VERMONT BIKE PACKING

2024 RECAP

Day 1, Sunday, August 4

On Sunday, August 4, a group of five Mad River Path Adventurers set off to circumnavigate the Central Green Mountains by mountain bike following the single tracks of Mad River Riders, Ridgeline Outdoor Collective, and trails of the Green Mountain National Forest. We biked 111 miles in six days and climbed a total of 13,600 vertical feet.

Before setting off we assembled a bike rack at Mehuron’s and installed informational signs along the Mad River Path. The work took much of the afternoon, and by the time we began pedaling, it started to rain. We huddled under the Share MRV shelter at Lareau and when the thunderstorm eased, biked into the rain, heading  South to Stetson Hollow, where we set the camp. It took a lot of work to start the fire, but we did it and soon the flames were drying the soggy wood and water was boiling.

Day 2, Monday, August 5

The rain had stopped and after a dip in a cold and clear Stetson Brook, we crossed the watershed from the Mad to White River and started to climb along the scenic North Hollow Road. Crossing into Rochester, we picked up the Ridge Line Outdoor Collective Trails network, turned West, and enjoyed the long flowing downhill to the Rochester Ranger Station. We just started to pick blueberries at Sunshine Valley Farm, when it started to rain, but we picked and ate our fill anyway. From there it was a familiar flow: we waited out the worst of downpours under the Ranger Station porch roof and read a book (The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho) and then biked across the White River, finding a beautiful camp in spruce forest along the trail. We barely finished setting up as the rain came in sheets. We were glad for the tarp and the plentiful dead-standing spruce firewood that gave us warmth and a small island of dryness amidst a washed-out world.

Day 3, Tuesday, August 6

Waking up tired from two late nights we looked at the maps and decided to abandon our original plan of following the single track into the Brandon Gap, and instead followed the pavement for an easy 1600’ climb. The rain had stopped and the world was drying out in all of its green splendor. After dropping down to Goshen Four Corners we picked up an abandoned class IV road that led us to Licester Hollow Trail. This gorgeous trail winds its way along a moss-covered stream and is exquisitely lined with rock. We headed North to Silver Lake, a jewel in the Mountains, accessible by foot and bike only. The Hollow trail is a challenging, narrow, old-fashioned single track, with several walk-a-bike sections, and by the end of the day, we were so glad for the decision to skip the morning climb on a single track! We reached the beautiful lake in the afternoon with time for lake laundry, bike maintenance, and drying out our soggy equipment. Everyone was happily in bed by the dark.

Day 4, Wednesday, August 7

What a joy to wake up to a clear and cool morning on a lake! Clean, dry, and rested, we set off North (after fixing a flat) following the Silver Lake Trail to the snowmobile corridor 7A, which brought us to Sugar Hill Reservoir. After a refreshing swim, we picked up the Catamount Trail and after several hours of muddy pedaling emerged in Ripton by the Middlebury College’s Breadloaf Campus, where, for the first time since we started the expedition, we enjoyed the view of the Green Mountains we were circumnavigating. From Breadloaf we took a Steam Mill Forest Road and found camp by a clear brook near an active beaver pond. In the evening we carved spoons, watched the beavers, and enjoyed the conversation by the fire.

Day 5, Thursday, August 8

Another clear day! With the wind to our back, we made an easy climb up the Steam Mill, negotiated the bridge, blown out by July floods, connected with the Natural Turnpike, and reached Lincoln, where we were greeted by Russel and Gillian at the Metta Earth Institute. With a clear view to the South, we could see our route through the mountains, and the approaching storm. Soon we were busy harvesting loads of garlic and onions and setting them to dry in the barn. Just as the first drops of rain hit, the last of the onions were out of the ground and we began setting our camp under the generous canvas canopy at the farm.

Day 6, Friday, August 9

It rained on and off through the night and we were glad for the canvas roof. We woke up very early, did not start a fire, and after a quick breakfast of granola and boiled eggs (we cooked them the night before) set off into the rain up the Lincoln Gap. We were glad to have seen Mount Abe under the clear sky the day before because this morning we were completely soaked in and soaked through. Reaching the gap was a big moment for everyone, as we now stood at the highest point of our journey! But the challenges were far from over: ahead of us was the climb up the West Hill Road to Golf Course Road, which connected us to the beginning of a home stretch single-track network, eventually bringing us to Enchanted Forest, Evolution, and Revolution. Exhausted and triumphant, the group emerged at Lareau. It was still raining, and another garlic project was waiting for us at Lareau Barn! Finally, we made our way back on Mad River Path in the rain, that by now, was “business as usual”. We were covered in mud from head to toe and it was so good to have dry space at the Wait House Barn to de-issue and sort out the gear. We ended the week by sharing about our adventures with the families. 

As I write this story, a week later, the beauty of the mountain track, the determination, and camaraderie of the students, and the hospitality of friends and strangers live deep in me and I am filled with gratitude for everyone who helped to make this expedition possible.

keep an eye out for our 2025 trips!