Vermont Sports 2021 July Issue

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CAMP ON THE WATER Paddle or motor to these sweet sites how to be superhuman By cartoonist Alison Bechdel

S O U T H W E S T E R N V E R M O N T M E D I CA L C E N T E R RESTORING

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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, Wilson Vickers

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Bolton serial athlete and award winning cartoonist Alison Bechdel shares an excerpt from her new book, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, starting page 10. .

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5 The Start

Superhuman Vermonters

Are Vermonters insanely driven or just very, very fast?

7 News

She's Making History

How Elle Purrier-St. Pierre's training in Vermont helped her win the Olympic Trials.

10 Feature

18 Feature

In her new book, excerpted here, Bolton resident, cartoonist and MacArthur genius grant winner Alison Bechdel dives into an illustrated history of her pursuit of sports and sports fads and what

The Bold Coast of The Maine Island Trail may be the rowdiest, but here are 5 easy weekend trips you can try too.

The Secret to Superhuman Strength

exercise really does for us.

Paddling to the End of the Maine Island Trail

27 Featured Athlete The Angler

8

14 Feature

Alexa Tetrault wants to get more women fishing.

If digestive problems are slowing you down, you better take a hard look at what you're eating.

Loaded with history, the islands on Lake George have ideal campsites for a family of four or a party of twelve.

1

30 Calendar

Health Time for a Gut Check?

Family Camping on Lake George

34 Endgame Raft Reading

VERMONT SPORTS IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

394-95591_ch01_3P.indd 1

Race & Event Guide

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JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 3

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THE START

SUPERHUMAN VERMONTERS ARE VERMONTERS INSANELY DRIVEN? OR JUST FAST?

Enjoy outdoor adventures across our 2,600 acres + sip von Trapp beer while enjoying Austrian inspired food at the Bierhall + 25 miles of mountain biking trails + 18 hole disc golf course RJ. Thompson, running on the Long Trail. In June, he was on track to set the fastest known time. Courtesy photo.

I

n Vermont, we tend to take being superhuman for granted. In a state that has a disproportionate number of world class athletes, if you’re not running up Camel’s Hump before breakfast, well Couch Potato, what’s up?

This really hit home over the span of two weeks in mid-June: First, Stowe’s R.J Thompson, the founder of the Vermont Huts Association attempted a fastest-known-time run of the Long Trail. He logged 180 miles of the 273-mile trail in four days. The Vermont ultrarunner was 11 miles ahead of Oregonian Jeff Garmire’s 2019 unsupported record of 5 days, 23 hours and 48 minutes when he had to pull the plug in North Shrewsbury. As Thompson was descending Killington lighting shook the ground around him and thunderstorms were forecast for the next day. “With a two-year-old son and a second kiddo on the way, I had to make the right call for my family and myself,” he said on Facebook.

In mid-June, Teage O’Connor, the ultrarunner from Burlington whom we profiled in our 2018 feature “Teage O’Connor Runs Wild,” headed out to Milwaukee to try to set the world 100-mile record. And to do so barefoot.

He was one of 150 elite runners from around the world invited to use the indoor track over a week as part of a series called Six Days in the Dome. They were all there to set records. O’Connor was on pace to break the record and ran 50 miles n 5:34:32. But the pounding on the track, 12 mm over concrete, was too brutal, his coach Sam Davis said, so O’Connor stopped.

And then there was Elle Purrier-St. Pierre. On June 22 the girl who grew up on a dairy farm in Montgomery won the Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meters. on June 22. It is still hard to fathom that at 26 Purrier-St. Pierre has already made history as the second fastest woman to ever run a mile on an indoor track. She will join Burlington rugby player Ilona Maher representing the U.S. at the Olympics The cartoonist Alison Bechdel of

Bolton hasn’t set any track records to my knowledge. But she has won a MacArthur genius grant – one of 20 to 30 people each year who are awarded a $625,000 fellowship to pursue creative and original endeavors. That makes her superhuman in my book.

In the past four decades, Bechdel has tried just about every sport, exercise fad and challenge that Vermont can throw at her. Bike Lincoln Gap? Check.

Hike Camel’s Hump? Of course.

Backcountry ski? Yup. In her new graphic memoir, The Secret to Supherhuman Strength, Bechdel, now 60, writes about attempting all of these things. She does so in a remarkably normal human way that mere mortals and aging mere mortals can relate to. She also dives deep into what exercise does for us emotionally and mentally and how it has helped her overcome other hurdles in her life. Bechdel graciously shares an excerpt. Go buy the book.

It’s easy to take all these superhuman Vermonters for granted.

As John Vaaler, one of our summer interns from Middlebury College, was compiling our events calendar this issue he said, “Can I ask you a question: What’s up with all these 100-mile races and runs over mountains? Is this normal for Vermonters? These races are insane!”

I guess I had started to take these events for granted. That’s what happens when you live in a state of superhumans. Fortunately, there are also plenty of 5Ks and 10ks and 25-mile bike options.

I may never run more than 26.1 miles or set a record in anything but I’m grateful to the RJs and Teages and Elles and Alisons who inspire us all to run a little faster, try a little harder and go a little longer.

Thank you, superhumans.

—Lisa Lynn,

Earn your Beers!

Ride to the Brewery!

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Near or far, wherever you are, you can participate in the 2021 Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk.

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JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 5

Photo by Caleb Kenna

Fall in love with

Summer

Kickstart your summer fun with activities, history, cuisine, art and more here in the heart of Vermont.

IN MIDDLEBURY

Y

ou gotta love summers in Middlebury with epic swimming, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, camping, and fishing. Did we mention road biking? Some of New England’s best riding is here. Brag about the LAMB ride over four Green Mountain gaps or soft pedal along the Lake Champlain coastline. When you’re ready to slow down, visit the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, Henry Sheldon and Vermont Folklife museums, a college campus full of summer language school students and galleries featuring local artists. Events are back! There’s live music during the Festival onthe-Green or films screened by the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Cap off your visit by strolling down Main Street, enjoying local food, or visit our brewers and distillers on the Middlebury Tasting Trail.

LEARN MORE AT:

ExperienceMiddlebury.com

6 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

Photo courtesy of ACORN Tour de Farms

NEWS

SHE'S MAKING HISTORY.

ELLE PURRIER-ST. PIERRE OF BERKSHIRE, VT. SWEPT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS, CAPPING OFF A YEAR OF SETTING RECORDS. Elle Purrier-St. Pierre is getting used to looking over her shoulder... and seeing no one there. Here she is shown winning the 5K Olympic Trials qualifier in Texas. As versatile as she is fast, Purrier-St. Pierre could compete at the Olympic level in the 5,000, 1,500 or 800 meters.

Photo by Johnny Zhang

I

f you were on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail this spring you might have seen one of the fastest women in history run through the farmland, her powerful 5 foot 3 inch frame pumping, her blonde ponytail flying and her German Shepherd Maya at her side.

The trail, not far from the dairy farm she grew up on, has been a training ground for Elle Purrier-St. Pierre, a place where she’s probably logged more miles than on any track.

In a recent Instagram post she and her husband, dairy farmer Jamie St. Pierre sit on the back of their pickup truck. “What, Canada’s only 20 miles away?!” says Purrier-St. Pierre in mock surprise. “Here, hold my milk.” The camera then logs her 20-mile run.

The trails and backroads of Franklin County are where, during Covid, Purrier-St. Pierre put in her long miles logging up to 80 miles a week, For much of the winter she trained alone separated from the New Balance teammates she had been living with in

Boston and out of the spotlight she’s been under for the past 18 months.

It’s a spotlight that’s shone on since February 8, 2020 when she became the fastest American woman to run a mile — her time of 4:16:85 breaking Mary Decker Slaney’s record which had stood since 1982. It was also the second fastest indoor mile time ever for a woman.

A year later, she became the fastest American woman to run two miles, posting the third fastest time in the world. She also holds the fastest time for the 1,500 meters this year and is the first to run 800 meters in under two minutes.

At 26, she’s only just getting started.

“Sometimes (most of the time) I feel like I live a double life. One day I’m in NYC ripping around the track on the big stage and the next I’m at home in the quiet of the barn and surrounded by the comforting presence of cows. What a wild combo.. .but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she wrote in an Instagram post this past winter.

On June 22, Elle’s quiet life as the daughter Vermont dairy farmers, and now, a partner and wife of a dairy farmer came to an abrupt end. She set a new personal record and meet record at the Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meter, winning a trip to the Tokyo Olympics.

It will be her second major overseas competition. In the first, the World Championships in Doha, she finished 11th and earned a spot on Team USA. Purrier-St. Pierre didn’t just win each of her Olympic trials heats, she gapped the the rest of the field. In the final, after being pushed off the track and stumblimg, she regained her balance, and led the entire race. She hit the 800 meter mark in 2:09.

In the last lap, she lengthened her lead, moving ahead until it looked like she was running alone. She crossed the line in 3:58:36, an Olympic Trials record. Right behind her were two of her New Balance teammates Cory McGee (4:00:67) and Heather Maclean, a good friend of Purrier-St.

Pierre (4:02:09), punched their tickets to Tokyo. They are coached by former Dartmouth coach and Olympian Mark Coogan.

While last year there was speculation she might race the 5,000 meter as well, Purrier-St. Pierre is entered in the Trials in the 800 meters. The finals came after press time.

Despite her growing fame, PurrierSt. Pierre is still rooted in Vermont.

Other than New Balance, the sponsor she touts the most is Cabot Creamery and milk, in general. It is, she says, what got her to where she is.

“I think growing up doing all the chores I did on the farm, like lugging hay bales and waking up before dawn to help my folks has prepared me for this and made me stronger,” Purrier-St. Pierre told Vermont Sports in January when she was named an Athlete of the Year.

Her recovery drink? Chocolate milk, of course.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 7

TIME FOR A GUT CHECK?

NUTRITION

IF THE TROTS ARE SLOWING DOWN YOUR RUNNING, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS. BY JAMIE SHEAHAN, M.S., R.D.

E

verybody poops. I know this is a subject matter avoided in more refined company, but it’s a fact.

Unfortunately, runners seem to have to do so at the most inconvenient times, like mid-race when there is not a porto-potty in sight.

Don’t be embarrassed if this rings true—you are in very good company.

One study found that over 60% of runners needed to make a bee-line for the nearest bathroom (or wooded area) during a run to, well let’s just say, “attend to business.”

Marathon legend Bill Rodgers once remarked, “More marathons are won or lost in the portable toilets than at the dinner table.” Seeing a PR slip away should make addressing the topic of Number Two a number one priority.

Runner’s diarrhea, also known as runner’s trots, is characterized by loose bowel movements that typically occur during, or immediately after, a run.

What is it about distance running that causes our stomachs to revolt?

For starters, running is a highimpact activity. The mechanical stress of all that pounding isn’t just tough on our knees. All of that up-and-down

Over 60 percent of runners have to make a bee-line for the bathroom during a run. Don't let that stop you.

movement jostles our GI tract and in so doing speeds up how quickly things move along inside.

Another contributor is reduced blood flow to the colon. During exercise the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated, which cues our body to redirect blood flow to our working muscles. That’s great news for our legs, which need that extra blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients, but bad news for

our gut. For better or worse these factors are mostly out of our control. However, there are factors we can modify.

Stress can negatively impact our health in countless ways and you better believe digestive health is no exception.

Our brain and gut are linked by the Vagus nerve which provides constant communication between the two. In a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, male and female runners kept

a 30-day journal with detailed notes on their runs as well as GI issues and levels of perceived stress and anxiety.

Not surprisingly, the higher intensity and duration of runs correlated with GI distress.

Given what we know about issues arising from mechanical stress and the shunting of blood flow away from the gut, this is only to be expected.

However, the most notable result from this study was the positive correlation between the runners’ stress and anxiety levels and GI problems.

Our brains — and thus our guts — don’t distinguish between the stressors of everyday life and pre-race jitters. If you find your stomach acting up even on low-pressure training runs, consider meditation or yoga to reduce overall stress. If your GI problems seem to only crop up during races, working with a sports psychologist to develop strategies to manage emotions prior to and during your race might be beneficial.

But what if runner’s diarrhea isn’t just in your head, but a consequence of what you put in your stomach?

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at the source; our gut. What we ingest prior to a run is arguably the easiest factor to control, yet can be the hardest to figure out. That’s because everyone is different in terms of what foods are tolerated and which prove to be problematic. A pre-run meal that keeps one runner adequately fueled and digestively sound could send another runner dashing for a toilet. That said, there are some general rules of thumb.

Fiber: In the 48-24 hours leading up to a race it is best to reduce fiber intake.

Dietary fiber is normally considered a nutritional must for keeping us regular, but in the day or two leading up to a race it can be more foe than friend.

Limit high-fiber grains, beans, legumes, seeds, vegetables and high-fiber fruits, especially the morning before a race or long run. Those bran flakes topped with seeds and berries can wait.

Fat: Dietary fat delays gastric emptying time, which normally is a great way to increase the satiety of a meal. However, in the few hours leading up to a run the last thing we want is food sitting around in our stomach. You don’t need to avoid fat entirely, but a conservative spread of peanut butter on a bagel is plenty to keep you satisfied without causing complications.

Caffeine: That cup of coffee may get you moving a little quicker in the morning, but it can also get your bowels moving quicker as well. Caffeine from coffee or any other source like tea or soda can move foods through the GI tract faster, which if not timed well can spell disaster. That doesn’t mean you have to forego caffeine entirely, especially considering that it is a proven ergogenic aid. To reap the benefits of caffeine, keep it to one cup and allow time to use the bathroom before your run.

Sugar alcohols: Commonly used in sugar-free gums, candies, protein bars and even ice cream, sugar alcohols commonly cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. Not great on an average day and certainly far from ideal when running. Steer clear of products with sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol or mannitol listed in the ingredients.

Dairy: Even a mild lactose-intolerance can rear its ugly head when dairy is consumed prior to exercise. There are ample dairy-free milks, yogurts, cheeses and the like so if you have any doubt that dairy might be a problem for you, why risk it?

Hydrate: It may sound counter intuitive, but dehydration can actually

Marathon legend Bill Rodgers once remarked “More marathons are won or lost in the portable toilets than at the dinner table.” cause runner’s diarrhea. As previously mentioned, decreased blood flow to the colon can trigger diarrhea and dehydration only exacerbates this.

Hydrating adequately before and during can help offset the water loss experienced during exercise.

Unfamiliar foods: If you wouldn’t test out a new pair of shoes on race day then why would you try out a new pre-run breakfast? Stick with familiar foods that you have ideally consumed prior to long training runs and know work well for you. If you’re traveling for a race, identify a restaurant or store that has your tried and true meals.

Even the most careful pre-run diet can quickly be derailed by what is consumed during a long run. All those gels, gummies and sports drinks are essential fuels, but are also an oft-cited cause for GI distress.

Just as it is essential to train our legs to complete a longer distance, we must also train our gut to tolerate ingesting foods and beverages while running.

One study showed that athletes who fail to train their body to do so are twice as likely to experience GI issues than those who have.

Depending on intensity, for runs lasting 90 minutes or more runners should aim for anywhere from 30 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

Exceed that threshold, say for instance by washing down a few gels with a Gatorade in the span of an hour, and fluid is pulled into the GI tract resulting in, you guessed it; diarrhea.

That is a lot of information to digest (pun intended) and the biggest takeaway is that every runner is different and needs to experiment with what works best for them.

The Director of Nutrition at The Edge in South Burlington, and an adjunct nutrition professor at UVM, Jamie Sheahan has run more than 40 marathons.

Brighten your adventure.

Meet Woodlands, our newest DoubleNest® Print Hammock designed in collaboration with Love Letter Creative.

Launching July 22 National Hammock Day

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 9

AN AWARD-WINNING CARTOONIST, MACARTHUR GENIUS GRANT RECIPIENT AND RESIDENT OF BOLTON, ALISON BECHDEL IS ALSO A COMMITTED ATHLETE WHOSE LATEST BOOK EXAMINES WHY WE PURSUE SPORTS.

I’m just keEping the ole qi moving!

oh, hey! I didn’t seE you there!

my sacrum tucked in and my arches activated!

my glutes firing!

my boOkish exterior perhaps belies it...

...but I’m a bit of an exercise freak.

don’t get me wrong.

I’m not “goOd at sports.” I’m not a “jock.”

that’s a whole difFerent balL game, and not my subject herE.

I am, however, the vigorous type.

A

t age 60, Alison Bechdel has discovered if not the secret to eternal youth, at least the secret to superhuman strength. We’re talking physical strength, mental strength and that ‘Hey, I can take anything now,” level of acceptance that goes hand in hand with endurance.

In her first book Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, she used her cartoons and wry humor to describe the challenges she faced growing up in a small town with a father with high expectations and then coming out as gay at age 19. Time Magazine named the book one of its 10 Best Books of 2006. It was later made into a musical.

Bechdel is also known for Dykes to Watch Out For (also the name of a comic strip she publised in SevenDaysVT)

10 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

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sometimes I wonder if this would have beEn the case if I had hapPened along at a difFerent historical moment.

and Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama and was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (“genius” grant) in 2014.

394-95591_ch01_3P.indd This 2 spring, the long-time Bolton resident published The Secret to Superhuman Strength, a memoir that covers everything from biking Lincoln Gap and hiking Camel’s Hump to dealing with a parent's death to working her way to acceptance during a polyamorous relationship.

It could also be subtitled “Zen and the Art of Getting Your Heart Rate Up” or “Existentialism and Exercise.”

This is not the type of cartoon book that you can read a page or two and then put down. Bechdel weaves her personal life and her quest to better Bechdel, in a rare moment of rest between working know herself into her workouts. And out and publishing books. she does so in a way that any athlete can

2

relate to, showing how deeply exercise influences just about everything else.

So has Bechdel truly found the secret to superhuman strength? As James Parker wrote in his review of the book in The Atlantic: “The Secret to Superhuman Strength also contains a lot of what in my own life I call “buzz management.” Which is to say, the husbandry and distribution of one’s personal energies: knowing when to stimulate, when to tranquilize, when to run up a mountain and boil your shitty mood in endorphins, and so on."

And maybe that’s the secret.

The following is excerpted from The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel.

Copyright © 2021 by Alison Bechdel.

Available from HMH Books & Media.

12/17/2

there have always beEn vigorous types, after alL.

for betTer or for worse.

but sometimes I think I could only be the product of my particular generation.

I was born at the end of the baby boOm, in the primordial darkness just before the dawn of the exercise epoch. even if I had beEn interested in sports, there were none. not for girls. boys had little league, but that was it.

there was no t-balL, no socCer, no aquatics. no one was driving us around to any tae kwon do tournaments.

submarine

apartment building

village

apart from having to get up and switch chanNels manualLy, we did not exercise. there was no working out, no going for the burn, no digGing deEp, nor any shredDing of the gnar.

it was rather restful. and it was all about to end.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 11

3

now everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

it’s a world gone mad!

the best lack alL humility, while the worst are fulL of passionate intensity!

pacifists paying for boOt camp!

if machines bore you, take a clasS! there’s something for everyone!

yoga, once the province of ascetics and unshaven comMune dwelLers...

feminists learning to pole dance!

geEks flipPing tractor tires!

and the trends keEp coming!

what’s it alL about?

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perhaps you’re loOking for something more like a revival meEting. in a disco. on bikes.

you probably don’t even have to change your clothes because you’re already sporting athleisure wear!

you’re on a journey!

YOU’re not the same wretch who walked in here today!

you’re a whole new wretch!

$128 from lulu lemur

for god’s sake, don’t forget your core!

...has become as ubiquitous as tandoOri chicken.

we’re a nation of giant todDlers, dragGing our blankets and botTles everywhere we go!

what gnawing void propels this cardiopulmonary frenzy?

it’s a wonder we ever evolved to walk upright before pilates came along.

the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of late capitalism?

the disembodiment of our increasingly virtual existence?

a botTomlesS credulity that “6 weEks to a 6-pack” is humanly posSible?

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12/17/20 3:45 PM

it’s even worse outside. a new activity requiring a specialized roOf rack seEms to be invented every day.

and forget triathlons. now you have to run for days over a mountain range or through an obstacle course designed by counterterRorism experts to get any cred.

but skeptical as I may seEm about this rampant expanse of damp spandex, I am damp as the next dupe.

I can’t help myself. the sweat, the endorphins, the gear, the togs, the next new thing!

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12/17/20 3:45 PM

I have hared off after almost every new fitness fad to come down the pike for the past six decades.

why have I spent so many hours of my life--very posSibly as many as are actually recomMended--exercising?! why?

would not this time have beEn betTer spent reading? learning mandarin? performing charitable acts?

no.

without these bodily travails, I would be a merE husk.

my reasons for exercising run the gamut from the physical to the mental to THE emotional to the psychological to the more numinous.

although surely I was not the only child who yearned to be as jacked as charles atlas.

some are fairly typical, like stresS management.

probably not even the only girl.

some are more particular, even a bit perverse. like my lifelong fixation with muscles.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 15

7

FAMILY CAMPING ON

LAKE GEORGE

THESE VERMONTERS HAVE MADE A TRADITION OF HEADING TO THE ISLANDS OF LAKE GEORGE FOR A WEEK WITH FAMILY OR A WEEKEND WITH FRIENDS. HERE’S HOW THEY DO IT.

BY LISA LYNN | PHOTOS BY JESSE SCHLOFF

“W

e started going there as kids,” Stowe-based photographer Jesse Schloff remembers. “My parents would pile us all into this cabin cruiser and we would head out to one of the islands,” he says of his summer vacations camping on the islands of Lake George.

Nearly 30 years later, Schloff and his own family have kept up the ritual, traveling south from their home in Stowe each year. “We’ve gone with my parents, Merle and Katherine, and we’ve

16 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

gone with our kids, Josi and Aksel. And now we’re bringing friends too.”

Vermonters have a tendency to go north, east and west for their vacations.

The wilds of the Northwoods, the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, the lakes and high peaks of the Adirondacks beckon.

Yet nestled among the Adirondacks, the town of Lake George is just an hour’s drive from Rutland. It has the feel of a bustling summer resort village.

The homes on Lake George range from seasonal camps to grand affairs, escapes

for city dwellers.

But the islands of Lake George?

As Jesse’s wife Kim says, “You can be out there on some islands and feel completely remote.”

More than 10,000 years ago, glaciers carved a long narrow path through the spine of the eastern Adirondacks, leaving behind Lake George. The lake stretches from Fort Henry, near Fort Ticonderoga and runs 32 miles south to the town of Lake George. It reaches a depth of nearly 200 feet. “There’s no

farming or run-off so the water is usually crystal clear,” says Kim. The state of New York owns 44 islands of the more than 170 islands in the lake and hosts 387 shoreline campsites.

Those campsites book fast. “The last time we went, we wanted to bring friends so were looking for multiple campsites on one island,” says Jesse. They started booking in January, scouring the descriptions for islands that have a dock for boats, plenty of place to spread out and waters deep enough to plunge into.

The islands are divided into three groups. Long Island is a 100-acre island at the south end of the lake, a short trip from shore and has over 80 campsites on it. These often fill up last and are easiest to book.

The Glen Island Group is just off Bolton Landing where the ranger station is fairly close to town. These are smaller islands with campsites for up to six. Some are just for two or four. To the north of the Glen Island group are the Narrow Islands, which include the

WIth hundreds of islands to explore and 387 waterfront campsites, Lake George is ideal for a family camping vacation, especially if you can bring friends.

Mothers Bunch on the eastern shore of the lake at the base of Black Mountain.

Some of these islands are large enough to allow up to six people per campsite, but on some of the smaller islands, campers are restricted to only two or four per site.

“Each of the groups has their own personality and part of the fun is staying on different islands,” says Jesse. “Some are really good for a couple that wants to get away. The Mothers are good because you can access the hikes on Black Mountain and the Glen island and

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 17

During the day, the Schloffs set off to explore the other islands, looking for cliffs to jump from and keeping an eye out for classic wooden boats. Dinners were cooked over open fires.

Long Island sites are better for groups or families.”

For their 2019 trip (pictured here) the Schloffs and their friends settled on Uncas Island, in the Glen Island Group. “It’s close enough to the ranger station on Glen Island and the little store there that we could head over for an ice cream,” says Kim. "We’d been boat camping with these friends on the Waterbury Reservoir so they knew what to expect and we’ve gotten pretty good at knowing what to bring – and not bring – to keep kids happy,” says Kim. “The key is just because you are arriving by boat doesn’t mean you should bring too much stuff,” she says.

Simple craft projects like friendship bracelets were packed for the kids, inner

18 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

tubes and water skis for the adults. “Part of the fun for the kids was having them help plan the trip, think about what they wanted to pack and then when we got there, to have them set up their own campsites."

The islands include firepits, tent platforms and some have privies. “We’d play in the water or visit other islands by day and then gather around the campfire and cook these amazing dinners over a fire at night,” Kim says.

The Schloffs would also take their boat to cruise the shoreline. “One of the things I loved the most was just seeing the amazing homes along the shoreline and the history of this place,” says Jesse.

The Mohicans camped along the lake and on Mohican Point in Bolton Bay before being displaced as Europeans

arrived. Andia-ta-roc-te, was the native name for the lake. French Jesuit missionary Father Issac Joques named it "Lac du Sacrement" when he came up on it in 1646 and the lake was finally named for Britain's King George II in 1755 In 1775, the lake was the site of the Battle of Lake George and one of the first victories for the British in the French and Indian War. James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans is set largely in Lake George in the 1750s.

It is the perfect book to read in a hammock swinging from a pine on a summer afternoon. Or before you visit the overlook to Cooper’s Cave, where Hawkeye, one of Cooper’s characters, hid out. For more history, the Lake George Conservancy hosts weekly talks

on the region.

For Jesse though, it’s the classic boats and fine homes along Millionaire’s Row on Route 9N near Bolton Landing that make touring the lake and the area so interesting. In the late 1800s New York’s wealthiest began building summer “camps” on Lake George. Some, like The Sagamore are now resorts. Others, new and old are private homes; their broad porches and gabled windows looking out over crisp lawns and the lake below.

One of the status symbols on the lake, then and now, is a Hacker boat.

Designed by John Hacker who lived and worked in the early 1900s, the boats were made on the lake of mahogany and varnished with coat after coat until they gleam.

Hacker designed the first V-hull and

Many of the islands have small docks where you can tie up a boat. A day of waterskiing, ending with sunsets over the water, and s'mores later on made this a perfect vacation.

built the first motorboat to hit 50 mph, the Kitty Hawk II. The old boats have become collectors’ items and new boats, still built in Fort Ticonderoga, cost upwards of $300,000.

“Often we would simply cruise the lake and look at all these gorgeous old boats pass by,” says Jesse.

They may not have had Hacker craft, but the Schloffs and their friends trailered their boats to the lake, launched them and kept them tied up at the docks that come with many of the islands. “It can get really windy and wavy on this lake,” Jesse warns.

And on those days, they stayed ashore, hunkered down and made the most of island camping.

CAMPING ON LAKE GEORGE’S ISLANDS Perhaps the hardest thing about camping on Lake George’s islands is to get a reservation. Many people book way ahead but often, cancellations happen and you can find a spot for the coming weekend. If you are going with a group, the Schloffs recommend starting a search in January. “But you can also call the ranger stations and see if there are cancellations,” Jesse notes. The Glen Island group is open for reservations through Oct. 11 while the others shut down on Sept. 6.

All campsites are regulated by the Adirondack State Park and have rangers that regularly check the sites. Of the 387 sites, 85 sites are located in the Narrow Island Group, 170 sites and 42 cruiser sites are in the Glen Island Group (The Narrows), and 90 sites are on Long Island. The 42 cruiser sites are for large boats with sleeping quarters.

Some 25 sites in the Glen Island group are located on the mainland but are accessible by boat only. Most sites are well

forested and private. All sites have a dock for one boat, a fireplace, picnic table, and toilet facility or privy but you will need to bring your own firewood or charcoal. Cruiser sites also provide a charcoal burner and privy. For more information and detailed descriptions of the individual campsites, see www.lakegeorge.com/camping/ reservations. Campsites are usually $28 a night or $196 a week.

The lake is 3 miles wide in spots and while you can certainly kayak to many of the islands be prepared for high winds and big waves, similar to what you might encounter on the broad parts of Lake Champlain.

You don’t need your own boat and can rent motorboats from several lake-side marinas (see www.lakegeorge.com/localcommunity-services/boat-services-sales/marinas/). Chic’s rents Boston Whalers that can take 5 for about $425 a day. Call ahead though as boats sell out quickly. The Lake George Kayak Company in Bolton Landing also rents kayaks for $85 a day for a double.

Though Lake George’s antique boat museum is no longer open, this year the Lake George Antique Boat Show is Aug. 27-28.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 19

PADDLING THE LAST MILES of the

MAINE

ISLAND

TRAIL

IT CAN TAKE A LIFETIME TO PADDLE THE 375 MILES OF THE MAINE ISLAND TRAIL WITH ITS 200 ISLAND CAMPSITES. IT’S WORTH IT TO SAVE THE BOLD COAST SECTION FOR LAST.

BY KAREN WARREN

P

eople always ask me for stories of epic adventure. After a 40-year career as an outdoor trip leader they figure I’ve had some harrowing experiences that would make good tales around the campfire. However, I tell them I get paid to not have epic adventures. While I’m not forthcoming with stories of near death epics, a challenging adventure with attention to safety and prudence is also a grand narrative. Here’s one I like to tell.

For years I wanted to sea kayak the Bold Coast, the final section of the Maine Island Trail. The entire water stretches

20 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

375 miles, starting in Kittery, near the New Hampshire border and winding up around Maine’s some 3,000 islands before coming to the Canadian border.

Much of the trail has protected coves, island campsites and accessible launch sites, as well as outfitters, water shuttles and lobstermen and women.

Over many previous years I had section paddled the rest of the Trail.

When I started sea kayaking on the Maine coast over 30 years ago, exploring the nooks of the islands and the crannies of the rocky shore kept me coming back.

I did several multi-day sea kayaking

trips every year in Maine, camping on tiny islands along the way. My memories are of the tides rolling in and out, bioluminescence sparkling at each paddle stroke, seals hauled out at low tide, rafts of female eiders with chicks, rockweed swirling in the incoming tide, and a single perfect lady slipper.

I eventually did all the other sections of the trail. But the rugged Bold Coast, the northeastern-most section of the continental U.S., kept popping up in my imagination as the holy grail of Maine sea kayaking.

Paddlers flock to Mt. Desert Island

and with towns like Bar Harbor, access to Acadia National Park and the fjordlike waters of Northeast and Southwest Harbors, most don’t continue north.

Starting in Machias at Cutler Harbor and stretching 20 miles to the Lubec channel, near the Canadian border, the Bold Coast is imposing with its rugged coastline, strong currents, cold water, and foggy weather. I had heard stories that there was nowhere to land and that the Bay of Fundy’s 20-foot tides and swirling currents would capsize boats. Yet the siren call of that section continued to echo for me.

Lighthouses are common on this coast where strong currents, deep fog and rocky outcroppings have sunk many a ship. Here, the 1847 Little River Lighthouse stands guard over the waters off Cutler. You can book lighthouse rooms for $200 a night at littleriverlight.com Photo by Alwood Photo

wouldn’t phase me but for this section I thought having three kayakers would be much safer. I had read so many ominous trip reports that I considered cancelling the attempt.

Frankly, I was scared to try it with two people. Even though I’ve led sea kayak trips across the globe, a big case of imposter syndrome set in. I told Amelia it would take an exact convergence of perfect weather and the proper timing of tides. I also had the stipulation that when we got out of Cutler Harbor into the open ocean, I would do an intuition check. Then I would determine if I felt like it was safe for us to go.

PERFECT CONDITIONS

My daughter Amelia and I had enjoyed paddling overnights a few times in the Lubec, Campobello, and Deer Island area. Therefore, we were quite familiar with the strong currents.

Amelia is a whale whisperer. She often begs me to return to the Cobscook Bay area to paddle with whales. Due to her uncanny ability to know where the whales were on any given day, we have shared the water with minke and fin whales on every trip. While we were too early to see humpbacks, the frequent sightings of marine mammals such as dolphins, gray and harbor seals, as well

Amelia, taking a lunch break at Bailey's Mistake. The two women packed extra water ballast for Amelia's boat and used Necky Looksha boats (17 and 14 feet) and Werner paddles. Photo by Karen Warren

as whales, is an amazing experience.

So, on a weeklong family trip in the Jonesport area, I made plans for a sea kayaking day trip on the Bold Coast section. It had been gnawing at my

adventure spirit for too long. The plan was for Amelia, her partner, and me to go. But at last minute, Amelia’s partner couldn’t join the trip. So we were down to two paddlers. Normally, that

To consider embarking on the trip, I needed a stable high-pressure system to sit for a couple of days in the Bay of Fundy. Also, I wanted a NOAA weather report predicting 5 knot winds or less.

I’ve always used Maine Harbors for all the relevant information I need. In order to maximize riding the currents running south to north in the bay and the morning calm, I chose a day with an extreme low tide at sunrise. If we could leave on a calm early morning sweet spot, the chances for success increased.

We wanted to leave the Cutler boat launch at 7 am and finish the paddle before the tide turned against us around mid-day. We dressed for immersion, reviewed our safety protocols, and carried the proper rescue gear. We packed food and water and arranged our shuttle to take out at Carrying Place Cove near Lubec. Additionally, we packed extra water for ballast in Amelia’s boat.

That morning all the right conditions were in alignment. We did the predawn hour-long drive to Cutler Harbor to launch precisely at extreme low tide.

The sun was just peeking up. Hitting the timing and tide perfectly boosted my confidence that we would be able to complete the paddle.

As I paddled on the glassy, sunrise tinged water of the harbor my body felt the familiarity of countless previous sea kayak trips. The faith surged into me that we would be safe. Now I was psyched for our Bold Coast adventures.

Soon, we were moving past Fairy Head where I could see tents of hikers on the Bold Coast Trail high on the cliff. This spectacular trail offers dramatic cliffside hiking on the Cutler Coast section.

The tide was picking up so Amelia and I paddled closer together. We watched a pod of Atlantic White-sided dolphins glide past. These sleek animals were curious about us and surfaced many times around us as we floated along.

Finally, they decided our very stiff kayaks were not very interesting to play with so they swam off.say with so they swam off.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 21

The Warrens' paddle started at Cutler and ran to Quoddy Head, the easternmost point in the U.S.. A hiking trail also follows the coast.

BAILEY’S MISTAKE We continued along the coastline and confirmed the lack of good landing spots. During the first hour of the trip we avoided the refracting waves along the rocky shore but kept within sight as we planned to check out a cove with a possible landing beach called Bailey’s Mistake.

The story behind the name is captured in these lyrics from the song “Captain Bailey’s Mistake.”

Good friends gather round, and the truth I’ll relate, How a cove near Lubec became Bailey’s Mistake; There was a bold captain whose name was Bailey, And his ship ended up where ’twas not s’posed to be.

So here’s to our captain, where e’er he may be, A friend to the sailor on land and on sea; Ye mariners all, weigh the risks that ye take, Lest you be remembered like Bailey’s Mistake.

22 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

Even though Captain Bailey never found the Quoddy Narrows he sought, he did have a load of lumber in his ship when it ran aground. Conveniently, the captain and the crew built houses and settled there. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons.

Our stomachs started growling right as we rounded the head into Bailey’s Mistake. Like the gift of our perfect paddling conditions, we were bestowed a gorgeous lunch beach.

After our quick lunch, we decided to try to catch the offshore tidal currents to get the “escalator ride” I had read about in trip reports. But getting on the escalator is counterintuitive. Instead of hugging the shore where there is a perceived feeling of safety, we needed to venture about a mile and a half off-shore to catch the best current. The escalator runs at a speed of about 6-7 knots. My normal paddling speed is 2-3 knots so it’s quite a boost.

We intrepidly headed out, not entirely certain we would find the fabled fast current. But suddenly we crossed a strong eddyline and took off like a race car that

had just been shifted into high gear. We flew past lobster buoys and watched the distant coastline whisk by us.

With the escalator ride we ended up paddling the 18 miles of coastline in under 4 hours including a lunch stop. Certainly, this was by far the fastest I’ve paddled that distance while sea kayaking on the Coast of Maine.

THE OLD LOBSTERMAN We were in sight of West Quoddy Head and the take-out at Carrying Place Cove when we saw our first boat of the trip, a small lobster skiff working near the shore.

As we got closer, Amelia yelled out “Koala Wallace!!” and took off after the boat. I tried to follow her but she was paddling like a lunatic to reach the lobster boat criss-crossing the small bay.

I remembered a story she had told about meeting an old lobsterman named Johnny Wallace a few years ago when she and her partner Pete camped in the area.

In the spirit of any budget camper, they had found a wonderful place to pitch their tent above high tide in Carrying Place Cove. Since Johnny launched from a slice

of the cove he owned, they asked his permission to camp. The old lobsterman’s answer was hilarious. “We don’t want any dope suckahs out here. You can camp here as long as you ain’t one of them dope suckahs.”

They assured him they were not and were allowed to camp. Over the next few days, Amelia and Pete had many amazing interactions with the codgy lobsterman. He gave them fresh lobster and they entertained each other with stories of their different lives.

The reunion with the lobsterman who my daughter nicknamed Koala Wallace was filled with Down East nostalgia. I cherished meeting him when we all finally landed on the shore at Carrying Place Cove. I got to hear the stories he regaled them with in the past.

We also celebrated the completion of our Coast of Maine sea kayaking adventure. We marveled at how fast the current had swept our boats along the Bold Coast. Additionally, the ever changing marine weather had given us reprieve for the morn-

ing because the moment we landed on the beach, a dense fog descended. Had we waited even an hour to launch, it would have been an entirely different trip.

And those epic adventures people ask about? The truth is that paddling the Bold Coast the way we did it was not an epic paddle. Instead, it was a well-planned, well executed trip where we carefully unstacked each risk factor

so we could enjoy an amazing day on the water.

However, sea kayaking the Bold Coast of Maine remains one of those “don’t do this at home, these are professional drivers on a closed course” kind of adventure. In sum, plan carefully, be conservative with safety, stay on shore or bail out if the risk factors start to stack up, know what you are doing. Don’t have an epic paddle with no stories to tell.

5 WEEKEND TRIPS ON THE MAINE ISLAND TRAIL

Hanging out at the shaded Trott Island campsite off Kennebunkport.

Photo by Karen Warren

T

he 375-mile Maine Island Trail is one of the premier water trails in the US. Extending from the New Hampshire border to Canada, the trail has over 200 islands to visit and camp on——many privately owned. The ocean-front campsites are often stunning, but primitive, and you need to carry in and carry out everything, including human waste. Some islands are closed during certain periods of the year to protect nesting birds. To have access to the free camping islands, join the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA). Sign up, pay the $45 registration fee, and you will receive a guidebook listing descriptions and directions to all the islands. The following are areas along the Maine coast that stand out for overnight trips and outfitters that can rent boats and equipment and help you plan a tour or self-guided trip.

CASCO BAY ISLANDS

There are endless kayaking trips possible in Casco Bay. The southernmost of the big coastal Maine bays extends from Portland to the peninsulas south of Brunswick. Jewell Island, one of Casco Bay’s outermost islands, is a popular camping destination. This large island once served as the harbor defense installation to protect Portland during WW II. Remnants of the old military battery are found along hiking trails on the island. These artifacts tell the story of the military history of Jewell Island’s fortress. A tower on the south end of the island has amazing views of the expanse of Casco Bay. There are numerous campsites with nearby privies on the island to choose from. A western anchorage at Cocktail Cove often has many cruising boats, so sea kayakers will find quieter campsites on the south end of the island. The exposure to the Atlantic Ocean from these campsites is exhilarating but note that you can be stranded on Jewell for several days in a Nor’easter. Pay close attention to the marine forecast before you venture out or bring a good book and extra food to wait it out. For a trip that is less exposed to the open ocean, the Goslings are charming islands tucked snuggly in the inner bay. Camp on one and explore the others. Best, you can walk across the channel at low tide.

Don’t Miss: On a calm day, Eagle Island is a superb day paddle from one of the Casco Bay camping islands such as Jewell or Bangs. Eagle Island, once the summer home of Arctic explorer Robert Peary, has a museum and trails on a high bluff over the ocean. It’s a 2-3 mile paddle from Bangs or Jewell Island.

Starting out: Sea kayak rentals are available to experienced ocean kayakers from Portland Paddle or take one of their guided Casco Bay overnight trips. From the hand-carry launch at Sandy Point Beach near Cousins Island it is about a 7-mile paddle to Jewell Island or 5 miles to the Goslings.

Top to bottom: Amelia looks for a break in the rocky coastline. The easternmost town in the contiguous U.S., Lubec, pop. 1359, is a town of weather shingled buildings. The shores of Cutler State Park. Photo by Karen Warren, Adobe Stock.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 23

ing place”. The plethora of lobster trap buoys in the bay attests to its exceptional lobster fishing. The bay has distinct ridges of islands radiating out from the mainland. You can poke around in tiny island coves and channels with emerald-green and blue water like the Caribbean.

A perfect 3-day trip starts at the Hatchet Cove launch in Friendship. Paddle 4 miles to Crow Island on the west side of the bay to camp. Crow is in the shadow of National Audubon Society owned Hog island. A quick paddle over to hike the wildlife refuge there is a lovely day trip from Crow.

Don’t miss: Spend the next night on Black Island, a sweet spot amid the ridge of islands mid bay.

Hang a hammock in the wooded campsite on the northwest point to enjoy ocean breezes and views as you relax and unplug. Although you’ll never want to leave in the morning, the paddle back to Hatchet Cove is a protected 3.5 miles.

Starting out: Midcoast Kayak rents single and tandem sea kayaks to paddlers with rescue experience or does three-day all-inclusive guided camping trips (kayak and camping gear included) for $475 per person. They also have recreational kayaks and standup paddleboards for people who want to explore closer to shore. to explore around Beal are Robinhood Cove and Five Islands. A partly sunken hull of an old shipwreck in Robinhood Cove is fun to paddle through.

CAPE PORPOISE ISLANDS

The Cape Porpoise Islands near Kennebunkport have three gorgeous islands for primitive camping. The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust caretakes the islands and handles on-line reservations.

Vaughn Island is nearest the shore and has a spacious campsite shaded by oaks. If the weather gets rough, you can actually walk back to the mainland at low tide. Trott Island has an easy- to-land site on the south end with space for three tents in the pine woods. The high cobbled beach is great for watching the sunset. Cape Island has a more difficult landing but has a blustery open ocean feel if you walk around the island.

Don’t miss: Be sure to take a day paddle over to Goat Island to see the lighthouse. Strolling on the 3.5-acre island is a walk through history. Wander by the old boathouse built in 1905. The lighthouse was built in 1833 and still functions. Ask the lighthouse keeper if you can tour the lighthouse. From the light tower you can see the whole expanse of coast. There is also an excellent view of Walker Point, the George Bush family compound. Goose Rocks Beach is also a fun paddle. When you are tired of playing in the surf waves in your kayak, you can stretch out for some sun on the 3-mile long soft sand beach.

Starting out: The launch site near the causeway on Pier Road is inaccessible at low tide, so make sure to put- n and take out on the top half of the tide. The nearby Pier 77 restaurant has stunning views of the harbor. The popular favorite Clam Shack in Kennebunkport serves exquisitely fresh seafood. Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike has single and tandem kayaks starting at $80 for 24 hours. It also hosts guided day tours.

24 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

At its best, the Maine Island Trail delivers calm waters, sunny days and fresh lobster dinners.

Photos by Karen Warren

MID COAST ISLANDS

The large tidal rivers of the Mid Coast have protected islands snugged between peninsulas which make for wonderful paddling adventures.

Wake up on a grassy knoll and watch the lobster boats work while you enjoy your morning coffee.

One favorite trip is to camp on Beal Island on the Sasanoa River below Wiscasset and then cross the Sheepscot River to camp on the islands around Isle of Springs the next day. Beal Island is owned by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), so you book a campsite through them. Beal has a convenient ocean-side camp kitchen and campfire ring. Tents are set up in the spacious meadow above the beach.

A privy is available. Magical trails with goat’s beard moss hanging from the trees wind through the forest around the island. The put-in is at AMC-owned Knubble Bay. Beal Island is one mile from Knubble Bay so it’s a short paddle if you get a late start. Areas

Don’t miss: Five Islands, a quintessential Maine village with a working lobster pound restaurant, is a must-visit destination. Be mindful of the currents in Goose Rock Passage on your paddle there. If you paddle on an ebbing tide, you’ll have an easy ride into the Sheepscot River. At a picnic table on Five Islands, nosh on a lobster roll while you admire the picture perfect harbor and lighthouses in the distance.

Cross over the Sheepscot River to find many camping islands surrounding the Isle of Springs.

Camping is limited on some until July 1 because of nesting ospreys. The Spectacle Islands are a twin dose of beauty to explore. A camping area with picnic table and campfire ring is on the south island.

Don’t miss the gorgeous beach roses along the spit joining the two islands at low tide.

Starting out: The outfitter Seaspray Kayaking has boat rentals they will deliver all over midcoast Maine ($50 a day), including Knubble Bay, and also has deck compasses, VHF and weather radios and fishing gear. They can also arrange for guided or self-guided island to island tours and even inn-to-inn kayak expeditions.

MUSCONGUS BAY

Muscongus Bay is the next significant bay after the great tidal rivers and is the doorstep to well-known Monhegan Island with its thriving artist community.

Add a day to your vacation to take the ferry from New Harbor or Port Clyde to Monhegan. You can browse art galleries and walk the beautiful trails to some of the highest cliff overlooks on the Maine coast.

Muscongus is from the Abenaki word for “fish-

DEER ISLE ISLANDS

The beautiful archipelago of islands off Deer Isle near Stonington is a paddler’s paradise. Merchant Row between Stonington and Isle Au Haut has 65 islands, many open to exploring and camping.

The summertime is extremely busy around Stonington with parking scarce and boat traffic weaving in and out between islands. It’s such a gorgeous place to kayak that it’s worth the bustle, just know that you won’t find isolation amid the islands.

A recommended trip is to put in at the Colwell Boat Ramp in Stonington and head out to one of the many camping islands. Hell’s Half Acre is a tiny gem for camping in the thick of Merchant’s Row. From the breezy tent platforms, you can watch the historic two masted schooners sail by. The schooners’ crews use many of the small islands to host their lobster bakes on shore. If you are lucky enough to be on an island they are using, you may be invited to join the feast.

The jewel of Merchant Row is Isle Au Haut, a part of Acadia National Park, with its 18 miles of spectacular hiking trails. If you camp on Harbor or Wheat Island you will be staged perfectly to visit Isle Au Haut on a day paddle. With advance reservations, you can also camp at the national park campground at Duck Harbor.

Don’t miss: The pink granite that forms these islands was used in 19th century public buildings in cities up and down the Eastern seaboard and you can still see the remnants of the old quarries in many places. At Green Island, there’s even a refreshing quarry you can plunge into.

Starting out: Stonington Paddle has kayak rentals for those who are at least intermediate paddlers and also guided and self-guided trips as well.

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Do you eat any of the fish you catch and, if so, what is your favorite recipe?

We are mostly catch and release. On Lake Champlain you can keep walleye if they are bigger than 18 inches so anything between that and 25 inches, we’ll keep. We have a recipe where you bake fish in foil with lemon, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Once you take the foil off, the skin falls off and it’s really juicy.

FEATURED ATHLETE

ALEXA TETRAULT: THE ANGLER Name: Alexa Tetrault Age: 29 Family: Husband, Cameron; 18-monthold daughter, Walker Rose; Dogs, Luna and Champ Lives in: Milton Works in: Marketing Primary Sport: Fishing, snowboarding

Do you ice fish as well?

This past winter I had my first solo ice fishing trip and caught a pretty big catfish which I’d never done. It was my first time setting up the shanty and tip-ups by myself. When you’re pulling a sled with all your gear it’s a lot more work than you think. At the end of the day it’s as tiring as a day spent snowboarding. Ice fishing is really relaxing and quiet and it’s so pretty to be out on the lake. Using the auger by myself was an adventure.

When the ice is a certain thickness you need an extender and it’s a lot of work to dig through that much ice. It's wild how much of a sport that actually is.

A

lexa Tetrault finds her happy place out on the water. She and her husband, Cameron, who works for Burton, love to take their Aluma Craft boat out on Lake Champlain looking for walleyes and she’s hoping her young daughter and more other women will too. She’s helping spread the word to encourage other women to fish through an Instagram account that reaches 22,000 followers.

How did you get into fishing?

I grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y. and when I was a kid, my grandfather and father were into hunting and fishing so I fished on Long Island Sound. I even placed in a fishing derby for snappers when I was 11. I didn’t pursue fishing in high school and college; I hiked and skied. When I met my husband he had a boat and was into fishing and we became a team. Our date night is getting take- out dinner and going out on the boat. I fished until I was eight months pregnant and then took some time off but now we can bring Walker Rose along.

What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?

My biggest walleye was 10 pounds but I’ve caught northern pikes that were 40 inches and I’m only 61 inches! A lot of the pike that we catch are really long so it’s a little scary to hold something half of your height. My personal best for smallmouth bass was one that weighed five pounds. I like entering derbies but I also like having personal goals like finding new species.

What competitions do you enter?

I have participated in the Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Fishing Derby every year. It is the only local competition that has a separate female division and I like that. This year I wasn’t on the board but I was the top female competitor for northern pike and that felt pretty good. I also weighed in a bass that was three pounds, eight ounces. That’s not that impressive but you’re eligible for additional prizes if you weigh in every day.

26 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

With an Instagram following of 22,000, Milton's Alexa Tetrault is hoping to get more women into fishing.

Photo courtesy Alexa Tetrault.

How are you working to get more women into the sport?

Fishing has been a male dominated sport like hunting because dating back in history, in most cultures, the men provided the food and the women did everything else. However, in Native American cultures and some others, the women fished as well. It can be an intimidating because it is so male dominated, but I’m seeing more women getting into it. When I go into a shop to buy supplies, they tend to be surprised to see a 5’ 1” girl. I like being underestimated and I like surprising them by showing that I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m always supportive when I see other women and hope to increase female participation. I’ve taken my daughter out fishing and I feel like women need to learn to be patient, confident and not intimidated or afraid of failure. Fish do get away; everybody loses them. I caught nothing.

What species do you fish for?

We primarily fish for walleye, but we’ll also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, sheepshead, lake trout, and salmon.

I really want to catch a steelhead. I lost a muskie two years ago that I still have regrets about.

How does Lake Champlain compare to other lakes for fishing?

I’ve actually done most of my fishing on Lake Champlain although I have fished at Lake Carmi and a few other Vermont lakes, as well as places in upstate New York like Tupper Lake. I really like Lake Champlain because in just 20 minutes you can find new topographic areas and different species. It’s really cool to see how diverse our lake is and how much it changes. I grew up with salt water fishing —which is really based on the tides— but here, the temperatures and depth affects things so much.

You have over 22,000 followers on your Instagram account. What do you credit that to?

I recently did a poll asking people what they liked about following me and it’s all over the board. I have a lot of female followers who like seeing my daughter and cooking posts and then the male followers who just ask about fishing. It’s very funny because most of my profile is family friendly but we only have three months of summer in Vermont and I’m going to be in a bathing suit and there are definitely comments about that.

Sometimes when we’re out on the lake, people recognize us so now they’re going to know all our really good fishing spots. .

Do you have any fishing goals?

I’d really like to have a women’s fishing clothing line. It’s hard to find waterproof, weather-proof stuff that fits well.

You can get things that keep you warm and dry but they’re not cute. I’d like some clothing that’s more tapered and better fitted.

What do you love most about fishing?

It’s my happy place. I love being outside.

When I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. What we have underwater is amazing and so mysterious. Sometimes what you catch surprises you. It makes you feel like you’re doing something in nature and learning. It’s very scientific with weather and seasons and lures. It’s invigorating and there’s nothing like it.

—Phyl Newbeck

[ S P O R TS M E D I C I N E AT CO P L E Y H O S P I TA L ]

Just like you –

we’re enjoying the Green Mountain trails!

Just like you, members of our team enjoy the great outdoors too!

Don’t let injuries like hand or wrist, or chronic knee, hip, shoulder, or ankle pain keep you from getting out on the trails. The experts at Mansfield Orthopaedics can help with state-of-the-art treatments designed specifically for you.

Using leading-edge technologies and procedures, we work with you and your physician to provide comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation geared just for you. Top medical care close to home – that’s why we’re here.

Orthopedic Surgeon Nicholas Antell, MD enjoying the Vermont trails.

Our Physicians:

Nicholas Antell, MD; Brian Aros, MD; Ciara Hollister, DPM; John Macy, MD; Joseph McLaughlin, MD and Bryan Monier, MD

To make an appointment with a Mansfield Orthopaedic Specialist, call 802.888.8405

Clinic sites: 555 Washington Highway, Morrisville, VT 6 North Main Street, Waterbury, VT

www.mansfieldorthopaedics.com

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28 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

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.

ALL LOCATIONS ARE IN VERMONT, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. FEATURED EVENTS, IN YELLOW, PAY A NOMINAL FEE.

RUNNING JULY 4 | Clarence Del Mar 5K, South Hero This is the 39th running of this July 4 tradition. Don’t miss it! Gmaa.run 17 | 43rd Annual Goshen Gallop, Goshen This exceptional backcountry course on the trails of the Moosalmoo National Recreation Area starts and finishes at the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center and benefits the center. From a natural obstacle course to a stunning surprise view from the south end of Hogback Mountain, the Gallop’s elevation profile and rugged terrain have earned the race the nickname “the toughest 10k in New England.” The 5K is equally exhilarating, and you can still brag (just half as much). Goshengallop.com 16-18 | Vermont 100 Endurance Race, West Windsor Featuring unrelenting rollers that add up to 17,000 feet of climbing, the VT100 trail race winds its way over country roads, through forested trails, and alongside breathtaking views of the southern Green Mountains.

Vermont100.com

RACE & EVENT GUIDE

24 | Round Church Women’s Run, Richmond A 5K walk or run along Cochran Rd. with the start opposite the round church.

Gmaa.run

30 | Moosamaloo Ultra Run 14 miles or tackle the ultra, 36 miles of mostly singletrack jn the Moosamaloo National Recreation Area. The race is based out of the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center and will have free camping onsight on Friday and Saturday night (or stay at the Blueberry Hill Inn). Moosamalooultra.com

AUGUST 7 | The Point to Point, Powered by VSECU, Montpelier Pull on your running shoes for a half marathon or ride a century, half-century or 25-mile road ride, a 40-mile gravel grinder from the statehouse lawn to fight hunger in Vermont with a virtual option. Thepointtopoint.org 7 |Shelburne Sugarworks 5K/10K Trail Run Hit the trail in the 3rd Annual Sugarworks Trail Run at Shelburne Sugarworks and Four Season Outdoor Center. Choose the 5K, or run the 10K (two loops of the 5K).

The course is rolling - mostly through the sugar woods , but there is also a portion around a pond and through fields surrounded by Queen Anne’s lace. There are no huge uphill runs, but it’s not totally flat. Racers can present their bib for an ice cream cone at the finish. racevermont.com

14 | The 100 on 100 Running Relay, Lebanon New Hampshire.

The event starts early in the morning on August 14th and ends with most participants finishing between 5:30 PM and 11:00 PM. The 100 on 100 Relay historically takes place along Vermont’s historic Route 100.

Due to Covid protocols, the 2021 event will take place along an all new New Hampshire course starting on the Northern Rail Trail near Lebannon. 100on100relay.com

29 | Race To The Top Of Vermont A 4.3- mile, 2564 vertical ft hill climb up the tallest mountain in Vermont - Mt. Mansfield. Every August the North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont draws as many as 800 hikers, mountain bikers, and runners to climb Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. The course climbs up the historic Toll Road, is 4.3 miles in length, and climbs 2564 ft. For some it’s all about trying to achieve a fast time up this tough 4.3 mile course. For others… they come to challenge themselves, and to enjoy the spectacular views. Rttovt.com

SEPTEMBER 11 | Groton Forest Trail Run, Groton Offering three technical, beautiful race distances on the trails of the Groton State Forest. Join us on September 11th, 2021 at the Boulder Beach State Park in the Groton State Forest, Groton, VT. The 26.5 mile run starts at 7AM, the 15 mile run starts at 9AM and the 6.2 mile run starts at 10AM. ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=79687

12 | Mad Marathon, Mad Half and Relays, Waitsfield The Mad River Valley is the site of a weekend of races on dirt roads with tough climbs, and great views of the Green Mountains. madmarathon.com 19 | Trapp Cabin Trail Races, Stowe Join us for this idyllic event! All races begin and end in the Trapp Family Lodge Meadow. The 5K follows Lodge Spur to Luce Hill Loop, following the single track trail back to the finish. Walkers welcome! The 10K continues on to Tap Line, follows Chris’s Run to the cabin and returns on Growler and Tap Line to the finish. The half-marathon is by far our most popular race and attracts over 60+ racers from all over New England. The course does a double-loop of the 10.5K. greenmtnadaptive.org/events/ trapp-cabin-5k-10k-and-half-marathontrail-races-2021/ 19 | TAM Trek, Middlebury There is a race for everyone at TAM Trek.

Our 19-mile Trail Around Middlebury attracts serious trail runners from, around the state, and outside of Vermont. We also offer a challenging 10K course for runners looking for a shorter and equally scenic race.

Our 2-mile family fun run attracts families and run/walkers from around Addison County. Start and finish in Wright Park and celebrate at the finish line with live music, local raffle prizes, and a post-race buffet. maltvt.org/tam-trek

JOSH B LLINGS 4 5 TH A N N U A L

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JOSHBILLINGS.COM JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 29

26 | 28th Vermont 50 Ultra Run & MTB, West Windsor This 50 mile trail race lets mountain bikers and ultra runners enjoy a challenging and scenic Vermont landscape course that is like no other. There is something for everyone.

Net proceeds go to Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Vermont50.com

OCTOBER 1 | New Hampshire Marathon, Briston, NH A small, friendly and community oriented event that doubles as Boston qualifier. The course moves around Newfound Lake during our most spectacular season, peak foliage. Offering a full, half, 10K and Kids race events, we have something for all levels. nhmarathon.com 11| North Face Race to the Summit, Stratton The gondola isn’t the only way to reach the summit for views of Vermont’s fall foliage.

The North Face Race to the Summit invites runners to challenge themselves in a 2.18 mile race climbing 2,003 vertical feet up southern Vermont’s highest peak for pride, prize money, awards and great views. stratton.com 16 | Trapp Mountain Marathon, Stowe The Trapp Family Lodge has some of the smoothest, most runnable trail around, but also boasts some incredible single track.

This half or full marathon features steep climbs and descents and a newly updated climb to the highest point on the Trapp Lodge Property; Round Top Mountain.

The 13.1 mile loop course is approximately 2/3 double track wide trails and dirt roads, and 1/3 serpentine, rugged single track.

Full marathon racers will traverse this loop twice. This is a challenging trail race with significant elevation gain and loss.

Trappmountainmarathon.com 17 | Heady Trotter 4-Miler, Stowe The Alchemist hosts this road race, which starts and ends at the brewery and is followed by live music, lawn games, food and beer. headytrotter.com 24 | Vermont City Marathon & Relay, Burlington Marathoners and relay runners can safely conquer 26.2 miles in a new, two-looped course that includes many of the highlights runners have loved about the course for over 30 years. runvermont.org 26 | 28th Vermont 50 Ultra Run & MTB, West Windsor This 50-mile trail race lets mountain bikers and ultra runners enjoy a challenging and scenic Vermont landscape that is like no other. Net proceeds go to Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. vermont50.com

30 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

BIKING JULY 1-11 | The Prouty (Virtual), Hanover, N.H. Ride 20, 35, 50, 77 or 100 miles on roads in the Upper Valley, or wherever home may be. Tackle a 70K or 100K gravel ride. Golf 18 holes, walk 3k to 10k, or even row 5-15 miles. The Prouty may be virtual, but there are still many ways to participate. dhmc. convio.net/ 7 | Raid Lamoille, Craftsbury A challenging 25 or 55 mile route that includes a significant amount of packedgravel riding and some major climbing segments. Some would call it a dirt road randonee, others a gravel grinder, we just call it a Raid. This is not a race.

17 | Red Bull Dual Slalom, Killlington Compete head to head on a wild course designed for the Red Bull Raw event by pro MTBer Aaron Chase. Killington.com 17 | Women’s MTB Clinic, Montpelier Join Onion River Outdoors and Christsonthy Drellos of Blue Sky MTB for a series of fun, clinics for women and non-binary riders to hone your skills, learn to corner and get your wheels off the ground on the Montpelier trails. This second session is on cornering and join Aug. 7th for pumps and jumps. 9 am-1pm Onionriver.com 18 | Farm to Fork Fondo, South Hero Ride 25, 40 or 60 miles a past stunning lake and mountain views, fresh and fantastic local food. Limit 250. farmtoforkfitness.com 25 | 41st Annual Guilford Gravel Grinder (G3), Guilford 545 Velo hosts the fourth iteration of this 40mile course featuring 4,800 feet of elevation gain, with 93 percent of the riding falling on dirt roads. Bring a bike with tires that are 28-35mm or wider in width. bikereg.com/ guilford-gravel-grinder-the-g3 25 | Mozo Double Up, Stowe Gain 5,000 feet over 11 miles on Vermont’s most technical terrain as you race across the state’s highest peak (rain date 8/1).

Nativeendurance.com 31 | Slate Valley Epic, Poultney Racers can expect some of the best singletrack riding with plenty of climbing & extraordinary views of SW Vermont & the Slate Valley. The Slate Valley Epic will hit all 6 peaks at SVT: Cliffhanger, Big Top, Carnie, Birdie, Rocky Ridge & Rusty Bucket with endless views of this beautiful region.. slatevalleytrails.org

AUGUST 30-1 | FLOW STATE, Brownsville The trails at Ascutney Outdoors play host to Flow State, the Vermont Mountain Bike Festival, a three-day celebration of all things mountain biking put on by Mountain Flyer. Flowstatemtbfestival.com.

1 | Eastern States Maxxis Cup, Bolton Valley Join in or watch the top riders in the East compete in downhill and enduro on the raw and rowdy trails at Bolton Valley Resort, the only Vermont stop on this summer’s tour. boltonvalley.com 1 | Rooted Vermont, Richmond Join Ted and Laura King for a weekend long celebration of gravel roads, community and all things VT, with necessary Covid precautions in place. Race the long course (82 miles) and 8,000 feet of climbing or go your own pace and do the 48mile short course. And an epic afterparty featuring local foods and brews follows. rootedvermont.com 7 | Tour de Slate, Middletown Springs Ride a regular or metric century, 36 or 25 miles -- or ride the D&H Rail Trail. This is a great way to explore the emerging trails and quiet roads of Slate Valley. There is also a virtual option for this event. tourdeslate.org 7 | Women’s MTB Clinic, Montpelier Join Onion River Outdoors and Christsonthy Drellos of Blue Sky MTB for a series of fun, supportive clinics for women and non-binary riders to hone your skills, learn to corner and get your wheels off the ground on the Montpelier trails. This second session is on pumps and jumps. 9 am-1pm . Onionriver.com 7 | Vermont Gran Fondo, Bristol Ride Vermont’s infamous four gaps in the Gran Fondo with 130 miles and 11,ooo feet of climbing or opt for an 85 or 40-miler.

All will take you over heart-stopping hill climbs with breathtaking views. Vermontgranfondo.com 7 | The Point to Point, Powered by VSECU, Montpelier Get on your bike or pull on your running shoes and register for a century, halfcentury or 25-mile road ride, a 40-mile gravel grinder or a half-marathon run from the statehouse lawn to fight hunger in Vermont with a virtual option.

Thepointtopoint.org 15 | Coyote Hill End of Summer Race and BBQ, West Fairlee Coyote Hill Mountain Bike Camp hosts a race on its trail system followed by a celebratory BBQ. coyotehillcamp.com

21 | 48th Annual Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, Albany, NH This 7.6 mile race to the summit of the highest peak in the northeast is a fundraiser for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center.

Known as the toughest hillclimb in the world with an average grade of 12%. www.mwarbh.org 29 | Vermont Overland Grand Prix, Ascutney A 50-mile dirt road bicycle race featuring 6,000 feet of climbing, seven sectors of “Vermont pavé” (unmaintained ancient public roads), two well-fortified sag stops, a magnificently scenic route and an awesome party afterwards. Vermontoverland.com 29 | Cycle 4 CMT Shelburne Enjoy one of the largest cycling event fundraisers in VT! Cyclists enjoy a light breakfast followed by cycling either a 15, 25 or 40 mile route through beautiful/challenging areas of Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg VT. After party - catered lunch, live music, free beer and opportunities to bid on silent auction items provided by local sponsors.

CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) is a progressive neurological disorder affecting over 300 Vermonters and 3.0 million people worldwide.cycle4cmt.com

SEPTEMBER 3-6 | Green Mountain Stage Race, Burlington For its 20th anniversary the GMSR comes back with 4 days of racing with stages similar to what was raced on in 2019, including the Burlington Crit. There are 10 fields including for women a P/1/2/3 and a 3/4/5.

For men: a P/1, Cat 2, Cat 3, Cat 4/5 (open and masters), 40+, 50+ and Junior fields.

Gmsr.info 11 | Kelly Brush Ride, Middlebury The 15th annual edition of this fundraising ride takes riders through various courses from 25 miles to 100 miles in scenic Addison County. Kellybrushfoundation.org 18 | Tour de Farms, Vergennes This year’s biking farm tour will feature two distances—a 30-mile route and a more relaxed, family-friendly 10-mile distance.

You’ll pass through the beautiful pastoral landscape of the Champlain Valley and visit three to seven farms depending on your distance. Each farm stop will host additional food and beverage producers. Riders sample everything from maple iced coffee and farm-fresh salads to maple-glazed ham and Vermont’s famous cheeses! acornvt. org/tourdefarms

MULTI-SPORT /WATERSPORT /DAM RELEASES JULY 3 | The Great Race Triathlon/Duathlon, St. Albans The Great Race is a canoe Triathlon/ Duathlon which is a tradition 41 years in the making. This family-friendly sporting event was recently taken over by the Town of St. Albans. Run 3 miles, bike 12 miles and paddle 3 miles on beautiful Lake Champlain. Stalbanstown.com 7 | Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal, Richford This family-friendly event combines 6.5 miles of paddling down a designated Wild & Scenic section of the Missisquoi River and 5 miles of cycling on the adjacent Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. Northernforestcanoetrail.org 10 | Trout Day at Sugarbush, Warren Sponsored by the Mad-Dog Chapter of Trout Unlimited and The Silver Trout Fly Shop in Waitsfield. Single hand and Spey casting instruction, fly-tying demonstrations. Learn the basics of fly fishing, talk with a local guide for tips on fly selection and presentation. sugarbush.com 16 | Branbury Classic & Lake Dunmore Triathlons, Salisbury Paddle 1.5 miles, bike 14 miles, and run 3.1 miles or do the Lake Dunmore Triathlon (600 yard swim, 14-mile bike, 3.1 mile run). Our classic, pristine course starts and finishes at Branbury State Park. Participants paddle, bike and run around beautiful Lake Dunmore. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com 20-24 | Spartan Death Race, Pittsfield This adventure race bills itself as the most difficult race in the world. In 2018, racers faced 3,000 burpees, an overnight trek over Bloodroot Gap, a 30,000-foot rope pull and set a Guinness World Record for a 12-hour crawl under barbed wire. Peakraces.com

AUGUST 1 | New England Championships, Canoe, Kayak, SUP Races, Brattleboro Enjoy a 12 mile flatwater race on the Connecticut River or a 5 mile recreational race.

Neckra.org 7 | Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal, Richford This family-friendly event combines 6.5 miles of paddling down a designated Wild & Scenic section of the Missisquoi River and 5 miles of cycling on the adjacent Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. northernforestcanoetrail.org 14 | The Bitter Pill, Craftsbury, A summer adventure race for teams of two or three with hiking, biking, and time on the water – as well as requiring you to continually navigate. gmara.org

15 | Vermont Sun & Lake Dunmore Triathlons, Salisbury Swim 0.9 miles, bike 28 miles, and run 6.2 miles. You can also just do the Aqua Bike option with just the swim and the bike or the Lake Dunmore Triathlon (600 yard swim, 14mile bike, 3.1 mile run). The classic, pristine course starts and finishes at Branbury State Park. Participants swim, bike and run around beautiful Lake Dunmore. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com

SEPTEMBER 11-12 | Spartan Ultra & Beast Races, Killington Spartan Ultra is a 50 km, 60 obstacle race built to break your limits over the world’s most difficult terrain .There will also be a shorter Beast 21K, a sprint and a kid’s race.” killington.com 19 | Josh Billings Triathlon, Great Barrington, MA A 27-mile bike / 5-mile canoe/kayak/SUP / 6-mile run in the beautiful Berkshires of western Ma. 44 Categories for Teams & Ironpersons-separate divisions for canoes, kayaks & SUPs. Bikers race 27 miles on backcountry rolling hills thru 5 towns in the Berkshires, paddle 5 miles around Stockbridge Bowl, finish with a 6 mile run around the lake to Tanglewood then celebrate at the Josh ‘Bash’ with awards, food, live band, vendors and a free Kid’s Fun Run. Josh ‘matchmaker’ will help find teammates. joshbillings.com

org/documents/river-releases/

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WEST HILL SHOP PUTNEY • VERMONT

celebrating 50 years

www.westhillshop.com 802-387-5718

23-26 | Obstacle Course Racing World Championships, Stratton Drawing more than 5,000 athletes from 70 nations, the OCR World Championships features both professional and amateur age-group competitions. The three-day event offers five different races to accommodate all types of athletes. The flagship 3K and 15K distance races are only open to qualified agegroup and professional athletes. stratton.com

West River Dam Release, Jamaica, Vt. Sept. 24-26Celebrate two seasonal dam releases at the Ball Mountain Dam at Jamaica State Park. Shuttle service is provided for those who run the Class II-Class IV stretches of the West River. Vtstateparks.com Fife Brook | North Adams, Mass.

The Deerfield’s Fife Book section ranges from 700 cfs to 2000 cfs, at which point it becomes class III-IV. Scheduled releases are: July 1-4, 7-11,14-18, 21-25, 31; Aug. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29; Sept. 1-5, 8-12, 15-19; Oct. 1-3, 6-10, 13-17. Releases start between 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m and are a minimum of 3 hours. https:// amcbostonpaddlers.org/documents/riverreleases/ Deerfield River | #5 Station Dam, Monroe, Mass.

Releases are scheduled for July 2-4, 9-11, 17, 25; Aug. 1, 6-8, 14, 21-22, 27-28; Sept. 4-5, 1112, 19; Oct. 2, 10. https://amcbostonpaddlers.

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99 Bonnet St., Manchester Ctr, VT 802-362-2734 | battenkillbicycles. com Manchester'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 advice on where to ride your bike in the Northshire. Battenkill Bicycles is the number one e-bike seller in Southern Vermont and is an authorized Bosch e-bike 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.

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BOOTLEGGER BIKES

60 Main Street Jeffersonnville, VT 802-644-8370 | bootleggerbikes.com 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.

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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 & Fri 10-5, Sat & Thurs 10-2. Be well by being smart.

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EARL’S CYCLERY & FITNESS

2069 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 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 you need a flat tire fix or a suspension rebuild, the service staff is ready to help.

Estimates are always free! Stop by our new location at 2069 Williston Rd, South Burlington, or call us.

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BRADLEY’S PRO SHOP SKI & SPORT

The premier bike shop in Southern Vermont, located in Manchester Center.

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. 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 so be sure to bring your ride in. As always: THINK DIRT!

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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 East Burke.

We pride ourselves in expert knowledge and friendly customer service to help get you outside to have fun! Come get your bike fixed at our full-service repair shop, rent from our fleet of Santa Cruz, Juliana and Trek mountain bikes (with direct access to Kingdom Trails), and shop for clothing, parts and accessories in our retail shop. Open 9-6 every day.

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FROG HOLLOW

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. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - 5:30, Sun. 11 – 4.

THE GEAR HOUSE

16 Pleasant St., Randolph, VT 802-565-8139 gearhouse.com The Gear House brings fresh energy and excitement to the state's cycling scene.

Located in the center of Vermont, we offer Rocky Mountain, Bianchi, Yamaha e-bikes, a rotating inventory of consigned bikes and gear, and a full service repair shop. Randolph has newly revived mtb trails that combine classic old-school singletrack with machine built zones. Start the 12/12a loop from the shop for 38 miles of well maintained road miles, or map out a day ride entirely on the gravel. The shop is also home to RASTA's outdoor trail hub which features topographical and printed maps. Stop by and plan your next adventure!

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GREEN MOUNTAIN BIKES

105 N. Main St. Rochester VT 800-767-7882 | greenmountainbikes. com

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.

HANOVER

11 ADVENTURE TOURS 713 US 5 N., Norwich, VT | 802-359-2921 | hanoveradventuretours.com

More than a full-service bike store, we are a full-service adventure center. With an expertise in electric bicycles, we live and breathe outdoor exploration through our offering of e-bike rentals, sales, and tours including doorstep delivery and a full-service shop (all bikes welcome). Over 100 electric bicycle rentals, demos, and tours available for individuals and large groups, short and long-term. Open year round with seasonal options. Explore one of the largest selections of e-bikes with Yamaha, iZip, and Magnum.

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HITCHHIKER

331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 802-863-4475 | oldspokeshome.com

394 Mountain Road Ste. 6, Stowe, VT | 802-585-3344 hitchhikerbikes.com

Hitchhiker Bike Shop is Stowe's newest shop.

We carry bikes from Rocky Mountain, Cervelo, Otso Cycles, Chromag, Open Cycle, and Gazelle E-bikes. If you are looking for a tuneup we offer service for just about every type of bike and budget.

Service appointments are encouraged, but not necessary. You'll also find great clothing, parts, and accessories in our shop that is pedaling distance from the Cady Hill trails. See our website for more up to date information on the shop, services, and pricing or stop by and check us out next time you're in Stowe!

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HIGH PEAKS CYCLERY

2733 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3764 | highpeaks cyclery.com The Adirondacks' source for bicycling and outdoor gear since 1983! Sales, service, rentals and tours. Bikes by Salsa, Giant and Yeti. Your advenutre center for mountain biking, gravel and road riding adventures.

Dirt, gravel, road and e-bike tours, Basecamp Lodge and dirt camps.. Hours: Mon – Fri 9 – 6, Sun 9 – 5.

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MALLETTS BAY BICYCLE & SKI

794 W. Lakeshore Dr. Colchester, VT 802-863-2453 | Malletts Bay mbbicyle.com 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, Free Agent and Manhattan.

Rent a bike and ride from the shop via the town rec path to the famed Colchester Causeway, the "Jewel of the Island Line Trail".

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OLD SPOKES HOME

MOUNTAINOPS

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

We offer bike sales along with fast, friendly service. Dealers of Niner, Scott, Devinci and Jamis, we carry a large assortment of mountain and gravel bikes including a 60 bike Demo Fleet. Our techs have years of experience and our local trail knowledge is second to none. Our converted 1893 barnturned-bike-shop houses a huge selection of bike and lifestyle clothing along with parts and accessories. Looking for a more mellow ride? Rent one of our cruisers for a trip down the legendary Stowe Rec Path right from our parking lot!

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 nonprofit 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.

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OMER & BOB’S

20 Hanover St. Lebanon, NH 603-448-3522 | omerandbobs.com The Upper Valley's bike shop since 1964.

Offering mountain bikes, gravel and road bikes, hybrid bikes, e-bikes, and kids bikes from Specialized, Trek, and Electra.

Featuring a full service department, bike fitting, mountain and e-bike demos, and a kids trade-in, trade-up program. Hours: Mon.-Friday, 9am-5:30pm, Sat., 9am-5pm

ONION RIVER OUTDOORS

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

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OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE

37 Church St., Burlington, VT 802-860-0190 | gearx.com Voted this year's MTBVT Best Bike Shop, OGE is a premier bike shop with knowledgeable, friendly and honest staff. We have affordable commuters from Batch Bicycles, gravel grinders from Marin, BMC and Niner, mountain bikes from Marin, Niner, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Transition and Yeti. We also offer 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 St! Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-9, Sun 10-6

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POWERPLAY SPORTS

35 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-6557 powerplaysports.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 Rail Trail just 200 yards down the road.

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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 fresh-casual eatery, featuring sales and demo bike from Specialized, Ibis, Yeti, Evil, Revel, and Fatback. 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 grab-and-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 situation 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 802-6583313 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 10-6, Mon.- Sat. and 10-5 on Sun., for service, racks and rentals.

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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.

24 TYGART

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

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 in-house suspension service, wheel building, and full bike build-outs.

VILLAGE SPORT

25 SHOP

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

Family owned and passion driven since 1978 we are a 4 season shop with 2 convenient locations. Focused on making everyday your best day with full service bike shops, rentals from Specialized, Transition, Pivot, LIV, Salsa and Giant, and bikes for every type of rider,. Looking for a new ride, new gear, replacement parts or a quick snack we got you there too. Ride in and out of our Trailside shop (2099 Darling Hill Rd) or stop in to our town store (511 Broad Street) on your way through we look forward to seeing you! We are #CovidConscious

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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 West Hill Shop turns 50 this season, and welcomes Amy and Zach Caldwell as the third round of owners since the shop was founded in 1971. Some things are changing.

Most things are staying the same. And Covid makes the rules for this year, like last year. Visit us to see what's happening and check out our lines of all types of bikes from Cannondale, Giant, Mondraker and more.

We have e-bikes in stock.

JULY 2021 | VTSPORTS.COM 33

ENDGAME

T

o put it simply: I have a passion for rafts. Do I mean the yellow rubber behemoths that bounce down rapids, spilling beer everywhere?

Not really. I’ve floated the Grand Canyon—it’s awesome, no doubt—but that’s only one type of raft adventure.

More than a decade ago, I built my own raft. About the size of a kitchen table. Just some planks and foam, a blue tarp rigged over a piece of rope in lieu of a proper tent. Oars and a square sail.

On this rudimentary thing, I traveled the length of Lake Champlain over the course of 22 days. I got my ass kicked by thunderstorms. I played ukulele in the sun. I read a bunch of Plato and Shakespeare. I drank Labatt Blue with bass fisherman. I got my ass kicked by more thunderstorms. I slept on the raft, night after night after night.

Basically, it was the best thing I’ve ever done. It was so great, in fact, that I wrote a 400-page manuscript about the voyage (young man’s first attempt at a book = unwieldy beast = never tried to get it published). I also wrote a short essay for this space in Vermont Sports, plus a handful more articles for other magazines.

Why? Because I’m a raft evangelist.

Because I’m a guy who stands on a soapbox that isn’t actually a soapbox because, yup, it’s a raft.

For me, the raft is summer: the season’s essence, the season’s premier symbol. The freedom and chaos and weirdness and straight chillin’ that rafts invite into our lives is unparalleled.

Drifting around at sunset, maybe tossing the anchor and pivoting on a “waterbed” beneath the stars, is the logical extension of relaxing on the dock with a cocktail.

Just cut the dock loose, my friends, and away you go! (One vignette in the sprawling manuscript, titled “Liberation Of The Dock,” described a vision of a raft armada on Lake Champlain.)

So that’s why I write: to spread the Gospel. But any proselytizer worth his salt needs a Good Book, of course, not just a mere essay or five—and as mentioned, the book I wrote wasn’t quite up to snuff. Where to turn? To the library, duh.

Please, I implore you: put down that James Patterson drivel and pick up a book about rafts. I’ve got a Ph.D in this field (alas, from an unaccredited university) and am happy to share the highlights from years of reading. Let’s inventory a few classics from the shelf.

34 VTSPORTS.COM | JULY 2021

RAFT READING

SPRAWL OUT ON A RAFT OR SINK DEEP IN AN ADIRONDACK CHAIR AND WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE BEST OF RAFT LIT THIS SUMMER.

BY LEATH TONINO

messing about in boats.” At the end of my Champlain voyage, hitchhiking south from the Canada line after parking the raft in a nice person’s yard with the promise that I’d return to get it soon, I snagged a ride from a guy who recommended a little magazine out of Massachusetts. The title?

Messing About In Boats.

The author, on the raft he built and paddled the length of Lake Champlain. Courtesy photo. .

1.Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

This is the masterpiece, the famous raft that everybody knows. One rainy morning during my voyage up Lake Champlain, a fellow stepped out onto the deck of his shoreline camp and bellowed from memory, “We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” What else is there to say? Amen, brother!

2. Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.

WWII has ended and the Norwegian paratroopers are sort of bored. Luckily, their buddy Thor, an anthropologist, has a plan to build a balsa raft and float it from Chile to Polynesia, thereby proving his theory about ancient human migration routes. More than 4,000 miles later, the guys crash on a reef. Published in 1950, Kon-Tiki is the badass granddaddy, the raft book that continues to inspire.

3. The Story Of A Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Raft literature is thick with survival tales. Before he became a famous fiction writer, Marquez reported this story for a Bogotá newspaper: five Colombians get swept off their ship, four drown, and the last fellow swims to a life raft, then battles thirst and sun and sharks for ten days before washing up on a beach.

Useful tidbits abound in this book, for instance: the blood from a turtle is better than Gatorade in a pinch (and the fluid from a turtle’s eyeball also works).

“

During my voyage up Lake Champlain, a fellow stepped out onto the deck of his shoreline camp and bellowed from memory, “We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all.

Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t.”

4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

Kids, adults, who doesn’t love this story of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger, first published in 1908? It’s not as rafty as other books on the list (though there is a nice horse-drawn barge), but it deserves inclusion because of a certain famous sentence from the opening chapter: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing— half so much worth doing as simply

5. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. More sharks! Just too awesome! I listened to this one while driving from California to Arizona once, but I couldn’t turn it off when I finally arrived at my campsite after 12 hours, so I sat in the dark and kept listening. The first scene in this book features our protagonist—a WWII bomber who has been shot down over the Pacific—diving out of his life raft because a Japanese plane is firing at him. There’s a shark under the raft. He punches it in the snout. And with that—we’re off and running.

6. The Happiest Man In The World by Alec Wilkinson. This book, written by a staff writer at The New Yorker, profiles Poppa Neutrino, a unique vagabond adventurer who crossed the Atlantic on a raft made entirely out of refuse (for which he was made a member of the elite Explorer’s Club in Manhattan). Says Neutrino: “When the big boats go down, they put you in the small boats, right? So why not start off in the small boat?” Oddly enough, as an old man Neutrino ended up in Burlington, Vt., and his last voyage saw him crashing in a squall on Thompson’s Point, literally a few hundred yards from the place where I grew up swimming. This occurred about three years after I made my voyage on Champlain, which is to say that my sole claim to fame in life is that I rafted a lake that even the audacious and accomplished Poppa Neutrino failed to navigate successfully.

7. Pop Goes The Weasel by James Patterson. Just kidding. Put that drivel down! Use it as a coaster for your Negroni or Tom Collins. Would be a shame to mar your raft’s deck with a watermark stain, don’t you agree? You do have a homemade raft, don’t you? You’re going to throw one together soon, right?

Leath Tonino is a native of the Champlain Basin and the author of two essay collections about the outdoors, most recently The West Will Swallow You (Trinity University Press).

AND PRESENT

THE VERMONT MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

ASCUTNEY TRAILS BROWNSVILLE, VT

FRI. JULY 30 – SUN. AUGUST 1

Join Mountain Flyer and Ascutney Trails Association for a familyfriendly, three-day festival with guided rides, live music, camping, food trucks, a beer garden and more. @FlowStateMTBFest

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