St

Busy Crossing!

So Main St

trail Head

Exit 20

Passumpsic River

Starting at St. Johnsbury, it's a steady climb from 500 ft. elevation to 1,400 ft. in Danville where the trail now ends.

18 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

Lawrence Hill Rd

So Main St

busy Crossing!

rd

Joe’s Pond

r y s b u h n b a r n e t j o

Park at Joe’s Pond beach

Ol

Exit 21

st. Johnsbury

Sleepers River

Parking and restrooms at Marty’s 1st stop

Sleepers River

To Littleton

Exit 20

trail head

See Inset Map

l d

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trail end

To Lyndonville, Newport

St. Johnsbury to West Danville

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trail. Soon the grass and small rocks will be replaced with crushed stone for a firm and stable surface that’s compliant with the American Disabilities Act. As of now, the finished parts of the trail are suitable for biking, running, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. The trail is also so buffed that you could take strollers and wheelchairs along it.

Although there are some small paved sections, it is primarily all off-road.

On a late August day, I took my allterrain Raleigh Talus 3.0 I and set off on a 40-mile tour of rural Vermont.

The trail here follows the Lamoille River Valley, with gentle grades, passing meadows of wildflowers and corn, dairy farms and stands of woodlands.

The trail passes near Jeffersonville, Johnson and Hyde Park and then to the center of Morrisville: each with trailheads with a kiosk, bathrooms, maps, bike pumps and water fountains, as well as parking. The stops for Johnson and Hyde Park are about a quarter mile outside of the downtown districts, each having coffee shops, restaurants and shops for trail participants to stop in.

In Johnson, you can fuel up for the ride at Mudgie’s Food Truck for a chicken sandwich served with a homemade pickle or stop in at Johnson Hardware to pick up just about anything you can imagine, from Patagonia apparel to Hyrdroflask water bottles.

Johnson is also home to Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, which offers Vermonters 10 percent off on pedal-assist e-bike rentals ($35 for two hours), which can be used on the trail. Yva Rose, owner of Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, grew up in nearby Wolcott and has seen her business boom with the rise of rail trail

Passumpsic River

To Littleton

To Barnet, White River Junction

A 93-MILE ADVENTURE As I rode, east I could imagine starting at the southern end of the trail in St. Johnsbury and working my way back, perhaps camping along the way or stopping to refuel or spend the night at small towns along the way: Jeffersonville, Johnson, Morrisville, Hyde Park, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Sheldon.

For those looking to camp, Sugar Ridge RV Park and Campground, a private campground in Danville, offers a place to stay, and approximately four miles from Morrisville is Elmore State Park. Riders wanting to venture farther from the trail can go to the Vermont Campground Association’s website and use their interactive map to find campsites.

Once I arrived in Morrisville, I was hit with the smells of fresh beer and grilling —I couldn’t resist. Just off the trail is a staircase that leads to the Lost Nation Brewery. A red building with hops running up the side is home to the brewery where riders and walkers can stop to get a pilsner, ale or IPA and a sandwich, hot dog or appetizers to fuel up for the rest of the route. Hank Glowiak, the owner of Chuck’s Bikes in Morrisville, recommends the salmon tacos with corn relish. Chuck’s Bikes rents hybrid bikes with around a 35-centimeter tire width, but most sizes are ridable on the trail. These bikes go for

In 2022, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail will likely be the longest uninterrupted rail trail in New England—and perhaps the only one with a brewpub (Lost Nation) en route.

$20 for the day. PowerPlay Sports, also in Morrisville, has both mountain bikes and hybrids for rent as well.

In Morrisville, just past bustling Portland Street is an old rail station that was transformed into the restaurant, 10 Railroad Street. The service station is the old ticket booth and the dining room sits on the station’s platform. There you can order 12 craft beers on tap, wine, martinis and pub food. The go-to menu item for rail trail riders is the turkey BLAT, which comes with roasted turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, bacon, avocado, maple cider mayonnaise, on a toasted wheat bread with a side of fries. The restaurant reopened on September 4th after internal repairs.

The building itself harkens back to the days when the railroad was one of the few east-west lines to carry passengers and freight across the state.

Before the Lamoille Valley Railroad, was constructed, the interstate system focused on transportation from north to south. In 1867, interest took hold and construction began on the line. It started off catering to passengers, but with the invention of the automobile demand hit a steady decline. The railroad went through a rough history—flooding damaged parts of the line many time— and the company went into bankruptcy as demand plummeted.

With demand low and the invention of the refrigerated car, the market moved to transporting milk. But soon the railroad went under and declared bankruptcy. After private ownership

bought the rail but could not keep it afloat.

9/13/2020 The state bought it back and trains © CARTO continued to run, although sporadically, Map Satellite Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (lvrt.org) through the 1980s.

Sunday September 13th 2020 In 1994, the railroad ceased all operations and in 1997, the Vermont Association for Snow Travelers (VAST) formed a committee to construct a multi-use recreation trail in response to

the State’s request for proposals.

According to Sue Scribner, the Municipal Assistance Bureau Director of Vermont Agency of Transportation, the line was “rail banked” in 2004.

Rail banking is an agreement between the owners of the railroad company and a trail agency to use a rail corridor as a recreation trail until rail service is

Map data ©2020 Google

5 km

needed again.

In 2005, then-Congressman Bernie Sanders secured an earmark for the trail and the federal government matched 20 percent of the funds. To date, $8.7 million has been spent on the trail, and the $14.4 million will, by current estimates, complete it. Ken Brown, the LVRT Project Manager, says the cost includes the planning and engineering, repairing seven bridges that were destroyed or damaged, repairing structures, drainage infrastructure and surface material. Per mile, it costs $150,000 to complete.

Although the cost seems high, there is direct evidence of economic growth in places where the trail was built. “One example,” Scribner says “is Lost Nation Brewery. A large amount of their foot traffic coming in and enjoying their facility is coming off the rail trail.”

At 10 Railroad Street, a restaurant directly off the trail in Morrisville, the general manager Andy Figliola, has seen about a 25 percent increase in business since the opening of the trail.

“People come in from biking the trail in summer and foliage season and in winter, snowmobile traffic is really big,” he said.

As I rode back, I regretted not coming to the trail earlier in the summer.

However, I’m already gearing up for round two, and am counting down the days until 2022 when the entire path is finished.

Terms of Map Use data Report a map error ©2020 Google

With a connection to the Missiquoi Valley Rail Trail, the LVRT will nearly reach Canada..

The trail beween Morrisville and Jeffersonville is already well-mapped, with kiosks and signage.

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SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 19

2020

MEET THE DOGS THAT KEEP US ON THE TRAIL

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hat does it take to win our annual Vermont Sports Adventure Dog Contest? To start with, you need a best buddy who is willing to follow you anywhere.

This year we heard stories of dogs that went on backcountry snowboarding trips (see Thor, below), camping in Wyoming's Tetons, paddling in Maine and, of course, hiking and skiing all over the Green Mountains. The stories are part of what we look at (and love reading, so keep them coming) but it's also the quality of the

photos, the setting and how the images and the stories that go with them capture that sense of adventure that dogs and humans seem to share.

Over the years, we’ve had various levels of prizes and participation. This year we received more than 220 entries–photos and stories about your dogs—and more than 2,130 votes for Reader's Choice on the 20 semi-finalists when we posted them on social media. Since our surveys indicate that 70 percent of our readers own dogs, we are not surprised.

For the overall winners, as picked by our staff, our long-time partner Pet Food Warehouse of Burlington offered $75 gift certificates for each of the category winners, as well as our overall Reader's Choice winner. It wasn’t easy choosing the semifinalists from so many incredible entries. And if you didn’t get chosen this year, we encourage you to submit again next year. Prizes aside, anyone who gets to spend time with the dogs that were entered in this contest is a winner.

1 BEST ADVENTURE SHOT WINNER

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BEST ADVENTURE Adventure dogs are the ones you never have to leave home when you head out on the trail, on the water or the snow.

1: THOR, JAY, VT Katlin Parenteau's blue nose pitbull Thor is, she writes, "pretty extreme." He certainly looks so as he gets ready to dive in near his home in Jay. Katlin writes; "When I took Thor on vacation to Colorado, we hiked to the top of Loveland Pass and I found a great untouched line to drop in on. He decided to go over the cornice and dropped an even more complex line than I did. Often times we hike up Jay Peak preseason and when I take too long to strap in he cries and yells for me to go faster because he's ready to go!"

2 READER'S CHOICE WINNER

2. AUGIE, MANASQUAN, NJ Augie, Kate Badecker's 11-year-old Viszla, might be from New Jersey but he's perfectly at home in the Green Mountains where he often visits. "Here is Augie about to summit Mt. Worcester in Vermont, waiting patiently for his humans to catch up to him," writes his owner, Kate. "Despite his sugar face, he is an energetic canine who loves nothing more than being let off leash in the woods (second to cuddling up to his humans, of course)!" she adds.

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3. JASPER, BURLINGTON, VT Jasper has come a long way since he was born in Hungary five years ago. Sarah Eaton, his owner, has taken him camping on Valcour Island, canoeing on Green River Reservoir, and backpacking along the Long Trail, and in the White Mountains and in the Catskills. In this photo her Viszla is hunkered down at a campsite in Wyoming's Tetons. Sarah, who is currently studying in Colorado to be a vet, writes: "I always bring a blanket for him and if we're car camping, his entire dog bed. He loves being outside but he has to be comfortable. When we sleep in the tent at night he sleeps in my sleeping quilt with me. I ordered it specifically to share with him: it's extra wide and extra warm just to accommodate him. "

4. SIDNEY, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT Though she looks like she's queen of the dunes here at Alburg State Park, Sidney is equally happy in the mountains. Laura and Kent Knapp took her on her first hike up Mt. Washington at age 2, after getting her from North County Animal League. "She was only 11 lbs and she was amazing. She can scale rocks like a mountain goat," Laura writes of her 13-year old mixed breed. Since then, Sidney has hiked most of the Long Trail, many of the trails in Vermont’s state parks and even summited Camel’s Hump in

4 the winter. Says Laura: "I call her my trail angel: keeping pace with my husband but constantly coming to check on me, as I often lag behind observing nature and taking photos of Vermont’s beautiful landscapes.

5. PEPPER, KIRBY, VT Delaney Noyes takes Pepper, a wirehaired pointing griffin, hiking just about everywhere. And living in Kirby, there are plenty of good options, including this trail high above Lake Willoughby. "Pepper is

5 one-and-a-half years old and she explores hiking, mountain biking, and trail running all over Vermont," Noyes writes. "Pepper rocks Rex Specs dog goggles on all of her adventures to protect her eyes."

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 21

BEST BUDDY SHOT This category is a tribute to how much we love our dogs and the photos capture how much they loves us, as well. It's hard not to see that shine through in these winning shots.

1. BERNIE, BOLTON, VT It's hard not to look at Alan McManus' photo of his wife Hollie Dolan and their new goldendoodle puppy and say "Awww...." This photo—our favorite — also melted our hearts and got nearly 300 votes on Facebook making it a clear choice for overall winner. Alan and Hollie got Bernie, now 6 months old, to help them through quarantine. The shot was taking during a kayaking trip to Lake Willoughby. "

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1 OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNER

2 RUNNER UP 2. KAIA & GUNNER, JEFFERSONVILLE, VT If Kaia, a yellow husky mix, and Gunner, a hound mix, could talk, it looks like they would be saying "When we gonna ride?

When we gonna ride?" Their enthusiasm is hard to hide. Owner Abbi Schaible writes: "These dogs are with us for every adventure big or small. However, my favorite trip with these two so far was our trip to Katahdin Woods and Waters. During that trip we lived out of the back of their dad's Tacoma and biked, paddled, and explored the park all with those two being perfectly behaved by

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our side. It can be stressful enough planning backcountry outings and most people don’t even fathom bringing the dogs, but not in this house! Whether it’s backcountry or a walk in town, these two will be there."

3. LOKI, THETFORD, VT "Winter is his favorite season," Hannah Smith says about Loki, her Newfie, German shepherd, Maremma sheepdog mix. "We weren't sure how Loki would like kayaking.

He's huge and he loves to run and swim so getting him to balance in a kayak was

questionable. We kayak all over Vermont with him. Occasionally he leans to look at a bird or a frog and I think we're going in, but that's what the life jackets are for! Loki also enjoys running, hiking, and XC skiing.

He gets quite concerned if we go off trail and often alerts us that 'the trail is this way'. He is the best trail buddy!

4. TEFLON, SHELBURNE, VT Owner Ann Brigham writes: "Teflon, a cockapoo, is three going on two. He likes nothing better than cruising Lake

Champlain and swimming at Juniper or Sloop Island with the ducks. He’s the captain of the ship...spirit and locks flowing freely in the wind!"

5. YOSHI, WATERBURY CENTER, CT Yoshi, a four-year-old golden retriever " is eager to climb Mt. Hunger (the photo with our son Jesse) or Nordic ski in the woods for hours on end sticking her snout in the snow hunting for wild Arctic snow bunnies," writes owner Duncan McDougall. He adds: "None found....YET!"

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BEST ACTION

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Action dogs are the ones that get us out of the house. These dogs are giving their owners a run for their money.

BEST ACTION DOG SHOT 1: DOLOMITE, HUNTINGTON, VT Josh Burns describes Dolomite as " a year-ish old Australian cattle cog mix who leaves no stoke left unturned."

You can see them both getting stoked for winter here at Mad River Glen.

"The highlight of Dolomite’s year was powhounding his way through February’s Nor’easter down the Teardrop Trail in Underhill State Park. When the snow subsides, Dolo can be frequently found trail running miles of trail from Appalachian Gap up to Smugglers Notch with a treat-filled smile. "

2. FRYAR, CHARLOTTE, VT

2 READER'S CHOICE

A 12-year-old schnauzer, Fryar hasn't lost his spring, judging from this shot, which earned Reader's Choice for the category.

"Fryar has been adventuring around the state for years (having hiked from the Northeast Kingdom to his home turf of Mount Philo) and is known for his great leaping ability, facial expressions and friendly demeanor," writes his owner Matt Byrne who took this shot in Monkton. He adds "Vermont continues to keep Fryar young."

3. TIMBER, WATERBURY CENTER, VT If anyone loves slaying fresh powder in the backcountry more than Bob Olsen, it's his golden retriever, Timber, age two-and-half.

"Timber is an all around adventure dog. He’s taken up all sports with enthusiasm and joy.

Hiking, biking, canoeing, swimming he’s

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done it all. But skiing is his real passion and a powder day brings on his smile.

With limitless energy this dog can out ski his humans...easily!" Olsen writes. And he seems to get first tracks, too.

4. MADDIE, NORWICH, VT Golden retrievers seem to love being caught mid-action and Maddie is no exception.

"Our golden girl loves her river dance," writes Robyn Adler of her two-year-old pup, caught here making a splash.

5. MAD RIVER JACK, WAITSFIELD, VT Chris Woods' Brittany spaniel Mad River Jack seems to think he can swim in snow.

Jack earned his name by chasing pow all winter on the slopes as his dad skinned or skied them, wearing a red coat so he wouldn't get lost in the depths.

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BEST FACE SHOT Everyone thinks their dog is the best looking—of course they do. But, as is true with people, not every dog can look great after a hike or swim.

1 BEST FACE SHOT WINNER

1. SHELLY, MONTGOMERY CENTER, VT If anyone knows how to savor the late-day rays after an adventure on the water, it's Shelly, Joan Hildreth's 10-year-old golden retriever. " She's such a joy to spend time with—hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming, camping, or just hanging out," Joan writes. "She loves being with her humans and the feeling is mutual. Outdoor adventures are always fun with Shelly." That shows, here.

2. BUCK, BENNINGTON, VT You know that feeling when you come home muddy, exhausted but also feeling kinda great after a big adventure? Well, Trey Dobson's yellow lab Buck knows that well.

Buck, 5, spends his days with Trey and Max, 2, another yellow lab, adventuring around southwestern Vermont. And if they always come home muddy? That's just the sign of a good day.

3: RUGGER, DUMMERSTON, VT An Australian shepherd mix, Stephanie Bond's Rugger is right at home in the pool, looking like he's ready to do some more laps—dog paddling, of course.

4. MAPLE, COLCHESTER, VT Small but mighty, Maple is nearly always up for a hike with owner Skye Elkins who adopted the King Charles Cavalier spaniel mix two years ago after she was found wandering in South Burlington. The two had just done the Libby's Loop/Preston Pond trails near Bolton when Elkins snapped Maple's "glamour shot."

5: ASTRID, WESTON, VT If there's anyone who loves fall in Vermont and playing in the leaves it's Astrid, Pamela Dickman's one-year-old German shepherd— it's written all over her face, here.

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SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 25

THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED

MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING

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ou might know of Georgia Gould as the bronze medalist in mountain biking at the 2012 Olympics in London. Or you might know her as the woman who launched the “Gould Formula”, a 2007 proposal to award equal pay to the top five men and women in UCI cyclocross races. Or, lately, you might just know her as the woman who just flew by you at Kingdom Trails. After several years of living in the mountain bike mecca of Fort Collins, Colorado, Georgia and her husband Dusty LaBarr decided to relocate to East Burke in 2018 where they live with their son Jude and their daughter Quinn.

A member of Luna, the early women's MTB racing team, Georgia Gould helped lobby for equal prize money for women in racing.

What was the catalyst that made you decide to move from Colorado to East Burke?

I decided to move after the birth of my daughter Quinn, three years ago. My family and my husband’s family are both from the East Coast and we wanted to be within a day’s drive of them. We made the decision to relocate in late 2017 and moved here in April of 2018.

How often had you ridden Kingdom Trails before then?

I had never ridden any of the Kingdom Trails but that was certainly part of the appeal. My husband had been looking at places with trails in upstate New York, but I had heard that Kingdom Trails was awesome. He thought the area might be out of our price range but it was actually cheaper than some other places we were looking at. We came up in January of 2018. There was four feet of snow on the ground so we couldn’t really see the trails but we thought it looked like we could live here. We made the leap of faith and stayed in New Hampshire for a while and then found our house.

Do you make use of the trails in the winter? I know your family tree has a skiing branch.

My stepmother Abbi Fisher, an alpine ski racer, competed in two Olympics and won World Cup medals in slalom and giant slalom. I grew up downhill skiing.

I didn’t do much of it during my biking career but I’ve picked it up again since I moved here. That was another reason for us to choose this area. Easy access to

26 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

four season outdoor recreation was a big draw.

How does the caliber of riders here compare to Colorado?

Certainly, cycling in general and mountain biking in particular are very popular in Colorado. The combination of the location, the proximity to a big airport and mild winters makes it a great place for professional cyclists to live and train and that’s what drew us there originally. In the East. there aren’t as many serious racers; it’s more recreational or lifestyle, and people riding for fun which is how racers get started. It feels like I’m coming full circle. I wish there was more racing close by, but I’m always happy to just get out and ride my bike.

What’s your favorite mountain bike trail in Vermont and why?

There are so many good trails. I really like J-Bar and Moose Alley at Kingdom

Name: Georgia Gould Age: 40 Lives in: East Burke Family: Husband, Dusty LaBarr; Daughter, Quinn; Son, Jude Profession: Logistics manager for Rally cycling team and mom.

Trails. They are fun, have a variety of different terrain, and are the style of riding I enjoy. I’m not big on jumps and built features. I like natural trails with roots and rocks, rather than the built stuff like bike park features which is more popular these days.

I’m getting old and I like to keep my wheels on the ground.

Do you have a favorite gravel ride?

The gravel riding here is just amazing.

There are so many different loops I haven’t had the opportunity to explore. There is a great loop that goes around Burke Mountain through the town of Victory and has some class four roads. It even goes through a bird sanctuary. It has some climbing and some flats and it’s really beautiful. I think it’s part of the course for Rasputista.

Aside from Rasputista, did you have any other races planned before the onset of Covid-19?

Rasputista has been on my list, but I just gave birth three weeks ago so that has limited my training. Circumburke was cancelled in 2019 but I did it in 2018. I’ve done a UCI race at Catamount Family Center and last summer I did a shortened version of the VT3 in Craftsbury that was a lot of fun because I really love trail races.

I’m interested in doing anything local.

I’m more interested in mountain bike

racing to pregnancy. That was a really big change. I hadn’t not trained in so long that it was actually really hard to turn off the habit of feeling I had to be training, and getting back to doing whatever I felt like and what felt good. Not having to go out and do a workout or follow a schedule was very freeing. I definitely let go some of that type A of having to be training for something and it was nice to know that I didn’t have to ride; I could do yoga or whatever. I wasn’t trying to be the fittest pregnant lady. Not having a competition was a relief. I stopped riding a month or a month and half before my due date but that was because I wasn’t that comfortable on my race bike.

This pregnancy I rode a lot more but I think it’s because it’s a bigger bike with different geometry. I rode up until my due date and it felt good. Now I’m not training other than for local races. I’m not getting paid to race my bike anymore and I can do what I want. I swam a lot when I was pregnant with my daughter but this time it wasn’t an option since the pools were closed so riding was my only exercise option. I didn’t feel comfortable walking or hiking; that just didn’t work for me. Riding was really something I could do up until I had my baby and I started back up a couple of days ago.

This time it will be quicker getting back to the fitness I had before the pregnancy.

races than gravel races, although I’ve done some gravel ones. I haven’t really had the chance to do cyclocross racing because there isn’t much locally and with a three-year-old and a three-week-old, I don’t want to do much driving. I did two Vermont cyclocross races two years ago and one in Boston last year. I’ll travel if I can. It depends on how ambitious my husband is feeling and how things are going.

Was their one situation or event that prompted you to advocate for equal pay for women?

In 2007, I was at the podium ceremony for a cyclocross race, sitting with the other women in the top three and the guys from the top three. The guy who won said it was a pretty awesome payday, but since I only got $250 I just said it was good. He said that $2,500 was more than good and that’s how I learned he had earned ten times the prize money I had. I went back and looked at the UCI regulations and saw that the women’s prize purse minimums were ten times less than the men’s. I put together an online petition and got about 3,000 people to sign and presented it to the full UCI and each of the commissions, rather than just cyclocross. I never heard back, but the first thing that happened as a result of the petition was people became aware. Just as I hadn’t been aware [of the disparity], a lot of others weren’t, and they were surprised and outraged.

Just raising awareness meant that a lot of the race promoters in the U.S. made their prizes equal for men and women.

We didn’t change the rules but it was a great first step.

In 2011, I was contacted by UCI asking if I would be on an athlete advisory commission so I realized I hadn’t pissed them off too much. In 2013, I got a spot on the mountain bike commission and one of the first issues I brought up was making the prizes the same for men and women. In mountain biking, the disparity wasn’t as great with women making maybe $520 when men made $600. I thought that would be a great first step and it was one of the first things I brought up. I was the only woman on the commission but when I said we should have equal prize money, they all agreed. I was expecting more of a fight.

Mountain biking became the first UCI discipline to have equal prize money in all races. There has been progress in cyclocross and hopefully road and other disciplines. I hope that mountain biking can provide a template so the others can follow suit. For me it was a question of doing something to move in the right direction but not knowing if I was going to get any traction. You never know what will happen. Sometimes you

Gould took home the bronze medal at the London Olympics.

just have to be the person in the room. I wasn’t a pioneer. I just said something.

It’s not like I was working tirelessly but sometimes just saying something is enough.

Both you and Lea Davison (also a London 2012 Olympian) are now in VT. Do you work/ride/play together? Are you involved with Little Bellas?

I’ve seen Lea a couple of times since I’ve moved here. She’s been to some events here in the Kingdom and I saw her at the Catamount UCI race. I’ve gotten to ride with her in those instances but she’s still racing full-time so that’s the extent of how much I’ve seen her. When I was racing and living in Colorado, I helped out at some Little Bellas events but not so much since I’ve been here.

Who are your role models and heroes in mountain biking?

When I started riding, I didn’t really know anything about racing and once I started racing I was so new to the sport

Courtesy photo

that I was just figuring out who the people were as I went along. Luna was the big team and I remember seeing all the names on that team and being in awe and intimidated. I remember lining up next to Shonny VanLandingham at a race and having her say “you’re having a really good season” and being amazed that she knew who I was. I ended up being her teammate. I was nervous about being on an all-women’s team, thinking it might be stressful and super competitive but I was impressed at how willing they were to share advice and how much it wasn’t the way I had feared.

I was so impressed that these women who were so talented were so down to earth and willing to help me as a new up and coming rider.

What’s your fitness routine and how has that changed since pregnancy?

When I was pregnant with my daughter Quinn it was the end of the 2016 season so I sort of went right from full-time

Do you still keep bees and chickens?

I got two hives last year but neither made it through the winter. I’m still trying to figure out whether there’s something special you have to do here because winter is more severe. We have chickens which is a fun thing when you have kids.

Finding a little present in the nest every day is fun for my daughter.

What do you and your husband do for work and for pleasure?

My husband does property management so he has a pretty flexible schedule and I do logistics for the Rally Cycling team which was able to start in-person racing in August. They race in Europe and the U.S. and they are constantly traveling.

I can do that on my own time and on my kids’ schedules and I can do it from anywhere. For play, we live right on Kingdom Trails; one trail crosses our property. Running, riding, skiing, it’s all pretty accessible here.

We’re really happy with the move.

This a great place to raise kids with a little slower pace of life and a strong sense of community. I’ve been impressed with how friendly our neighbors are.

We’re wishing we moved sooner. We like having a little more space and we’ve got raspberries and a big garden. It’s a really nice lifestyle. —Phyl Newbeck

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 27

FEATURED ATHLETE

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ROXY Name: Roxanne Bombardier Age: 53 Lives in: Richmond Family: Wife, Sarah Works: In IT at the University of Vermont Primary sports: Gravel riding and mountain biking.

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n 2018 Roger Bombardier, using a borrowed bike, won gold in his division (men, 50-54) in the 40K road race at the Vermont/Maine Senior Games. It was his first road race, but Bombardier was a veteran mountain bike racer and a long-time bike commuter, who often rode from his home in Richmond to his job in IT at University of Vermont. A year later, in 2019, Bombardier finished ninth in the 48-miler at Rooted, Ted King’s gravel race. This time Bombardier was competing as Roxy, a woman. Over the course of her transition these past two years, Bombardier has shared some of her journey on a private Instagram account where her bio now reads: “Technology Professional, Bicycle Racer, and enthusiast, MTB, Gravel, CX, FAT. Combat Veteran, Goodwill fashionista, woman.”

When did you start entering bike races as a woman?

I’ve been trans since I was 11, so I it’s something I’m used to fighting, and being in the closet about. It was something I only shared with certain people. I presented as a transvestite for a long time and would dress in secret.

But I’m of a generation who knew Bruce Jenner as an athlete so seeing him become Caitlyn Jenner, and then seeing [former Vermont gubernatorial candidate] Christine Hallquist transition, that was a real catalyst for me. I started my transition in 2018 and at first very few people knew. But I also wanted to wait until I met all the UCI criteria for testosterone before entering a race as a woman. I have been doing a lot more gravel riding now so it seemed like Rooted, 2019, Ted and Laura King’s gravel race, was a good goal.

How does the UCI define gender?

In March, 2020 UCI began allowing transgender cyclists to compete. You have to prove your serum testosterone level has been below a certain level [5 nmol/L] for at least 12 months prior to a race.

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A former mountain bike racer, Roxy Bombardier is now exploring much of the state's gravel rides.

What’s different about racing or riding as a woman versus as a man?

I don’t have the power I used to, and testosterone does play a role but, honestly, that’s about it. When I was identifying as a male and at a point of trying to do well in rides, I was often passed by Elite women and remember getting comfortable with that fairly early on.

How has the cycling community reacted?

My experience has been very positive, probably because of the amateur level

Photo courtesy R. Bombardier

that I compete at. And I ride now with a great group of very supportive women.

But I’ve followed Rachel McKinnon’s experience—the national master’s champion track cyclist—and she has had a very rough time. She has had her life threatened. She has been doxed and had her public information put out. She’s had to change her name and change careers. She has really suffered greatly for her sport and her discipline.

But generally, I think in our community, people are just more interested in enjoying their sport and care less about people’s orientation.

"I've been trans since I was 11," says Bombardier, who has transitioned to Roxy Bombardier.

Should we do away with gender at races altogether?

I did have an interesting discussion with an Elite woman mountain bike racer recently. For, example the Catamount Family Center decided to ‘degender’ their results (if that’s even a word) and post results just based on time without regard to a person’s gender or sex. Now, the Elite racer I spoke to was okay with that at the Catamount level but she said that were this to have been a UCI race she would have been unhappy because that would have placed her lower in the overall rankings with less chance of prestige, or prizes. So, I think that some people may view us as a complication.

We all have to take a step back and think about gender, sex and what all of that means.

What role do you think genetics play or gender play in performance?

There is a genetic component that we kind of have to acknowledge. But you talk to some people and they say ‘Well, you know a trans somebody who was born a male will have more of an advantage than a cisgender woman.’

I don’t think that that applies so much in endurance sports and I also think it’s

terribly unfair. I’ve been in cyclocross races and watched Kim Coleman, Joanne Grogan and many of the others go by me at an incredible rate. And, you know, again, maybe there’s something there genetically or maybe they also discipline themselves a lot when it comes to their diet and training. So, there’s a whole lot to unpack there. But if you’re going to argue it’s not fair for this person to be in a race because they were born say, male, you could also take that to basketball and say well, it’s not really fair that this person happens to be over seven feet tall— that’s a genetic advantage. So, no system is perfect.

Then we have a system where UCI looks at testosterone as though testosterone were this magical compound. Maybe it is maybe it isn’t. As I have looked at these Elite women for years, I’ve thought no, no, not so magical.

How do you think about gender in races?

When I get to the tail end of an event, I am utterly exhausted, and I am doing my best to keep myself moving forward.

And I’m not sitting there and thinking it’s unfair because [that person ahead of me] they’re six-foot-two with lots of testosterone and could push a lot of watts. I mean, we all know that the world’s best, best endurance athlete could be sitting on a couch somewhere, eating potato chips and smoking Camel Lights, but they haven’t had the opportunity, the encouragement, or the coaching. And let’s not forget that the people who take issue with trans athletes are conveniently forgetting it’s not a genetic lottery, to begin with.

How did you first get into cycling?

I threw my leg over a bike as a little kid growing up here in Vermont, but I don’t

think I got serious about it until I got my first mountain bike, back in probably 1992. I was doing things at Catamount in 1993 so I got to see the first wave of mountain biking take off. But then I was away for it for about 10 years during my time in the military.

Can you tell us about your time in the military?

Between 1996 and 2006 I was in the Alpha Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Infantry Regiment—that’s the Mountain Battalion in the Vermont National Guard. My job was as a military mountaineer and to be prepared for warfare in mountainous terrain.

Training included over-snow mobility, some skiing, snowshoeing, you know all the things that encompass infantry but in hostile, cold weather environments and sometimes vertical environments— though I am deathly afraid of heights.

And then I did a tour in Iraq.

Did you use those mountaineering skills in Iraq?

I used more basic military skills… managing equipment, planning and preparing for missions. Of course, some of the things that relate to hydration apply across any hostile environment and I managed the heat pretty well. Most of the time I was working on logistics, but I went on about 30 missions. I was shot at and I fired warning shots. I had some rounds pass close to me and had a number of close calls. I managed to come through that without any physical scratches. But after a tour in Iraq, I was done. I just couldn’t do that again. I found it way too difficult and succumbed to a lot of anxiety disorder and PTSD. I had to leave the military.

That experience left me with some

things that I rely on cycling to help me with.

How has cycling helped you?

Cycling has been my happy place. It’s kept me sane and it’s kept me healthy and it’s probably why I’m here. I like a post-race beer, but I try to manage that because I am vulnerable to substances for a lot of the reasons we just talked about. My wife Sarah of 15 years and I shoot for sleeping from nine to five. So, I manage that, and I try to keep caffeine consumption really low and early in the day. I also manage my diet because I have a tendency to be overweight. I was a fat kid—205 pounds in the eighth grade and a foot and a half shorter than I am now, but I’ve managed to keep my weight around the high 170s. When I came home from the Iraq War, I was 246 pounds. I was very sick; I was in very bad shape and I was having a very rough time. I did work my way back to cycling more intensely and that was part of what helped me get back on track.

What’s your fitness routine now?

I do intervals in intensity Tuesday, I like to do an endurance ride on Wednesday, a tempo-type ride on Friday, a high tempo, but you know an hour or two and then I will do a couple of big rides over the weekend, three- or four-hour rides. I like to do some hill climbing and go up the Bolton Valley access road. I do some core work and lower body lifting Monday, Wednesday and Friday, some upper body work ,some lunges. And every morning I do planks and side planks, and I incorporate your yoga where I can. Then there’s stacking wood, chores around the house chainsaw work, filling my wheelbarrow with wood, you know, things like that.

That’s a pretty intense week.

Thank you. I try and I do dig deep. Very deep. And that’s another thing that I bring my military experience to bear on. I had to push myself very hard to earn the Rams Head Device [a special military badge earned by graduates of the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vt.], and be a part of what was a very demanding unit in the Vermont Army National Guard at the time, And does your wife Sarah work out with you?

Sure, we go on some rides together— we’ve been together since 2004—but she’s much more of a swimmer. She has a huge rack of medals from the Senior Games and other events. Covid-19 has been harder for her since it’s been difficult to get into the pool. I’m eternally grateful to her for her love and support during this challenging time – and to our amazing cycling community too.

And what’s your goal for 2021?

Rooted was my A-race for this past year and my specific goal is to be in the top 10 women in the 82-mile event in 2021. That’s what I’m working toward and it takes place just 3 miles from my home. I may also do the Vermont Overland and the Julbo Eastern Mountain Grind. I’m currently on the 1K2GO team now, Vermont’s cycling team.

But most importantly, I want to be sure that I’m functionally a good athlete, and not just fast on the bike. I want to do more with strength, and other things and have a wholebody approach, because I have a tendency to get too focused on cycling and let other things suffer to a degree. And with transition I’ve got a lot going on right now.

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GEAR

HOW TO STAY, CLEAN, WARM & DRY

GEAR UP NOW FOR FALL WITH NEW GEAR THAT’S MAKING STRONG PROMISES.

BY LISA LYNN

Rockay Razer

Mishmi Takin Jampui

The Phone Soap 3

glerups booties

BREATHABLE HIKING BOOTS It’s not yet a household name but Mishmi Takin has been making inroads in outdoor gear with this one promise: “We breathe when others don’t.” If making a hiking shoe or boot that’s both waterproof and breatheable is the Holy Grail of outdoor footwear, then founder Kapil Dev Singh-an MIT-trained supply chain expert who has spent years hiking in the eastern Himalaya, as well as the White Mountains of New Hampshire, has found it with the Mishmi Takin Jampui ($150). With trails so dry this year, we had to go looking for places to get these wet but when we did, true to form, they were a waterproof as you can expect from any shoe without being clammy. The Vibram Megagrip soles are stiff and grippy on slippery wet rocks or moss and the mid-cuff heigh provide good support –someplace between a

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boot and a shoe. Weighing in at just 15 oz (for a size 8.5) they are light, too.

And did we mention how much we love the color (we have blue) and styling on the abrasion-resistant suede Cordura upper? The one thing to watch for is this is a relatively flat shoe with a low arch so you might consider a footbed or orthotic.

SOCKS THAT DON’T SMELL? That’s one of the promises that the Rockay Razer ($29.99) makes.

Another relative newcomer to the outdoor scene, Rockay makes socks from 100-percent recycled fabrics, including regenerated Nylon that partner Econyl forms from waste plastic that’s found in oceans and coats them with Polygiene, which it claims prevents the growth of bacteria and offers a lifetime guarantee on

the socks. Now, if you have ever spent a night in a tent full of smelly socks, you will appreciate these all the more. And while they are made “for runners, by runners” (founder Daniel Chabert is an ultrarunner from Copenhagen, Denmark) they have enough cushion to be a good hiking sock as well. The socks come in a variety of heights – as well as compression models. Rockay socks are not cheap. But if you consider that one pair, Rockay says, accounts for 13 bottles of plastic trash removed from the ocean, that’s a buy you can feel good about.

A LAUNDRY FOR YOUR PHONE? Sure, you wear a mask everywhere now, right? But what happens when you pick up your phone? The Phone Soap 3 ($79.95) is a box that both cleans and charges your phone at the same time.

The box has two charging ports so can

be a universal charger for any device.

It uses a UV sanitizer that, it claims, disinfects the phone and kills 99 percent of germs in 10 minutes. It’s a great way to remember to keep your phone clean.

WOOLLY SLIP ONS If you’re looking for a comfy hut shoe, something to slip on in the tent or to wear around the house during Zoom calls, consider a pair of Glerups booties ($155). If you can get over the Danis name which sounds like it was taken from The Hobbit, you’ll love these felted wool slippers and booties which mold to your feet over time and keep them warm, without ever getting clammy. There’s nothing cozier on a cold floor than warm felt. They come as slip-ons, shoes or booties with a choice of natural leather or rubber soles (we prefer the rubber for durability).

VERMONT

SPORTS

LISTING YOUR EVENT IN THIS

CALENDAR IS FREE AND EASY. VISIT VTSPORTS.COM/SUBMIT-AN-EVENT OR E-MAIL EDITOR@VTSPORTS.

COM. ALL AREA CODES ARE 802.

FEATURED EVENTS, IN YELLOW,

PAY A NOMINAL FEE. NOTE THAT

RACES MAY BE CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19.

RUNNING SEPTEMBER 12 | Charlotte Covered Bridge 5k/10k & Half Marathon, Charlotte Run along scenic Vermont country roads through the rustic Holmes Creek Covered Bridge on these out-and-back courses. Pass

by Lake Champlain and quintessential farms to/from an apple orchard. Special precautions and format will make this inperson race Covid-safe. Racevermont.com 12 | Groton Forest Trail Runs, Groton State Forest The Central Vermont Runners host these 26.5-mile and 15-mile runs on multi-use trails. Cvrunners.org/cvr-races/grotonforest-trail-run/ 12 | Maple Leaf Half Marathon and Kotler 5 K, Manchester Your run will take you from the downtown community to picturesque village settings to country roads past farmlands back to the finish. Manchestervtmapleleaf.com 19 | Maple 5k Fun Run, Brattleboro This run/walk is an important fundraiser for Black Mountain Assisted Family Living.

Btmafl.org/maple-5k 19 | 12th Lt. Mark H. Dooley Race of Remembrance, Wilmington A 5K walk/run and kids’ fun run followed by music and awards. Markdooley5k.com 19 | 19th Annual Basin Harbor 5K & 10K, Basin Harbor Enjoy this beautiful 5K course (run twice for the 10K) laid out on the grounds of the Basin Harbor – a spectacular seasonal resort on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Plans are in place to make this Covid-safe.

Racevermont.com 19 | ADK 5K, Lake George, N.Y. Follow the lake on this run which culminates with music, food trucks and games at the Adirondack Brewing Company. Greatamericanbreweryruns.com/adk-5k

RACE & EVENT GUIDE

20 | 7th Island Vines 10K, South Hero Run a scenic 10k in the Champlain Islands and enjoy wine from Snow Farm after.

Runvermont.org/island-vines-10k 20 | Maple Leaf Marathon, Springfield Run eight laps of a 3.3-mile course for a full marathon or four laps for a half. Newenglandchallenge.org/maple-leaf-marathon 20 | 17th TAM Trek, Middlebury The TAM Trek offers a race for everyone.

For the younger crowd or those looking for a shorter distance, pick the 2-mile family fun run. If you’re up for the challenge, try the 19-mile course that attracts serious trail runners from around the state, and if you’re somewhere in between those options, perhaps the shorter-than-19-miles, but equally scenic, 10K is for you. All proceeds go towards maintaining the Middlebury Area Land Trust. Maltvt.org/tam-trek 25-27 | Beebe Farm Classic, Dorset Choose between a 48-hour, a 12-hour, a 6-hour race, a marathon, a 50K and a ”quadzilla” all on a 0.87-mile loop at Harold Beebe Farm. Netrailruns.com 26 | Miles for Migraine, Burlington Run a 10K, 5L or two-mile course to raise awareness about migraine disease and research. Milesformigraine.org/burlington-2020/ 26 | 47th Art Tudhope 10K, Shelburne Start at Shelburne Beach for a scenic run through Charlotte apple orchards along Lake Champlain. Gmaa.run

OCTOBER 10 | The Dee Run, Rockingham This hilly race 5K will take you through wooded trails and on dirt roads. The Dee Foundation works to create accessible and welcoming communities. thedeefoundation. org/the-dee-run-information 11 | Shelburne Farms 5K, Shelburne The Virtual 5K run still goes on on Shelburne Farms property. Run past Lake Champlain, through the quaint farm grounds before making your way past the Inn at Shelburne Farms. racevermont.com 11 | 25th Annual Mad Dash, Waitsfield The 5K and 10k dirt road courses through the Mad River Valley past farms and fall foliage. madriverpath.org/maddash 25 | Run for Recovery, Brattleboro An easy/intermediate 5K (3.1 miles) that will start and end on 100 Flat Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. runsignup.com

31 | Kingdom Challenge, St. Johnsbury The point-to-point half marathon will take you through four covered bridges, scenic back roads and up classic Vermont hills.

The 5K loop course starts at the St. Johnsbury School. Thekingdomchallenge.com

31 | Nor’witch Halloween Half’witch, Full’witch and Ultra’witch, Rupert The 25k loop course will take you through the northern Taconic Mountains with considerable elevation change. 50k runners will do the loop twice and 100k runners will do it four times. Runthewitch.com

NOVEMBER 15 | Sleepy Hollow Mountain Race, Huntington This rescheduled trail run starts at noon and takes you 6.4 rugged miles on the trails of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, Bike and Outdoor Center. sleepyhollowmmtnrace.com

CYCLING SEPTEMBER 12 | Virtual 15th Annual Kelly Brush Ride – Middlebury This family-friendly event has gone virtual, replacing group riding with STRAVA segments and other interactive challenges to encourage teams and individuals to have lots of fun through their participation. A fundraiser for the foundation which helps people with spinal cord injuries lead active lives. Kellybrushfoundation.com 13 | The Peak Woodsplitter 6-Hour Mountain Bike Race, Pittsfield Compete to see how many mountainous laps you can cover in the 6-hour time limit.

Peakraces.com/bike-races/mrb6/ 19 | FOTW Fall Pary Huntington Join Fellowship of the Wheel to celebrate the opening of Kessel's Run at Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski & Bike Center with bike demos from Outdoor Gear Exchange, beverages from Halyard Brewing Co., a gift-card scavenger hunt supported by The Skinny Pancake and much more!

19 | Ride For Justice, Smuggler's Notch RideRoute 108 up and over Smugglers’ Notch in support of social and criminal justice reform. Riders and relay teams climb as many laps as possible over six hours. smuggs.com

20| Mt. Ascutney Bicycle Hillclimb, Windsor Held annually from 1999 to 2014, this event came back last year and is once again on. It features a paved 3.7 -mile course with an average 12 percent grade. Part of the BUMPS hill climb championship series. Facebook. com/BikeUpTheMountainPointSeries 25 | Super8 Grand Depart, Montpelier This small group, self-supported backpacking ride will take you around the state in a figure-8, 640-mile gravel route vetted by more than 20 riders . this year the event will also feature a “Self-Sufficient” option to help reduce contact with local stores. Vermontbikepackers.org 26 | Just Bike! Justice for Kids, North Bennington This most-likely-virtual event offers 30-, 20-, 5- and 2-mile routes. Bccac.org/justbike-justice-for-kids 26 | Hungry Lion Bike Tour, Whitingham Great cycling from 5-miles to 75-miles on rolling hills. Hungrylionbiketour.com 3 | Kingdom Games Fly to Pie Kingdom Marathon, West Glover FE “Run it - Bike it - Hike it - But do it” the event’s tagline reads. 26.2-miles, 17-miles, 13.5-miles or 10km, these races can be completed however you’d like! 20 % of all fees will be donated to the Halo Foundation, financially helping Orleans County families dealing with cancer. Kingdomgames.co/ fly-to-pie-kingdom-marathon/

OTHER SEPTEMBER 8-20 | Vermont Climbing Festival, Bolton An event for new and current climbers. participate in clinics, see keynote speakers and gain new skills while camping out.

Vermontclimbingfestival.com 28-29 | She Casts- A Women’s FlyFishing Weekend, Woodstock Hosted by the Woodstock Inn & Resort, an Orvis Endorsed Lodge, and taught by resident guide Chandra Anderson at Suicide Six and surrounding waters. Learn basic to advanced skills. Gear provided. Suicide6. com/summer/orvis-endorsed-fly-fishing

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 31

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99 Bonnet St., Manchester Ctr, VT 802-362-2734 | battenkillbicycles. com Manchester, Vermont's bicycle shop since 1972, Battenkill Bicycles is a Trek and Specialized Bicycle dealer offering advice and sales to meet all your cycling needs.

The service department offers tune-ups and repairs for all brands of bikes. Come to the shop to rent a bike or get information about local group rides or get advice on where to ride your bike in the Northshire. Battenkill Bicycles is the Number One eBike seller in Southern Vermont and is an authorized Bosch eBike systems service center.

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BERKSHIRE OUTFITTERS

RR 8, 169 Grove St., Adams, MA 413-743-5900 | berkout@bcn.net We are a full-service bike shop at the base of the Mt. Greylock State Reservation. We also border a beautiful 12-mile paved rail trail. We carry Jamis, Rocky Mountain and G.T. We offer sales, repairs and hybrid bike rentals for the rail trail.

WHY BUY LOCAL? These days, more than ever, it's important to support you local, independently-owned bike shops.

Here's why:

1. Trust: When you shop locally, you know if something goes wrong, they're ready to help.

2) Fit: there are few wrong bikes, just wrong fits.

3) Local knowledge. Want to know where to ride. Here's where you'll get your local beta.

4) Group rides: What's more fun than joining a small group for a great ride?

5) They make it happen: these are the shops that help build trails and volunteer their support at local charity rides. Do right. Support them.

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DID YOUR SHOP GET DROPPED? TO JOIN THE BIKESHOP DIRECTORY, CALL 802-388-4944 OR EMAIL US AT ADS@VTSPORTS.COM

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A full-service shop near Smugglers' Notch. We offer new, used and custom bikes as well as custom-built wheel builds for mountain, road, gravel, fat bikes, bikepacking and touring. Rentals offered at our Cambridge Junction shop on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Bikes are a passion here. We carry Salsa, Orbea, Surly, Kona, Rocky Mountain, Civia and more.

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BRADLEY’S PRO SHOP SKI & SPORT

2012 Depot St. Manchester Center, VT 05255 802-367-3118 | bradleysproski.com Bradley’s Pro Shop Ski & Bike is the premier bike shop in Southern Vermont!

We are located in Manchester Center.

Always known as your go-to ski shop we are now your go-to bike shop. We have one of the best bike mechanics in Vermont on staff, Dan Rhodes. Many of you know of his reputation as a master bike mechanic.

Dan runs all aspects of our bicycle operations. We carry the full lineup of Cannondale and GT bikes—mountain bikes, gravel, e-bikes, BMX and hybrids. We are a full-service operation with sales, service, accessories and rentals including e-bikes.

We always offer a great bike tune-up price

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AROUND THE REGION advertising section

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CHUCK’S BIKES

45 Bridge St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-7642 | chucksbikes802.com Putting smiles on people's faces for over 35 years. Bikes by Jamis, Transition, Norco, KHS, Davinci, Raleigh, Marin and Diamondback. Hours: Mon - Wed and Fri 10-5, Sat and Thurs 10-2. Be well by being smart.

EARL’S CYCLERY & FITNESS

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2069 Williston Rd., South Burlington, VT 802-864-9197 | earlsbikes.com Earl’s Cyclery has been serving Vermont's cycling and fitness needs for more than 65 years. With over 12,000 square feet at the new location, Earl’s has the largest selection of bikes from Trek, Giant, Scott, Bianchi, Electra, Haro, and more. The service center at Earl’s has professionally trained technicians who are certified to work on all makes and models of bicycles, not just the ones we sell. Whether

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EAST BURKE SPORTS

439 Route 114 East Burke VT 802-626-3215 | eastburkesports.com We are the original home to Kingdom Trails. Located in the heart of town, we pride ourselves in expert knowledge while providing friendly customer service. A fullservice shop awaits you and your repair needs. We have 100 rental bikes with an enormous selection of clothing, parts, and accessories. Hours: 9 - 6 every day

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74 Main St., Middlebury, VT 802-388-6666 | froghollow bikes.com Take advantage of the most advanced and courteous service in our region, with quick turn-around time in our service shop downstairs. Upstairs in the sales room, we offer the best in new and used road, mountain, lifestyle, and children’s bikes and new gear. We carry brands that offer superior products that balance innovation and performance with reliability and value.

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THE GEAR HOUSE

16 Pleasant St., Randolph 802-565-8139 gearhouse.com As Vermont's newest full service shop, The Gear House brings fresh energy and excitement to the state's cycling scene. Randolph has newlyrevived MTB access that mixes classic oldschool singletrack with some machinebuilt zones. Start the 12/12a loop from the shop for 38 miles of smooth, safe road miles. Or map out a day ride entirely on the gravel. The shop is also home to R.A.S.T.A.'s outdoor trail hub with a state map including every VMBA chapter, as well as 3D topographical maps with epic rides. Park in the municipal lot next to the shop and say hi before exploring the area!

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GREEN MOUNTAIN BIKES

105 N. Main Rochester VT 800-767-7882 | greenmountain bikes.com

St.

Located in the center of Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains, we are surrounded by terrain that calls to mountain and road bikers alike. Whether you ride twisting trails or back to back gaps, we service, sell, and rent all styles of bicycles, featuring Kona, Jamis, Juliana, Raleigh, Santa Cruz, Transition, and Hinderyckx bikes - hand crafted by our own Rochester boy Zak Hinderyckx. So STOP READING and RIDE YOUR BIKE! Hours: 7 days a week, 10 – 6.

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HIGH PEAKS CYCLERY & MOUNTAIN GUIDES

2733 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3764 | highpeakscyclery.com Adirondack's source for bicycling and outdoor gear since 1983!

Sales, service, rentals, demos, and tours. Salsa, Giant, Yeti, and more. Your adventure center for mountain biking, gravel and road riding. Dirt, gravel, road, e-bike tours, Basecamp Lodge, and dirt camps!

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MALLETTS BAY BICYCLE & SKI

794 W. Lakeshore Dr. Colchester, VT 802-863-2453 | mbbicyle.com

Malletts Bay es�� ����

Bicycle & Ski

Service, rentals and sales. Located on the shores of beautiful Malletts Bay, our shop offers expert repairs, top quality rentals, a fine complement of accessories and new bicycles from KHS, Swix, Intense and Reid.

Rent a bike from our Airport Park location and be out on the Colchester Causeway, the ‘Jewel of the Island Line Trail,” in minutes!

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MOUNTAINOPS

4081 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-4531 mountainopsvt. com

We offer bike sales and service, fast and friendly with no attitude. We sell a full like of Rocky Mountain bikes for all abilities and riding styles. You’ll find tons of clothing and accessories in our converted 1893 barn.

Our techs have decades of experience with all types of bikes and our knowledge of local trails is awesome. We rent cruisers and performance mountain bikes for Stowe’s sweet collection of trails and are a Scott Demo Center!

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OLD SPOKES HOME

331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 802-863-4475 | oldspokeshome.com Vermont’s best selection of professionally refurbished used bikes and new bikes for touring, bike packing, commuting, fat biking, and simply getting around town. Named one of the country’s best bike shops for it’s “plain-talk advice and no-nonsense service.” A non-profit as of January 2015, Old Spokes Home uses 100% of its revenue to run programs creating access to bikes in the community. And don’t miss their famous antique bicycle museum!

Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 - 6, Sun. 12 - 5.

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OMER & BOB’S

20 Hanover St. Lebanon, NH603448-3522 | omerandbobs.com The Upper Valley’s bike shop since 1964.

We carry road bikes, mountain bikes and kids bikes from brands including Trek, Specialized and Colnago.

Featuring a full service department offering bike fitting, bike rentals and a kids’ trade-in, trade-up program. Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 – 6, Sat. 9 – 5.

ONION RIVER OUTDOORS 20 Langdon St. Montpelier, VT 802-225-6736 | onionriver.com

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ORO is Central Vermont's premier bike, car rack, and outdoor gear shop. Friendly and knowledgeable sales and service. We carry Specialized, Niner, Rocky Mountain, Salsa, Surly, and Yuba, and a large variety of clothing and accessories, including Giro, Smith, Club Ride, Patagonia, and more.

GEAR 17 OUTDOOR EXCHANGE 37 Church St., Burlington, VT 802-860-0190 | gearx.com OGE offers riders a premier bike shop with a knowledgeable, friendly, and honest staff. We have commuters and gravel grinders from Marin and KHS, mountain bikes from Pivot, Transition, Rocky Mountain and Yeti and a wide consignment selection as well as a demo fleet so you can try it before you buy it.

Our service department is capable of everything from tuning your vintage road bike to servicing your new mountain bike and offers full Fox shock service. Come see us on Church Street! Hours: Mon. – Thurs.

10 – 8, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 9, Sun. 10 – 6.

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POWERPLAY SPORTS

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TYGART MOUNTAIN SPORTS

35 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-6557 powerplaysports.com

57 Pond St. STE 1, Ludlow, VT (802) 228-5440 Info@tygartmountainsports.com, Tygartmountainsports.com

North Central Vermont's Trek and Giant Dealer nestled in the heart of bike country.

Selling new and used bikes for every budget and every type of rider from beginner to expert. We service all manner of bike and sell tons of accessories and apparel. Bike rentals for the Lamoille Valley

We are a full service bicycle sales and service center. We carry a wide selection of Scott and Kona bikes and a variety of accessories from Scott, Giro, Louis Garneau, Blackburn, Park Tools and others. We offer service and repairs on all makes and models including inhouse suspension service, wheel building, and full bike build-outs.

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RANCH CAMP

311 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-2753 | ranchcampvt.com Ranch Camp is Stowe’s mountain bike base lodge, and your hub for bikes, gear, and culture! Ranch Camp offers a full-service mountain bike shop, tap room, and fast casual eatery, featuring sales and demo bikes from Specialized, Evil, Yeti, Rocky Mountain and Ibis. Looking for top of the line mountain bikes and components? Got ‘em. How about local brews from New England's finest purveyors of craft libations? You bet. And if you need a thoughtfully crafted graband-go meal for your ride, or a place to sit down and refuel afterwards, Ranch Camp has you covered. Best of all, Ranch Camp is situated trailside with its very own public access entrance into Stowe’s iconic Cady Hill trail network.

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SKIRACK

85 Main St. Burlington 802-658-3313 skirack.com

Locally-owned since 1969, Skirack provides gear, clothing, expert fitting and accessories for all cyclists, with full service tuning and repairs...plus complete bike suspension service on most forks and rear shocks.

Designated one of America’s Best Bike Shops, Skirack is blocks from Lake Champlain. Open seven days a week. Visit www.skirack.com for up-to-date hours and online shopping.

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STARK MOUNTAIN

9 RTE 17, unit b Waitsfield, VT 802-496-4800 Find us on Facebook

Located at the lowest spot in the Mad River Valley so you can coast in when you break your bike on a ride! 21 years of advise,directions and fixing anything that pedals. Thinking about a Yeti? Come ride one of ours,we have been selling Yeti since 2006! Hours: Tues-Fri 9-6*, Sat 9-4, and Sunday 10-2. *Close at 5 on Thursdays for the Shop Ride.

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VILLAGE SPORT SHOP

511 Broad St. Lyndonville, VT 802-626-8448| villagesport shop.com

Established in 1978, we are a family-owned, passiondriven sporting goods store serving customers for four seasons of adventure.

Strongly focused on bike and ski, we have highly skilled knowledgeable technicians and sales staff to assist in all needs of purchase, rental and service. With two locations, one nestled trailside on the world-renowned Kingdom Trails, and the other in downtown Lyndonville, we’re here to make your adventures happen!

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WATERBURY SPORTS

46 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT

802-882-8595 | waterburysportsvt.com A full service bike shop selling Trek and Giant bikes in one of Vermont's most convenient locations. Nestled in downtown Waterbury a short distance from the Perry Hill MTB trails, WBS services all bikes and can handle any repair you might have. We also have a fleet of demo bikes and and an excellent selection of parts and accessories.

Open 7 days a week!

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WEST HILL SHOP

49 Brickyard Lane, Putney, 802-387-5718

westhillshop com Since 1971, West Hill Shop has been a lowkey, friendly source for bikes ‘n gear, service and rare wisdom. We are known regionally as the go-to place for problem-solving technicians. Our bike fitters specialize in comfort without sacrificing efficiency.

Recently, we’ve focused on stocking gravel road bikes, with awesome dirt road riding out our door. Join our West Hill Grinder in September, a rural adventure on scenic gravel roads or wily trails. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-5.

SEPT./OCT. 2020 | VTSPORTS.COM 33

ENDGAME

B

ack in my adventurous teenage years, on a bright, crisp autumn afternoon, a friend and I stood around in the yard, bored, wondering what we should do to pass the golden hours, to generate a thrill. Summery lake activities were finished. The winter of mountain activities had not yet begun. We knew there was something to do, some perfect something, a hobby tuned to the season, a quest tuned to the beauty of the present-tense landscape, but we couldn’t quite name it.

Saturday in the Champlain Valley: a low-stakes quandary, a question mark.

Have you been there? Can you relate?

Yes, probably. Thus far the story is exceedingly common, borderline banal.

What happened next, though, has stuck with me ever since, and this stickiness, this unforgetting, signals a kind of importance, a kind of hidden meaning.

My friend, who for our purposes we’ll call Brown Bat, scratched his chin and scuffed the grass with his heel—he looked down. And I, who for our purposes we’ll call Flying Squirrel, scratched my chin and tossed an acorn toward the branches of an overarching oak—I looked up.

“What if we drove to Weybridge Cave, largest cave in the state, or maybe deepest, I dunno,” said Brown Bat. “I’ve spelunked it a couple times. Crazy. You sidestep this narrow hallway, then rappel a small cliff, then it gets complicated, confusing, things start branching.”

He sang the praises of mucky slop and slippery rock, of blackest claustrophobia and stalactites bathed in a headlamp’s pale yellow glow, until I interrupted with another tossed acorn, incredulous.

“You really wanna go subterranean on a gorgeous afternoon, get all filthy and scared while the birds are chirping and the maple leaves are popping?” I liked the mention of ropework, the idea of using finely braided nylon to gain access to an otherwise inaccessible realm, but the underworld itself was unappealing.

“What if we drove to Bristol instead,” I countered. “There’s that stand of oldgrowth white pines, those big fellas, remember? I bet we could climb ‘em with your rope, rig hammocks a hundred feet off the deck, chill in our harnesses and watch the sunset.”

Spoiler alert, there was no plunge into dirty damp darkness, no lift into green giddy swaying, no adrenaline, no exposure. Rather than commit to a plan, Flying Squirrel and Brown Bat continued to mill around, debating what style of weird entertainment best

34 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2020

IT'S A PERFECT FALL DAY. WHADDYA DO? VERMONT HAS AN EMBARRASMENT OF RICHES. IN THE FALL, YOU CAN KAYAK OR CAVE, CLIMB OR CANOE, HIKE OR MOUNTAIN BIKE. OR… YOU COULD DO THIS.

BY LEATH TONINO The view from Mt. Philo and the endless possibilities of things to do in Vermont's glory season.

suited the afternoon, the beauty of the present-tense landscape. Meantime, the present-tense landscape dimmed and the afternoon faded away, along with the dilemma. A pair of aimless adolescent critters hamstrung by options, we failed to act, to either descend or ascend.

Failed, hmmm. Is that an accurate word, an accurate evaluation, or is it misleading? Perhaps feeling overwhelmed by options is actually failure’s opposite, a sneaky form of success. Therein lies, I believe, the hidden meaning of this little story that is superficially about indecision.

I’ve come to understand that what occurred on that bright, crisp afternoon was a partial survey of Vermont’s staggering diversity, its stupendous possibility. Pygmy shrew, moose, Canadian lynx, cottontail rabbit, bog lemming, bear: the state boasts 58 mammal species, each of which practices the art of flowing through and in and with a particular wild habitat. Bats wing

through cavern corridors! Squirrels leap crown to crown! And aimless adolescent creatures, if we remain awake to the awesomeness of nature, draw inspiration from these and countless other lifeforms—or at least can.

The thin film of horizontal space that separates ground from sky is not the only world worth exploring. There is a below, an above, and who the heck knows what else. There is a vertical axis to the planet, an unfathomable thickness to the globe. Contemplation of this thickness occasionally lights a fire beneath our butts, spurring us to action, jumpstarting a new adventure, packing us into the car and pointing us to Weybridge, Bristol, wherever. That’s good, very special. But loafing around in the yard, kicking leaves, tossing acorns, brainstorming with a buddy, touring in imagination the diversity, the possibility, of our place—well, that’s a pretty legit adventure, too.

Nay, that’s a pretty legit celebration.

That’s creativity and appreciation. That’s failure’s opposite, a sneaky form of success.

Epilogue: Brown Bat went on to study geology in college (go figure) and Flying Squirrel went on to take a job with the US Forest Service (surprise, surprise).

Channeling their more-than-human neighbors, the athletic denizens of the local thickness, the duo did eventually cave and climb, and they also devised other strange expeditions into the inexhaustible terrain of the Champlain Valley. Grown men now, they still thoroughly enjoy standing around in the yard on a bright, crisp afternoon, standing around and jabbing their jaws, standing around and improvising answers—experimental solutions—to the question mark of the day.

Ferrisburgh native Leath Tonino is the author of two essay collections, most recently The West Will Swallow You (Trinity University Press, 2019).

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M A N S F I E L D O R T H O PA E D I C S

Getting you back to the trails you love.

Sports Medicine at Copley Hospital.

Even with COVID-19, the great outdoors is open! Don’t let injuries or chronic knee, hip, shoulder, or ankle pain keep you from getting back on the trails you love. The experts at Mansfield Orthopaedics can help with state-of-the-art treatments designed specifically for you with Copley's warm, personalized care.

Our physicians: Nicholas Antell, MD; Brian Aros, MD; John Macy, MD; Joseph McLaughlin, MD; Bryan Monier, MD.

To make an appointment with a Mansfield Orthopaedic Specialist at Copley Hospital, call 802.888.8405 ORTHOPEDICS | OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY | CARDIOLOGY EMERGENCY SERVICES | GENERAL SURGERY | ONCOLOGY UROLOGY | REHABILITATION SERVICES | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

528 Washington Highway, Morrisville, VT 6 North Main Street, Waterbury, VT EXCEPTIONAL CARE. COMMUNITY FOCUSED.

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