A time to ride..

Riders Chris Lee- Dylan Covington

Rider Kevin Jacques

With such an unusual dry Spring followed by some wet and interesting weather it's been a good time here in VT to ride some of the best singletrack around.  I get to ride with some real fun folks and this is what they've been up to lately in the Green mountains of VT....

Rider C. Lee

Rider Brian Stevenson

Rider C. Lee- Rodney Nobrega

Rider KJ

A pleasure to ride and share cold beer with the Millstone Hill Trail crew.

 There's always a time and place to ride in VT. It's just a matter of finding it.

T.

Hello, Summer (Biking and swimming, biking and swimming)

Two of my favorite things go together so nicely: biking and swimming! Nothing like getting hot, sweaty, and dirty, and then to dive into ice cold, crystal clear Vermont water. This is the life!

Part I:Stowe Grand Tour (well, about half of it)

Heading to Pipeline.

Refreshing.

Ahhhh....

Part II: Kimmers / Hardy's, Stowe

The wonderful Jess Graham!

Dive in.

More Sweet Singletrack

 The season is just getting going, and it tastes oh-so-sweet.

 

 

  

 

Notching It Up

It seems the classic winter-in-Vermont outing for us is the trip to Stowe to head up into the Notch for some touring and some turning. (For those not in-the-know, this is Vermont Route 108 which is closed between Stowe and Cambridge/Jeffersonville in the winter.) We made a wonderful afternoon out of a quick trip to the top of the Notch, and  then we made our first turns of the season on the way back down. I love making trips to the Stowe area for skiing. The Notch is a classic favorite, as are the sections of the Catamount Trail through Nebraska Notch and the Sterling Valley, and Trapp's keeps up a wonderful set of trails that I hope to explore more. This is truly a special place for us here in Vermont.

As the Notch is probably the only location where you can really tour in Vermont right now (please snow more!!), we are heading out there again today. This time, we'll go up and over the Notch to the Jeffersonville side and come back, and we'll make more of a day of it with snacks and a thermos of something warm to drink. And, while I don't think we'll do this today, the ultimate Notch trip would be to head up the Long Trail and descend Smugg's, then skin back up and over to Spruce, and finish a long day by gliding back down that side of the mountain. We've been dreaming of this one - maybe this is the year!

Anyways, for those looking for some snow to glide on - and a chance to use those touring muscles again - the Notch is pretty good right now considering our winter here in VT. There's the typical uneven surfaces from the walkers and snowshoers, the snow is soft enough to carve through the choppiness. And there is always some powder to be had along the edges of the road - just don't mis-calculate and end up in the stream! Just watch out for thin cover in spots - I actually carved right down to pavement, shooting sparks everywhere! Actually, it was kind of cool...but not good for the ski, I'm sure. And what gives?! Why don't we have more snow yet?? Well, regardless, we're headed back out there shortly - we hope to see out there! Happy trails!

no-SNOW-vember

 Don't get us wrong - we hate that there's no snow yet as much as the rest of you skiers and snowshoers, but Wow! this weather could not be better for mountain biking. Last night's balmy temps, warm breeze, and clear skies made for perfect riding conditions. At least its not 30 degrees and raining! Oh...wait, that's the forecast for tomorrow, I think. Anyways, rock on no-SNOW-vember, the month after octSNOWber. (It's been a nutty year so far!)

Riding to Austria, Vermont

Another fantabulously good ride last night out of Stowe Town Loops up to Trapp Family Lodge, which is a little taste of Austria right here in Vermont. This time, we were joined by the wonderful Caroline, Kate, Paul, Aaron, Mike and Dean.

We pedaled on out of the woods and through the cattle field, then popped out onto the road leading up to Trapp Family Lodge. From there we could see the balloon festival down in the valley. 

We continued our pedal up to the Deli-Bakery-Brewery and joined a lively Friday night crowd out on the deck for some brews and food. Mike had possibly the best sandwich of his life, and we all enjoyed the Helles Golden and Seasonal, brewed right on site. 

As I've said before, it's best to enjoy your beer(s) long enough for it to get good and dark for the way back down through the woods. This time we may have taken that advice a little too far...

Thankfully some of us had our lights, though some of us did not, making for a very interesting descent. We all made it, though! And then Aaron and I had a very close encounter with some deer as we rode back to the cars in the dark. It's a long story for another time, but basically I got within inches of a deer butt. Pretty sweet.

Today we're making a garden gate, staking up the tomatoes - which actually have little tomatoes on them! - playing with the dog, and hopefully heading out into the woods at some point. 

Happy Trails!

Hello Summer

The ORS crew celebrated the onset of summer with a spectacular tour of the great riding that Stowe has to offer. From Town Loops to Strawberry Fields to Pipeline, including some quality time spent at the top of Pipeline enjoying the fine brews at Trapp Family Lodge's new brewery. This spot is a must for post- (or during-) ride refreshment! We find it's best if you enjoy your beverage(s) long enough to allow for the woods to get nice and dark, making for a very interesting ride back down! It was a great time and we're looking forward to a summer full of it!

Good friends and good turns

Our third day out getting the snow while its good!  The Catamount trail offers a great way to access some great BC skiing.  When good powder snow and good friends come together it's a beautiful thing.  Our only problem is the turns are so good no one wants to be a photographer!  Hah! I don't blame us.  So here's to the snow and your friends, now go out and get it while it's good!

A beautiful day skiing with good friends.

We set out on a lazy sunday with our skis and no exspectations execpt to find snow and make some turns.  Theses are the days we often overlook.  A casual day of skiing with good friends and take what ever happens as it comes.  Here's to good friends and good snow.

T.