Vermont Sports 23-3 March/April Edition

PROBIOTICS FOR POWER | THE PROBLEM WITH BUCKET LISTS | VT’S NEWEST TRAILS

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Like Bill Burrell, who writes about his February attempt to ski the Catamount Trail, end to end, in “Savoring Snow,” p. 15, New Hampshire endurance athlete Torey Lee Brooks (right) is skiing the Catamount Trail in March as part of a film being made by Eastern Adventure and Vermont Social to highlight climate change’s impact on snow. Photo by Connor Davis

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5 The Start

12 Health

20 Feature

Anyone who recreates outdoors is seeing the impact of climate change. What can you do?

New research shows that certain strains of probiotics can help athletes perform better.

A first-hand report from Mount Washington’s coldest day.

The Frontlines of Climate Change

Can Probiotics Make You a Pro?

7 News

14 Gear

Vermont’s best-loved whitewater race is back. But finding other whitewater is getting harder.

Ready to run, tailgate or camp out? Here are some suggestions.

Chasing Whitewater

9 Speak Up

A Long Slow Road to #RunEqual Vermont’s Molly Peters has been lobbying for equal distances for women in skiing and running.

She’s finally being heard.

Spring Things

15 Feature

Savoring Snow

One skier’s attempt to document climate change meant a challenging ski on the Catamount Trail.

New Weather Extremes

26 Featured Athlete The Mountain Guide

Kel Rossiter on climbing and guiding.

28 Featured Athlete

The Extreme Bikepacker Miron Golfman rides the Iditarod.

30 Calendar Race & Event Guide 34 Endgame

Beyond the Bucket List

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THE START

THE FRONTLINES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

IF YOU SKI, HIKE, FISH OR PADDLE, YOU ARE PROBABLY SEEING CLIMATE CHANGE HAPPEN BEFORE YOUR EYES. WHAT CAN YOU DO?

O

n February 26, Bill Burrell, a science teacher in Essex Junction set out to ski the Catamount Trail, end-to-end unsupported. He set out do to it as a way to highlight the challenges climate change is bringing, as he writes in “Savoring Snow” on p.20 in this issue.

He also wanted to set a fastest-knowntime record for an unsupported effort.

A week later, Torey Lee Brooks, a former ski racer and endurance athlete from New Hampshire, set out to ski the Catamount with a similar mission to highlight climate change. Her effort is being filmed by Eastern Adventure/ Vermont Social and supported by Protect Our Winters, Fischer Nordic, Gordini, Trust for Public Land and Ibex.

Whether either complete the Catamount Trail (or not) isn’t the story. What is, is the fact that changing climate conditions are making thruskiing the 300-mile trail less viable.

While ski areas can blow snow masking a declining natural base, the Catamount, the country’s longest ski trail is the natural litmus test for Mother Nature’s ability to cover the Green Mountains in snow.

All of us who spend time outdoors are on the frontlines of climate change. We may notice gradual, subtle differences in the woods and streams we play in from year to year. Or we may be hit over the head with headlinemaking events such as the record cold that Karl Philippoff, an intern at the Mount Washington Observatory, writes about in “New Weather Extremes,” p.

20.

THE FORCES OF NATURE In some ways, the wild weather swings (50 degrees or more in a day) we’ve seen this past winter are exhilarating reminders of the awesome power of nature. “January saw a 10.3 degree Fahrenheit departure from the average,” said Francis Tarasiewicz, a weather observer and education specialist with the Mount Washington Observatory.

Tarasiewicz was present for the record cold snap on February 3-4 when temperatures hit a record -47. He found himself crawling outdoors that evening in 100- to 128-mph winds and wind chills of -108 to help record the

The impact of declining snowpack and precipitation shows up on this U.S .Drought Monitor chart that tracks the frequency and severity of drought conditions in Vermont over two decades. Darker colors indicate more severe droughts.

meteorological data. As Tarasiewicz, who studied meteorology at Lyndon State College notes, this winter’s warm January and lack of early-season snowfall was not a fluke. “Our research shows statistically significant warming since 2000.”

The wild weather swings have consequences that can also be deadly.

On February 25, a skier and a snowboarder triggered a thin wind slab. The skier stopped above the crown line but the snowboarder was caught in the slide, which was 125 feet wide and dropped 400 feet. The debris was up to 5 feet deep. The snowboarder though was at the edge of the slide and only buried up to his waist. He was able to dig himself out.

The preceding week had seen a freeze-thaw cycle that prompted the Mount Washington Avalanche Center to issue a hazard rating decision (meaning the risk of an avalanche or other event) at CONSIDERABLE at middle elevations and MODERATE at upper elevations.

THE IMPACTS OF LOW SNOW While skiers and riders may witness the most dramatic impacts of this warming trend, the loss of snowpack has literal downstream effects for other sports, and, more importantly, human health.

According to CUNY climate

researcher Andrew Reimann: “More than 60 years of research from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire – one of the longestrunning studies anywhere – show that winter snowpack is declining.” It also shows an average temperature rise of 1 degree Celsius.

A year ago, in April 2022, University of Vermont professor Arne Bomblies and his team began installing a series of snow sensors and meteorological instruments throughout the state, from the top of Mount Mansfield to the shores of Lake Champlain. The sensors measure not just snow depth but the composition and percentage of moisture in the snowpack.

“There’s a growing concern in the northeast that the warming climate is going to make winter recreation – skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing – much less available,” Bomblies said in an article published by UVM. “Vail Resorts, which owns Stowe Mountain Resort, has invested money into snowmaking equipment, but sustaining artificial snowmaking in a warming climate will be challenging. New data on the drivers of snow distribution and melt, along with climate model predictions for our future, will help us better predict the susceptibility of our winter recreation industry to warming.”

In another study headlined “Winter

runoff events pose an unquantified continental-scale risk of high wintertime nutrient export” published in 2022 in the journal Environmental Research Letters, University of Vermont’s Carol Adair and a team of researchers from a number of other universities showed the impact of warming winters and lower snowpacks.

“We are clearly seeing much larger amounts of cloudy water and sediment traveling through U.S. watersheds in winter,” said Adair, the UVM scientist.

“The idea of winter nutrient pollution is new, because it’s a relatively recent impact of climate change with the potential to cause significant problems for people and the environment—from algae blooms that make swimming dangerous to ‘dead zones’ that kill fish stocks.”

WHAT TO DO? We are not going to be able to magically snap our fingers and make it snow again. But there are things we can do to stem the tide, so to speak. It’s been over 50 years since Earth Day (April 23) was launched and earthday.org has an Earth Day Action Toolkit with suggestions for steps that anyone from an activist (such as organize rallies) to homeowners (such as use heat pumps and LED bulbs) can take as well as choices consumers can make.

One of my favorite resources is the Plastic Calculator, an eye-popping interactive program that lets an individual or a household track how many plastic containers they use in a year and provides a challenge to reduce the use of single-use plastic containers.

We can all, as Bill Burrell suggests, cut our carbon emissions by driving less, taking fewer flights and recreating closer to home. We’re fortunate here in Vermont to have outdoor playgrounds of all types and trailheads within biking distance.

Perhaps the best antidote to “ecogrief” — which Burrell describes as “the sense of loss from experiencing or learning about environmental destruction and climate change,” is action. —Lisa Lynn, Editor

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 5

NEWS

CHASING WHITEWATER

THE GOOD NEWS? THE STATE’S BEST-LOVED WHITEWATER EVENT IS BACK. THE BAD NEWS, WHITEWATER MAY BE HARDER TO FIND.

BY LISA LYNN

Whitewater expert Ben Schott navigates the Middlebury Gorge. Photo by Erik Adsit

W

hen it comes to whitewater paddling, Vermont may not be Colorado or Maine, but this spring a small-but-fierce community of whitewater paddlers will be out in full force on local waterways, following a few challenging years of Covid, draught and dam issues.

After a hiatus during Covid, one of the most renowned whitewater events in the Northeast is back: the New Haven Ledges Race in Bristol, on April 8, with an alternate date of April 15.

6 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

A time-trial that sends paddlers down a section of the New Haven River between Lincoln and Bristol, the race is as popular with spectators as it is with paddlers. Crowds line the pulloffs along Lincoln Road, watching the boats surge through Class III, IV and sometimes even Class V rapids. Racers negotiate through the narrow gaps in the rocks, disappear in spray and drop a 14-foot freefall into the section of Bartlett Falls known as The Toaster.

Capped at 60 entrants, New Haven

Ledges is a whitewater race for expert paddlers. “We usually have a strong group from Quebec and folks come from as far south as Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas,” says Ben Schott of the Vermont Paddlers Club. Schott is managing the race, along with Jordan Vickers and Scott Gilbert. The event celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018 and was last held in 2019, before Covid caused the pause.

“We wanted to make sure the community was fully behind it, before

relaunching it,” says Schott, who also acknowledged that some changes needed to be made (including doing away with a launch ramp) to comply with new insurance regulations. The race is certified by the American Canoe Association.

Across the Vermont border, in Hanover, the Ledyard Canoe Club’s Mascoma River Slalom had been held every year since 1963, the oldest consecutively run slalom race in the country. The event came back in 2022.

No date had been set as of press time for 2023.

For those who are getting into whitewater, the Peavine Whitewater Race, put on by the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective, is a mellower chance to play in some Class II and Class III rapids, while paddling a beautiful stretch of the White River between in Stockbridge. Open to both kayaks and SUPs (life jackets and whitewater helmets are mandatory) the event has both a recreational category and,

for those who want to go longer and harder, a race option.

“It’s not that easy to get into the sport,” acknowledges Schott, “but at the Vermont Paddlers Club we try to help anyone who wants to get the training and the gear they need.”

The club offers in-pool sessions as well as clinics and group paddles throughout the spring and can often find or provide boats for newcomers to try out. “Boats and paddles have gotten much more expensive,” Schott notes.

“Add in a dr suit and life jacket and roof racks, and it’s something you really want to be committed to.”

A further challenge comes from Mother Nature. With declining snowpack, the spring run-offs have been slower. “It used to be you could almost set your clock to it and go anywhere in the state in March through early April,” says Schott. “Now, for a couple of years the snow has all melted off in one week and that’s it.”

In southern Vermont, paddlers

could also count on dam releases from the Ball Dam on the West River.

However, the past two years the dam has been under repairand this spring release is limited to May 6-7.

“The good news is the New Haven can be run at many levels,” says Schott.

“You can run the section that we’re on when it is down to 250 CFS (cubic feet per second) and you can run it into the couple 1000 CFS. As long as the water is not too high, we’ll hold the race.”

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 7

WHERE TO START PADDLING

University’s Johnson campus to help paddlers become confident in their abilities to roll and right a kayak. Starting in April, the club hosts trips and clinics for novice, intermediate and advanced whitewater paddlers to rivers around the region and on April 8, hosts the famous New Haven Ledges Race (experts only) in Bristol. The club is affiliated with the American Canoe Association and also a long-time supporter/partner of American Whitewater. Vtpaddlers.net

If you want to get into whitewater paddling, or just improve your flatwater skills, your best bet is to connect with one of the region’s paddling clubs or to take lessons with an outfitter such as Zoar Outdoor on the Deerfield River in CharlEmont, Ma., or try whitewater rafting with Crab Apple Whitewater, which hosts trips in southern Vermont (on the West River, when dam releases allow), Massachusetts and Maine. Or go for a gentler paddling trip with Umiak Outfitters in Stowe. Some excellent paddling clubs dedicated to flatwater and whitewater paddling are:

LEDYARD CANOE CLUB

BRATTLEBORO OUTING CLUB Though the Brattleboro Outing Club does a bit of everything (cross-country skiing, rowing, tennis, for example) it is wellknown for its paddling programs. The club is more geared to flatwater paddling and offers a free summer program as well as more than a dozen daytrips to various New England waterways. It also

Paddlers on the New Haven River in Bristol during the 2019 Ledges race. Photo by Caleb Kenna features rowing clinics and its annual spring swap (to be held on May 13 this year) is a good place to find a used boat or gear. Brattleborooutingclub.org.

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VERMONT PADDLERS CLUB Founded in 1964, the Vermont Paddlers Club kicks off spring with a number of pool sessions in March at University of Vermont and Northern Vermont

Affiliated with Dartmouth College, the Ledyard Canoe Club has been organizing whitewater and other paddling events since it was founded in 1920. Early on, it was a training ground for future Olympians. Today, it’s still a gathering spot for whitewater paddlers and organizes trips around the region – and worldwide. It also rents canoes and kayaks at its base on the Connecticut River in Hanover, N.H. On April 22-23, the club usually hosts Mascoma Slalom, the oldest consecutively run slalom event in the country, drawing kayakers from around the country for the race, which is part of RiverFest. Ledyardcanoeclub.org

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SPEAK UP

W

hen Molly Peters arrived at Middlebury College as a freshman cross-country ski racer in 1993, she was rankled by a strange asymmetry. Though female skiers often trained alongside their male counterparts, their official races were much, much shorter.

If women went 15 kilometers, the men skied 30. In longer ski marathons, women raced 30 kilometers while men competed on a 50-kilometer course. “It never really sat well with me—in my mind, there was no reason for it,” said Peters, who now coaches both skiers and runners at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. “Women were fully capable of going the longer distances, but they were never allowed to.”

Though the issue nettled Peters for years, she got little traction whenever she brought it up to officials. But times change: In 2021, Peters gathered a coalition of skiers to write an open letter calling equal race distances an “important step forward for equity and inclusion.” And in May, 2022 the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced that men and women would, starting this winter, race equal distances. “I screamed and jumped around in my kitchen,” said Peters, of the moment she heard the news. “Then I called and texted and emailed every person I know.”

Peters’s push to equalize race distances, #SkiEqual, is just one of the ways athletes are seeking parity in sports worldwide. Efforts to narrow the gender pay gap for professional athletes have become increasingly prominent. In May, women’s soccer players were awarded $24 million after suing for equal pay.

Some sporting organizations are also moving to minimize long-standing competitive differences. Starting in 2023, for example, the European CrossCountry Championships will equalize running races for men and women.

Moves to equalize sports send a critical message to young athletes, said Jessie Diggins, a skier who, along with teammate Kikkan Randall, won the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in 2018. “I think it’s just a really important step forward to essentially tell people who identify as women, from a very young age, that you are just as

10 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

THE LONG, SLOW ROAD TO #RUNEQUAL

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, VERMONTER MOLLY PETERS HAS BEEN LOBBYING FOR EQUAL DISTANCES FOR WOMEN IN CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AND RUNNING. NOW, RACES ARE FINALLY STARTING TO CHANGE.

BY JENN ROSE SMITH

Even before Jessie Diggins became the first American skier to win a World Championship in cross-country skiing on Feb. 28, she was an advocate for women racing the same distances as men. Photo courtesy USSA.

capable as anyone else of skiing this super challenging, long race,” she said.

Such changes confront spurious beliefs that women are uniquely vulnerable to overexertion, said Susan Barton, an honorary visiting research fellow at De Montfort University’s International Centre for Sports History and Culture. “Some of it was for pseudomedical reasons,” she said, explaining that from 1928 until 1960, women were banned from running more than

200 meters at the Olympics for fear of “collapse.” When the first women’s Olympic marathon took place in 1984, some reportedly worried runners’ uteri might fall out; a sexist concern for women’s fertility helped bar female athletes from Olympic ski jumping until 2014.

Diggins, too, sees the fear for women’s health as patronizing and baseless. “I train the same or more than some of my male counterparts. I work

just as hard. I’m just as capable,” she said. “It’s just as taxing—or not—on my body, the risks are the same.”

Bill Koch, a #SkiEqual signatory who in 1976 became the first American to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, said that despite the rules, many athletes have long understood that.

“It’s obvious to me that men and women ought to race the same distance,” Koch said. In fact, he mused, competitions genuinely tailored to

sports still have a massive gender pay gap. Across the United States, conservative activists are attempting to leverage equal-rights legislation to unfairly exclude trans athletes from locker rooms, teams, and sporting events. And many female athletes, including the cross-country runners Peters coaches each fall, are still stuck with unequal race distances.

Peters wants to change that too.

The organization she founded to equalize cross-country skiing is pushing the NCAA to do the same for crosscountry running races. Earlier this year, Peters submitted a #RunEqual proposal to the NCAA, asking that collegiate racing offer equal distances to women and men.

“Requiring women to race shorter distances is gender bias and sends an unmistakable message, intended or not, that women are not as capable as men.

This needs to change,” she wrote.

In August, the NCAA responded, denying the proposal while citing concerns that women might not want to run the eight-kilometer, equal-length races that #RunEqual has proposed.

Peters categorically disagrees—and she’s currently working on her official rebuttal.

Cutline here Photo

In 2016, Vermont runners Molly Peters and Kasie Enman (center two) were already advocating for equal distances for women in running events.

physiological differences between male and female athletes would have women racing longer—not shorter— distances than men. As has been widely observed, female athletes excel at endurance, drawing closer, on average, to their male counterparts as they tackle progressively longer runs, swims, and other events. “If men have a 50 [kilometer race], women should have a

70, as far as I’m concerned,” Koch said.

Months after learning about the equal-distance decision she helped inspire, Molly Peters is still thrilled by the news. Last year, the female athletes she coaches at Saint Michael’s College got the first taste of equal-distance racing when participating in the 20-kilometer Colby Carnival ski event.

“That was the moment when they felt it

the most,” Peters said. “It was like, ‘Oh wait, we really never have been allowed to do this race, and now we can, and that’s pretty amazing.’” Hearing from those young athletes, she explained, helps keep her energized.

Still, she noted, while crosscountry ski racing’s newfound equity is a significant win worth celebrating, there’s more work to be done. Many

This article originally ran in Sierra Magazine

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NUTRITION

CAN PROBIOTICS MAKE YOU A PRO? NEW RESEARCH IS DISCOVERING THE POWERFUL EFFECTS CERTAIN STRAINS OF PROBIOTICS CAN HAVE ON BOTH ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND YOUR OVERALL HEALTH.

More and more athletes are turning to probiotics as part of their training plan.

BY JAMIE SHEAHAN, M.S., M.D.

I

remember as a child being asked what I would like to be when I grew up and without hesitation responding, “an athlete.” As an active kid involved in many sports this seemed like the obvious choice and not one out of the realm of possibilities.

Given the number of professional athletes I watched on TV it was really just a matter of deciding which sport I would choose to pursue. There was no question in my mind that with enough practice and hard work that such a career was achievable.

I’m sure I am far from alone in thinking this. However, even the most determined and dedicated individual needs more than hard work and drive to become an elite-level athlete capable of competing at the professional level. Like it or not, the genetic lottery that gives some individuals the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal potential to achieve greatness is not something that can be obtained through sheer hard work and willpower. However, one physical advantage can be bought. No, this doesn’t mean buying body parts on the black market. What may soon be available for sale is something these athletes produce daily, their poop.

Not only do elite-level athletes have exceptional cardiovascular and muscle strength, studies show that they also have superior gut microbiomes. The microbes and genetic material that populate the small and large intestine are referred to as the gut microbiome.

These microbes include probiotics: live bacteria and yeasts that impart health benefits. The various roles these microscopic organisms play in everything from our digestive health to our mental health has become a major

12 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

Those daily bike rides or runs not only enhance cardiovascular endurance and increase strength, but they also change the composition of the bacteria in your gut. area of research in recent years. This is especially true in regards to athletic performance.

Although we may just be scratching the surface when it comes to how the gut microbiome influences our athletic abilities, it has become clear that exercise and our gut are intrinsically linked. The simple act of engaging in any physical activity modulates what the gut microbiome looks like.

That’s right, those daily bike rides or runs not only enhance cardiovascular endurance and increase strength, but they also change the composition of the bacteria in your gut. Observational studies comparing the gut microbiomes

of athletes to sedentary individuals have found greater bacterial diversity and higher levels of specific strains of functionally advantageous bacteria.

For example, in one study individuals who met the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week were found to have higher levels of three bacterial species associated with anti-inflammatory effects. Multiple studies examining elite athletes have also found increased microbial diversity and higher levels of beneficial bacteria.

HOW PROBIOTICS WORK FOR ATHLETES

The positive effect exercise seems to have on our gut microbiome is one thing, but that begs the question; if exercise helps create a healthier gut, then why would an athlete want or need to infuse their diet with probiotics?

The relationship between exercise and the gut microbiome is twoway; not only does regular physical activity result in alterations in the gut microbiome, specific strains of bacteria can also improve physical performance. Thus, introducing these probiotics through food or supplements may prove beneficial even for those who already have an exercise-enhanced gut microbiome.

Arguably the most significant way in which probiotics may benefit athletes is by reducing incidence and severity of gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Many an athlete has watched their dream of a PR slip away from the inside of a port-a-let. The causes of GI issues are numerous, but there’s no question a probiotic supplement can help.

A 2019 study found that recreational runners who supplemented with a probiotic for a month experienced fewer and less severe GI symptoms when compared to a placebo group. The effect was noticeable in that the runners taking the probiotic supplement were able to maintain their pace in the final third of the marathon whereas those receiving the placebo slowed down. For many athletes the seconds and minutes lost from a slower pace at the end of a race could be the difference between winning and losing.

Another sure-fire way probiotics can benefit athletes is by supporting immune health. Although exercise is widely touted as a way to boost your immunity, this isn’t always the case.

While shorter bouts of moderateintensity exercise have been shown to improve the immune function, athletes engaging in very high-intensity and long-duration exercise are at a higher risk for illness. In fact, second only to

injury, illness is the second leading cause of high-level athletes missing training days.

Researchers have identified an “open window” of altered immunity lasting anywhere from three to 72 hours following a grueling workout.

That period of time when the body is recovering gives viruses and bacteria an opportunity to strike, increasing the risk of respiratory infections like the common cold. The exact reason for this increased susceptibility is still up for debate, but there’s no question the gut is involved.

As strange as it may seem, a huge proportion of the body’s immune system is in the gut. In order for viruses or bacteria to get a foothold and make us sick there are three major defenses in the gut they must overcome: the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal epithelial layer, and the mucosal immune system.

With these three defenses in place we can, by and large, avoid getting sick.

However, that’s where exercise can make us vulnerable. Research suggests that rigorous exercise temporarily damages the epithelial layer, a layer of cells that act as a physical barrier between the intestines and the rest of the body. When that line of defense against foreign pathogens is all but neutralized, the gut microbiota plays a much more critical role in fighting off bad bacteria and viruses. Thus, strengthening the gut microbiota becomes a logical option for those who are regularly engaging in exercise that weakens other aspects of their immune health.

PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS?

The potential perks of probiotics for athletes don’t end at avoiding GI issues or warding off illness. An area of ongoing research is how probiotic supplements could potentially boost performance during exercise.

Preliminary studies on trained athletes as well as sedentary individuals suggest that probiotic supplements may increase the time until an athlete reaches fatigue by up to 58%. This revelation came about after a test of elite marathon runners revealed a particular strain of probiotic was present in higher amounts in their bodies than in sedentary individuals.

Multiple studies have shown that administering this particular probiotic to mice resulted in increased run times on a treadmill test. Researchers theorize that this improved endurance capacity stems from an enhanced ability to process lactic acid that is created during exercise. The ability

There are many natural sources of probiotics but to find the specific strain you need you may want a supplement. Illustration Adobe Stock to exercise that much longer before exhaustion sets in could be a game changer for those training for and competing in endurance events.

Probiotics could also be just the thing to break out of an exercise slump. In a recent study, researchers found that probiotics could actually increase motivation to exercise. By studying running performance in mice, researchers were surprised to see that genetics were barely a factor in explaining why some mice consistently outperformed others. The biggest difference came down to their gut microbiota. The mice that voluntarily ran the most and were able to run the furthest had high levels of probiotics that produce metabolites which go on to boost levels of dopamine in the reward center of the brain. That extra hit of dopamine essentially created the ultimate “runner’s high” making the mice more motivated to exercise.

The researchers weren’t satisfied with an observational study alone, however. After treating the mice with an antibiotic, thereby wiping out the gut microbiome, the mice’s running performance drastically declined and, notably, they ran less frequently. Still not satisfied that their theory was proven, researchers then transplanted the microbiome of a high performing mouse into one of their less exerciseinclined cohorts. With the infusion of a host of those motivational probiotics

that mouse went from a figurative couch potato to a running rock star.

NOT ALL PROBIOTICS ARE EQUAL

Before you dash out and snag the first probiotic supplement you see or start pounding back bottles of kombucha to stave off a cold or to motivate you to lace up your running shoes, know that infusing your gut with probiotics isn’t a guarantee for a strong immune system or a boost in performance.

This is still an area of ongoing research and not all probiotics produce the same results. Just as you wouldn’t take an antibiotic intended to treat strep throat to alleviate a migraine, it’s important to take the appropriate probiotic to achieve the desired effect. Probiotics are classified according to their family, genus, species and lastly strain.

This is where research is critical in identifying the specific probiotics as well as the dosage that can achieve the health or performance outcome.

For individuals looking to avoid GI issues a multi-strain probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60, L. acidophilus CUL21, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 and B. animalis subsp. lactis CUL34 is recommended. Both Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07 have been found to support immune health in athletes engaging in endurance and high-intensity exercise.

For a performance boost, both Veillonella atypica gavage and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 have been found to increase endurance.

Lastly, some additional motivation to exercise can come from Eubacterium rectale and Coprococcus eutactus.

Most studies suggest that a dosage of 40 to 75 billion colony-forming units (CFU) is necessary to reap potential benefits.

Obtaining those specific strains of probiotics and in the necessary amounts can be tricky to do from food sources. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and kombucha are often advertised for their probiotic content, however it is impossible for consumers to know exactly how much of those good-for-you bacteria they are getting from a food source, or which ones.

In fact, many of the studies plugging the health benefits of yogurt used a probiotic dose up to 25 times higher than the amount actually contained in a serving of yogurt.

Everything from the time a food is stored to the temperature it is stored at could affect the amount of viable probiotics that enters your gut.

That being said, consuming fermented foods in conjunction with a probiotic supplement is an excellent way to establish a diverse and healthy gut microbiome with the additional nutritional benefits imparted from these foods.

So how does this relate to the sale of poop? Start-up companies have begun designing probiotic supplements targeted to aid in overall health and performance goals based on the unique gut microbiomes of elite athletes. Translation: poop from highperforming athletes is used to isolate the key strains of probiotics that set them apart from those found in your average Joe. These probiotics can then be used to design probiotic supplements geared towards athletes. We are still a long way away from a pill that could have allowed me to fulfill my childhood aspiration of becoming a professional athlete; however, a pill that can make us a healthier and better athlete just may be at our fingertips.

As the Director of Nutrition at The Edge in Burlington, Jamie Sheahan, M.S., R.D. works closely with athletes to develop customized fueling plans. Sheahan is also an adjunct professor of sports nutrition at UVM and has completed more than 20 marathons.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 13

GEAR

SPRING THINGS

WHETHER IT’S TAILGATING, CAR CAMPING, BACKPACKING OR ROAD RUNNING, HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE NEW SPRING ESSENTIALS.

MagnaReady® shirt

Yakima’s MajorShady 270

Gordini Ergo Infinium Backpacker’s Pantry Fettucini Alfredo

FLANNEL THAT’S A SNAP Necessity is, as they say, is the mother of invention. When Maura Horton heard that her husband, a football coach, had to have help buttoning his shirt after a game she came up with an idea. Horton’s husband had Parkinson’s but the solution she discovered can benefit everyone. She simply replaced the button closures on his shirt with magnetic closures. The result, the MagnaReady® shirt ($64.95) looks just like any other shirt, with cosmetic buttons on the outside but magnetic closures. The flannel-patterned line comes in teal and green and burgundy and grat. The shirts are are wrinkle-free and stain resistant and feature cosmetic buttons. A great option if you want a layer that you can easily unsnap while hiking, or snap on after skiing, hiking or running for a dressier look off the trail.

14 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

THROWING MAJOR SHADE Car camping is great – until you encounter a day so rainy you don’t want to even crack the car door. Or, if you’ve been to Moab, one so hot you can’t find a cool shady spot. For those serious about car camping – or, for that matter, spring tailgating at the ski area parking lot, Yakima’s new-for-2023 MajorShady 270 ($949) may be the answer —albeit not a cheap one. Folded up, the MajorShady fits like a long tube on your roof rack. Unzip it and the 420-denier Ripstop fabric fans out to provide 270-degree coverage in a circle around your car – a total of 80 square feet. Support poles and guy ropes keep it sturdy. Yakima also sells zip-in walls for additional privacy or protection from weather. The MajorShady can be mounted on either the driver or passenger side.

BACKPACKING MEALS WITH A CONSCIENCE There are dozens of freeze-dried meal options you can take with you on a backcountry expedition (just heat up on an MSR or other camp stove) or as an alternative to whatever the ski area cafeteria might offer. We’ve tried most of them. Here’s what we like about Backpacker’s Pantry: For starters, the company uses 100 percent renewable solar energy for its production facility and offices and is a partner with 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of all sales to conservation efforts. It also labels its meals by vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. They also have white-meat chicken or beef labels. What we love is the flavor and the “real food” taste of the white meat chicken in dishes such as Fettucini Alfredo ($12.99) which packs 40 grams of protein and 580 calories into a 5 oz. pouch that allegedly

serves 2, (though by our count, 290 calories isn’t really a full entree.)

Compared with other brands, it’s a slightly more expensive option. But if you’re thinking of the environment, it’s a sound choice unless you’re going to cook your own.

RUNNING GLOVES TO LOVE The challenge of finding good gloves to run in at this time of year is that usually after a mile or two, your hands start to sweat: you're either too hot or too cold. Gordini’s Ergo Infinium $54.99 (men’s and women’s) running gloves are lightweight and use a GoreTex Infinium windstopper fleece on the back of the hand to keep the wind and cold out. Best, the thumb and index fingers are touch-screen compatible so you can change up the podcast or tunes without breaking stride.

SAVORING SNOW WHEN YOU LOVE SNOW, YOU GO CHASING IT. EVEN WHEN IT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

BY BILL BURRELL

A science teacher in Essex Junction, author Bill Burrell's passion for skiing and splitboarding Vermont's backcountry grew into a mission to set a fastest-known-time for skiing the Catamount Trail (unsupported) and tto highlight the challenges climate brings.

Photo by Alaina Holliday

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 15

I

n 2013, while snowboarding deep, untouched powder lines just above 12,000 feet in the Arapaho National Forest in Colorado, I was hit with life-threatening high altitude cerebral edema, HACE. I was close to losing consciousness when a friend called for a rescue. Two hours later I was being transported off the mountain to an emergency room just outside of Denver. After treatments of pure oxygen, dexamethasone and acetazolamide (and an overnight stay in the hospital), doctors ordered me to return, immediately, to Vermont’s lower elevation.

Back home, during a year-long, difficult recovery from that close-todeath experience I realized that my days of high-elevation skiing and riding had come to a sudden, abrupt end.

Careful, lifelong planning of one day retiring and moving out to Colorado quickly unraveled in front of me.

The vision board I had created at age twelve—an old Ford ski-bum pickup truck filled with skis and long wooden toboggans; woodstove smoke drifting slowly up through aspens and over a small mountain cabin; and of course, endless sunny days of Colorado’s highest and finest backcountry dirtbag skiing and snowboarding (I love both)—all disappeared into…well… thin air. I, too, fell into a deep, suncraved, impatient and restless funk.

That following winter, back home in Vermont, I really had no other

choice but to embrace, with even more enthusiasm and gratitude than ever before, backcountry meadow skipping in the Green Mountains and Adirondacks– what Bill McKibben, in his book Wandering Home, refers to as the Verondacks.

I experienced a renewed appreciation for Vermont’s uncrowded, untracked quiet forests, peaceful rolling valleys and snow-covered peaks. I developed an immense sense of gratitude for our open meadows, abandoned logging roads, and the off-shoot trails that lead to higher, steeper ridgelines and hidden treasures of untouched pow.

David Goodman, author, skier and mountaineer, writes in his excellent book, Best Backcountry Skiing in The Northeast, “Every time skiers glide from a trailhead and vanish into a winter wilderness, we feel like explorers setting off for the New World.

Laying first tracks into snow, we sense that we are the first visitors to these wild places.” And it’s true. Uncrowded New England backcountry skiing feels exactly like that.

But, as incredible as our backcountry is, I noticed, just in the last decade, that something was changing. And changing very quickly. I started seeing not only a significant decrease in overall snowpack depth (especially at lower elevations) but, perhaps more noticeable than at any other time in my life, a drastic change in the quality of the snowpack.

THE END OF WINTER? I also began noticing that, because of these changes, I could no longer ski wherever or whenever I wanted to, the way I had been for the past 30 years.

Backcountry skiing, and especially lower elevation meadow skipping, is becoming harder and harder. The culprit? Warming winters.

New England is currently the fastest warming region in the entire US, with a temperature increase of 3.9 degrees F since 1970. The Green Mountain State is now the second fastest warming state in the US, just behind first place, Sagebrush State, Nevada.

Burlington, VT is now the seventh fastest warming city in the entire US with a 4.5° F increase since 1970. Often, during the summer, it is 10 degrees warmer in Vermont than it is 300 miles south in the concrete heat absorbing metropolis of NYC. Of the four seasons we experience in Vermont winter is warming the fastest…even faster than summer. This past winter, Boston received a total of 51.2 inches of snow while most places in Vermont didn’t see more than half a foot of snow, according to the National Weather Service in Burlington.

Perhaps the worst thing for skiers and other backcountry enthusiasts in Vermont is the dramatic increase in freeze-thaw cycles. Last April, I climbed to a 2,000-foot, northeast facing, shaded and well-protected slope on Mt Mansfield. I dug a four-and-a-half foot

The Catamount Trail runs for more than 300 miles along the spine of the Green Mountains.

When conditions are good, it's a gorgeous ski.

16 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

Photo courtesy Catamount Trail Association

deep pit into the snow, all the way down to the ground. I took several pictures, from the ground up, of dark and eerie horizontal layers in the snowpack. I counted eleven layers of ice. Some, over an inch thick, were difficult to dig through.

These freeze-thaw cycles are creating treacherous conditions for backcountry skiers and riders. Crusts of ice are forming directly on top of recent snowfall, making skiing in the backcountry often impossible. And incredibly dangerous.

A few years ago I ended up in the ER, again. Unable to turn fast enough on a thick crusty layer of snow, I slammed directly into an enormous yellow birch, face first. The doctor stitching up the deep two-inch gash on my chin, a skier herself, said in a hushed, almost disappointed tone, “We’ve been seeing a lot of these this year.”

Normally in the backcountry, skiers and riders float blissfully above the covered forest floor, unimpeded by downed trees and logs scattered beneath several feet of snow. Just in the past few years, however, I’ve heard more and more stories of skiers breaking a leg, sometimes both, after skiing under logs and fallen trees hidden just a few inches below the shallow snowpack.

Historically, during the winter months, our mountain streams dry up as all precipitation gets locked up and stored as ice and snow. Now, with so many thaws occurring,

Vermont mountain streams are often running full with rain and snowmelt– sometimes all winter long. Many skiers and snowboarders are falling, sometimes headfirst, into the hollow tunnels and wells formed by those unfrozen streams meandering under a shallow snow cover.

In 2017, after a heavy snow, a snowboarder was found, upside down in one of these deep, unfrozen stream tunnels at Stowe. He was unable to free himself from his snowboard bindings and died from asphyxiation, inches above an unfrozen stream bed.

Porter Fox, in his latest book, The Last Winter: In Search for Snow and the End of Winter, has traveled all over the world documenting the widespread loss of our cryosphere- those regions on Earth that are covered in snow and ice.

These regions pretty much control our ocean’s currents, water cycle, global temperatures, and climate. What he learned and wrote about— especially how our cryosphere controls the rest of our planet’s climate systems— I found so frightening and nauseating that I had to read the book in small doses.

After a life-threatening brush with high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), Burrell renewed his love of snow by discovering Vermont's pockets of untracked backcountry powder. Photo by Alaina Holliday

HOLDING ON When we start to see the end of something important to us, we tend to hang onto it even harder. About halfway through last year’s dismal winter, I went out and bought an ultra-light tarp tent, a well-insulated sleeping pad, and a new down sleeping bag. I brought my metal-edged touring skis up from the cellar and dusted off my three-pin plastic Scarpa telemark boots.

And then, hauling a 40-pound backpack filled with water, food, a stove and all my new gear, I set out searching for winter. Instead of seeking out deep hidden pow stashes higher up, I meadow skipped my way up and down the Green Mountain spine, seeking out winter at lower elevations.

Often, waking up at dawn in my van or tent, I’d skip breakfast and rush out to a few inches of new fallen snow, knowing that it may be all gone within a few hours. When there was enough snow, I spent incredible weekends kicking and gliding through the quietest, most peaceful and beautiful alpine meadows, rolling farmland, valleys and ridge lines that I never even knew existed.

I learned that Vermont has some of the best, low elevation meadow skipping in the world. Much of it passes through public and private landholdings and offers some of the most breathtaking views and winter scenery in New England. In fact, Vermont lays claim to the longest established backcountry

ski trail in North America, the iconic Catamount Trail.

In Skiing With Henry Knox, the Vermont skier, author, trail designer and dry stone mason Sam Brakley writes about his incredible 2015 supported thru-ski of this entire 315mile trail. He spent 15 solid days and nights skiing (sometimes, due to a lack of snow, walking) his way from the Massachusetts border all the way to the Canadian border.

In Vermont Sports Magazine I read about another skier, Aiden Powell who, in 2021, under rare and ideal late-winter conditions, accomplished a supported through-ski in just fourteen days, two hours.

After reading about these two tough, hardy Vermont skiers I became fascinated with the idea of thru-skiing the entire length of Vermont. At a whopping 315 miles, the trail is actually two times the full length of Vermont given all the twists, turns, ups, and downs. And with over 35,000 feet of total vertical elevation gain, the trail gains close to ten times the height of Vermont’s highest peaks.

You have to love winter to accomplish something like this and I,

like so many other Vermonters I know, simply love the cold and the snow.

I’d be ok with having winter all year long. My mind and body come alive in winter. I laugh more, sing more and dance more— especially just before and during a snowstorm. I love the quiet, muffled sounds—even in the cities.

I love that sensation of kicking and gliding, in almost total silence, through our forests and up into our mountains.

THE IMPACTS OF ECOGRIEF In the wild, organisms can be classified by how they perceive and experience winter. Based on the Greek word for snow, chion, this classification includes the chionophobes (“snow fearers”), the chioneuphores (“snow tolerators”) and the chionophiles (“snow lovers”).

In Winter: An Ecological Handbook, authors James Halfpenny and Roy Ozanne propose that the classification system can also be used to describe our own interactions with winter because “humans can vary from “lovers of winter” to those that “fear or even hate it.””

Like many chionophiles witnessing this loss of an entire season (and our entire cryosphere) I find myself passing

through various stages of grief. Ecogrief– the sense of loss from experiencing or learning about environmental destruction and climate change– is a fast-growing phenomenon—especially among younger people.

It’s not just the loss of backcountry skiing that I grieve though. It’s the impact that a loss of winter will continue having on the rest of the world. Every single day the headlines are about droughts, forest fires, floods, climate migration, immigration, loss of species habitat, etc. All of which are also happening in Vermont.

While a warming winter presents first-world problems that, for backcountry skiers (it is, after all, a predominantly white, privileged, maledominated sport), might mean fewer days of skiing, it is a whole different story for people living in high-risk areas, crowded coastlines and rivers.

Climate change is particularly affecting the livelihoods, work, traditions and especially the health of marginalized, poor and indigenous people— perhaps more than anyone else.

I’ve drastically changed my lifestyle in order to cut my own carbon footprint.

I stopped flying nearly ten years ago.

I take only micro vacations—all right here in New England. I’ve been out of the Adirondacks and Vermont only a handful of times in the past 20 years. I try to remain local as much as possible– from where and how I eat shop and work to where and how I spend all of my free time.

Lately, as ecogrief directly impact my own emotional well-being, I constantly think about ways to maximize my time and experiences in winter– before it’s completely gone.

THE NEXT SKI TRIP I wondered what would happen if during my winter break from teaching middle school science, I set out to experience a Vermont winter in a way I’ve never done before?

What would happen if, starting at sunrise, I skied all day long and with a headlamp, continued into the night, stopping only to prepare water, eat and sleep? For two solid weeks, straight through the state of Vermont?

I wondered if I could even pull it off: sleeping outside every night; melting snow and treating surface water for constant re-hydration; building fires; carrying a 40-pound pack with multiple battery banks to keep electronics charged for navigation; and of course skiing for 10-12 hours, everyday, all in less than two weeks, non-stop.

And, to truly experience winter with the greatest attention to my

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 17

surroundings, what if I did it alone, with no support? And without warm lodging or meals along the way?

As far as I know, no one has ever done a self-supported through ski along the Catamount Trail before. To do it safely requires utmost attention to risk assessment, safety, logistics, trail finding, and frequent hydration and massive daily caloric intake.

The current fastest known time, or FKT, for skiing the Catamount Trail, is Aiden Powell’s 14 days, two hours— with support. I would attempt an FKT, totally self-supported– meaning I could have no outside help or support.

Friends ask me why I would want to do this in record time? The truth is, with a full-time job, there was no other way for me to accomplish this– I had to do it in under two weeks.

So in February, 2023, while friends and family fly off to warmer destinations to escape the cold, dark days of New England, I planned to stay in Vermont and ski from Sherman Reservoir on the Massachusetts border, around and over the rugged Green Mountains, all the way to the heavily forested Canadian border near Jay. Last winter, on some sections

In preparing for his Catamount FKT, the author spent many nights in the backcountry . Photo by Alaina Holliday

of the Catamount Trail, there were 16 days that lacked sufficient snow for me to train. With less and less snow, I wondered why I would ever want to attempt a selfsupported through ski on North America’s longest BC ski route.

After waiting patiently through one of Vermont’s lowest snowfall winters on record, my departure date – February 25

– finally arrived. At the Massachusetts border I dropped my skis onto the ground. With a hard “thwack” they slammed down onto a two-inch layer of crust and ice. I immediately began struggling to keep my skis from slipping out from beneath me. I skied the first 10 miles and then collapsed in my tent at 6 PM.

The next morning a dusting of fresh snow gave the skis some grip– but the deep ice and crust persisted. Under the weight of my 50 lb. backpack, my skis now broke through the hard crust.

Two days and only 20 miles later, two backcountry skiers caught up to me.

After thanking me for breaking trail they skied ski ahead, shattering the same thick crust I had been fighting for the past two days. They finally turned around and shouted, “Are you serious?

This is totally impossible!” They wished me luck and skied back to their cars.

In four days, I skied just 38 miles and saw only four other skiers. I fought the conditions all the way to the Stratton Pond shelter. At 3 a.m on March 1 (day 5) I knew that I had lost the energy to continue on safely. It was 5 degrees and winds were 35 mph. I texted my emergency ride out. Waiting at the Kendall Road trailhead I took my boots and socks off and fell fast asleep.

The following week, I watched as the first big snowstorm of the winter swept across Vermont. It was the snow that I had been praying for every single day since last November.

Follow Bill Burrell’s Catamount trip on Instagram at @Chionophile_Uprising.

4886 MAIN ST. MANCHESTER CENTER,VT @mountaingoatvt

get out there

18 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

FOR SALE A Farmhouse with 4 Acres Near Killington See listing for price.

This 5-bedroom, 3.5 bath classic farmhouse in Brandon, Vt. is ideally located 20 miles from Pico, Killington and the Middlebury College Snowbowl, and about 45 miles to Sugarbush. Includes a separate rental apartment and two slate-roof barns. Newly renovated with 24-inch-wide plank floors, large dining and living rooms with working fireplace, newly-tiled bathrooms, two separate work spaces; good cable service and Wi-Fi. A huge main barn with loft, a large workshop and two-car garage; plus a separate 20x15 barn. Sits on 4-plus acres.

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On gorgeous Lake Dunmore, this freshly-renovated 2-bedroom, 2-bath cottage sleeps 6, is central to great skiing at Brandon Gap, Killington, Pico, Middlebury Snow Bowl and Rikert Nordic Center. Yearround, skate, XC ski or swim right out your front door.

This cozy retreat is just one mile from main base areas and within walking distance to over a dozen restaurants and bars. It has a wood-burning fireplace, washer/dryer, porch, t.v., and wifi. This 2-bedroom, 1-bath, sleeps 4 people and will take dogs.

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NEW WEATHER EXTREMES AS OUR CLIMATE CHANGES, THIS PAST YEAR HAS MARKED SOME OF THE BIGGEST TEMPERATURE SWINGS, WILDEST WINDS, AND RECORD-BREAKING WEATHER CONDITIONS IN OUR REGION, INCLUDING A NEW RECORD ATOP MOUNT WASHINGTON.

BY KARL PHILIPPOFF

20 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

At 6,288 feet above sea level, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast and a place where extreme weather has been recorded since 1932.

In 1934, the weather station there recorded the highest windspeed ever (231 mph) not associated with a tornado or tropical cyclone. Photo courtesy Mount Washington Observatory.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 21

Like a ship's command center rising out of the ocean, the tower of the Mount Washington Observatory rises above the summit of Mount Washingoton. Photo by courstey Mount Washington Observatory

Y

ou would have had to live under a rock — or spend your days in a climate-controlled room, shades down — not to notice the wild swings in weather this past winter brought: On Oct. 26, Burlington reported a daily average temperature of 68 degrees, about 22 degrees higher than the average temperature over the past 30 years.

As a result of fall’s “heat wave,” there was a record late freeze atop Mt. Mansfield with temperatures only dropping below 32 degrees in late October. The previous record was October 6, set in 2011.

The morning of Dec. 23 winds gusted to 71 mph in Burlington, the second highest on record and to 130 mph atop Mount Mansfield. Over the course of that day temperatures went from 56 degrees in Burlington down to 5 degrees, during which the Burlington weather station saw the third highest 6-hour temperature drop it had ever recorded.

By the end of the day, more than 98,000

22 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

Karl Philippoff, an intern at the Mount Washington Observatory, describes here what it was like to be on hand and make the summit observations for the record-breaking storm of February 3-4.

Vermont customers were without power.

On February 4, the Mount Mansfield station recorded a temperature of -35, just 1 degree above the record for February. The record low for Mount

Mansfield is -39, set in January 1968 and 1965.

But that was an anomaly in an unusually warm winter: A week later, three fisherman fell through the ice

on Lake Champlain in two separate incidents, causing ice fishing derbies around the state to be cancelled.

The extreme shifts in weather this past winter were only a continuation of what began last spring.

Between May 9 and May 15, 2022 temperatures reached daily record highs on three days, sending the snowpack atop Mount Mansfield from 34 inches to 3 inches.

Taken one by one, these may appear to be anomalies. Taken together, along with a look at longer term data which shows a marked increase in drought conditions over the past two decades (due, in part, to lower snowpack), they show a changing climate, confirming many of the trends in the 2021 Vermont Climate Assessment.

But true record-breaking conditions happened during the February 3-4 storm that swept across the region.

During that storm, Mount Washington measured a new record for cold: -47.6 below zero, wind speeds of 100 to 128

mph and a wind chill that hovered below -100 degrees for more than 15 hours and reached -109.

Karl Philippoff, an intern, at the Mount Washington Observatory, covered what it was like to experience record-breaking cold and wind chill on the summit of New England’s highest peak. His account, posted to the Mount Washington Observatory blog, follows:

In addition, since the summit was supposed to be above the tropopause boundary, we might be expected to smell ozone – which has a pungent odor similar to chlorine bleach – during our observations.

Ozone, usually firmly ensconced in the stratosphere, could be paying us a visit all the way down at 6,288 feet above sea level.

This was all leading up to a memorable Higher Summits Forecast that I issued on Wednesday afternoon. I had to explicitly caution outdoor recreationists about the increased risks for hypothermia and frostbite, and that camp stoves may not work because the fuel used to power them may gel or freeze solid in such cold conditions. I forecasted temperatures to slide to 40 degrees below zero by Friday afternoon on the summit, with winds increasing to well above hurricane force and producing wind chills of nearly 100 degrees below zero.

Let me say that again; 100. Degrees.

Below. Zero.

In other words, it would feel colder than any temperature ever measured outside of Antarctica in the dead of winter.

THE COLDEST, WINDIEST PLACE “In my brief time on the summit, I have already experienced a slew of firsts, including using a mallet as part of a job (to de-ice the wind instruments), being encased in rime ice while de-icing said instruments, experiencing wind gusts over 100 mph, commuting to work via snow tractor, and being an active part in one of the biggest weather stories in America on Feb. 3 and 4.

But the first week in February was a truly memorable and historic extreme at the summit for Weather Observers Alexis George, Francis Tarasiewicz, and myself, our two summit volunteers Pat Luddy and Steve Moore, and Mount Washington State Park employees Christopher Lavigne and Nate Camille.

Francis and I were looking at weather models and it was apparent we might get some very cold weather on the summit during the first weekend of February. This was after January had been snowy but the warmest on record for the summit, with only three days below normal, and a monthly average temperature of 10.3 °F above normal. However, weather models that far into the future are not always accurate, and I did not think much of it.

Boy was I wrong.

By the time of our shift change meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, we were predicting winds over hurricane-force to coincide with potentially record-breaking cold temperatures, producing nearly unfathomably cold wind chills.

This was also when I was told that it was likely that I would need to assist our night observer, Alexis, during the coldest time period Friday night, possibly into early Saturday morning, in anticipation of breaking not only the alltime Mount Washington Observatory station record of -47 °F set on January 29, 1934, but possibly surpassing the coldest temperature ever observed in New Hampshire in modern history, the -50 °F observed on January 22, 1885 by the Army Signal Corps on Mount Washington.

(And yes, our station record is not -50 °F because of the nuances involved in instrument siting and the lack of continuity between when the Signal Corps stopped recording weather information in the 1890s and when

MEASURING A RECORD

A sunrise view from the ice-coated window at the Observatory . Photo courtesy Mount Washington Observatory

Mount Washington Observatory was established in 1932.)

I knew already that if we were to get near that cold, I would probably not be sleeping through Friday night anyway.

All-time records at stations which have existed for 90+ years are hard to come by, and I was ready for it.

There was also the possibility that a tropopause fold could move directly over Mount Washington. This was important because the tropopause is an inversion above which temperatures are typically steady or increase with altitude. Such layers are what meteorologists term “stable,” meaning they resist vertical motions and can act as a lid over the atmosphere below. Having this layer come down to summit level could accelerate the anticipated hurricaneforce winds even further, similar to how when you put your thumb on a garden hose, the portion of the water stream which is not blocked accelerates substantially. In this analogy, the ‘thumb’ was a combination of the strength of the

Weather observer Francis Tarasiewicz wrestles with a precipitation can in high winds.

inversion layer and the sheer height of Mount Washington, which serves as an obstacle to the onrushing arctic air. The ‘water’ was some of the coldest deep-level air in the world at the time.

The weather fanboy in me was certainly getting excited by Thursday when the area forecast discussion for Gray, ME blared out “***ONCE IN A GENERATION COLD WIND CHILLS POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY***.”

I had memorized notable weather statistics since elementary school, but this was the first time that I would be responsible for actually measuring them.

The model output statistics for the two models we use as guidance for issuing our Higher Summits Forecasts were calling for temperatures down to -50 °F, well under our station record.

Browsing my phone before going to bed Thursday night, I saw an article in The New York Times mention our -100 °F wind chill forecast for Friday night.

I tried and was ultimately successful in getting some sleep Thursday night before getting up at 2:30 a.m. Friday to assist Alexis when the weather started to deteriorate.

It would be quite the memorable next day and a half for us at the summit.

Mind you, I did not think that I was volunteering for a well-over 24-hour shift, which started when I woke up on Friday. According to most models we had been looking at, the window during which we would experience the absolute minimum temperature was supposed to be fairly narrow between about 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Friday night into early Saturday morning. Instead, it dropped to

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 23

The Bombadier snowcat delivers a new shift up to the Observatory. Photo courtesy Mount Washington Observatory.

-45 °F by the 6:00 p.m. observation on Friday, and did not rise above -45 °F until the 7:00 a.m. observation on Saturday morning, 13 hours later.

Since we were so close to the alltime record low for much of this time, beginning around 10:00 p.m. on Friday, we began taking measurements every half-hour, and by 12:15 a.m., we started to take them every 15-20 minutes until 5:15 a.m., ultimately totaling 22 measurements during these seven hours.

This entailed basically non-stop work with very little downtime since it took about 3 to 4 minutes to get dressed to go out in the extreme conditions, about 4 to 5 minutes to take the observation, and then about 1 or 2 minutes to remove gear and breathe before attempting to do it all again.

Properly suited up underneath six layers on the top, three layers on the bottom, incredibly thick boots, and a combination of three hoods, a balaclava, a hat, a neck gaiter, and goggles, it was not all that bad. But you immediately noticed any exposed skin, which felt most like a pretty severe sunburn. Even unexposed skin that was near creases or cracks of

24 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

The Feb. 4 storm produced a low of nearly -47, gusts to 128 mph and wind chills of -109. Temperatures are manually and the Hays chart monitors wind gusts.

clothing felt like a low-degree burn, which for me was the gap between the top of my goggles and all of my hoods. If you were out for a few minutes at a time in the lee of the tower it was almost comfortable.

With more exposure, however, the wind cut right through to my legs making them feel like they had been dunked in cold water. Holding anything metallic, like a phone or the sling psychrometer,

almost immediately made those fingers cold, with a slight numbness noticeable after a few minutes. The wind, which as soon as you stepped out onto the observation deck, sounded like the

constant roar of jet engines.

Why would I remove gear? Because sweating underneath all those clothes, especially going outside as frequently as I did, would have been a recipe for disaster. And on top of that, it was very hard to move my head freely and breathe with a facemask, sweatshirt hood, hat, puffy hood, shell hood, goggles, and a headlight (for the night shift) all on at the same time.

I was so muffled up that when I returned to the weather room to give Alexis the temperature readings, I had to make her wait in suspense while I freed my voice from underneath all the layers.

There was only one time that I think Francis and I were concerned for our safety and that occurred Friday afternoon during what turned out to be the highest wind gust we experienced during the event. While heading out for one of our hourly observations, the door to the observation deck slammed shut without warning, hitting Francis in his heel. It took us about 20-30 seconds to pry the door open again.

As this happened, we both think the latch on the door to the catwalk (at lower portion of the tower) broke in half, which we noticed heading down the stairs from the observation deck.

Francis, initially on his own, then with help from me and one of the volunteers, managed to pin the door mostly shut while Francis found a Mount Washington State Park employee, who managed to install a new latch, and later, a 2”x4’’ to ensure the door would not open again. Needing to limbo under and over this new obstacle, which was at about waist height for me, made subsequent observations even more of an adventure.

The only other time that I was more than a little concerned was when I fell down briefly in the more exposed location, while slinging, just before taking a measurement. Due to how the westerly to northwesterly winds flow around the structures on the summit, I was temporarily caught in the worst of it for a short time as I could not stand up without fear of being blown further down the deck. I managed to get myself back to where I had been standing previously by sitting on my butt and inching myself backwards, taking advantage of the slower winds near ground level. 45 seconds later, I was back to slinging again.

GOING FOR A NEW LOW The extreme temperatures made the building creak, sounding like muffled gunshots as the steel and concrete contracted at different rates in the

temperature. One of the volunteers had left a glass of water on top of the heater in the corner of the room Friday night, and

by Saturday morning, it had frozen solid.

Towards morning, during the brief interludes between gearing up, removing gear, and taking measurements, I looked at the temperatures at some of the stations upwind of Mount Washington to the north and west and noticed that after similarly long periods of stasis, their temperatures had started dropping ever so slightly by early Saturday morning. Shortly thereafter, the Foxboro digital thermometer — located on the observation deck — and our sling psychrometer measurements also seemed to show a small, but at this point record-tying dip. After having held steady between -45 °F to -46 °F for six hours, we were consistently getting measurements below -46 °F. At 3:40 a.m., we measured a -46.6 °F reading, and the Foxboro was indicating that temperatures were still dropping.

I slung again at 4:10 a.m., and Alexis came out to assist me in reading the data while I used the whirled or “slung” the sling psychrometer – a thermometer that measure both wet and dry bulb temperatures and humidity.

I stepped out from the sheltered location in the lee of the tower into the brute force of the 90-plus m.p.h. winds to get the best exposure to the coldest air flow. One of the reasons that I had asked Alexis to assist me in reading the thermometer was that, due to how I was bundled up against the cold, my breath would become trapped within my layers and freeze on the inside of my goggles, making it near impossible to read the temperature through them. In order to read the thermometer accurately, I had had to take my goggles off in the lee of the building. In this instance, I dashed over to Alexis so she could read the alcohol at its lowest point and confirm my previous reading. It read -46.7 °F! We had tied the all-time record low temperature at Mount Washington Observatory, equaling a record that had been set 89 years ago.

The highest wind gusts were strong enough to blow an observer over if they didn't hold on, top. Above, the summit crew (Alexis, Francis and Karl) gives a thumbs up after surviving the coldest night on record.

extremely cold temperatures.

The constant winds sustained near 90-100 mph for most of the event whistled around the building.

As the winds turned slightly more northwesterly Saturday, they sounded like a high pitch shrieking.

Our windows in the weather room were not the most weather-tight, with

frost forming on the inside of the window jambs right next to the heaters. We usually use the heaters next to the windows to warm and dry out our outerwear after each observation, but the extreme cold made this less useful.

Instead, we had to pile our clothes on the table several feet away from the windows to at least keep them near room

The Mount Washington Observatory shared this article and photographs from its blog. The Observatory offers tours to members and even hosts overnight visitors as part of its educational offerings. Its weather bulletins are critical indicators of conditions not only on Mount Washington but on summits around the region and should be consulted before heading into the mountains or backcountry. Find out more at mountwashington.org.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 25

FEATURED ATHLETE

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE Name: Timothy “Kel” Rossiter Family: Wife, Alysse Anton; dog, Moka; siblings, Kent and Brooke; parents, Bill and Ruthann Lives in: Burlington Primary Sports: climbing and backcountry skiing Occupation: IFMGA certified mountain guide/instructor

T

imothy “Kel” Rossiter has been rock and ice climbing in 15 different countries on five continents, but Burlington, Vermont is the place he calls home. In 2009, Rossiter started Adventure Spirit Rock + Ice + Alpine Experience to help others enjoy the sports he excels at. Rossiter is one of fewer than 150 people in the United States certified as an IFMGA Mountain Guide. In addition to guiding, he shares his knowledge with students at Northern Vermont University.

Did you grow up skiing and climbing?

I started skiing at a very young age, but it wasn’t an auspicious beginning. We were living in Connecticut and came up to Vermont to ski when I was in first or second grade. I broke my leg on the last run of the day. I’ve been superstitious about the last run ever since.

When I was older, we moved to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. My dad was enrolled at the local community college and had to take a physical education course so he took mountaineering. He loved it so much he encouraged me to take it. I had already taken a rock-climbing course at college in Virginia, but taking the course when I was 22 got me started climbing with my dad.

How did you end up running a professional international guiding service out of Vermont?

I had been doing collegiate outdoor programs and started managing a student enrichment program at Georgetown University and then joined the faculty at what is now Northern Vermont University. I enjoyed the collegiate work, but I was looking to teach a wider array of people – all ages and all stages of life - as well as an

26 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

A rock-climbing course helped launch Kel Rossiter's career as a mountain guide and outdoor educator. Photo courtesy Kel Rossiter

opportunity to explore more advanced programing.

My wife was doing an internship at the Counseling Center at UVM, so we moved from Lyndonville to Burlington, and we loved the area. It seemed like a good time to branch out. I’m in the adventure world so doing those big leaps are what I ask people to do, and I decided to do the same thing myself.

I’m typically guiding rock climbing in the spring and autumn in Vermont and ice climbing and skiing as conditions permit in the winter months. Summer is the time I’m away.

Most recently, I was in the Alps, but I’ve also spent summers in Alaska, Peru, and the Pacific Northwest.

What is involved in getting the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) certification?

The funny thing is that when I first started the process, I didn’t realize I was doing it and didn’t know what the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) was. I’ve always been committed to professional development and being a professional learner. I was leading students on trips, so I got the idea to take an alpine skills development course and that’s when I learned about the AMGA and began that whole process which I completed in 2019.

There are people who refer to that certification as getting a doctorate in mountaineering. I actually do have a doctorate (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Vermont). But this (the AMGA certification) is a different kind of study and every bit as emotionally and psychologically involving as an actual doctorate. It’s essentially a training

program that involves field courses and exams in rock, alpine, and ski mountaineering. There are 100 days of training and at least ten days of field time for each day of training. You don’t do it because you’re looking to drive a Maserati; you do it because you love the activities.

Given all your travels, why do you still live in Vermont?

It is conducive to the activities that I pursue most fully which are ice and mixed climbing. I also like the overall aesthetic of Burlington. I like the sense of scale. When I go back to Washington state where I grew up, you can feel it when you land that it’s gigantic. There are eight lanes each way on the highway. You stop at a gas station and it’s like you’ve landed at an airport and need air traffic control to find a pump. From Burlington, three

What is the most important piece of equipment you carry?

I’m not a believer in steadfast rules about what to bring. I think judgement and a good plan B are the most important things to have with you. People get too wrapped up in what they plan to do and that’s when trouble ensues. Last weekend three people were killed on Colchuk Peak in Washington. They flew out from the East Coast and probably because they’d gone that distance, they kept to their plan to make the climb and it proved fatal. Their plan A wasn’t advisable because of the conditions but they probably didn’t have a plan B.

hours for me is a long drive to get to recreation whereas out West they’re driving five or six hours. We may not have incredible stuff - although we do with ice - but we do get there quickly.

What are some of your favorite places to ski and climb in Vermont?

There are little pockets of beauty and tranquility all over the state. I like Lake Willoughby both for climbing on my own and for taking clients. It’s known throughout the world as an ice climbing destination. For skiing, this winter I’ve really been enjoying the area around the Sterling Ridge, near Morrisville.

The mountains, both big name ones like Everest and Denali and smaller ones here in the East are getting more crowded. Is this is a problem and, if so, what should be done?

Overall, I think it’s a good thing because if people weren’t hiking and climbing, they’d probably be doing something that consumes more resources.

There’s an old line from the band Soul Asylum that nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. That’s social media in a nutshell. I’m certainly right up there among chief offenders.

The challenge becomes getting people to expand their imagination beyond what they see on Instagram or even AllTrails and get them off the beaten path. I think that ideally, hiking organizations and government agencies should be generating plans to get people more dispersed.

The whole 4,000-footers club was developed as an idea - or so I’ve been told - because everyone was climbing Mount Washington and Mount Adams and it did well at dispersing people when numbers were low, but it’s almost become a victim of its success.

Maybe we need to come up with new challenges like summitting a peak from all four directions in every season.

I’m happy people are getting outdoors. A lot of climbers, skiers, etc. have this idea that they want to close the door behind them. I think we can all share the outdoors, but we need to figure out the best way to do it and use those numbers to generate legislative change that gives us more real estate to play in.

Has climbing changed in the last five years?

I think so although probably everyone has said that since climbing began. In the 1920’s they said you were cheating

"The challenge is to get people to expand their imagination," says Rossiter who encourages his clients to go beyond the usual favorite climbs and summits. Photo courtesy Kel Rossiter

if you had spikes on the front of your shoes. Free Solo was the first climbing movie to really go mainstream so you’re seeing more interest in climbing and more interest in free soloing.

There has also been a discussion about the gym to crag transition – the idea that you learn how to rock climb in a gym. People learn to climb in the gym and then go outdoors which has a host of new challenges like falling rock and having ropes get caught or getting cut on a rock and they may not be prepared for that.

Another problem is people who look to get into ice climbing and then bring a rock climbing mentality. In rock climbing you can fall, but in ice climbing you don’t want to fall because there are a lot of sharp points on your body and if they catch on the way down you can get hurt.

What are the biggest mistakes you see skiers or climbers make in the mountains?

I’m fortunate and I’ll knock on wood that I haven’t witnessed anything too graphic. I am seeing a confluence of things which can cause problems.

One is a bigger interest in soloing.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing but you want to be within your skill set and understand the consequences.

Last summer I was guiding on the Matterhorn. It’s a big climb and it involves 5,000 feet of vertical climbing in a day plus the descent so it can be 12 hours on the go. I climbed up with my group and when we were coming down, we met someone on the fixed lines. This guy was psychologically frozen. We encouraged him to go down

and he did. To his credit, he had turned around quite a bit before the top, but I asked him what gave him the idea that climbing a major Alps peak solo was a good idea. He said he’d been climbing several years and then saw a YouTube video which made it look easy. That’s one mistake people are making; not having a filter on the media they are consuming.

What is the most harrowing experience you’ve faced?

I consider it my job professionally and personally to avoid harrowing situations. My complete goal in life is to avoid that sort of thing. I got frostbite coming off Katahdin after a storm, I broke my arm in Italy on a rock climb, and I got stitches in my face from an ice climb in Newfoundland last year, but I don’t have any harrowing stories.

I’ll bet for most people the most dangerous moment of their lives is something they didn’t realize so maybe my most harrowing moment was one I didn’t recognize.

Have you done any first ascents?

Two or three weeks ago I did a new route on Marshfield Ledge in Groton State Forest. It had only one listed ice climb, but conditions were favorable and we found a new rock and ice route. Last year I did a first ascent in Newfoundland on an 800- to 900-foot mixed route. It has a water ice rating of 5+. I’ve also done a few mixed routes in Smugglers’ Notch and a variation on a line on Dragon Peak in Washington State. There were probably other unintentional first ascents when I got off route.

What’s next for you?

Last year I was all about ice climbing and went to Newfoundland in the spring but I’m coming back from wrist surgery so I’m putting together some plans to be in the Alps this spring to do some traverses on skis. I don’t spend as much time on skis as I do on ice cliffs, and it will be nice to do something different. I plan to have a base in Chamonix, France and guide in the French, Swiss and Italian Alps to help people advance their alpine climbing skills. The current plan is a circumnavigation of the Grand Paradiso in Italy and Vanoise Haute Route in France.

Tell me about the use of the word “spirit” in the name of your business.

Experience is in the name because we are more about the experience than any particular act. I love climbing, skiing, and the mountain world but I really love the idea of adventure which can be accomplished any number of ways. I like the idea of launching something with a plan but being open to experience which includes taking chances, unknown outcomes, and a bit of chaos.

The world is chock full of alpine guides with general permutations of the same name: “Alpine” plus “guide” plus “international.” I wanted something original, but I also wanted something that expresses what I think we’re doing. For me, climbing is something of a liberating thing. It’s where you can go to pursue the passion that most interests you. A lot of the people I take out in the field have day jobs that they do because they have to, but it’s those mountain times that satisfy their spirit and I wanted to capture that idea.

—By Phyl Newbeck

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 27

FEATURED ATHLETE

I had to stop for about 50 minutes. And that was just enough to kind of reset.

It was really torturous. But I got to the end in 2 days, 14 hours 33 minutes and finished in third place.

THE ENDURANCE BIKEPACKER

How do you warm up on the trail and what do you carry?

I have a sleeping bag rated for -40 degrees so I basically crawl in there. I don’t carry a tent but I have a tarp, a bivvy sack and two sleeping pads. I have a regular weight puffy coat and then a really big puffy, and puffy pants and windshell pants and multiple layers to wear up top. You really don’t want to break a sweat if you can so I try to ride cold. You also have to carry a stove and a pot and enough food so you can make it a few days if you need to. I hope to see resupplies every two or three days and each pack I’ve sent ahead to the villages has about 7,000 calories. If I can make it to a village and sleep in a bed, that’s great but I have to be prepared to sleep out as well.

Name: Miron Golfman Age: 30 From: Poultney/Saxtons River, VT Living in: Anchorage, AK Profession: Bike technician, bakery employee Family: Father, Misha; Mother, Lynne Boudreau, four brothers.

G

rowing up in southern Vermont, Miron Golfman often went on extended backcountry adventures with his parents—outdoor guides and educators who founded the expeditionary learning organization Kroka Adventures. In the last two years, Miron has been pursuing endurance bikepacking and in January, 2022 rode the 1,600-mile Baja Divide Trail, setting the fastest-known-time record of 10 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes.

Since then, he’s competed in the White Mountain 100, Kenai 250 and Alaska Divide races in Alaska, as well as other races and rides in the Lower 48. In late February, he set out to race the Iditarod Trail Invitational as part of his Ride to Endure challenge to raise funds for ALS, a condition his uncle is facing. You can follow his route and contribute to the cause at ridetoendure.com On February 26 you are setting out to race 1,000 miles across Alaska on a fat bike. What’s that going to be like?

The Iditarod Trail Invitational is a 1,000-mile race starting here in Anchorage and ending in Nome in Prudhoe Bay. It’s the full Iditarod race – following the historic dog sled route – but I’m doing it on a fat bike.

There are about 100 starters out of the gate — bikers and skiers and runners—and there are race supporters and organizers for the first 350 miles to McGrath. But after that, there are only about 27 people who are signed up to do the full 1,000 miles, so as you pass through the villages and the checkpoints, you have to just send a message to the race organizers.

We follow snowmachine routes but there’s no set trail – you have to make it from checkpoint to checkpoint so

28 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

Alaska is a long way from southern Vermont. What brought you there?

When I started getting into bikepacking and endurance events, I heard about Leal Wilcox and all that she has done – bikepacking around the world and becoming the first woman to win the Trans America bicycle race. She’s from Anchorage so I came up here. It fits too with my upbringing and love for adventure.

Miron Golfman, top, at Alaska's White Mountain 100. Golfman rides a Lynx 9 Zero 7 carbon fatbike, loaded with the gear he will need to survive nights on the trail in sub-zero weather. Courtesy photos.

navigating is part of the race. You also have to carry what you need to survive between checkpoints.

What do you expect the conditions to be like?

I was just training the other day and we were riding in -30 degree temperatures.

It can get down to -40 or even -50.

We’ve been a bit more snow than average – we have had 85 inches so far and an average year is 80 but I’ve heard reports that out on the trail there are four to six feet of snow in certain sections so I’m going to be moving quite slowly but I hope to do really well and hope to be fast – I mean, I hope to be the fastest!

But there will be sections where the trail just disappears and you’ll be

walking through foot-deep or two-foot snowdrifts.

You did the short (350-mile) version last year, right?

You have to qualify to do the 1,000 miler by doing the 350-mile version of the race which covers the same route but ends in McGrath. I did that last year. I remember I was on the river coming into McGrath and it was cold, negative 20 degrees. Everything on me was all iced up. And I was pretty delirious. I’d gotten maybe four hours of sleep in two days of racing and was in third place.

I was so close to the finish – maybe 25 miles out – but it was so cold that my eyes were kind of glazing over and icing up. I just I couldn’t see through the ice.

Your parents were outdoor educators, what was that like growing up with them in southern Vermont?

I was a free-range kid and really lucky with the way my parents raised me.

We’d just be outside playing all day.

My father and mother were instructors at Outward Bound before they started their own outdoor school, Kroka Expeditions and my stepmother was an instructor too.

Every year my parents would take month-long sabbaticals, take me and my brothers out of school and we would go on these big adventures, whether that was going to the Rio Grande River and doing a 20-day canoeing trip on the Mexican border or a multi-week bike trip on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

You name it, we did it and I got to take off from school for two weeks and go backcountry skiing with my dad when he was say teaching Kroka’s Vermont semester program.

How did you get into bikepacking?

Biking was always something I did but never something I did seriously until I decided to do a gap year between high school and college. I got this idea that I would ride my bike to Ecuador, where we had friends living. Every birthday and every holiday I would ask for a piece of outdoor equipment so I had been building my quiver, so to speak.

So when I was 19, I rode my bike on a 6,000-mile trip from my home (in New Hampshire at the time), to Central America and finished in Panama. From there, I took a boat to Colombia, and I made my way to Ecuador. After that, I came back and went to Warren Wilson College in North Carolina.

Warren Wilson is known for its cycling teams. Did you race there?

After my sophomore year, I took a break and I started working for Outward Bound and living in Moab Utah, where I fell head over heels in love with mountain biking. When I returned to college I asked the coach if he would consider letting me join the team for my last two years in school.

He said yes. I was always mid-pack but I was able to qualify for and go

What prompted you to try for the Baja Divide Record?

During Covid, we were struggling to find care for my uncle, who had been diagnosed with ALS. So I offered to live with him near Boston and be his caregiver for a few months to give my aunt a break. Then I thought: what if I could go back to Baja and try to set a record on the Divide route and raise money for ALS at the same time? I did that in January of 2022 and I managed to set a fastest known time (FKT) for the route of 10 days, 13 hours. Along the way, the Ride to Endure, as we called it, raised $55,000 for ALS.

to Nationals two years in a row. My senior year our team won the D3 title.

After college what did you do?

For a while, I helped lead some trips at Kroka and bikepacking became popular. Then, in 2020 when the pandemic hit, I went on a bikepacking trip on the Baja Divide in Mexico, a

1,600-mile route that reignited my love of traveling by bicycle. It took me about 40 days and in doing that trip, I learned about Lael Wilcox, the ultraendurance cyclist from Anchorage, Alaska, who has won the Trans Am bike race in 2016. She had set up the Baja Divide route and held the record.

What was your uncle’s reaction?

I think he loved it. It meant a lot to him to know his family was working to raise funds to fight the disease he’s battling.

I ride with a tracker on me that sends out a signal ever 10 minutes so he could follow that dot moving along the map.

I’ll carry that tracker on this race too and he —and anyone­—can watch my progress at ridetoendure.com.

—Lisa Lynn

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N E P A L • V E R M O N T www.ussherpa.com | @ussherpa Logo Meaning: Mt. Everest skyline on top & Mt. Mansfield on the bottom.

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MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 29

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RUNNING/HIKING MARCH 6 | G.M.A.A. Kaynor's Sap Run, Westford Celebrate the official opening of the road racing season in Vermont at the GMAA Sap Run. The course is an out and back at Westford Elementary School, and is a scenic 10k on dirt roads. Gmaa.run 11 |Shiver Me Shamrocks 5k Run/ Walk, Rutland Kids will begin the day with the FREE Leprechaun Leap Fun Run down Center Street at 1pm. Race prizes for overall first place men and women and first place in each age group. Men's, Women's and Kid's Best Costume will also be awarded so be sure to wear your green. After party at Hop n' Moose. active.com/rutland-vt/ running/distance-running-races/shiverme-shamrocks-5k-run-walk-2023

APRIL 1 | Rockingham 5K, Bellows Falls Run two loops of the 2.5K course or do the 100-yard kids dash. Prizes for top male and female. Register by March 10th for a t-shirt. ces.wnesu.org/ 8 | Half Marathon Unplugged, Burlington The start and finish will be at Waterfront Park and the course will be outand-back along the Burlington Bike Path with a two-mile loop in Colchester midway through the race. runvermont.com 15 | Paul Mailman 10-Miler and 5K, Montpelier A race primarily on dirt roads, this race has been the Road Runners Club of America Vermont 10-Mile State Championship and part of the Central Vermont Runners race series. cvrunners.org 23 | Mutt Strutt, Waterbury Get your dog in shape for this three-mile race on the dirt roads and trails of Little River State Park. cvrunners.org

30 VTSPORTS.COM | MARCH/APRIL 2023

RACE & EVENT GUIDE

30 | IceBreaker Running Race, Lake Morey Resort Join the first annual Lake Morey IceBreaker Running Race. The 5-mile course follows a picturesque rolling loop around the lake, beginning and ending at the resort. runsignup.com/Race/VT/ Fairlee/LakeMorey5Miler

18-28 | Infinitus Trail Races, Ripton Infinitus is again at Silver Towers Camp.

Start dates vary for this 8-mile, marathon, 88k, 100 Mile, 250 Mile, Penta, Deca, 888K relay, or 888k races held on trails. Races 8 miles to 88K held on Saturday, and longer races start earlier. Endurancesociety.org

MAY

20 | Kingdom Games Dandelion Run, Derby Choose between a half marathon, a 10K, a four-mile, a two mile, or a one-mile run or walk through the dandelion fields and the hilly but beautiful Northeast Kingdom. kingdomgames.co

6 | Shelburne 5K/10K/HalfMarathon, Half marathoners leaving Shelburne Field House,run south past the Shelburne Museum, Meach Cove, vineyards, an orchard, and through some gorgeous countryside before heading back north through Meach Cove, past Shelburne Farms to the Field House along the historic Ti Trail. The 5K/10K portion of this race will be an out-and-back along Harbor Road.

Racevermont.com 7 | Sleepy Hollow Mountain Race, Richmond For its 10th running of this trail race, it moves (temporarily) to Cochran's Ski Area.

Race is 6.4 to 7 miles of steep trails and is part of the USATF-NE Mountain Running Series. sleepyhollowmtnrace.com 7 | Adamant Half Marathon and Relay, Adamant This scenic figure eight course runs past the hills and ponds of Calais and East Montpelier. Part of the Central Vermont Runners race series. cvrunners.org 8-18 | Peak Bloodroot, Pittsfied Race through the rugged foothills of the Green Mountains in the 500-miler on Wednesday, a 100-miler on Friday, followed by the 50-miler, 30-miler, 10-miler and kids’ hike on Saturday. peakraces.com 12 | Maple Leaf Marathon, Lake Morey Run eight laps of a 3.3-mile course for a full marathon or four laps for a half marathon in the Boston Marathon USATF qualifier at beautiful Lake Morey. newenglandchallenge.org/maple-leaf-marathon 14 | Vermont Sun Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, Lake Dunmore Starts and finishes at Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore, a spectacularly beautiful and pristine place to run. Amenities include digital photos, post race food and music, aid stations every 1.5 miles. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com 13 | Road to the Pogue, Woodstock It's back after a Covid break. Race 6.1 miles along the carriage trails of Mount Tom at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. roadtothepogue.com

20 | Barre Town Spring Run 5K, Barre Central Vermont Runners hosts this race from the Barre Town Recreation facility. cvrunners.org 28 | Vermont City Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay, Burlington The marathon is back with a full course! Run the streets of Burlington and out the bike path to return with views of Lake Champlain. runvermont.com

JUNE 5 | 30th Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Woodstock Run 13.1 miles through scenic covered bridge, starting at Suicide Six Ski Area.

Currently sold out. cbhm.com 11 | 42nd Annual Capital City Stampede, Montpelier Central Vermont Runners hosts this 10K road race out and back, half on paved roads and half on dirt. cvrunners.org 15-17 | Vermont 100, West Windsor Limited to 450 runners, and 70 horses, this cross-country endurance race for runners and equestrians covers 17,000 vertical feet over 30 hours and benefits Vermont Adaptive. vermont100.com 18 | 20th Annual Basin Harbor 5K & 10K A 5K and 10K at beautiful Basin Harbor – a spectacular seasonal resort on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Racevermont.com 18| Solstice Trail Run, Charlotte Try out new terrain in a fun yet challenging 5K or 10K trail run through fields on singletrack and old sugaring roads. gmaa.run 18 | Mt. Washington Auto Road Race, Pinkham Noth, N.H. Elite runners and those who won their spots in the lottery compete on this sold-out 7.6 mile course up the Mt. Washington Auto Road sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental. mtwashington.com

25 | Catamount Ultra, Stowe Run a 25K or 50K trail race on wide, hardpacked dirt trails that roll through highland pastures and hardwood forest at Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center. The 50K course is two laps on the 25K course rolling through highland pastures and hardwood forest, complete with maple sugar tap lines in place and ready for the spring “run.” catamountultra.com

BIKING MARCH 4 | Full Moon Snowshoe & Fat Bike Series, Millstone Trails, Barre A group snowshoe and fat bike ride followed by a fire, s’mores, and hot cocoa at the trail head. All abilities encouraged. Kids too. www.facebook.com/ events/719092649797520/

APRIL 22 | Muddy Onion, Montpelier Come out of your winter hibernation for a fully supported gravel grinder covering (almost) all of the amazing dirt roads Central Vermont has to offer. It's not easy, but it's definitely worth it. Three loops; a short loop (about 20 miles), our classic long loop (about 40 miles), and an even longer loop (about 55 miles) We promise all loops will give you plenty of dirt, fun, and cow sightings. onionriver.com 29 | Rasputitsa, East Burke More than a gravel cycling race, this is a homegrown, self-supported challenge of the mind, body, and soul that instills people with a connected sense of place and purpose. Ride 25, 45 or 60 miles. Courses feature 3,100 to 7,000 feet of climbing.

All bikes welcome, including e-bikes. rasputitsadirt.com

MAY 6 | Onion River Outdoors Bike Swap, Montpelier Bring a bike by from April 29 to May 5 then show up on May 6 to find kids bikes, road bikes, full suspension and gravel bike. onionriver.com 7 | 15th Annual Waterbury Gravel Grinder, Waterbury Ride a 28-mile route with 2,800 feet of climbing and lots of dirt or try the 47-mile route with 4,900 feet of climbing and gravelly goodness. Proceeds benefit the Waterbury Trails Alliance. Wata.org

13 | Ride For Mo, Burke Mo Wilson, a resident of Burke, a Burke Mountain Academy graduate and an elite cyclist, was killed on May 11, 2022 just days before her 26th birthday in Austin, Texas. The 25-mile and 50-mile rides in her memory begin at 10 a.m. Traverse a handful of roads in Burke, go past the Burke Mountain Academy which Moriah attended, and then come into Kirby before heading to the Wildflower Inn for a gathering.

It’s not a race; it’s a ride and the number of participants will be capped at 250. mowilsonfoundation.org/rideformo

JUNE 10 | The Moose, Derby A 103 mile "timed event" on wide open, "car hungry" roads through Moose Country in Essex and Northern Caledonia Counties. We start with our hands on the bar and finish with our hands on the bar, Mike's Tiki Bar with 30 beers on tap. It's not a sanctioned race: you have to stop at all stop signs, but, hey, there are only three during the entire ride. We encourage teams of 3 to 10 riders to compete for the Moose Wheel. The fastest three times in each team determine the winner. kingdomgames.co 10-11 | The Ranger, Tunbridge The Ranger offers multiple ride distances and a gravel-enduro format, so while it’s not a race, there’s competition available for those seeking it. Sunday’s ride options include a 5-mile family/Junior Ranger; an 18-mile course with a community no-drop group-ride option; a 42-mile gravel enduro; and a 62-mile gravel century. Camping available onsite. therangervt.com 17 | Bike for the Lake, North Hero The 13th annual bicycle ride through the Champlain Islands and along the Vermont and New York shores of Lake Champlain with routes from 30- to 100- mile options. Proceeds support the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain. friendsofnorthernlakechamplain.org 17 | Onion River Outdoors Birdland 5K, Montpelier Rain or shine, enjoy the beauty of Montpelier's North Branch Park as you travel across rolling singletrack, lush forested hills, and babbling brooks. The Birdland 5K will have two fully stocked aid stations and Altra running shoe demos available before or after.

All ages and abilities welcome! onionriver. com/events/birdland5K 17 | VT Monster, Stratton This is a challenging ride primarily on quiet gravel roads, with plenty of climbing, flowing descents and epic vistas. Monster is best attacked with a gravel bike (70% of the long course is gravel) and a good GPS, though road, mountain or fat bikes can handle the courses: 45, 78 or 100 miles of epic riding Vtmonster.com

24 | 100/200, A Vermont Double Century, North Troy First ridden in 1984, the 100/200 spans Vermont, north to south, following scenic Route 100. Dubbed “A Dump Truck of Awesome,” this ride presents an opportunity for experienced cyclists to sound the depths of their reserves. There are no fees, but registration is requested on our websit. 100-200.org

JULY 14-15 | The Prouty, Hanover, N.H. This fundraiser is back and in person. Ride 20, 30, 50, 77 or 100 miles on roads in the Upper Valley, or do the 50-mile gravel ride.

Golf 18 holes, walk 3k to 10k, or even row 5-15 miles. The Prouty Ultimate consists of riding 75 or 100 miles on one day and then doing any of 6 activities (run, walk, bike, row, golf, etc.) the next day. Housing available for Ultimate participants. getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/site/ TR?fr_id=1931&pg=entry

SNOWSPORTS MARCH 3-5 | Slash & Berm Banked Slalom, Killington Darkside Snowboards, and Burton are teaming up once again for the 9th Annual Slash & Berm. Snowboarders will gather at The Stash terrain park in Killington to take advantage of the natural terrain and all the creative elements the mountain has to offer for a great cause. killington.com 11 | Jr. Castlerock Extreme, Sugarbush Tthe premier unconventional terrain competition in the East where talented young skiers (14 & under) are invited to tame Castlerock’s fabled terrain and compete in a highly challenging and technical run down infamous Lift Line. sugarbush.com 11 | Carinthia Classic, Mount Snow With a $20,000 prize purse on the line, skiers and riders compete at the Junkyard terrain park at Mount Snow. The event is a jam-style format on a one-of-a-kind plaza-style build loaded with boxes and rails. In a jam-style format, groups of athletes have 1-hour heats in which they hike the course in order to drop in as many times as possible during the allotted time frame. mountsnow.com

APRIL 1 | Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge, Killington The annual competition will heat up again on Saturday, April 1st as amateur bumpers take to the slopes of Outer Limits to battle for a place in the finals. The top 32 men and 16 women will compete in a head-to-head competition. killington.com

WATERSPORTS & OTHER APRIL 1 | Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon, Charlmont, MA Be a Braveheart who does the entire course solo or register as a team (discounted entry fees for family teams and under 19 year old entrants.) The 5 events in this pentathlon put on by Berkshire East ski area and Zoar Outdoor are a 4.5-mile trail run, 18-mile road bicycle ride, 2+-mile paddle, 2-mile adventure run and a climb up/ski down leg. berkshireeast.com 8 | New Haven Ledges Race, Bristol Watch the action at this Class IV down-river race on the New Haven Ledges outside of Bristol. A time-trial where each competitor completes two laps and negotiates gnarly drops and falls. Experts only. Alternate date: April 15. vtpaddlers.net 14-15 | 14th Otter Creek Classic Fly Fishing Tournament, Middlebury Green Mountain Adventures presents a fly fishing, catch and release “paper tournament”. Money raised will be used for community outreach as well as conservation, including restoration and streamside improvement projects. mmvt.com 28 - 30 | Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival, Arlington This year’s festival provides a rich variety of presentations, free casting clinics with Orvis guides, workshops celebrating the wild brown and brook trout of the Battenkill Watershed and the art of fly fishing. Plus, a VT craft beer tent, local food vendors and live music all weekend. vtflyfest.com

MAY 7 | Peavine Whitewater, Stockbridge A downriver race for whitewater boaters of all abilities! Paddle 3.3 or 5.5 miles of Class II soup with some Class III spice as you trace the route of the historic Peavine Railroad through the scenic White River Valley. This event benefits the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective.

Ridgelineoutdoorcollective. org. PFDs and paddling helmets are required for all racers. ridgelineoutdoorcollective. org

JUNE 4 | Onion River Race & Ramble, Bolton A 10.5 mile paddle from Bolton to Richmond on the Winooski River that attracts serious racers and recreational paddlers alike. New to paddling? Take a recreational paddling class that day. After, head to Richmond Town park for lunch and live music. winooskiriver.org 17 | Saturday Club Haus Distance Swim Series, Newport Find friends to swim with and learn from.

Group open water-swims go to, and around, the islands of Lake Memphremagog's Derby Bay in progressively longer distances on Saturdays at 9 am. June 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, and 22; August 19 and 26; Distances are 2, 3.3, 4, 6.5, 10 & 12 miles. kingdomgames.co 17-19 | LCI Father's Day Fishing Derby, Lake Champlain Lake Champlain International's flagship event and a New England tradition. . mychamplain.net/fathers-day-derby 18 | Vermont Sun Triathlon, Lake Dunmore, Salisbury Race a 600-yard swim, then a 14-mile bike and a 3.1-mile run in this USAT State Championship Race. Race starts at Branbury State Park and course runs by beautiful Lake Dunmore. Awards for top 3, age group top 3 and relay teams.

Event repeats on July 16 and Aug. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

24 | Hope Row, Vergennes Lake Champlain Maritime Museum hosts a row to New York - about 2 miles roundtrip.

The Museum will provide 4-oar and 6-oar pilot gigs and life jackets Each gig will be assigned an experienced rower as coxswain.

Register individually or as a team. . projecthoeppner.com/hope-row

855 - 8661

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IKE SHOPS

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BATTENKILL BICYCLES

99 Bonnet St., Manchester Ctr, VT 802-362-2734 | battenkillbicycles.com Manchester's bicycle shop since 1972, Battenkill Bicycles is a Trek and Specialized dealer offering advice and sales to meet all your cycling needs. The service department offers tune-ups and repairs for all brands. Come rent a bike or get information about local group rides. Battenkill Bicycles is the number one e-bike seller in southern Vermont and an authorized Bosch e-bike service center.

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BERKSHIRE OUTFITTERS

RR 8, 169 Grove St., Adams, MA 413-743-5900 | berkout@bcn.net A full-service bike shop at the base of the Mt. Greylock State Reservation. We also border a beautiful 12-mile paved rail trail.

We carry Jamis, Rocky Mountain and G.T. We offer sales, repairs and hybrid rentals for the rail trail.

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BOOTLEGGER BIKES

60 Main St. Jeffersonville, VT 802-6448370 & at 82 Main St., St. Albans.

802.782.8747 bootleggerbikes.com A full-service shop near Smugglers' Notch and a new shop in St. Albans. We offer new, used and custom bikes as well as custom-built wheels for mountain, road, gravel, fat bikes, bikepacking and touring.

Rentals offered at our Cambridge Junction shop on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Bikes are a passion here.

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THE BOOT PRO

44 Pond St. Ludlow, VT 802-228-2776 thebootpro.net A full service bike and ski shop staffed for sales & service of mountain bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes, kids' bikes. Mountain bike & e-bike rentals, too. Bike clothing and accessories. On the corner of the Okemo Access Rd.

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BRADLEY’S PRO SHOP SKI & SPORT

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2012 Depot St. Manchester Center, VT 05255 | 802-367-3118 bradleysproski.com

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CHUCK’S BIKES

45 Bridge St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-7642 | chucksbikes802.com Putting smiles on peoples faces for over 40 years thru low cost and top tier professional service on all bikes.

New bikes by Transition, Marin, Devinci, KHS, Jamis, iZip & Norco. Oh my the inventory!

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

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EARL’S CYCLERY & FITNESS

2069 Williston Rd., So. Burlington, VT 802-864-9197 | earlsbikes.com Earl’s Cyclery has been serving Vermont’s cycling and fitness needs for more than 65 years. With over 12,000 square feet, Earl’s has the largest selection of bikes from Trek, Norco, Giant, Electra, Bianchi, and more. The service center at Earl’s has professionally trained technicians who are certified to work on all makes and models of bicycles. Whether you need a flat tire fix, or a suspension rebuild, the service staff is ready to help. Estimates are free! Stop on by or give us a call!

10 FROG HOLLOW

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Bradley’s Pro Shop Ski & Bike is the premier bike shop in Southern Vermont! We are located in Manchester Center. Always known as your go-to ski shop we are now your go-to bike shop. We have one of the best bike mechanics in Vermont on staff, Dan Rhodes. Many of you know of his reputation as a master bike mechanic. Dan runs all aspects of our bicycle operations. We carry the full lineup of Cannondale and GT bikes—mountain bikes, gravel, e-bikes, BMX and hybrids. We are a full-service operation with sales, service, accessories and rentals including e-bikes. We always offer a great bike tune-up price so be sure to bring your ride in. As always: THINK DIRT!

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

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74 Main St., Middlebury, VT 802-388-6666 | froghollow bikes.com

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

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - 5:30.

11 THE GEAR HOUSE 16 Pleasant St., Randolph 802-565-8139 gearhouseVT.com A family friendly shop located in the center of Vermont, we offer Rocky Mountain, Salsa, Bianchi, KHS, a rotating inventory of used outdoor gear, and full service repair shop.

Randolph has newly revived mtb trails that combine classic oldschool singletrack with machine built zones.

Start the 12/12a loop from the shop for 38 miles of well maintained pavement, or map countless gravel rides from town. The shop is also home to ROC's trail hub featuring topographical and printed maps. Stop by and plan your next adventure!

GREEN MOUNTAIN

EQUIPE SPORT

8749 VT RT 30, Rawsonville, VT 21 S Access Rd, West Dover, VT 802-297-2846 | equipesport.com Sales, Service and Rentals of mountain and gravel bikes. Carrying brands from GT, Rocky Mountain, Santa Cruz and Jamis.

Stop in to either of our locations near Stratton and Mount Snow. Open 7 days per week.

MOUNTAIN 12 GREEN BIKES BIKES 105 N. Main St. Rochester VT 800-767-7882 | greenmountainbikes.com

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

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

Electric and acoustic bike retailer selling and renting Magnum, Yamaha, Izip and Cannondale bikes.

With an expertise in electric bicycles, we live and breathe outdoor exploration through our offering of e-bike rentals, sales, and tours including doorstep delivery and a full-service shop (all bikes welcome). Over 100 electric bicycle rentals, demos, and tours available for individuals and large groups, short and long-term.

14 HIGH PEAKS CYCLERY 2733 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3764 | highpeaks cyclery.com

The Adirondacks' source for bicycling and outdoor gear and adventures since 1983.

Sales, service, rentals, demos, tours, base camp lodging and dirt camps. Bikes by Scott, Yeti, Giant, Liv, Salsa and BMC. Gravel, road, mountain, fat and e-Bikes. Monday Sunday: 9AM - 5PM

15 HITCHHIKER

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

Hitchhiker Bike Shop is Stowe's newest shop. We carry bikes from Rocky Mountain, Cervelo, Otso Cycles, Chromag, Open Cycle, and Gazelle E-bikes. If you are looking for a tuneup we offer service for just about every type of bike and budget. Service appointments are encouraged, but not necessary.

You'll also find great clothing, parts, and accessories in our shop that is pedaling distance from the Cady Hill trails.

16 MOUNTAINOPS

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

We offer bike sales along with fast, friendly service. Dealers of Niner, Scott, Devinci and Jamis, we carry a large assortment of mountain and gravel bikes including a 60 bike Demo Fleet.

Our techs have years of experience and our local trail knowledge is second to none.

Our converted 1893 barn-turned-bike-shop houses a huge selection of bike and lifestyle clothing along with parts and accessories.

Looking for a more mellow ride? Rent one of our cruisers for a trip down the legendary Stowe Rec Path right from our parking lot!

17 OLD SPOKES HOME 331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 802-863-4475 | oldspokeshome.com

Vermont’s best selection of professionally refurbished used bikes and new bikes for touring, bike packing, commuting, fat biking, and simply getting around town. A non-profit, Old Spokes Home uses 100% of its revenue to run programs creating access to bikes in the community.

18 OMER & BOB’S

20 Hanover St. Lebanon, NH 603-448-3522 | omerandbobs.com

The Upper Valley's bike shop since 1964.

Offering mountain bikes, gravel and road bikes, hybrid bikes, e-bikes, and kids bikes from Norco, Specialized, Trek, and Electra. Featuring a full service department, bike fitting, mountain and e-bike demos, and a kids trade-in, trade-up program. Hours: Mon.-Friday, 9am5:30pm, Sat., 9am-5pm

RIVER 19 ONION OUTDOORS

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

ORO is Central Vermont's premier bike, car rack and outdoor gear shop.

Friendly and knowledgeable sales and service. We carry Specialized, Niner, Rocky Mountain, Salsa, Surly and Yuba, and a large variety of clothing and accessories including Giro, Smith, Club Ride, Patagonia, Terry and more. Visit our website to learn about our clinics, events and bike rental program!

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OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE

37 Church St., Burlington, VT 888-547-4327 |gearx.com Voted Best Bike Shop 2021 by MTBVT, OGE is an award-winning, premier bike shop with knowledgeable, friendly, and honest staff.

We offer a wide range of gravel grinders from Marin, BMC, and Niner. Our selection of mountain bikes from Marin, BMC, Niner, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Transition, SCOR, and Yeti will blow you away. Plus, we offer super affordable kids' bikes, commuters from Batch Bicycles, and fat bikes. We also have consignment bikes as well as a demo fleet.

Our efficient service department is capable of everything from tuning your vintage road bike to servicing your new mountain bike and offers full Fox shock service. Browse our gear shop to get fully outfitted for bike packing, touring, or fat biking to the slopes for a multi-sport day—indeed any conceivable adventure—while you're here.

Come see us downtown on Church St!

21 POWERPLAY SPORTS 35 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-6557 powerplaysports.com North Central Vermont's Trek and Giant Dealer nestled in the heart of bike country.

Selling new and used bikes for every budget and every type of rider from beginner to expert. We service all manner of bike and sell tons of accessories and apparel. Bike rentals for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail just 200 yards down the road.

22 RANCH CAMP 311 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-2753 | ranchcampvt.com Ranch Camp is Stowe’s mountain bike base lodge and your hub for bikes, gear, and culture! Ranch Camp offers a full-service mountain bike shop, tap room, and fresh-casual eatery, featuring sales and demo bike from Specialized, Ibis, Yeti, Evil, Revel, and Fatback. Looking for top of the line mountain bikes and components?

Got ‘em. How about local brews from new England’s finest purveyors of craft libations?

You bet. And if you need a thoughtfully crafted grab-and-go meal for your ride, or a place to sit down and refuel afterwards, Ranch Camp has you covered. Best of all, Ranch Camp is situation trailside with its very own public access entrance into Stowe’s iconic Cady Hill trail network.

23 SKIRACK 85 Main St. Burlington 802-658-3313 | skirack.com Locally owned and operated since 1969, Skirack provides the best selection of outdoor gear for running, downhill & cross country skiing and snowboarding. We specialize in all things bike and e-bike: service, rentals, car racks, expert fitting and knowledge. Head to Skirack.com for updated hours and more information.

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

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

25 TYGART

57 Pond St. STE 1, Ludlow, VT (802) 228-5440 Info@tygartmountainsports.com, Tygartmountainsports.com We are a full service bicycle sales and service center offering a variety of bikes from Cannondale, Scott, and Kona. We also offer a full line of tools, clothing, and accessories. We have 4 Park Tool School Certified technicians with a combined 52 years of industry experience offering a full range of services including in-house suspension work and full build-outs.

SPORT 26 VILLAGE SHOP 511 Broad St. Lyndonville, VT 802-626-8448| villagesportshop.com

Established in 1978, we are a family-owned, passion-driven sporting goods store serving customers for four seasons of adventure. Strongly focused on bike and ski, we have highly skilled knowledgeable technicians and sales staff to assist in all needs of purchase, rental and service. With two locations, one nestled trailside on the worldrenowned Kingdom Trails, and the other in downtown Lyndonville, we’re here to make your adventures happen!

27 WATERBURY SPORTS 46 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT

802-882-8595 | waterburysportsvt.com A full service bike shop selling Trek and Giant bikes in one of Vermont's most convenient locations. Nestled in downtown Waterbury a short distance from the Perry Hill MTB trails, WBS services all bikes and can handle any repair you might have. We also have a fleet of demo bikes and an excellent selection of parts and accessories. Open 7 days a week!

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WEST HILL SHOP

49 Brickyard Lane, Putney, VT 802-387-5718 westhillshop.com

Right off I-91 Northbound! Proud to be a tier-1 Specialized shop, and one of the longeststanding independent shops in the region, with bikes also from Banshee, Cannonade, Devinci, Evil, Transition, and Salsa. Our curated garment selection from Patagonia, POC, and Specialized is based on what we have chosen for our own use in all of Vermont’s glorious conditions. The WHS service department is widely recognized as one of the best in the region. Call about walkin service availability on Fridays and Saturdays.

Ask us about custom wheels, suspension service, and set-up.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 | VTSPORTS.COM 33

ENDGAME

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t’s spring and outdoors people, neophytes and crusty old-timers alike, are building out their adventure plans for the season. From corn skiing descents of Tuckerman Ravine to standing atop the region’s 4000-footers, people will start to flock to the mountains, vainly attempting to fit these broad expanses of beauty into their “bucket lists.”

As a climbing and backcountry ski guide who has shared summits and ski descents with people in places ranging from the Northeast to Alaska, Peru to France, I understand the pull that mountains experiences can have on the heart. I’m also wholly in favor of the experience, challenge, and growth that these experiences can provide. But I do take issue with the larger notion of bucket lists.

The concept of “bucket lists” has morphed considerably since I saw the world from atop my first summit.

In its original incarnation, a “bucket list” was a riff on “kicking the bucket.”

Bucket list items were experiences you sought out before your own bucket got kicked over—before you died.

Since then, more and more babyboomers with cash, free time, and an approaching life deadline came on the scene and the concept of the bucket list transformed in the common parlance; it became a container to put things into, so that you could carry them around with you to trot out during your next cocktail party conversation. Kilimanjaro, Tough Mudders, Penguin Plunges...the list goes on.

Oddly, the linguistic symbol for the end of life became a symbol of the very container for it—regardless of the amount of time a person may have left on the planet. Just this winter, I was talking with a twenty-something undergrad about the North Cascades’ myriad of climbing options and he told me, “Yeah, that’s definitely on my bucket list.”

I don’t think he plans on dying anytime soon.

But when we begin to view experiences—be it mountain climbing, sky diving, or learning a language— as material objects to be placed in a bucket, something of the experience itself dies. You can no more put experiences in a bucket and call it life than you can put water in a bucket and call it a river.

Moreover, in these situations,

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BEYOND THE BUCKET LIST

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A “BUCKET LIST” OF EXPERIENCES? AND WHAT SHOULD IT MEAN? BY KEL ROSSITER

Mountain guide Kel Rossiter doesn't have a bucket list. But he has plenty of experiences. Photo courtesy Kel Rossieter

what people are seeking to put in their buckets are achievements rather than experiences. It isn’t the activity itself that captures the individual imagination, it is the vision of the self having done it. A few years back, a person contacted me to do a winter Mount Washington climb. Conditions were predicted to be dire and a summit certainly was not in the cards.

I suggested we try ice climbing in the valley instead. He was disappointed about the change, but agreed to give it a try. Wrapping up at the end of a day he spent grinning ear-toear, he told me, “I can’t believe I’m climbing water. You know, I like the achievement of summits, but I love the experience of this.”

The bucket list’s focus on the macro of the achievement, versus the micro of the moment, blinds us to the beauty of the now. An alpine climbing trip in New Hampshire with two rather rambunctious climbers from Boston, John and Bobby, comes to mind. Early on in the approach, there was a river crossing. I gave some advice on which rocks were icy and to be avoided and which were loose, followed by the stern advice, “Don’t do anything crazy.” Moments later, I looked back to see John skating off an iced rock, grabbing the low-hanging branch of a nearby tree and dangling now above the raging river. Bobby grabbed a trekking pole and held it out to John for stabilization, while I grabbed his pack and pulled him towards dry land.

The climb went on and we accomplished our alpine objective.

You can no more put experiences in a bucket and call it life than you can put water in a bucket and call it a river.

I’m pretty sure that if you asked Bobby and John today what they climbed, they’d have no clue, but if you asked them about “not doing anything crazy” you’d get a raucous response.

This is the beauty of the moment—far more meaningful than any mountain.

Worse still is when that bucket becomes, in essence, some kind of briefcase that a person carries around, full of resumes to dole out when requested—and sometimes not even. As the joke goes, “How do you spot the person at the party who has climbed Everest? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.” I had a few memorable climbs with a Florida CEO—fabulous weather, stellar conditions, and satisfying summits-on some off-brand peaks. Looking at the year ahead, he told me he was interested in, “Something that’d be good for cocktail party conversation.”

We haven’t climbed since. And not

because of some principled thing on my part—I came to find out that now he’s moved on to skydiving.

Adventure experiences, rightly considered, whether it be a trek of Macchu Piccu or running with the bulls in Pamplona, are something that you should undertake to change yourself , not to define yourself. Bucket or a briefcase, whatever the container, it is the antithesis of a lived experience.

And these containers limit ourselves.

Having climbed with people on Washington’s Mount Rainier, Alaska’s Denali, and some of the highest points in South America, I know that climbers are often professionally successful, achievement-oriented people.

Unfortunately, they often simply transfer a set of behaviors that function in their obligatory work world into what should be the liberatory world of play.

Pursuits become directed toward social status rather than personal growth. Bull running, skydives, mountains climbed—when our pursuits become buckets we fill to impress others, they simply become another fashion accoutrement, or piece of cultural currency—the hippest jeans, flashiest car, or the most-liked post on your Instagram feed. None of these things will mean anything to any of us when we’ve truly completed our bucket list—which is to say, when we’re dead.

Let us bring back the original meaning and spirit of the bucket list.

Not a list of things we want to tell at the next cocktail party, not a list of those things to be included in our obituary, but a list of those things which truly, deeply, and authentically inspire us. Bucket lists are for the dying. Let our list be about what we want to do, to see, to accomplish, and to learn while we are alive. Beyond defining us, beyond confining us, let our lists liberate us.

Kel Rossiter is one of fewer than 200 guides with American Mountain Guides Association certification and the only one with a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. He is the owner/lead guide with Adventure Spirit Rock+Ice+Alpine Experiences in Burlington. He guides ice climbing, rock climbing, and backcountry skiing in the autumn and winter and ski and alpine tours in Europe and South America in the spring and summer.

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