VERMONT SPORTS New England’s Outdoor Magazine SIGN UP AT VTSPORTS.COM FREE SEPT./OCT. 2022 WHY A PRO SURFER MOVED TO VERMONT | FALL HIKING GEAR | CLIMATE CHANGE WEDOGSLOVE! MEET OUR ADVENTURE DOG CONTEST WINNERS ADVENTUREEMERGINGTOWNS OUTDOOR SPORTS ARE CHANGING THESE SMALL TOWNS. 10 THE BEST LAST TREKS IF YOU WANT TO SEE ICELAND'S GLACIERS, GO NOW BEFORE THEY ARE GONE.
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Keld Alstrup resolved his knee pain and returned to hiking with the help of SVMC Orthopedics. They use a teambased approach to provide a full range of surgical and non-surgical services and customized virtual rehabilitation programs that resolve pain and allow their patients to get back to the activites they love as quickly—and painlessly—as possible.
SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER ORTHOPEDICS PA R TNERSHIP IS POWERFUL MEDICINE TM SVMC Orthopedics 332 Dewey Street | Bennington, VT svhealthcare.org/ortho | 802-442-6314 Sports Injuries | Fracture Care | Hand, Wrist, Shoulder, and Reconstructive Surgery Total Hip and Knee Replacements, including Same-Day Surgery
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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5 The Start
A Pro Surfer Drops In Pro skier/surfer Chuck Patterson is best known for skiing giant waves. Now he’s living in Burlington.
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Gaia, one of our Adventure Dog winners, in full fall glory. Photo by Stefan Beaumont
6 News Racing Across Mongolia
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19 Feature
It’s the world’s longest, toughest horse race. And this Vermonter did it.
Chasing Iceland’s Vanishing Ice Iceland has spectacular hikes, glaciers and waterfalls. Go now before climate change takes its toll.
Facing a Changing Climate Climate change is already impacting this young Vermonter’s life.
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4 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
Under the guiding hands of Jay Peak manager Steve Wright and Burke’s Kevin Mack, the resorts weathered both the EB-5 fall-out and a pandemic that closed the Canadian border, cutting off a huge customer base. Both have understood the outsized role these resorts play in their local communities in creating job opportunities and contributing to the quality of life.
under Jay Peak’s Ariel Quiros/Bill Stenger ownership, the development that was created at Jay Peak, as well as the hotel at Burke Mountain Resort, have helped buoy the Northeast Kingdom’s economy and recreation.
Six years after the resort went into receivership following the EB-5 investment scandal that sent its previous owners to jail, Jay Peak would finally have a new owner.
There’s a lesson here in place making and it’s one that the State of Vermont has underscored by allocating nearly $5 million to boost outdoor recreation projects in towns across the state this year, as we write in “The Next Outdoor Playgrounds, Part II.” While these grants don’t come close to the huge investments made by the EB-5 projects, they are helping to position towns such as Northfield, Bethel and Pownal as outdoor recreation hubs and desirable places to live, play and raise a family.Vermont may never attract a big business like a Google or an Amazon to relocate here, but in a world where jobs are increasingly portable improving our recreation and quality of life can attract new people. And that’s good for everyone.
JAY PEAK AND PLACE MAKING
On
Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11:30 the bidding started. Jay Peak Resort, the ski area with the highest average snowfall in Vermont, the ski area with a waterpark and hotel and condos and a golf course and an ice rink and a movie theater, was finally being sold.
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 5
Jay Peak’s expansion helped solidify its role as a four-season resort, one that new owners are expected to build on. Courtesy Jay Peak
THE START
FOR A LESSON IN WHAT OUTDOOR RECREATION CAN DO FOR A COMMUNITY, CONSIDER JAY PEAK AND BURKE.
The opening bid was $58 million by Pacific Group, owner of Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire, Wisp and Wintergreen in the central Atlantic, Powderhorn in Colorado and Mt. Washington on Vancouver Island. Compared to the $41 million that Vail Resorts ultimately paid to own and operate the ski lifts, restaurants and ski school at Stowe Mountain Resort in 2017, $58 million would have been a steal.
—Lisa Lynn, Editor
The duo originally promised the $500 million development would create 10,000 jobs. While they may have fallen short of that, as the project construction began Orleans county’s unemployment rates dropped—though it still has the highest unemployment rate in Vermont (3.2 percent at press time).
Two other bidders threw their hats in the ring and the bidding wars began. In the end, the Pacific Group outbid several others to win the auction with a bid for $76 million. Mark Fischer, PGRI’s executive vice-president who led the acquisition said: “The opportunity to own a resort like Jay Peak, with its considerable upside and a solid reputation, does not come along very often. The acquisition of Jay is an important step forward for our whole company and for our employees. We could not be more excited to welcome Jay Peak and its staff to ourThefamily.”transaction is expected to close prior to the 2022-23 ski and snowboard season. Each PGRI property is managed independently, and no major changes are contemplated to the winter operating plan at Jay Peak. All existing season passes, pass reciprocity, and multi-resort pass arrangements at Jay, including the Indy Pass, will be honored for the 2022-23 winterDespiteseason.all the wrongs that happened
SUDBURY’S KAYLEIGH DAVENPORT CONQUERED THE WORLD’S LONGEST HORSE RACE BY MAT CLOUSER
6 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022 NEWS
the field, it’s just kind of you and your horse,” said Davenport.
RACING ACROSS MONGOLIA
Riders must carry all their materials and supplies (although meals are provided at checkpoints) and may not weigh more than 187 lbs., including their backpack (with camping supplies), in addition to a maximum of 11 lb. saddle bag. “When you’re out in
In August, Kayleigh Davenport of Sudbury, Vt., not only completed the Mongol Derby, she finished 14th overall. Davenport, who grew up riding at Pond Hill in Castleton, first heard about the race via her job working for SmartPak, an online retailer for equestrian apparel. Davenport didn’t think she had a chance to get accepted. Still, after submitting numerous videos and pictures of her riding and going through a lengthy interview process, she was finally approved.Therace, whose course changes every year and is kept secret until the last minute, can take riders through mountain passes, open valleys, river
crossings, wetlands, floodplains, arid dunes, rolling hills, and of course, the famed Mongolian steppe.
Kayleigh Davenport (right) rode across the finish line in 14th with another U.S. rider, Lena Haug
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It’s grueling for the rider too. Of the 47 who started only 33 finished. Davenport worked with a fitness coach to prepare. While she is not sure she’d do the race again, the experience was life changing for her.
even compete in the Mongol Derby, a 1,000km (621.37 miles) grueling trek through northern Mongolia designed to mimic the horse messenger system established by Genghis Khan, you have to submit a resume. Thousands do each year from around globe, striving for a chance to compete on a route established 800 years ago in 1224. Riders pick their horses at each leg from herds of semi-wild horses Mongol tribes care for.
Some restrictions are made to keep the race close to what the initial Mongolian riders had to contend with, but much of it is done with horse safety in mind.Nohorse may be ridden for more than one leg (about 40 km), and a team of vets checks each horse after each leg to ensure they have not been overridden. “At each horse station, there are the herders who own the horses and help you get on and get saddled,” she said. “There’s a whole team of medics that work for the race, a whole team of vets that work for the race, and some crew that are there to help support you.”
“If you’re on a horse and you don’t really have a say in how fast you’re
going to be going, you can’t be barreling through a field and fall in a marmot hole, which happened a lot,” she said.
To
“I loved it. It was amazing,” she continued. “I keep hearing people say ‘oh, you made it back in one piece,’ and I’m like—’I am wholer than I have ever been.’”
All across roughly 10 days of riding 13 hours a day and dealing with all manner of difficulties along the way— including weather, wolves, and the alltoo-common giant marmot hole.
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8 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
YOUR TURN
global population is expected to face climate conditions outside those optimal for humans to thrive.
The University of Vermont released the 2021 Climate Assessment last fall. Climate change will impact Vermont across all seasons, activities,
SAFE PLACES?
The Cold Springs Canyon fire started less than 100 miles north of us in Wenatchee. Overnight the air around us transformed into an opaque, smoky darkness. A film of ash blanketed the Columbia River and my housemates and I soon found ourselves coughing up soot. By contrast, my hometown – Waitsfield, VT – tends to have Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the 20’s and 30’s: fresh and clear. In Washington that fall, my phone was registering AQI numbers in the 400’s.
I
But I still think about climate change in the context of my home – Vermont.
I still feel nervous about what is to come, given that climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and severity of flood events in Vermont. In the next 50 years – well within my expected lifetime – more than one third of the
And44.we are losing biodiversity across the state. Experts predict that 92 bird species will disappear in the next 25 years, including our State Bird, the hermit thrush, as well as the beloved common loon. I can’t quite fathom a summer in Vermont without the flutelike songs of hermit thrushes in the woods or the long mournful call of loons.
I don’t know where I’ll live with any degree of certainty. But I keep returning to Vermont, my home, and I try to appreciate all that we still have here right now: hiking the understated but relentless trails of the Green Mountains, carving fresh tracks on a powder day at Mad River Glen, hearing the croak of frogs in a pond on a humid summer night, swimming in cool rivers, and smelling a new snap in the air as I wake up to the first frost.
I’ve always felt pulled in two directions: West and East. I was born in New Mexico but grew up in the Green Mountains. After high school, I spent concentrated stints living in Wyoming, New Mexico, Washington, Montana, and Alaska: I’ve relished crushing sage brush between my fingers to inhale
FACING CLIMATE CHANGE
No place on Earth will be able to outrun climate change. But we will all be navigating its impacts and making life choices accordingly - whether that choice is to stay on our homelands and do everything possible to take care of them, or to relocate, if able, to a place that feels healthier and safer. With a suite of impacts facing every region, there are no easy choices. The specific consequences and speed of onset in different areas are simply a matter of latitude and longitude, atmospheric composition, geology, and a confluence of other natural factors converging with the human impacts on the carbon cycle.
WHAT'S TO COME?
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE HAS ALREADY CHANGED ONE YOUNG VERMONTER’S LIFE. BY ANNEKA WILLIAMS
and ecosystems. The projections are sobering. Skiing will remain largely viable in Vermont until 2050, but by 2080 it’s expected that the ski season will be shortened by anywhere from two to four weeks. Warming temperatures are making harmful algal blooms more common. In 2015 there were 9 days of beach closures on Lake Champlain due to cyanobacteria blooms. In 2020 there were
While wildfires can start for a number of reasons and are a natural phenomenon in certain places, climate change is exacerbating their frequency and intensity. Experts connect the severity of Washington’s 2020 wildfire season to anthropogenic climate change. This wasn’t the only time I’ve experienced the impacts of events precipitated by climate change.
Author Anneka Williams, pictured here on Mount Adams in Washington, is studying global climate change. Courtesy photo/
One of my best friends recently moved to Salt Lake City, Utah – another place I’ve always been curious about. But the city’s climate prospects are concerning. The air around Salt Lake City may become toxic as climate change dries up the eponymous lake and average July high temperatures may rise 10 degrees by 2050. The prospect of hotter and drier summers and poor air quality make me question how livable Salt Lake City really is or will be.
But we are also seeing steps in the right direction. With the new 2022 Inflation Reduction Act’s investments, the U.S. is on track to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with the goal of reaching net zero by 2050.
In July 2019 ,I was working in Alaska during a record-breaking heat wave attributed to amplified climate warming in northern latitudes and a prolonged wildfire season in Alaska. It was hot and the air was often hazy with smoke. The last thing I expected from a summer on the northern tundra is that I would be vexed by heat on a regular basis. But that’s just a new reality.
I am currently earning a Master’s in Climate Change Science and working remotely on climate policy for the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Woods Hole, Ma. I’ve studied climate change across the world. My work has me doing everything from assessing biodiversity loss in the Bhutanese Himalaya to researching how warming temperatures affect carbon cycling in Alaska’s boreal forests; from quantifying how wildfires impact methane emissions in the Arctic tundra to analyzing climate risk and mitigation strategies.
Growing up my calculus was simple: East vs. West. But I’m old enough now to stay up at night fretting about the livability of different places in the face of climate change. I’ve always wanted to move to Taos, New Mexico to enjoy both skiing and a desert climate. But I worry about the feasibility of this as the Environmental Protection Agency predicts a diminishing snowpack and shortened ski season in Taos as the climate warms, not to mention increasing risk of drought, extreme heat, and wildfires.
the spicy scent, glissading down snowy peaks, and climbing the Rio Grande Gorge’s rocky walls.
In September 2011, Tropical Storm Irene decimated Vermont. I remember gathering the day after on the main street of Waitsfield near our covered bridge. Neighbors and friends set up tables in the middle of the street to wash dishes from the riverside restaurants and cafes that had flooded. The community response was heartening, but we all found ourselves reeling in the wake of such a devastating natural disaster.
Being able to move – to choose where you live in the first place – is an enormous privilege. While the idea of settling down longer term feels elusive to me as I navigate the uncertainty of adulthood, the choice of where I do live is a choice that is gaining gravity in a world that is slowly becoming unlivable.
n fall 2020, I lived in wildfireriddled central Washington. It was one of the state’s worst fire seasons on record. By September 1, more than 700,000 acres had burned, approximately 10% of the area of the state of Vermont. It didn’t stop there. High winds combined with downed power lines sparked more wildfires on Labor Day weekend, leading to near total destruction of Malden and Pine City in eastern Washington and creating hazardous air quality across the state.
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 9 MAKALU FXYOURGUIDECARBONWAY.MIRNAVALERIO “The Mirnavator”
Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve
WHAT DO WE TAKE WHEN WE HEAD OUT FOR A FOLIAGE HIKE? HERE ARE OUR FOUR TRIED AND TRUE PIECES WE LOVE.
I recently headed to Colorado to do a series of day hikes in the Rockies. For the flight, I packed my Gregory Maya 16L ($109.95) with a 14-inch laptop,
The Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel ($60) is long-sleeve, light-weight, wicking, bug-proof shirt that has become my go-to shirt for hiking, traveling or just hanging out in the back yard. It’s soft, breathable and the polyester fabric with the patented Insect Shield not only protects against bugs but also has a UV 50 rating. Throw a flannel shirt over it for a bit more protection from snares if you are bushwhacking. On top of that, it’s tailored so you can wear it out with a skirt. The shirts come in men’s and women’s models, and there's a line of Bug Barrier pants, too.
Gregory Maya 16 Day Pack
Just before I headed off on that trip to Colorado, GORE-TEX sent over a pair or Merrell Antora 2/Nova GTX ($120, men’s is the Nova) hiking shoes to test. I usually don’t like to take an untested pair of shoes on a hiking trip (I have perennial foot problems and a Morton’s neuroma that acts up). But I threw them in with a pair of tried-andtested Oboz boots. I wore the Antora 2s on the first day, and the next and the next. After a week of hiking through streams and marshy areas, across scree and old snowpack, these shoes kept my feet dry thanks to GORE-TEX’s Invisible Fit waterproof, windproof membrane. The membrane is used by a number of shoe brands now and for good reason: It works. The Antora 2s with an option for wide-sizing, a midsole that has EVA foam and a 8.5 mm heel-to-toe drop is one of the most comfortable trail shoes
OUR GO-TO DAY HIKING GEAR
GRAYL WATER PURIFICATION BOTTLE
Merrell Antora 2/Nova 2 GTX Trail Shoe
I’ve worn. They are going everywhere with me from now on.
BY LISA LYNN
GREGORY MAYA 16 DAY PACK
books, a Grayl waterbottle (see above) and sweater. Once out there, the Maya took everything I could use for days of fishing high mountain streams (the pole case fits nicely in one of the side pockets and straps in) and hiking to snowfields. support you.” The Maya’s mesh back and 3D foam back panel keep the air flowing and your back cool and the Biosync adjustable harness and micro adjustments on the shoulder straps are easily adjusted when the load gets heavier. The stretchy outer pocket is optimal for quick-stashing a light rain jacket and a top inner zippered pocket for storing a phone or keys. There’s also a hydration sleeve and ample pockets on the waist band. I currently have two of these packs – one’s ripped from overuse – and may invest in a third. Note that the men’s version of this (and they are designed to fit differently) is the MiWok.
10 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
MERRELL ANTORA 2/NOVA 2 GTX TRAIL SHOE
I’m a water bottle person. Hydration packs are great, until they leak or you have to refill them. I also don’t like to carry more water than I need for a day hike. The beauty of the Grayl Ultra Press Purifier ($89.94 for the 16.9 oz. version, $99 for the 24 oz.) is that it is a water filter and a bottle all in one. Fill the outer bottle in any stream or lake, press the inner bottle with its built-in carbon filter down and you can fill a 24 oz bottle in about 20 seconds with pure, pathogen-free drinking water. The bottles are not light – 12.5 oz – but they fit in a backpack outer pocket for easy reach on a day hike.
Grayl Water Purification Bottle
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BUG BARRIER TECH TRAVEL LONG SLEEVE
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I shouldn’t delay my pilgrimage to Iceland: the land of fire and ice is melting. One tenth of Iceland is covered in glaciers, but they are receding by about three football fields per year or more In 2019, Iceland held a symbolic funeral for Okjökull, its first glacier lost to climate change. Some 400 other glaciers are also at risk, and Iceland may
Hiking the Fimmvörðuháls Trail, a spectacular 15-mile hike lined with waterfalls that passes beneath two glaciers.
be ice free in the next 100-200 years.
12 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
(jealous). Bikepackers pushing their bikes through rivers (no thanks). And the friends skiing long snowfields down to the ocean (insanely jealous). Even my next door neighbor has been to Iceland three times. Just because it’s such a cool place. And cheap to get there (see Details sidebar).Something else made me feel like
ICE IF THERE’S ONE PLACE TO SEE NOW BEFORE CLIMATE CHANGE LEAVES ITS MARK, ICELAND WITH ITS GLACIERS AND WATERFALLS SHOULD BE ON THE BUCKET LIST. STORY AND PHOTOS BY
thing happened during my covid quarantine.
Acurious
An easy five hour flight from Boston delivered my wife Sue and I to Reykjavik, Iceland’s cosmopolitan capital. We arrived at midnight on a Friday in May. The city was bathed in golden light as if it were late afternoon in Vermont. Iceland is the land of the midnight sun, with
CHASING ICELAND’S VANISHING DAVID GOODMAN
Now is the time to chase ice.
Vermonters were posting incredible photos from…Iceland. There was the friend hiking to see bright orange lava bubbling out of an active volcano. Another friend chilling in geothermal hot springs. A couple who backpacked the world famous Laugavegur Trail
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 13
sunlight round the clock in the summer. The charming European city with colorfully painted buildings transforms on weekends into one of Europe’s hippest and liveliest party scenes. We strolled around after midnight among revelers packed shoulder to shoulder as if it were a festival on a summer afternoon.
of us, the horizon was crowned by the vast white Vatnajokull (pronounced vat-na-yokul) icecap, our ultimate destination. This is the largest icecap in Europe and one of the fastest melting glaciers in the world. As we drove, the landscape around us– to use an oftrepeated descriptor in Iceland – was other-worldly. Everywhere we looked,
We spent our first day in Iceland traveling the famous Golden Circle, a roughly 200-mile round trip drive from Reykjavik that features three impressive stops: Thingvellir, where we hiked down between the upturned edges of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates to see the site of the world’s first (and hopefully not last)
democratic parliament; Geysir, where the ground was steaming and erupting; and Gullfoss, a thunderous three-level waterfall that plunges over 100 feet into a narrow chasm and explodes into mist. This was a breathtaking intro to Iceland’s spectacular natural attractions.
The next morning we drove out of Reykjavik to South Iceland. In front
Our crampons bit into the glacier with a distinctive crunch. We marched up into a stunning frozen landscape. The ice constantly changed color and texture. It included swirls of black ash, evidence of past volcanic eruptions. We closely followed Asgeir has he wove through the crevasses. I couldn’t take my eyes off the cacophony of ice that towered over our heads. Turquoise ice blocks leaned precariously in front of us and yawning crevasses vanished far beneath our feet. The glacier felt alive, groaning and cracking as we navigated our way Asgeirupward.motioned with his axe and stopped to make sense of this jumble of ice. Falljokull means “falling glacier,” a reference to its steepness. “We are right in the icefall where the glacier has descended from the icecap and turns into an outlet glacier, where it cracks open and forms crevasses,” he said, pointing to the slots that threatened to swallow us. “Then the entire ice mass travels down to a plateau where it gets squished back together and the crevasses close up.” It continues downhill and “opens and closes like an accordion.”
of the glaciers that we have been going to previously because of the danger of rock falls. That is happening because the glaciers in Iceland are receding at abnormally fast rates, which leaves a big part of the mountain unstable. We’re also experiencing more floods and mudslides because of this.”
We donned crampons, ice axes and harnesses and followed Asgeir around a lake to the edge of the glacier. “Ten years ago when I was starting to take people out to the glaciers, we would only walk a few steps from our vehicle and we would be on the ice,” Asgeir explained. By contrast, we walked about 20 minutes to reach the edge of the glacier. “That’s because it is receding so fast,” he says. Evidence of the recession can be seen in the growing glacial lake that used to be covered in several meters of ice.
waterfalls spilled down mountainsides, some wispy and vanishing into midair, others thundering down in torrents. The landscape alternated between incandescent green and black lava fields, the aftermath of Iceland’s many volcanic eruptions.Hollywood has long been eager to capitalize on Iceland’s other-worldliness. Numerous films depicting faraway lands have been shot here, including Star Wars, two James Bond movies, Batman Begins, Game of Thrones, Tomb Raider, and the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, to name just a few.
“The authorities are closing down many
Asgeir said wistfully, “It’s a privilege
14 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
We connected with Asgeir Ingi, a veteran guide with Hidden Iceland, to venture up onto the Falljokull Glacier, an outlet glacier that flows off the 3,000 square mile Vatnajokull Icecap. The icecap, which ranges up to 1 km in thickness, sits like a plug atop seven volcanoes, three of which are active.
Top left, Sue Minter hiking the Fimmvörðuháls Trail just below the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier in South Iceland. Ice from the Jökulsárlón Glacier shines bright on the black sands of Diamond Beach. Above, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon grows as the ice is melting. The Artic is warming four times faster than the global average.
We climbed as far into the icefall as was safe, then slowly descended the glacier. We were engulfed by a world of color and sound that was both magical and menacing to our little human procession. Asgeir pointed to the polished rock walls that were recently exposed by the receding ice.
to be able to see the glaciers before they leave.”What is perilous is also beautiful. After descending the glacier, we drove a short distance to Jokulsarlon Lagoon. Icebergs glistened and floated in the luminous blue lagoon created by the melting of the Vatnajokull Glacier, which was calving off before our eyes.
ARCTIC AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 15
seas, the decline of boreal forests, hotter summers and heavier rainfall, to name a few effects.
Tourism has created a climate conundrum. Iceland (pop. 376,000) had the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions of any European country in 2021, partly a result of the millions of tourists who fly to Iceland to enjoy its natural wonders.
The lagoon is only about 90 years old and is now 25 square km, growing as the glacier recedes some 500 meters per year. We follow the lagoon as it made its way to the nearby ocean. The icebergs break up and pieces sparkled on black lava sand known as Diamond Beach. They appeared as alluring as gemstones in a jeweler’s showcase.
levels, and carbon neutrality by 2040. Geothermal energy heats more than 90% of homes in Iceland and comprises more than half of the country’s energy mix. The country is also innovating by injecting carbon dioxide deep into the earth and converting it into rock.
Iceland is a leader in clean energy. The island nation has committed to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990
Parts of Iceland's craggy landscape show a rich green tundra like this hidden valley on the south coast (top). Author Goodman and his wife Sue Minter (above) explored them and hiked the Fimmvörðuháls Trail (above) where receding glaciers have carved out steep valleys.
Reflecting on the dramatic changes that we witnessed, Asgeir said, “You are experiencing a country still in formation. You’re seeing these extraordinary waterfalls, but then half an hour later you are walking on a glacier, and then in another half hour, you’re walking on a black sand beach or a green mossy field as far as your eyes can see. And if you’re if you’re really lucky,” he added with a twinkle in his eye, “you could experience a volcanic eruption.”
The Arctic is warming four times as fast as the global average, and parts of the Arctic experienced their hottest June on record in 2022. Iceland is considered part of the Arctic region, though most of its mainland is just south of the Arctic Circle. The consequences of a melting Arctic will impact the world in the form of rising sea levels, warming
Hildur explained that melting glaciers and rising sea level could alter the Gulf Stream, which gives Iceland its unusually temperate climate and keeps temperatures similar to New York or Toronto. “Climate change is something that can risk the nature and the habitats that we live in. We might not be able to live here anymore if climate change will continue.”
in the world, Iceland has an outsized impact on the global climate.
We hiked the Fimmvörðuháls as it ascended a lush valley. Waterfalls tumbled down the hillsides, which alternated between hues of gold and green. We soon broke out onto an open plateau and took in the awe-inspiring site of the glaciers that crown the volcanoes. Hildur broke out a flask of hot tea and cookies and sat down for an impromptu picnic. We had a front row perch from where we watched the glaciers calve enormous blocks of ice that tumbled to the valley floor.
Iceland is hiking heaven (see sidebar). We planned to do Iceland’s most famous day hike, the 15-mile Fimmvörðuháls Trail, which threads between two massive glaciers and passes by 26 waterfalls. We learned that the higher elevations of the trail were still under snow, so we opted to hike the part of the route that was accessible (the trail is best hiked from late June to early September) .
Why? I pressed her. “We’re just used to the volcanoes. We have a good infrastructure with how we built
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The landscape looks unchanged from a century ago. Here, sheep doze in the Westman Islands and a waterfall slices through the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
living here because we love using the glaciers to go skiing, climbing, ice walking, all of these things. It’s also the source of our water.”
HIGHER HIKING
I asked Hildur if it was unsettling to live in the shadow of the volcanoes. Her take surprised me. “We do not walk around in our everyday life worrying about the volcanoes,” said the mountain guide and mother. “Climate change is a lot, lot bigger worry for us.”
It was late in the afternoon so we started back down the Fimmvörðuháls Trail to Thorsmork, a backcountry hiking hub and camping area. She abruptly changed the subject. “Are you afraid of heights?”
After staying overnight at a friendly lodge operated by Midgard Adventure, we headed out with our guide Hildur Kristjansdottir, a co-owner of Midgard. She pulled up in our ride, a balloon-tire Super Jeep capable of fording rivers that would ferry us to the trailhead. Our hike would take us close to Eyjafjallajokull (pronounced ayafatla-yokul), the volcano that erupted in 2010 and brought European air travel to a standstill for a week. As one of the most volcanically active places
the houses and how we monitor the volcanoes and we have evacuation plans. They do pop from time to time, but we always figure it out. There’s not been a catastrophic eruption here in a really long time. So this is our choice.”
I replied that I was fine. Sue said nothing. Hildur offered to take her hiking poles so that Sue could more easily negotiate an exposed knifeedge ridge. Adjustment made, we all scampered across the ridge while avoiding looking at the drop below.
The land of fire and ice has a long history as a master of disaster. “The nation has grown up in this tough climate so we’re good in adapting to different kinds of circumstances. Flexibility is very strong in our culture. This is a part of our mentality: Be flexible and adapt.”
Hildur has heard that a travel outfitter is offering a “last chance ice walk.” “I get goosebumps when I talk about this because I think this is so sad that my grandchildren might not be able to go on the glacier,” she continued. “The glaciers are such a huge value to us, both for the tourist industry but also just for us as people
WHERE TO STAY: In Reykjavik, we stayed at the new Reykjavik Edition Hotel next to the iconic Harpa concert hall and a short walk to the capital’s fun nightlife. Fos shotel Nupar was a comfortable Euro-style hotel near the Vatnajokull glacier, and Umi Hotel was a convenient to everything in South Iceland. Midgard Base Camp is a friendly hostel-style lodge close to great hiking that also offers guided adventures.
SEPT./OCT. 2022
GREAT HIKES; Iceland is riddled with gorgeous hiking trails with big views of glaciers, waterfalls, wildlife and the surrounding ocean. The Ferðafélag Íslands/The Iceland Touring Association (FÍ) has close to 40 huts that are waypoints among some of its famous distance trails which make a hut-to-hut trip possible. Expect to carry food, stove and cooking equipment and a sleeping bag. Huts are around $40 to $80 a night. For more on the huts and routes, see https://www.fi.is/en/mountain-huts/allmountain-huts.Themostfamous hut-to hut route is the Laugavegur Trail. You can cover 34 miles on a five-day hut-to-hut journey through the central highlands that National Geographic calls one of the most beautiful trails in the world with lava fields and hot springs along the way. There are six cabins that sleep between 52 and 75 people each and you should book them ahead.
GETTING THERE: Icelandair offers famously cheap nonstop flights from Boston and New York to Reykjavik. A rental car is essential for getting around.
FOR MORE INFO: Tourism: Visit Iceland, (visiticeland.com) and Visit South Iceland, south.is/en. For live links, visit vtsports.com/iceland22/
For a long day hike, try th 15-mile Fimmvörðuháls Trail. Iceland’s most famous day hike, it passes countless waterfall and traverses beneath two massive glaciers. Can also be done in two days with one night in a hut.
The Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is located in the Westfjords and is renowned for day hikes and the 6-day, 53-mile Hornstrandir Trek, traversing one of Europe’s best wilderness areas.
GUIDES: Hidden Iceland is a one-stop adventure consultant and guide for all things Iceland, from hiking glaciers to viewing the Northern Lights; they also design selfguided tours. Midgard Adventure offers guided hiking, SuperJeep tours into the Thor smork area and other activities as well as hostel-style lodging.
| VTSPORTS.COM 17
OTHER THINGS TO DO: Iceland is famous for its geothermal hot springs. Sky Lagoon is a new hot spring and spa right in Reykjavik where you can soak while overlook ing the ocean. The classic Blue Lagoon is touristy but beautiful. It is close to the airport and to the active Fagradalsfjall volcano, which you can hike to and watch the bubbling lava. The Golden Circle is the traditional intro to Iceland’s natural high lights. The Westman Islands is home to one of the world’s largest puffin colonies, and Eldfell, a now-dormant volcano that nearly obliterated the town center when it erupted in 1973.
Guide Asgeir Ingi explains to Sue Minter how the Falljökull Glacier is moving and reacting to climate change.
CLASSIC ICELAND
18 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022 gearx.com | 37 Church St, Burlington, VT | 888.547.4327 | @outdoorgearexchange THIS JUST IN: CRISP, NEW FALL EQUIPMENT TO GET YOU OUTSIDE. HIKE, BIKE, CAMP, ROCK CLIMB, SKI, BOARD, SNOWSHOE AND MORE. Fresh landinggeardaily. are here! new arrivals
IN MAY WE PROFILED 14 OF THE 24 COMMUNITIES THAT RECEIVED VOREC GRANTS TO IMPROVE OUTDOOR RECREATION. HERE ARE WHAT THE NEXT 10 ARE DOING.
THE PLAYGROUNDSOUTDOORNEXTPARTII
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 19
VERMONT IN OUTDOOR RECREATION
Pownal, seen here from above Quarry Hill, earned one of the 24 Community Grants awarded in 2022 by the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative. Photo by Bethy/Adobe Stock
INVESTS
Athletes know this area as the home of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, one of the country’s best-known training grounds for cross-country skiers, runners, and rowers. The Center hosts elite training camps and many of its athletes have become members of national and Olympic teams.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: The relatively new Craftsbury Farmhouse has glam ping tents as well as suites above the Blackbird Bistro where you can find such cleverly named dishes as “Hipster from another Mister” (marinated tofu, cheddar and pesto on a ciabatta roll.) It’s also attached to a spa, Whetstone Well ness. The Highland Lodge is a classic inn with a vast network of trails out the front door. In the winter, you can even ski from there to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center’s network of trails. The Crafts bury Outdoor Center also has cabins and bunkrooms —heated mainly by sustain
20 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
Phil Scott announced in May of 2022 that $4,549,313 in grants from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) had been awarded to 24 municipalities and nonprofit organizations around the state for projects to enhance outdoor recreation and foster economic growth.
1. CRAFTSBURY
the hills and meadows surrounding the Highland Lodge and the towns of Craftsbury and Greensboro.
Last May, Vermont Sports profiled 14 of the grant recipients. This guide features the remaining 10 communities that are putting the VOREC Community Grants to work. And there will be more to come: Governor Phil Scott recommended that another $5 million be allocated to the program and the legislature has approved this amount for another year.
Before the snow flies, many trails are open for hiking, running and mountain biking. The scenery alone is a reason to go: sweeping vistas of high meadows and the mountains beyond as well as the scenic town of Craftsbury.
Craftsbury has long been known for its 105 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. Now, it will add a wellness center, climbing gym and wayfinding. Photo by J. Lazenby.
Many of those trails connect to other trail networks that snake through
The new VOREC grant will allow the college to create a wellness center and build out its bike repair service, as well. “Our work program’s gear repair specialists will be able to offer low-cost or free basic bike and gear repairs that will help our community enjoy the outdoors in a safe, more affordable, and enjoyable way,” notes Josh Bossin, Associate Dean of Work-Experiential Learning and Faculty in Outdoor Education.
As Jackie Dagger, VOREC Program Manager, notes: “The grant program is intended to support VOREC’s vision of a network of communities across Vermont supported by thriving local economies that are organized on five key principles: 1) To grow outdoor recreation-related business, 2) Increase participation in outdoor recreation among all demographics, 3) Strengthen the quality and extent of outdoor recreation resources, 4) Increase stewardship of outdoor recreation and environmental quality and 5) Promote and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation.”VOREC is a network of public/ private partners organized by the state to sustain, grow and drive development in Vermont’s outdoor recreation sector. The grant program was established in 2018 with the passage of Act 194 to be a pilot for supporting Vermont communities to develop their economies with outdoor recreation at the center. In 2019, $100,000 in grants were awarded to two communities. Newport received $35,000 to build a trail connecting Prouty Beach and Bluffside Farm.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: A $200,000 VOREC grant will help the town and Sterling College renovate an existing building to create a public community wellness center and outdoor recreation hub. The new wellness center will include a climbing gym, space for exercise and recreation programming, workshops, equipment rentals and a bike repair service—offered on a sliding scale to keep it affordable. The center will also be a trail hub, with wayfinding and maps showcasing the area’s three trail networks.
Gov.
In 2020, a new round of grants awarded $200,000 to seven additional communities. All nine VOREC communities were featured in “The New Basecamps,” an outdoor recreation and business guide that appeared in Vermont Sports thanks to a partnership between the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA), the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
Over the next two years, the VOREC Community Grant Program will bring to life 24 outdoor recreation projects. In the May issue of Vermont Sports, we wrote about 11 of the projects, as well as three grants that will go to statewide organizations such as the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, the Town of Randolph and the Vermont Huts Association, and the Vermont River Conservancy and White River Partnership.Inthisissue, we’re excited to showcase ten more towns and organizations that make up the 2022 recipients.
The town of Randolph was awarded $65,000 to help the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective (then called RASTA) build The Trail Hub information center, as well as signage, maps and trails.
But Craftsbury Outdoor Center is also a place where just about anyone can check into one of the cabins or bunk rooms, enjoy farm-fresh, organic meals and explore the more than 105 kilometers of trails groomed for Nordic skiing as well as close to 20K of trails for fatbiking and snowshoeing.
The town is a classic with white clapboard buildings and split-rail fences bordering the Common. It is also home to Sterling College, known for its experiential education programs in outdoor education, sustainable agriculture and food systems, ecology, and environmental humanities. The college was founded in 1958 on the same values that informed Outward Bound.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: The Green River Reservoir State Park has some of the most sought-after campsites in the state. Reservations should be made ahead of time at vtstateparks.com. For bike repairs or rentals, head to Chuck’s Bikes or Power Play Sports in nearby Morrisville. Wolcott’s organic Sandiwood Farm hosts renowned special on-farm dinners. You can also stay at their dispersed campsites or at one of their rustic cabins (some are insulated for winter use, too.)
3. HARDWICK
Hardwick has been at the crossroads of Vermont’s farm-to-table food revival. It’s the home of the Center for an Agricultural Economy. High Mowing Seeds – the organic seed company – is just down the road in Wolcott and Pete’s Greens is in nearby Craftsbury. The Buffalo Mountain Coop (which recently moved to a new downtown Hardwick location) celebrates and sells local food and its café serves up salads and to-go foods.These are all good reasons why Hardwick is poised to become a popular waypoint on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). The LVRT is routed through Hardwick and a new pedestrian bridge will help to draw people off the trail to come into town and enjoy what the town has to offer. A new bike spur loop will also bring riders off the LVRT. The town was chartered in 1781 and its historic downtown still looks like it could be a postcard. In the warmer months, there’s kayaking on Hardwick Lake or head north to Greensboro to gorgeous Caspian Lake. Hardwick Trails also has six miles of hiking trails
Cabot may have made its name with the creamery, but today it's a hub for cycling with gorgeous gravel routes to explore. Photo courtesy Cabot.
Velomont Trail Collective. In addition, Bike Busters at Wolcott Elementary School engages school children in fixing up bikes and learning about maintenance, and makes the restored bikes available to those who need them. The community is also working on plans to revitalize the historic Wolcott School House next to the town office and add a small café.
Halfway between Hyde Park and Hardwick, Wolcott is a town you may have passed through on your way to paddle the Green River Reservoir and camp at one of its remote campsites or while skiing the Catamount Trail.
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2.WOLCOTT
For many years the town of Wolcott was defined by the railroad that ran through it. Now, with the rebirth of that railbed as the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT), Wolcott is poised to enter a renaissance.Thecompletion of the LVRT (scheduled to be done by late fall) helped to jump-start new investment in community wastewater, improved cellular service, and updated zoning. In partnership with Trust for Public Land and Northern Rivers Land Trust, the town is working on acquiring a new 706acre Community Forest that is adjacent to the Wolcott Elementary School. It’s a short walk to the village center and also borders the LVRT.
The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail will replace the old tracks that ran through Wolcott's Fisher Bridge, built in 1908. Photo by Bram/Adobe Stock
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: A $197,900 grant from VOREC will bring to life the proposed Wolcott Community Forest and support a new multi-use trail network built by Sinuosity. This will also provide a link between the Wolcott Recreational Fields and the school. The proposed trail network for will become the newest addition to the 19 community trail networks that are part of the Velomont Trail Collective.
Seven miles of the LVRT run through Wolcott and sections of it will become part of the state-long Velomont Trail for off-road riding. Already, mountain biking is one of the most popular recreational activities in Lamoille County, but there currently is no singletrack in Wolcott. A proposed new trail network for the Community Forest will bring professionally built mountain biking trails to Wolcott and become the newest addition to the 19 community trail networks that are part of the
able sources such as solar and wood — and serves locally-raised fresh food. For more good eats stop in at Craftsbury’s two general stores: the Genny or the C Village Store for Friday night specials.
The trails on Northfield's Paine Mountain weave through open meadows and offer big views to hikers. Photo by Lucas Herring
help achieve that. The town is also developing town forest trails, trails at Burtt Orchards, and making parking improvements for some trails. “We are excited about getting to work, and this grant opportunity will take our trail network efforts to the next level,” said Dana Glazier, Chair of the Trails Committee.
With five state parks in the 27,000-acre Groton State Forest, ponds like Ricker and Kettle that have paddle-to campsites, cross-country skiing, the year-round Seyon Lodge, and magnificent views from Owl’s Head– Groton is already a gateway for outdoor adventures. Now,
22 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
The old Montpelier-Wells railbed is being repurposed as a rail trail. It currently crosses Groton State Forest and the town of Groton plans to extend it.. Photo courtesy Town of Groton.
In fall, visit Burtt’s Apple Orchard for apple picking, a corn maze and a chance to do an apple slingshot. For comfort food like shepherd’s pie or homemade corn chowder, stop in at the Cabot Village Store.
The other thing that Cabot is known for is its growing role as a cycling hub. The Cabot Ride the Ridges Tour held each September (Sept. 11, 2022) features rolling gravel routes ranging from 10K to 100K and stunning scenery. In addition to the town’s own trails, Cabot is centered between the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and another east/west rail trail, the Cross Vermont Trail, to the south.
5. GROTON
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: Though they may not be fancy, Hardwick’s restaurants pride themselves on good, locally sourced food. Stop in at the pizza standout, Positive Pie. The Village Restaurant has specials such as Jasper Hill Mac ‘n Cheese and the family-owned local favorite, Connie’s Kitchen, has
few must-dos if you visit Cabot. Stop by Harry’s Hardware. It may be the only hardware store in Vermont that’s as wellknown for its attached bar (The Den) with an extensive local beer selection and weekend specials (such as steak with peach and corn salsa served with a local green salad) as it is for its hardware, farm and garden retail space.
Yes, Cabot is perhaps best known as the place where Cabot Creamery started in 1919. Cabot Creamery is now a cooperative of farmers from around the state and you can taste their cheeses at its many tasting rooms.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: Hardwick will use its $200,000 VOREC grant to reconstruct a historic pedestrian bridge connecting the community Gateway Park to the downtown center. It will also support an Outdoor Recreation Working Group that will assist local organizations, develop a marketing plan and build partnerships.
hearty breakfasts. The Kimball House in downtown Hardwick is a classic B&B in an 1890s Victorian downtown.
4. CABOT
and five miles of singletrack mountain biking trails that wind through mixed woodland habitats. Several trails feature interpretive signs and storytelling, making it a great place to take children.
One of the goals of the Cabot Trails Committee is to connect those two trails and the new VOREC grant will
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: There are a
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: Cabot was awarded a $62,5000 grant to help create a multi-use non-motorized trail linkage between the Cross Vermont and Lamoille Valley Rail Trails, using as many off-road trails as possible. The grant will help to establish Cabot Village as the hub and create a town-wide trail network. It will also build capacity for trail development and maintenance by purchasing tools and equipment and developing a trail steward program.
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In addition to improving the railbed, the $225,000 grant will add a plowed parking area near the Groton village center to provide an alternative to parking in the state forest. The VOREC grant will also generate a master plan for developing a better connection to the village. The town is also working with engineering students from Norwich University on a feasibility study for a pedestrian bridge across the Wells River to make the connection from the trail to the village more seamless.
VAST snowmobile trails. The Marshfield Inn is an historic inn a short drive away in Marshfield. For a unique farm stay, try Hollister Hill Farm in Marshfield or the lodge or farmhouse at Millstone Hill in Barre.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: A VOREC grant of $122,965 will help the town create a wayfinding masterplan. Future maps will include both town forest and Shaw Outdoor Center trails and be available at welcome kiosks and
Visit the Dog River Park, for inspiring
What the VOREC Grant Will Do:
those trails are being revived by the Shaw Outdoor Center at Norwich University. In winter, strap on snowshoes or climbing skins and head up the old trails.
Given that Norwich University and Darn Tough, the sock company, are both headquartered in Northfield, it is surprising that this area hasn’t yet been ‘discovered’ as a center for outdoor recreation.Thatcould change soon. Many years ago, a ski area stood in Northfield. Now,
mountain views, and walk the paths that wind through the natural grasses ending at the river.
The Dog River, with headwaters in Roxbury, flows north to meet the Winooski. Here, you will find Vermont fishing at its finest and several legendary swimming holes along Route 12 provide a chance to cool off.
The town owns approximately five miles of old railbed trail from the Ryegate town line to the border of Groton State Forest by Ricker Pond. The state owns the remaining five or so miles of the railbed trail which leads to Peacham and Marshfield. In 2020, the state completely resurfaced its portion of the trail, and the town of Groton aims to do the same with the VOREC grant. The rail trail will form one section of the planned Cross Vermont Trail, which aims to create a multi-use path the width of Vermont following the Winooski and Wells Rivers.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: Located in the heart of Vermont’s largest state forest, the Seyon Lodge is a year-round lodge that offers simple rooms and features locally sourced meals. Set in Seyon Lodge State Park, it is run by the Vermont State Parks and is a great base camp for exploring the forest on cross-country skis, fatbikes or snowshoes in the winter. The area also has one of the most popular networks of
If motorized sports are your thing, Northfield is connected to the VAST trail network, which can take you all the way to Berlin. In summer, hike or bike up Paine Mountain among the wildflowers.
6. NORTHFIELD
the town of Groton is working to better connect the state forest and parks to the village by upgrading Groton’s townowned portion of the old Montpelier and Wells River Railroad railbed and trail.
The Northfield Town Forest and adjoining Shaw Outdoor Center are hidden gems for hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, skiing and snowshoeing that even many Vermonters are not aware of.
Bethel envisions an "emerald ring" of trails that will connect the town with its co-working space, shops and restaurants and the region's trails. Photo courtesy Bethel
A TOTAL OF 21 PLACES AND 3 STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED GRANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR OUT DOOR RECREATION. LOOK FOR THE 10 TOWNS WITH RED DOTS IN THESE PAGES AND CHECK VTSPORTS. COM/TAG/VOREC/ FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE OTHER VOREC GRANT RECIPIENTS.
$141,488
$293,478 WILL GO TOWARD: Improving whitewater access infra structure at multiple sites, site stewardship efforts, and piloting the Vermont River Access Collaborative. This network will allow for improved resource and information sharing with the goal of increasing access to flowing water for all.
Chittenden – Burlington
CRAFTSBURY WOLCOTT CABOTHARDWICKGROTON LUDLOWBETHELNORTHFIELDASCUTNEY
WILL GO TOWARD: Alleviating existing parking issues near the D&H Rail Trail by designating new parking areas and improving existing lots.
Orleans –$173,000DerbyWILLGO
TO: The Derby Fish & Game Club to help fix a dam that holds up a beloved fishing pond. The pond is a popular place for children to learn how to fish and for seniors with accessibility issues to enjoy fishing. It will also help improve the acces sibility of the parking area and cement platform for fishing around the dam.
$80,212
WILL GO TOWARD: Collaborating with Vermont Huts Association to complete a master planning process for the Velomont Trail. It will also create trail signage.
Washington – Montpelier
POWNAL
$128,000 WILL GO TOWARD: Developing signage and wayfinding to enhance opportunities for bikers and pedestrians to use the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Starting a bike lending library and free / low-cost bike, snowshoe, and exer cise programming. Improve ments will be promoted by the Chamber through a marketing campaign.
$300,000
$99,726 WILL GO TOWARD: Collaborat ing with partners in South Hero to develop a plan for safe biking and walking routes connected to the increase in traffic experienced from the Local Motion Bike Ferry. It will also help implement a new website portal and interactive map, signage, safety outreach and education, and organize events.
Rutland – Killington
Caledonia - St. Johnsbury
WILL GO TOWARD: Pilot ing no-cost gear and tool rentals, providing sailing camp scholarships to youth who identify as BIPOC, and building an urban bike park and wetlands walk.
$97,650 WILL GO TOWARD: Creating a transportation and recreation hub in the former train station. The hub will offer amenities, including ADA bathrooms, and informa tion to encourage Lamoille Valley Rail Trail users to ex plore additional outdoor recreation attractions and local businesses within a 10-mile radius.
24 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
the 2022 VOREC Grant Towns
caledonia - Danville
Rutland - Pawlet & Rupert
$62,000 WILL GO TOWARD: Designing and building a trail net work and community outdoor recreation and education cen ter by expanded parking, kiosks and trail signage, and outdoor gear rentals. The center will be a space for the museum and other local organizations to offer nature-based programming.
Vermont River Conservancy (White River Partnership)
Addison $159,978-VergennesWILLGOTOWARD: Building an accessible 2,330-foot-long con nector trail with wetland boardwalk. The multi-modal trail will start at the high school and be a pedestrianfriendly way for community mem bers to frequent local businesses.
Grand Isle – Champlain Islands
WILL GO TOWARD: Develop ing a recreation hub including a welcome center with parking and restrooms. The hub will act as a jump off point for the surrounding trails, including Mad River Riders’ 60+ mile trail network which connects to Camel’s Hump State Forest. The proj ect will also build a new pedestrian/ bike bridge across the Mill Brook with a new crosswalk across VT 100 to link the hub to Waitsfield’s walk able downtown.
$75,000
10 98 67 5 34 2 1
WILL GO TOWARD: Building a 3.4-mile singletrack cross-country mountain bike trail, which extends in the direction of the Velomont trail and is within the town’s existing trail network.
Washington - Mad River Valley
$408,019
Randolph (VT Huts Association)
Windham – Marlboro (VT Natural History Museum)
$213,000 WILL GO TOWARD: Strengthening downtown connection to existing outdoor recreation through the construction of two connec tor trails and design of an urban Whitewater Park. The Montpelier Youth Conservation Corps will employ young people of all back grounds to build the connector trails.
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 25
Outdoors) each week. A new Community + School grant is helping the school offer more creative learning opportunities such as middle school camping and paddling trips or rock climbing. It is also expanding facilities to include an on-campus high ropes course and a sugarhouse.
Bent Fishing Tours offers guided trips on the White River and other waters across the state. Gear up for winter ice fishing at the woman-owned Camp Brook Bait Shop. Head to Mills Hardware and Bethel Mills for outdoor gear and to Randolph’s The Gear House for all things bike or ski related.
The Arnold Block has a co-working and community space with daily rates, private offices, meeting rooms, and a fitness studio. Close out the day with a drink in the historic train station that houses Babes Bar. This family-friendly, queer-friendly watering hole offers everything from craft cocktails to hot dogs. It also hosts cribbage tournaments, a social justice reading library, hip hop dance parties and a kids’ corner.
7. BETHEL
For children Pre-K through 8th grade, Bethel’s White River Valley School is quickly becoming a premiere source for outdoor and experiential education. Tucked into a 73-acre wooded campus, the school is making the outdoors a core classroom. Students build their own outdoor “campsites” and participate in ECO (Educating Children
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: Grab breakfast at HailBrook’s Broken Stove Bakery, lunch at the Bethel Village Sandwich Shop or Cockadoodle Pizza and for dinner try Tozier’s for seafood, Tessie’s Tavern or the Creek House Diner
Visit Carrier Roasting on a weekend morning and you may see a flock of bikes and riders lingering over freshly roasted coffee. East Street really comes alive when adjoining business Good Measure Pub and Brewery opens their doors. Outside tables provide views of the surrounding hills and the downtown area. The Common in Northfield is now a welcoming outdoor space thanks to a Better Places grant award. Visit the pizzeria or one of two cafes. The Margaret Holland Inn’s new owners have recently updated this historic inn on Main Street.
Montpelier cutline here.
The iconic “Hawk Watch” lean-to on the ridgeline was repaired this past year. The VOREC funding will continue the improvement of this area by removing invasive species and restoring a magnificent view to the west. It will also help augment the lending stock of winter recreation equipment at the Brown Public Library.
The town will also create a “Better Parks” demonstration and pop-up event kit designed to test and showcase park and trailhead placemaking and activation projects. It will also help to plan and prioritize future investments in accessible recreation, village trail connections, and regional trail system links.
manufacturing. “VOBA’s award allows local businesses to employ a skilled workforce and scale up their delivery of quality goods and services,” says VOBA Executive Director KellyTheAult.project will lay an education foundation to help the sector fill jobs and retain workers. “Outdoor retailers are fac ing an ongoing shortage of workers, especially for positions such as bike and ski technicians,” said Jen Roberts, co-own er of Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier. “VOBA’s work to establish training and intern/apprentice options helps shops fill positions so they can support cyclists, skiers and others.”
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: Bethel’s $331,809 VOREC grant will help string together parks, trails and greenways. It will fund three new trails a 2.5-mile machine-built mountain bike loop, a 0.5-mile universally accessible walking loop, and a 0.5-mile multiuse trail through riparian conservation land. It will also help produce accessible wayfinding and trail signs; benches and bike racks; and digital, print, and tactile maps.
You may know Bethel best from passing through on your way north, south, east or west; after all, it is the geographic center of Vermont (and you can’t miss the whimsical 200-foot mural of rainbow and brook trout marking the town’s southern gateway). But Bethel isn’t just a crossroads; it’s a great place to stay a while and explore.
In 2022, VOBA was awarded a VOREC grant of $150,000 to develop workforce training programs based on needs iden tified by businesses, especially in the trades, such as bicycle mechanics, sustainable trail building, and gear and apparel
“By elevating the highly diversified Vermont companies that produce, provide, and sell products and services related to outdoor recreation, VOBA strengthens ties to our urban and rural communities and the landscape,” says Ault.
GROWING THE OUTDOOR BUSINESS SECTOR
This small town of 2,000 offers a surprising array of amenities and adventures for locals and visitors. You can grab a great slice of pizza or a craft cocktail, watch a free concert, pop into a co-working space, access free downtown Wi-Fi, or pick up groceries and hardware all within walking distance from Main Street.You can also explore ten village parks, forests and green spaces, go fishing or swimming or paddling in the White River or drop into a skate park. From Bethel, it’s easy to connect to the Velomont bike trail, the VAST trails or the White River WaterBethelTrails.isalso something of a learning hub. Take (or teach) classes at Bethel University, a free community pop-up university that runs during the month of March. Courses change each year, but outdoor recreation offerings have included wilderness first aid, campfire cooking, birding, bikepacking, tree identification, snowshoeing and more.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: The Falls General Store located in Northfield Falls offers everything from prepared meals and sandwiches to fine wines.
at downtown businesses. The grant will also help restore the Lybrand/Slate Avenue trail and repair damage from storms, including Tropical Storm Irene, that washed out the trail.
The grant will also help VOBA work with established and emerging companies to grow their markets, with a focus on businesses based in seven legacy outdoor recreation hubs: St. Johnsbury, Lyndonville, Montpelier, Randolph, Poultney, Killington, and Castleton.
Today, VOBA‘s 100 members range from well-established and global companies such as Burton Snowboards, Darn Tough, Orvis, Killington Resort, and Outdoor Gear Exchange to smaller businesses such as Kaden Apparel, Bivo, Vermont Bike & Brew, and Train NEK.
A VOREC grant will help revamp Ludlow's Dorsey Skatepark. Photo by Peter Cirilli
When
Governor Phil Scott created the Vermont Out door Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), he also endorsed a recommendation for an industryled network of outdoor companies. The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) was established in 2018 as a statewide, non-profit organization that provides network ing, education, and business development. Its goals are to strengthen, expand, attract, and retain outdoor recreation economy businesses in Vermont. VOBA also engages in out door recreation economy policy and advances justice, equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.
Today, mountain bike trails snake around the ski mountain, including new flow trails and a skills park, thanks to a VOREC grant. There are eve more trails in the 1500-acre West Windsor town forest, creating a network of 50 miles of trails that can be accessed from the Ascutney Outdoor Center at the mountain’s base or the town forest.
Ludlow offers a variety of flavors; Tex-Mex at the Mojo Café, Irish pub fare at the Killarney, and wine tasting and small plates at Stemwinder. For an old-world ambiance, stay or dine at The Castle Hill Resort, an elegant turnof-the-century Cotswolds-style manor house built by Allen Fletcher, who served as Vermont’s governor from 1912-1915.
9. ASCUTNEY
community and local businesses have worked diligently to revitalize the local economy around outdoor recreation.
Come winter, the ski area is a favorite with local school children who love the rope tow and tubing area, and experts who skin up to the upper half of the mountain, past where the lifts and grooming stop, to ski ungroomed and forested
Stay/Eat/Play/Shop: Ascutney has excellent lodging and food near the base of the mountain, thanks to the Holiday Inn-run resort and the famed Brownsville Butcher & Pantry just down the road. The resort has a restaurant, and the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry has a store and cafe where you can find everything from take-out dinners prepared with local meats and produce to Alaskan king crab legs in season. Not far up the road is Harpoon Brewery which sponsors many of Ascutney’s events. The nearest bike shop, The Wheelhouse, is across the river in Claremont, N.H.
The Hoosic River flows through Pownal and when the water level is right is great for canoeing, kayaking or rafting, as well as world-class trout fishing. The state-owned South Stream Wildlife Area is 103 acres with a large pond and trail. The Nature Conservancy’s Quarry Hill has 100 acres to explore.
All are great places to snowshoe in the winter and with Dion/Nevi snowshoes
Stay/Eat/Play/Shop: Pine Hollow Campground is nestled in a small valley surrounded by towering pine trees and a spring-fed pond. This past summer, Corner Pizza opened in Pownal. For lodging, dining and shops, head to Bennington or Manchester where you will find Orvis’s flagship store, The Mountain Goat (great for hiking and camping gear) and Battenkill Bicycles and Bradley’s Pro Shop Ski & Sport. The non-proft Bennington Bike Hub just opened in August.
Thanks to a VOREC grant, Ascutney Outdoors and Ascutney Trails are adding flow trails and a skills park to the mountain. Photo courtesy Ascutney Trails
Ludlow is booming as a ski town. In the past few years Vail Resorts, which owns the Okemo ski area, has invested in upgrading two major lifts at the mountain and recently announced it would be purchasing housing for 30 employees.Mountain bike trails zig-zag down the slopes in the summer and the resort plays host to a variety of activities (ice skating, tubing, disc golf, the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster) year-round. The 750-acre Okemo State Forest includes popular trails like the Healdville Trail (a three-mile hike to the summit of Okemo) and in winter, the Catamount Trail.
Ever since the town of West Windsor purchased the bankrupt Mount Ascutney ski area in 2014, the town,
Just north of the Massachusetts border and south of Bennington, the tiny town of Pownal is a gateway to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of southernNestledVermont.between the Green Mountains and the Taconic, Pownal has access to the 37-mile, tri-state Taconic Crest Trail, the Long Trail and several local trails in the Green Mountain National Forest.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: Ascutney Outdoors was formed to manage the town-owned land and has worked closely with the Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) to rebuild recreation on the mountain. The $262,088 VOREC grant is helping to replace an antiquated gas-powered rope tow with one with an electric motor; construct flow trails and a skills park; and extend an interpretive trail to connect the Outdoors Center to the village and Mount Ascutney Resort. It will also help create a marketing brochure of the recreational assets at the mountain.
based in Pownal, you can pick out the snowshoes that fit you best.
Ascutneyterrain.now plays host to a variety of running and biking events; races such as the team running event, RAGNAR, the Vermont 50 and the Vermont Overland. Ascutney Trails Association also hosts weekly mountain bike and gravel rides.
26 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
8. LUDLOW
It’s also a short drive to the 155acre Prospect Mountain Nordic Center, which is completing the first phase of a $1 million project to upgrade and add to its trails.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: Ludlow is bustling with great places to eat and stay. Homestyle Hotel, which began as a hostel, now is one of the most sought-after dinner reservations and features rotating seasonal menus, based on local ingredients, all served in a Victorian home. Across the street, Main + Mountain is a boutique motel with a stylish bar known for its craft cocktails and an outdoor fire pit.
The town itself has always been something of an adventure headquarters where outdoor retailers such as The Boot Pro and Totem Pole Ski Shop have earned reputations as some of the best bootfitters in the country and Tygart Mountain Sports caters to all sports. In the summer, paddle in the “lake region” at Echo Lake State Park or play golf at Fox Run. In winter, you can crosscountry ski there or go for a guided backcountry tour with the folks from The Boot OkemoPro.Mountain School has turned out top skiers and pro riders such as Hannah Teter and Kevin Pearce. Now, the school and the town are working together to renovate the local Dorsey Skatepark.
10. POWNAL
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: The $190,500 grant will help redevelop Dorsey Park Skatepark, which will enable the town to host camps and Okemo Mountain School to do offseason training.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do: Pownal will use its $375,000 VOREC grant to secure permanent public access to 700-plus acres of municipal forest land known as the Strobridge Recreation Area. The funds will also help build a pedestrian bridge across the Hoosic River, connect North Pownal Village to the Strobridge Recreation Area; establish a trailhead parking area and information kiosk in North Pownal Village Center; install wayfinding signs to the trails; and prepare a management plan for the Strobridge Recreation Area.
This project was created in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM), Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC). It was supported by a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission and a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development.
Gear upfor winter. 20 Langdon St. Montpelier, VT • (802) 225-6736 • onionriver.com • @onionriveroutdoors SKIS • FAT BIKES • ICE SKATES • WINTER APPAREL • SNOWSHOES •TRACTION • SLEDS • JR NORDIC LEASE
28 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022 MEET THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR’S ADVENTURE DOG CONTEST. The DogsAdventureof2022 1 BEST FACEWINNERSHOT
5. PEARL, BARNET, VT
3. TIPPY, ESSEX JUNCTION
Says owner Michael Kinsler: "Rocco swims very well, which is very rare for an English Bulldog —we have two others and they sink. Rocco also loves sledding and we are giving thoughts to trying him at surfing. He jumps on the trampoline. He can climb ladders and down the slide by himself. He’s a real character."
been nearly 10 years since Vermont Sports launched its first Adventure Dog Contest, asking readers to send in photos of their dogs enjoying outdoor adventures. The response over the years has been so overwhelming that we’ve continued it. We’ve seen or heard of some dogs passing on – and some new puppies arriving. Some of this year’s contest winners represent a second generation of puppies for their owners. Thank you to all who submitted for this year’s contest and to Pet Food Warehouse of South Burlington for providing prizes —$75 gift certificates — for the winners.
Karmin, as Karly Fischer (above) calls her Dachsund for short, goes everywhere. "Karmin has always been by my side. I'll never leave her behind and her little legs won't stop her either! She loves her backpack and being able to participate in activities that could be challenging for a dog of her stature. She bikes, skis, and hikes all within a pack. While in it, she rests her nose on my shoulder which makes me so happy," say Fischer.
3 2 5 4 1
1: ODIN, CAMBRIDGE
2. KARMALITA WIENERS, WATERBURY
BEST FACE SHOT
It's hard to get just one dog to look at the camera. Try getting three. Raeden Zavis got the entire caninc family to look up before a trail run. As Zavis says of her 6-year-old Beagle/Dachsund mix: "Odin is up for any adventure!" In the photos (left and below), Odin is sitting and waiting with his dog brothers, Nelson and Sid, for some treats. Nelson is a Pomeranian Chihuahua and Sid is a Chihuahua.
4. ROCCO, NORTH CHITTENDEN
Laurajean "LJ" Stewart's loves to kayak with her Parson Russell Terrier, Pearl. "She was a rescue who knows no fear. Pearl's either going 150 mph or she's totally chill. She makes everyone worry and laugh simultaneously!"
It’s
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 29
Human models know how to pose for pictures. The dogs in this category certainly do as well.
Ryan McFarling calls Tippy his "mystery mutt -- fox, coyote, OD (original dog)," he says. "Tippy has had countless adventures and misadventures backcountry skiing, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, hiking, chasing moose, porcupines, skunks and anything that can get her in trouble. She walks through this world with a smile and people can't help but to smile back. Just last month, Tippy was diagnosed with lymphoma. My wife decided Tippy needed a bucket list and fishing was at the top. She loves watching people fish for the off chance of someone actually catching something and pulling it ashore wriggling and flapping wildly. This picture was taken in North Hero on one of those perfect Vermont summer afternoons when the light is golden and rich and winter (Tippy's "winter" too) seems impossibly far away."
BEST ACTION SHOT
Peters writes: "Hiking, running, biking or just chilling in his bike cart during bikepack trips to Grand Isle - Igor loves it all. And what does he love even more than a good romp in the woods? A post adventure creemee!"
1: IGOR, BURLINGTON Michelle Peters' Igor, a 6-yearold American Staffy, Miniature Schnauzer and American Bulldog mix, is no stranger to these pages. A runner up in 2019, he's a bit grayer now but just as active. "
BEST1 ACTION SHOT WINNER
30 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
Once outdoors, it’s hard to get a dog to sit still. The same canine who sleeps all day at the foot of your desk will be off chasing squirrels, leading the way on a run or a hike, watching fish just below a pond’s surface or jumping to catch a Frisbee. But try to get an action shot and you know it’s not easy.
Just four months old, Kanooti was an unexpected addition to Sheila Goss's family in July. "I lost my beloved adventure partner of 12 years unexpectedly in June, and the hole in my heart and the space in my canoe needed to be filled. Kanootti will carry on Gryphon's legacy with love and honor! She has taken right to canoeing, and loves learning about all the wildlife we see on our daily outings," writes Goss.
5 4 2
Stefan Beaumont's Red Heeler/Lab mix Gaia is the dog that graces our cover. We loved that shot and this one, above, of her fetching in the water. "She enjoys every season Vermont throws at her, constantly looking for the next run, hike, bike, ski or swim," Beaumont says.
4. KANOOTI, STOWE
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 31
3
Logan Shuman's Golden Retriever Maverick is five but still runs like a puppy. "Adventures would not be the same without my pup," writes Shuman. "From summer to winter we strive to find ourselves out in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. I'm constantly reminded how much recreation is a necessity and a privilege. We are grateful for it all."
5. ALISA, MIDDLEBURY
2. GAIA, PROCTORSVILLE
A six-year-old Labrador Retreiver, Alisa likes to lead the way. "Ailsa likes to hike the wilds of Vermont. Especially Abbey Pond and Wright park in Middlebury area," notes owner Ben Cotts.
3. MAVERICK, WATERBURY VILLAGE
2. SIGI, WAITSFIELD
ADVENTUREBEST1SHOT & READER'SWINNERCHOICE
Sabra Davison's Husky Dakota "goes on all adventures with us," she writes. "He’s done several slide climbs in the Adirondacks (harnessed in) and that’s where the family photo is from! He’s been backcountry skiing, ice climbing, sailing, hiking, climbing, swimming, paddle boarding, and whatever adventure we get into. Rich is the rowing coach for Middlebury College, and you can often find Dakota on the launch helping coach."
32 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
1: MARSHALL, HYDE PARK Marshall, a Sheepadoodle who is just about a year and a half old, seems ready to take the lead on any adventure. "There is no adventure he is not ready to tackle.," writes his human, Lauren Traister. "In the fall we hike to the top of Spruce Peak almost every weekend. In the winter we are regulars in Smuggler's Notch and in the summer we can be found at Green River Reservoir. Marshall is trying to learn to paddle board but he loves swimming a bit too much!"
4
"When we first adopted her, Callie was a very timid and shy girl. Now she greets people on the trails and wants to make friends with everyone," says Sarah Illingsworth of her Lab/Hound mix. "Callie's favorite part about hiking is enjoying a delicious treat (or ice cream cone) after a long day on the trail. Whenever I work from home, she stares at me with her big brown eyes until I say "let's go for a walk!"
3 2
BEST ADVENTURE SHOT
This category reflects where we take our dogs— scrambling to a summit, following us on road trips or heading out for a paddleboard.
Sigi (named after Sigi’s Ripcord trail at Mt.Ellen) was adopted during the pandemic and is now living his best life in the Green Mountains. "Sigi can be found fetching Frisbees, hiking to summits along the spine of the Greens, paddle boarding on Lake Champlain and reservoirs, backcountry ski touring with his people, and running alongside mountain bikers. He’s very adaptable to all kinds of situations, people, and other dogs," writes Jascha Herlihy of her German Shepherd/ cattle dog mix.
4. CALLIE, WINOOSKI
3. DAKOTA, BRISTOL
This guy has nothing but love to give to the world. He is a kind and gentle soul
Jenn Chittick with Roger, a Staffie that was rescued after being abused. Photo courtesy Jenn Chittick
There are always a story or two that stand out. This year was no exception.
As part of his rehabilitation, we use the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail almost daily as a safe place for him to exercise, meet other people and pups and learn the ins and outs of being a dog. His first day home he lacked the strength and muscle tone to walk around the block, now he can walk up to 4 miles and has enjoyed overnight
camping at DAR State Park, playing in the water at Journey’s End, socializing with the community at Tuesday Night Live, visits to Lake Champlain, making new doggo friends as we explore dog parks in Lamoille, Franklin and Chittenden Counties and casual bike rides with me from the comfort of his bike trailer.
We had learned that he had spent the bulk of his life in a crate, in his own waste, with little to no outside time. I was following his story (and recovery) via social media and with every video the shelter posted I fell more and more in love with this guy. I found myself longing to give him a life that he never knew existed, so I filled out a foster-to-adopt application and left it in the hands of the Universe. On June 9th he was placed in my care as a foster on June 21st he officially became a forever part of my family.
“I adopted Roger in June. On the 1st of May he was discovered on a back road in Wolcott by a couple of walkers who, at first, thought that he was dead. This dude was quite literally skin and bones. The good Samaritans called for help and he was brought to our local animal shelter for care. He spent a full month recovering, gaining weight and muscle tone.
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 foot and ankle pain keep you from getting out on the trails. We provide comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation. Top medical care close to home. Our physicians: Nicholas Antell, MD; Brian Aros, MD; Ciara Hollister, DPM; John Macy, MD; Joseph McLaughlin, MD; Kevin McNamara, DPM 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, VTwww.mansfieldorthopaedics.com Just like you – we’re enjoying the Green Mountain trails! OCT 15 9AM 10 Railroad Street, Morrisville, VT ofComecopleyvt.org/support-copley/copley-gravel-grinderbikereg.com/copley-gravel-grindercelebrateFallwitha10,25or50mileridethroughthebackroadsLamoilleCounty,onsomeofthebestgravelinVermont! Last Gravelyear’sGrinder. SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 33 BEST STORY placement and
who is fully enjoying life on the outside and I cannot wait to see what he thinks of the snow! Hopefully next summer he will be able to stand atop Mount Mansfield or Camels Hump with me and possess the strength and coordination to go for a paddle board ride. At a year old he has a long life of fun and adventures that await him, and I feel so fortunate to be the one to accompany him along the way.
We couldn’t help but love this story that Jenn Chittick shared about finding her Staffie pup, Roger:
ROGER, JOHNSON
Doing what you love is what matters most.
Learn more at go.d-h.org/getactive
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital I Cheshire Medical Center I Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics I Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center I New London Hospital I Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire In partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine.
34 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
When joint pain becomes unbearable, everything stops. And what you’ve longed to accomplish isn’t guaranteed. But there are people nearby who care for their community: Dartmouth Health. Our orthopaedic experts are among the most accomplished and skilled in the country. And can give you the opportunity to do what you love again.
The best, where it matters most.
How did a world-famous pro surfer/skier end up moving to landlocked Vermont?
What are you doing at BETA?
A PRO DROPSSURFERIN
Birthday: 3/15/1969
Tanned,
Patterson grew up in California extreme skiing with some of the best in the Lake Tahoe area, including Shane McConkey. Patterson and his fiance Trish Mylers recently moved to South Burlington after former pro hockey player and tech start up CEO Kyle Clark offered him a job at his growing electric aviation company, BETA Technologies.
It’s pretty cool to be a part of the new electric aviation culture. BETA is my first ‘corporate’ job, if you can call it that. I do a little bit of everything there. I’m on the Charge Team where we build
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 35 FEATURED ATHLETE
out the charging station and control center where the electric plane gets charged for flight. I also do a lot of video and photography during flight testing as well. I’m also getting my pilot’s license, which is probably my favorite part. That and learning to work on the planes. I grew up in a family of pilots, so all of my brother’s are stoked that I’m finally understanding what they do. Now they are going to have to learn how to surf!
Name: Chuck Patterson
What was your first impression of Vermont?
Two friends of mine, big-time extreme skiers Mike Douglas and Cody Townsend, started doing R&D with different ski designs. They came out to Maui for a month and tried them on waves and came out with a cool little video. They were kind of skiing and turning on waves and doing airs and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s, that’s more the way I pictured it.’
always heard about it, growing up as a big skier and snowboarder in Lake Tahoe. I originally came to do a bunch of stand-up paddleboard clinics at the Burlington Surf Club. The first morning it was pouring rain and I was like, “Oh, boy.” But Russ and the gang said “Don’t worry. It’s gonna change.” So we paddled out of Shelburne Bay and within 20 minutes of being on the water, the clouds broke and the sun came out, and it was 85 degrees and it was beautiful. We ended the day with an epic Vermont sunset.
I went out one day on the Central Coast when there was a big swell and everbody is looking at me like,’ Okay, this is a pretty sketchy idea.’ Long story short, we get out to the break, it’s like, you know, 30- to 40foot waves just peeling through.
My first time in Vermont was about six years ago. I’d never been but
It was really hard to get my wet feet into the ski boots but I get them on and my tow partner pulls me in. I catch a wave and I do an arcing GS turn and I rode that wave until it turned to whitewater. It was really, really fun. I went back and got 30 more waves and my friends were like “No way!” Someone on the cliff had taken a photo. I ran on the back page of Surfer and drew a lot of interest and funny commentary.
Family: Fiancé, Trish Meyler
Profession: BETA Technologies, aspiring pilot
Main sports: Big wave surfing/skiing, extreme skiing, hyrdofoiling
So, I got a pair of those skis from the McDermott brothers who were making them in Maine, put a pair of alpine ski bindings on them, and drilled holes in an old pair of ski boots so the water could drain out.
Lives in: South Burlington
Patterson, top skiing giant waves in Maui and top, wearing his old work uniform: a wetsuit.
How did you come to ski waves?
What got you back into it?
There are just so many great things happening here in Vermont with small startup tech companies, and I thought it would be a great challenge to explore something new. I knew Russ Scully (who owns WND&WVS and the Burlington Surf Club) and I taught Kyle Clark’s family to surf at Russ’s villa in Puerto Rico, so when the opportunity to join the crew at BETA Technologies came up, I thought ‘why not?’
Years ago we were all in Alaska skiing and my buddy Shane McConkey had skied this insane 2,000-foot vert line on a pair of water skis. He put regular ski bindings on them, ripped it to shreds and kind of changed how the world thought about ski design. I was spending my fall and winters in Maui surfing the big waves so we got into this discussion of whether you could use waterskis on waves. I got myself a pair of jumper water skis and tried it but there was no sidecut to them, so it was just this long, straight glide, nothing really like skiing. I sort of gave up on it for a while.
built like a bodybuilder and flashing a perpetual milliondollar grin under a Melin cap, Chuck Patterson is a guy you might have seen in Bogner commercials, on the cover of Powder or in surfing or windsurfing magazines, or in Red Bull or Go-Pro videos. Or, now, at the Burlington Surf Club. He’s perhaps best-known as the first person to ski (yes, ski) the towering 50-foot-plus waves that can break on Maui’s north shore at Jaws (Peahi to locals) or at California’s Mavericks break [see vtsports.com/cpatterson/ for video].
36 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022 WEST HILL SHOP PUTNEY ESTABLISHEDVERMONT1971
out a swimming hole or waterfall – my fiancé Trish and I really love doing that. In winter, if it’s a powder day I’ll head up do some backcountry skiing before work. We normally ski at Sugarbush – my friend Darian Boyle has a great posse there I ski with—or at Bolton Valley, where we can also ski in the evenings.
I tend to get up really early and ride my bike to the gym. In the summer or fall, I might head to the lake and take the hydrofoils out or surf behind a boat. If the wind comes up, I go to the Burlington Surf Club and we take out the windsurfing or kiteboarding gear. Then maybe I’ll go for a run or go check
How did you get to skiing giant waves at Jaws and Mavericks?
Patterson, now in his 50s, still charges hard on a board and on skis.
I spent a lot of time tow-in surfing Jaws. Sponsors Salomon Skis and Red Bull had gotten involved with me so then there was a little pressure to try skiing it.
good waves in Maine. It’s a different scene here, I have to say. People are very hardy and if you want it you can get it. It’s just really all about the equipment that you have and your mindset.
www.westhillshop.com
would skiing. That was the first time I think I made it look like it was fun and everyone in the line-up was screaming and cheering. Such a fun day in the ocean! The next day I went to ski at Tahoe. Growing up in California it was pretty cool to ski Mavericks one day and ski Tahoe the next.
In 2011, we towed out to a crowded line-up with 20 jet skis waiting for waves. We waited for 45 minutes and finally got a wave and just as I am started to catch the wave, the helicopter came in close and slowed me down so I tuck and try to push with my ski poles – exactly what I would do if I was on the snow. As luck would have it, I transferred my weight forward and it gave me enough momentum to free fall over the lip of the wave. It was a bumpy survival ride all the way down. And then we ended up going back out and getting another. That steamrolled into me doing a few commercials for Bogner.
You still getting some warmweather surfing in?
On my bucket list is to get up on a winter day that I’m not torn to go to the mountains, run down to the coast, trudge through three-foot snowdrifts and paddle out. We had a couple of cold days last fall when we got some really
Then, two years ago I was out at Mavericks in California during a large swell. We waited until everyone started towing in –my friends Kai Lenny, Peter Mel and a bunch of other pros were all there. By then the swells were like 50 or 60 feet. There was a set and I waited for the last wave and dropped in with my skis, did a big bottom turn and then a big turn off the top, just like you
Yes! I’m headed to Nicaragua tomorrow to do some surfing and hyrdofoiling and filming with friends.
—Lisa Lynn
So what’s a day like for you in Vermont now?
Do you winter surf the East Coast?
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 37 After two years off because of the pandemic (2020 and 2021), central Vermont's sweetest half marathon is back on! Capped at 750 runner, so, don’t delay, register today! MARK YOUR CALENDARS MIDDLEBURYMAPLERUN.COMFOR Vermont’s “Sweetest” Half Marathon is Back! Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022
A scenic and historic 5K course explores the Coolidge site and its surroundings. Profes sionally timed with a $100 cash prize for the top male and top female. racevermont.com
4-milermericanbreweryruns.com/heady-trotter-greata
RUNNING/HIKING
Race through the heart of Stowe, starting and finishing on the lawn of the famed Alchemist Brewery. Chip-timed, certified course. Cold Alchemist beer, live music and food trucks await you at the finish.
The world's best road riders compete at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, one of the only two UCI WorldTour events in the Americas. On Friday at 11 am they compete in a 200km+ race in charming Old Québec. On Sunday. Witness the final sprint of a 220km+ race held on Montréal's infamous Mount Royal. Attendance is free, and VIP packages are available in the VIP Village located at the start/finish line. gpcqm.ca
One of the most scenic marathons in the country passes orchards, farms, forests, and Lake Champlain. Half course is a single out and back on West Shore Road; the marathon runs it twice. 100% paved, and a Boston Qualifier. gmaa.run
2 | Leaf Peepers Half Marathon, Wa terbury
1OCTOBER|FlytoPieMarathon, Newport
15 | Lucy Mac 5K9, Ascutney
9 -11| Quebec Grand Prix, Quebec
2 | Bolton Three Peaks Moun tain Race, Bolton Valley Resort
18 | TAM Trek, Middlebury
Stage Race, Burlington Stage 1 is individual time trial. Stage 2 is a circuit race. Stage 3 includes the Middlebury Gap and a finish at the Summit of the Appalachian Gap. The event concludes with the Stage 4 Burlington Criterium on a thrilling 6 turn downtown 1K course. Daily podiums and cash prizes as well as GC, Sprint and K/QoM leader's jerseys. Eight categories. gmsr.info
Come dressed as your favorite superhero from the comics and run through the heart of Bennington. ucsvt.org/events
24 | Miles for Migraine, Walk/Run, Burlington
before turning left on to West Hill Road.BIKING
9 | Ripton Ridge Run, Ripton
11 | 2nd AirPeyton Memorial Pediat ric Cancer Awareness 5K, Montpelier Registration will begin at 10am with race kicking off at Montpelier High School at 11 am. Amazing raffle will follow the race. wareness5KWalkRunnnualAirPeytonMemorialPediatricCancerArunsignup.com/Race/VT/Montpelier/2ndA
9 | Island Vines 5K/10K, South Hero
5NOVEMBER|UCSSuperhero
A 5K and 1 mile run where runners or walkers can participate solo or with a team and, of course, dogs are welcome to join in. lucymac.org
A race with 10K and 5K options, all on South Hero’s scenic West Shore Road. Field sizes are limited. runvermont.com
16 | Green Mountain Marathon, South Hero
This half or full marathon features steep climbs and descents and a newly updated climb to the highest point on the Trapp Lodge trails. The 13.1 mile loop course is approximately 2/3 double track wide trails and dirt roads, and 1/3 serpentine, rugged single track. trappmountainmarathon.com
1 | Coolidge 5K, Plymouth
The 19-mile Trail Around Middlebury at tracts serious trail runners from around the state and outside of Vermont. Also offered is a challenging 10K course for runners look ing for a shorter and equally scenic race and a 2-mile family fun. maltvt.org/tam-trek
Race to Bolton's three peaks on this new ultra which ascends roughly 4,000ft over 20 kilometers. boltonvalley.com
2 | Chase Away 5K, Moretown
Follow the Winooski River on a well main tained dirt road after a few miles of pave ment at the start. Finish on a short section of trail along the Cross VT trail. There's also a 5K option. leafpeepershalfmarathon.org
Run, walk or crawl up Stratton Mountain. Take the gondola down. Repeat 17 times until you climb 29,029 feet, the height of Everest. 29029everesting.com
RACE & EVENT GUIDE
VERMONT SPORTS
2 | Middlebury Maple Run: The Sweet est Half Marathon, Middlebury
Options for a 2-mile walk, 5K run, volunteer or just come relax. All donations benefit the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Headache Clinic. milesformigraine.org/ burlington/
A USATF-certified half marathon, 2-person relay and a 3-mile fun run on scenic routes with views of the Green Mountains and Ad irondacks. A mix of trail (10%) paved (45%) and dirt roads (45%) for the half marathon, all paved for 3-mile fun run. Post-race pan cake breakfast with Vermont maple syrup. middleburymaplerun.com
10 | Groton Forest Trail Run, Groton Run through the Groton State Forest. The 26.5 miler starts at 7 AM, the 15 miler starts at 9 AM, and the 6.2 miler starts at 10 AM. .cvrunners.org
Run or walk, with your dog or without, to fund research on canine cancer, a disease that affects 1 in 3 dogs. Your race bib is also your ticket to Wag It Forward for a full day of fun! runsignup.com/chaseaway5k
A 5K run, a 10.4K run, and a fun 5K F Walk benefits the Ripton School. riptonridgerun. addisoncentralsu.org
Run or bike point-to-point on one of the toughest marathons in the East, mostly on dirt roads through "the gut" of the North east Kingdom. In addition to 26.2 miles, there is an option to do 17, 13.5 and 6.2 miles. Start in Newport. finish at Parker Pie in West Glover with all the pizza you can eat. kingdomgames.co
9 | North Face Race to the Summit, Stratton
A great fall 10k that passes farms, orchards and Lake Champlain. Start and finish are at Shelburne Town Beach gmaa.run
17 | Brain Freezer 5K, Burlington
30 | The Hills Are Alive, Milton
Run 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
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 NOTED. FEATURED EVENTS, IN YELLOW, PAY A NOMINAL FEE.
10 | Vermont 10 Miler, Stowe
A fun 5k before Halloween on trails at the Golf Course in Milton. Unique wood awards (Woodals) to all finishsers! gmaa.run
The 5K follows Lodge Spur to Luce Hill Loop, following the singletrack 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 halfmarathon is by far Stowe’s most popular race. The course does a double-loop of the 10.5K. greenmtnadaptive.org
16 | Heady Trotter 4 Miler, Stowe
15 | Kingdom Challenge, St. Johnsbury
10 | Saucony Charlotte Covered Bridge 5K/10K & Half Marathon Great views of Lake Champlain and the Adiron dacks while running through the Holmes Creek (covered) Bridge and back.racever mont.com/
Race, Bennington
Run half a 5k, stop to down a pint of Ver mont-made ice cream, then finish out the race. The race route starts at Battery Park in Burlington and goes up the bike path to North Beach. brainfreezer5k.com
Running Festival, Jay Peak Tackle any of 7 races over 2 days. From a kids race to a 53.1K ulra there is something for everyone..Try the three 5Ks, an 11-, 22-,37- or 53 K run. jaypeak.com
38 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
A challenging point to point half marathon with hills, four covered bridges and scenic back roads. The 5K is a fun, in-town race. Kindgomchallenge.com
The course is a stunning, challenging tour of Stowe’s beautiful countryside, starting at Stowe Land Trust’s Mayo Farm Event Fields. vermont10miler.com
9 | Mad Dash, Moretown
Run or walk a 5km trail loop or run the 10km trail course at Harwood Union High School through beautiful woods and fields with great fall views. Enjoy live music and food while celebrating the Mad River Valley outdoors. madriverpath.org/maddash
A 10-mile point-to-point dirt road run from one general store to the next! Start will be in Craftsbury Village, in front of the Craftsbury General Store. runreg.com/genny-tenny
3-4SEPTEMBER|JayPeakTrail
16 | Trapp Mountain Marathon, Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe
24 | Apple Harvest 10K, Shelburne
2-5SEPTEMBER|GreenMountain
20-23 | 29029- Everesting, Stratton
22 | Westmore Mountain Challenge, Westmore Run or hike five mountains in one day (Moose, Hor, Pisgah, Haystack and Bald) reaching some of the most gorgeous views in the NEK. northwoodscenter.org
18 | Trapp Cabin Trail Races, Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe
10 | Genny Tenny, Craftsbury
Challenge – Disc Golf Tournament, Bolton Valley Compete on a challenging par 60 18-hole course that tests players’ ability to throw a variety of shots. Stay tuned for more details, but practice up. boltonvalley.com
11 | MNC Gravel Grinder, Westford Mansfield Nordic Club (MNC) welcomes riders of all ages on a 20 and 40 mile route on scenic roads. mansfieldnordic.org
24 | Peacham Fall Fondo, Peacham
16-17 | Meeting of the Grinds, Poultney
calendar/ski-and-snowboard-swap2022okemomountainschool.org/events-
10 | Feast From Farms Charity Ride, Norwich
The 100K and 60K are challenging gravel grinders, fully supported and the 30K and 10K are family friendly. Enjoy local cheeses from Cabot, Jasper Hill and Vermont Creamery, cider donuts and great views ridetheridge.net
A unique gravel grinder cycling event showcasing the granite-filled landscapes of Barre and beyond, The Grindstone features three distances to choose from: 100, 65 or 30 kilometers. grindstonegravel.com
10-11 | Spartan Ultra 50K, Beast 21K Race, Killington
8OCTOBER|Irondog,Colchester
15-18 | Fox US Open of Mountain Biking, Killington
10 | Kelly Brush Ride, Middlebury Ride 100, 50, 20 or 10 mile routes through the scenic Champlain Valley. For those who can’t make it to Vermont, the foundation offers a virtual option that allows participants to take part in the fundraising ride from anywhere. The ride benefits the Kelly Brush Foundation and helps people with spinal cord injuries resume active lives. kellybrushfoundation.org
Gravel Ride, Peru
31 | 31st West Hill Shop Cyclocross Race, Putney
All proceeds benefit Okemo Mountain School.
13-14, Black River Grand Prix, Craftsbury: Saturday is a short track XC race and Sunday is a mass start on one big lap. This ain’t XCO or even XCC, this is VT MTB - flow, tech, jank, doubletrack, and even a dirt road or two. craftsbury.com
This classic cyclocross race course starts right at the West Hill Shop, just off exit 4 of I-91 in Putney, Vermont. From there, racers pour into the grass fields of chicanes around the solar panels, the woods and along the top of our big bank that ultimately dives down our infamous slippery hill. part of the New England Single Speed Series (NESCX) Trophy Series and will be offering an Open Single Speed race. westhillshop.com
18-20NOVEMBER|OkemoSki and Snowboard
The 50-mile course is 70% dirt roads, some tame double track sections and a couple of hefty climbs. The course features 7000' feet of climbing and a covered bridge. Cyclists are responsible for navigating the course. A unique award will be presented for the top 3 males and females. endurancesociety.org
The flagship 3K and 15K distance races are only open to qualified age-group and professional athletes. stratton.com
For the first time since 2018, the Fox US Open returns! Spectating is free, and areas of the bike park are open to the public during the event. killington.com
A perfect fall triathlon: Bike 27 miles,. Canoe, kayak or SUP 5 miles. Run 6 miles. Prizes for individuals, teams and kids. joshbillings.com
26 | 28th Vermont 50 Ultra Run & MTB, Mount Ascutney, Brownsville
Get ready to ride a self-supported bikepacking adventure on 280-, 360 -or 640- mile loops. Start where you want or join the group start in Montpelier. vermontbikepackers.org
17 | Gritus, Mad River Glen
This gravel ride and farm tour will feature a 29.6-mile route and more relaxed, family-friendly 10-mile or 12.2 distances. You’ll pass through the beautiful pastoral landscape of the Champlain Valley and visit three to seven farms depending on your distance. Riders sample everything from maple iced coffee and farm-fresh salads to maple-glazed ham and Vermont’s famous cheeses! acornvt.org/tourdefarms
23-25, 4th Annual Vermont Climbing Festival, Richmond A weekend of camping, climbing, workshops, clinics, competitions, speakers, music & more! All proceeds support the work of CRAG-VT. cragvt.org/festival/
1OCTOBER|VermontRare
Slate Valley Trails and MTBVT host the first annual Meeting of the Grinds, an all day cycling festival to benefit Slate Valley Trails. Regardless of your suspension sta tus, tire size, or how tight your shorts are, this festival is for you with guided rides for all bikes and abilities. Slatevalleytrails.org
22-25 | Obstacle Course Racing World Championships, Stratton
Gravel ride through gorgeous backroads of Southern Vermont. Challenging climbs with stunning views throughout. Two options - 76 miles or 52 miles. Food and drink to follow. burningleafvt.com
Join Wahoo cyclist and former Unbound gravel race winner Ian Boswell and his local community on a fun and friendly 50-mile route featuring the Northeast Kingdom's best gravel in support of community. peachamfallfondo.com
8 | Grateful Ride, Derby This 3-race, one-day event combines the excitement of cyclocross with the grueling slog of singletrack mountain bike racing. Is it a bit insane? Yes. Is it perhaps the most unique event you will do? Also yes! For those who have not raced in the past, bike choice is key. DO NOT BRING A ROAD BIKE!!! We recommend a cyclocross/gravel bike with chunky tires OR a hardtail/full suspension mountain bike. bikereg.com/grateful-2022
Come celebrate fall with a 10, 25 or 50 mile ride through the back roads of Lamoille County, on some of the best gravel in Vermont! Supports Copley Hospital. grindercopleyvt.org/support-copley/copley-gravel-
Drawing more than 5,000 athletes from 70 nations, the OCR World Championships feature both professional and amateur age-group competitions. Five different races accommodate all types of athletes.
Ride 39 miles on gently rolling terrain with one or two short hills to benefit Vermont Rare, Rasopathies Network, and CFC International. vermontrare.org
Tour Norwich's working farms. Enjoy a history podcast, exhibits, games, and food along the way. Sponsor yourself or another and provide meals to the Vermont Food Bank or purchase individual tickets at $25. Ride is 11 or 17 miles. feast-from-the-farms-2/norwichhistory.org/
MULTISPORTS & OTHER
18 | Tour de Farms Gravel Ride, Vergennes
Spartan Ultra is a 50 km, 60 obstacle race built to break your limits over the world’s most difficult terrain. Also, a Beast 21K, a sprint and a kid’s race. killington.com
Triathon, Great Barrington, Mass.
18 | Josh Billings RunAground
16-17 | Vermont State Disc Golf Championships, Smuggler’s Notch, Jeffersonville Catch the top players in the state at this PDGA C-Tier event in northern Vermont, hosted by Disc Golf Vermont. Discgolfvermont.com
10 | Repro Ride, Pomfret A mountain bike ride, gravel ride, and run to raise awareness and generate support for the upcoming VT Constitutional Amendment ballot measure protecting reproductive rights for all Vermonters. Participants can choose from: a 20 mile MTB ride, 20 or 25 mile gravel ride, or 8 mile run. All registrations are paid directly to the VT Reproductive Liberties Campaign. reproride.com
10 | Dam Wrightsville Cyclocross, Middlesex
11-Oct. 15 Vermont Youth Cycling League, A four-race (XC & enduro) series for riders in Grades 5-12. Independent racers and teams are welcome. Sept. 11, Craftsbury; Sept, 17, Kingdom Trails; Oct 1, Mt. Peg, Woodstock; Oct. 15, Cochran's Richmond. vtyouthcycling.org
An obstacle race where runners and their dogs complete an approximate 1.5 mile course designed to simulate a real-world deployment for Police K9 teams. The course is filled with challenges which often include walls, swamps, hills, guard rails, water crossings, shooting (pellet guns), smoke-filled houses, and more. Separate competitions include building and drug searches, as well as a 100-yard dash (dog only). Open to military, police and civilians. irondogvt.com
11 | Cabot Ride the Ridges, Cabot
SEPT./OCT. 2022 | VTSPORTS.COM 39
10 | Woodsplitter MTB Challenge, Pittsfield. The ultimate 6hr event at the home of the Spartan founder, Joe DeSena. Our race’s diabolical origins date back to the 666 race eight years ago, which featured a short, but brutal, six-mile loop ridden for six hours up steep skidder roads and through our budding trail system, barely recognizable to what it’s grown into. gmtrail.org
Swap, Ludlow The best place to gear up for the winter with new and used equipment at great prices. You will find everything you need to get out on the hill this season.... skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, helmets, goggles, outerwear and more!
10-11SEPTEMBER|VistaBeast
9 | The Grindstone, Barre
Join Onion River Outdoors for the seventh annual race at the Wrightsville Reservoir Beach. Bunny-hop-able barriers, water, sand, singletrack, gravel, and a Spiral of Death: yeah, we’ll have it all. Enjoy a unique Vermont CX experience in an idyllic location. onionriver.com
23| Super8 Grand Depart, Montpelier
15 | Gravel Moxie, Morrisville
This 50-mile trail race lets mountain bikers and ultra runners enjoy a challenging and scenic course that is like no other. Net proceeds go to Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. vermont50.com
9 | Burning Leaf, Dorset
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HAVE YOU EVER HEADED INTO THE WOODS WITH NO AGENDA? TRY IT.
Such micro-excursions require only a cushion (the empty backpack laid across damp ground, gnarled roots, a lichened boulder, whatever’s available) and a willingness to sit, to adventure into aimlessness, to experiment with wu-wei.
the glint of an ant’s armor. I noticed that my butt was numb. I noticed that I was frustrated with the lack of direction, irked with the tedium of a radically slomo pace. And I noticed, eventually, that I’d stopped noticing, that I’d been subtly transformed from actor to acted-upon, that I was calm and grinning and—whoa, it was already evening.Nothing happened. Everything happened. Nature happened. But it took endurance—the same endurance I draw on to climb peaks, bike hilly gravel roads, kayak the length of lakes, and ski through bitter cold storms—to arrive there.
BY LEATH TONINO
"We can't hurry our way to slowness and buy our way to attentiveness," writes author Leath Tonino. instead, try just sitting on a rock. Photo Adobe Stock
Contributing editor Leath Tonino is the author The Animal One Thousand Miles Long: Seven Lengths of Vermont and Other Adventures and The West Will Swallow You. A version of this essay originally appeared in Briefings.
THE DO-NOTHING ITINERARY
Picture a molted raptor feather or a coyote’s pawprint catching my eye.
ENDGAME
On
Really, what could I write?
Fine. But personally, I’m distrustful of quick fixes and programs dangling price tags. They tend to involve a sneaky kind of doing, an insidious kind of reaching and striving and wanting. Pretty much anything that treats non-intentional
loafing as utilitarian—Do Non-Doing And You’ll Generate Extra Energy For The Stuff That Actually Matters!—strikes me as crazy. In my experience (I began reading the ancient Chinese poets and wandering in the woods twenty years ago, at the tender age of sixteen), we can’t hurry our way to slowness and buy our way to attentiveness. Seems to me that endurance, a decidedly uncomfortable and awkward bearing-with, is the most reliable tool (anti-tool?) in our kit.
Which loops us around to that recent Sunday foray into the exterior wilds of the Little Otter WMA and the interior wilds of wu-wei—wilds that are still strange and foreign even after all these years. By noon (judged by the sun because I don’t wear a watch), I had wadded the empty backpack under my fanny and plopped down in a nondescript patch of weeds at the base of a half-dead white pine. “Nondescript” is relative, of course, and incrementally the details of the site revealed themselves: the textures and tones, the complex choreography of shapes and colors.
That’s an idea (nay, an ideal) central to the lives of my heroes, the riversand-mountains poets of ancient China, guys who balanced their ambitious careers as government bureaucrats with contemplative retreats.
Increasingly, chilling out and opening oneself to the world is bottled and sold, the perennial wisdom of wu-wei turned into apps, online mindfulness exercises, slick books, digital detox resorts, on and on and on. It’s understandable that this would occur—that a $120-billion-a-year business would arise to meet the needs of a populace addicted to busyness and productivity—and I have no doubt that in many instances the new products and prescriptions are exactly what the doctor ordered.(CDC data shows that the number of meditating Americans tripled from 2012 to 2018, and scientific studies indicate that meditation can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, not to mention boost focus, resilience, and happiness.)
42 VTSPORTS.COM | SEPT./OCT. 2022
To arrive where?
a recent Sunday morning, after pancakes and coffee and more coffee, I set out for the Little Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area with an empty backpack slung over my shoulder. By empty, I mean empty: no raincoat, no granola bar, no distracting book, no beeping phone. Common sense says to leave an itinerary on the kitchen table when you bushwack solo, in case of emergency, but my plan was an anti-plan, my itinerary a blank sheet of paper.
(spontaneously!) into my oft-cluttered headspace.BigPharma, Big Ag, Big… Wellness?
Picture me pausing, crouching, cocking my ear to a whispering voice: “Take a load off, sonnyboy. This is the spot.”Okay, but also picture me struggling to hear that voice, to heed the call of a world larger than my own agendas and designs. Despite the empty pack, I typically carry something immaterial yet heavy to the woods: the intention to be intentionless, the goal of being goalless, the desire to renounce desire and thereby allow surprising details—leaves, polished pebbles, chipmunks, wasp nests—to rush
I noticed patterns in bark. I noticed
A blank white sheet of paper on the kitchen table hums with uncertainty, with possibility, with simplicity.
Following another stressed-out session in the offices of the capitol, they would hightail it to a country estate to gaze at a forested slope’s thousand shades of green, to sip just enough wine to let go and drift with the wispy clouds, to temporarily inhabit the spaces underneath their thoughts (where poetry resides). According to translator-scholar David Hinton—a fellow Vermonter— wu-wei is a “rich philosophical concept” that defies encapsulation, but basically it points towards acting “spontaneously,” without “self-conscious intention.”
Gonna tromp into the woods, maybe walk a game trail, probably end up staring at a bed of moss or a spider web for a couple hours, definitely hunker in a thicket and listen to chirping birds until I’ve entirely forgotten that I’m listening. Gonna do nothing, do the place, stop doing, stop scheming, get bored, get slack-jawed, get lost and found. Be back sometime before sunset.
To arrive where we are. Nuff said.
SCAN ME IN 2023, LAKE PLACID WORLD.THEWELCOMES January 12-22, 2023 lakeplacid2023.com
sugarbush .com to see stories thevisit adventure camaraderie sugarbush.com madriverglen.com What’s YOURS? 09-10-2022-SUG-VTSports-10.25x13.indd 1 8/26/22 4:51 PM
