My mountain bike keeps me from losing it
by: Admin
Posted on: Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pm by: Admin
Comments (1)
Ahhh, October in Vermont: Crisp, star-filled nights. Rolling hillsides ablaze with every vibrant color under the rainbow. And tourists. Rabid, foliage-obsessed tourists. Once a year, my quiet little town of Putney fills to capacity with tour buses, wild-eyed fathers piloting cars filled with screaming children, and leaf-gazing clubs from Connecticut to Colorado. Like a swarm of locusts they descend, feverishly buying up maple syrup, wicker furniture, and organic goat cheese like it’s going out of style. This is the time of year I pack up my mountain bike a beat up, but seemingly indestructible, GT LTS 1000 and quietly flee into the Vermont countryside in search of secluded trails. Most avid mountain bikers would rather part with a limb than disclose the location of a truly stellar set of lines, but if I can save just one of you from a complete tourist-fueled mental breakdown, I believe the sharing will be worth it. It is in that spirit that I present this collection of trails sure to take you off the beaten path. Grab your mountain bike it’s time to escape. Leaving the crowds behind, make your way to Snake Mountain, located in Addison V.T, about 6 miles west of Middlebury. This monadnock abruptly rises 1,000 feet above the Champlain Valley, and no matter what your skill level, grizzled bomber, or freshman free-rider, this mountain will dial up terrain that will be sure to challenge you. You could unload your mountain bike and begin the ride in the town of Bridgeport, which provides a leisurely 4.5 mile approach to Snake Mountain through apple orchards and dairy farms, but if you’re looking to avoid a crowd, start at the trailhead parking lot at the bottom. Although the mileage is short, the 2-mile climb up Snake Mountain is extremely challenging. The trail climbs steadily, and the steep and rocky terrain can get pretty gnarly at times, but you will be rewarded for your struggle at the summit with a truly awesome view of the Adirondacks. On your way back down, use caution. I’ve seen more than one veteran destroy their mountain bike, and bone structure, on this harrowing and technical ride. After you’ve let your muscles rest, bring your mountain bike to Mount Mansfield in the Nebraska Valley, about 3 miles northwest of Stowe. This section of Vermont offers up deeply wooded trails, allowing you to ride in blissful anonymity. As you churn along the Class 4 roads, the heady smell of pine and hemlock transporting you to a state of nirvana; expect to see moose, wild turkey, and even the occasional bald eagle. Mount Mansfield state forest holds some of my favorite trail systems in Vermont to mountain bike on, providing an abundance of challenging downhill and uphill single-track runs, dazzling views, and terrain so varied it would take a lifetime of riding to master it all. So whether it’s droves of tourists, or a surprise visit from your in-laws that’s driving you to the brink, get on your mountain bike and hit up these trails. It could be the key to your sanity.
