A new look for the Mad River Triathlon

A new look for the Mad River Triathlon 

We have an exciting triathlon update: we have an updated logo with new-and-improved beaver mascots!  Big thanks to Kristen at Yellowwood Designs for our new graphics. Sign up for the triathlon today and you'll have the opportunity to add a t-shirt with our new logo. Top finishers in each category will also receive local Vermont maple syrup prizes! 

Sponsor Spotlight: MadBush Falls

For hospitality during Triathlon weekend, look no further than Madbush Falls, conveniently located on Route 100 along the triathlon course! Madbush Falls has pledged to donate 50% of lodging proceeds that weekend to the Mad River Triathlon. We will also provide free shuttles to and from the start, finish, and transition locations. Book at madbushfalls.com/triathlon.

As a reminder - the triathlon is a fundraiser that will ultimately ensure sustainable access to outdoor recreation in the Valley. Thanks to MadBush Falls for helping us reach our goal.

Good news from the Mad River Path!

Thanks to over 150 generous donors, we have raised $70K and are only 10K short of our 2024 Annual Giving Goal! 

Today, we have an amazing opportunity: A generous donor pledged to match every donation made before December 31, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000! Every dollar you donate to the Mad River Path in the next 18 days will be doubled in value.

Help take care of the paths we all love, support youth outdoor programs and the Mad River Triathlon, and move the Valley's Active Transportation Corridor forward by donating today.

Registration is open for Summer 2025 Mad River Path Adventures!

Mad River Path Adventures offers accessible day and overnight adventure camps for students ages 9 – 15. Our dynamic programs are designed and led by professional guides. Students enjoy adventure sports and the art of wilderness living while developing close connections to nature and the social skills for thriving in an interconnected community.

We believe that outdoor pursuits should be a part of every Vermonter’s experience and teach the know-how that often translates into a lifelong love of adventure and discovery in our special backyard.

Group sizes are small and space is limited, so grab your spot today! Details and tuition can be found at the link below, along with registration information. 

We hope you'll join us out on the trail this Summer.

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We have one space left for a woman to join our Winter backcountry ski trip in the Chic Choc mountains!
To learn more and register please visit the link below.

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New from Wasted*, our partners in sustainable sanitation, comes WeeBloom - a new fertilizer made recycled from human waste. The Mad River Path recently installed an offgrid Wasted* toilet behind the Recreation Hub, which lowers our impact on the environment and creates a cycle of nutrient reuse. Get some local fertilizer for your Spring garden plans.

Ready, Set, GO!

2025 Mad River Triathlon - Sunday, April 13

Registration is open now for the Mad River Triathlon, taking place on April 13th, 2025. If you're feeling overwhelmed by consumerism and advertisement this season, consider giving the gift of active outdoor recreation. The triathlon begins with a six mile run, transitioning to a six-mile paddle, followed by a ten-mile bike, and ending with a ski run up and down Mount Ellen.

An Event for Everyone

We are making every effort to create an inclusive event by allowing a wide range of equipment, offering group raft rides down the river, allowing you to choose the legs you wish to participate in, and a broad range of categories and accommodations for adaptive athletes. Additionally, if you cannot afford the

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Summer Camps are around the corner...

As the snow and ice comes our way, are you already thinking ahead to Summer? Our Mad River Path Adventure programs are coming soon, so be on the lookout for more information about the sessions and registration process. June will be here before you know it!

Envisioning a Connected Mad River Valley

Active Transportation Corridor Meeting Resources

Thank you again to our partners and community members who attended the public meeting last week for the Active Transportation Corridor. Big thanks also to Mad River Valley TV who covered the event and put together a video recap featuring interviews with attendees and committee members speaking about their questions and priorities for the corridor. 

Below you will find a Story Map interactive website with the content from the meeting. If you were not able to attend or want to review the information, please click through the button below to interact with the maps of the various segments.

MRPA receives $22,000 E-Bike grant
 

Mad River Path is proud to have received a Mobility and Transportation Innovations Grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. A $22,000 grant provides funding for research, design, and fabrication of three cargo e-bikes for the Wait House organizations. These bikes will allow for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and single-occupancy vehicle travel. It will also provide increased visibility of effective alternate transportation right in our community, hopefully inspiring others to make changes towards greener modes of travel. Thank you to VTrans for their ongoing support.

Please welcome Sarah Johnson, our new Communications Specialist! Sarah is a Montpelier resident with connections in the Mad River Valley through her work at Yestermorrow Design/Build School. Sarah works in marketing, communications, and outreach for nonprofits, and in her free time can be found running, hiking, or knitting. 

Community Input on the Active Transportation Corridor

This past Wednesday we welcomed over a hundred community members to give their input on the future of the Active Transportation Corridor. At seven stations, attendees responded to prompts about the use, location, and priorities of each segment of the corridor. We gained valuable insight from those of you who attended, and we are grateful for the support. Public input is not only crucial for securing the necessary funding, but also for ensuring that the corridor meets the needs of the community as best as possible.

You can review the content of the meeting on our Story Map website. Visit the link to see the questions posed about each segment. If you were not able to attend, we’d still love your input. Please email any responses to sarah@madriverpath.org.

And remember, the Mad River Path exists because of your support. Please make your donation to our annual giving campaign today! 

VT-100 Path Study is moving forward!

VT-100 Path Study is moving forward!

Mad River Path, in partnership with CVRPC (Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission) and MRVPD (Mad River Valley Planning District), received an $84K scoping study grant from the VTrans (Vermont Agency of Transportation) Transportation Alternatives Program. The engineering study will look at the alignment, opportunities, and challenges of the active transportation corridor running parallel with but separate from VT-100 within the State Right of Way from Warren to Moretown.

VT-100 Multi-Use Path Study Area

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velomont trail partnership

Mad River Path and Velomont Trail Collective have signed a Trail Partner Agreement. This agreement brings a 485-mile-long Velomont Bike Trail a step closer to passing through the Mad River Valley on its way from Canada to Massachusetts.

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updated Mad river path guide

We updated descriptions and maps to the 15 miles of the Mad River Path. We invite you to make the Path a part of your daily commute, or wellness routine!

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thank you to the triathlon volunteers and sponsors!

87 volunteers served homemade energy snacks, helped racers stay on course, safely cross the roads, and navigate the rapids, sold raffle tickets, drove shuttles, and labored at countless behind-the-scenes tasks, making the Triathlon a heart-felt community celebration. Thank you, everyone, for fully showing up!

44 local businesses, organizations, and individuals supported the success of the Triathlon with event sponsorships, raffle donations, and services. Thank you, sponsors:

Sugarbush, Creative Micro Systems, Discovery Map International, Elevation PT, Three Mountain Café, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, Green Mountain Valley School, Green Mountain Transit, Lawsons, Kitchenette, Mad River Riders, American Flat Bread, Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Bisbees, Stark Mountain Bike Works, Umiak Outfitters, Mad Rover, Justin Beckwith, VT North, Cabot, Clearwater Sports, Constable Jeff Campbell, Artisans Gallery, Carol Chamberlin, Sally Kendall Massage, Warren Store, Friends of the Mad River, Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, Charlie Hosford, Alpine Options, Product Think Tank, Warren Lodge, Mad Hiit, Mad River Glen, Raised VT, Village Grocery, Hartshorn Farm, Elwin Neill, Drip Sauna, Mad Bush Falls, Mad Valley Sports, Mad Taco and Yellow Farmhouse Inn!

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green valley rally

Vermont’s annual Green Up Day takes place on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with the Green Valley Rally being the epicenter for all activities here in the MRV. It will take place at the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center from 8 to 2. If you’d like to help with the Path clean up, please contact us, so we can coordinate the efforts!

An Adventure in the Chic Chocs

From left to right: Jamie Fanning, Woody Dugan, Bob Popps, Susanne Lowen, Michael Duell, Amy Fanning, Lynne Boudreau, Misha Golfman

When my husband asked if I would like to go on a 5 day backcountry hut to hut ski trip in the Chic Choc mountains in Canada, hosted by the Mad River Path Association,  I was intrigued and skeptical.  We are nordic skiers; regulars at Ole’s and occasionally Craftsbury.  Reading the trip description online, I learned we would ski an average of 10k per day, carry a 20+ lb. backpack and expect temperatures from zero to 25 degrees in (hopefully) lots of fresh powder.  After a bit of hesitation, I agreed to go.  I met our trip organizer, Misha Golfman, the Director of the Mad River Path, and discussed the details of the expedition.  He asked if I had any questions and I said, “Can I do this?”  He replied with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”

Darlene McCormick, did not make it into the group picture, she took it!

Soon afterward the trip planning emails began for our group which included seven people plus Misha and his wife, Lynne. A detailed packing list, itinerary and other useful information helped us prepare for our journey to Gaspesie National Park. 

Bob and Amy crossing Lake Cascapedia on a snowy day.

Climbing up a stream bed, following a “winter highway” up into the mountains.

After much anticipation and a long, beautiful drive we arrived at the trailhead. Snow covered trees and views of mountain peaks kept us going for our first day of gradual uphill climbing. My pack was heavy but we took our time and stopped to rest occasionally.  Finally, we enjoyed a long downhill, then arrived at our cozy log cabin by the frozen lake. It was serene.  Light snow was falling as we went inside to survey what living would be like as we spent 2 nights here and 2 at another cabin.  

A group shoulder massage at the end of a long day of skiing.

We were treated to healthy gourmet camp meals cooked by Misha on the woodstove.  From burrito bowls to macaroni and cheese for dinner, to bacon, eggs, oatmeal and grits for breakfast.  Each meal was a feast and fortified us for our long ski days.  

The week progressed with many wild adventures and a range of weather conditions.  The trails were spectacular and varied.  We crossed lakes in the blowing snow, skied up a stream bed, through wooded areas, up and down hills (some steep), and constructed our own bridge over a raging stream.  We witnessed a pink alpen glow before sunset at the end of one day and blowing snow seen with headlamps after dark on another day. The total mileage was 57k.

The group is building a bridge in order to cross an overflowing stream.

Our capable leader Misha and his compassionate wife, Lynne, offered the perfect balance to guide us through the trip.  The group forged wonderful friendships as we lived in close proximity and shared the common experience of negotiating the trails each day.

Bushwalking through Boreal Forest.

Homemade fig bars snack on a cold day.

Playing games in the evening, listening to Misha play the guitar while some sang along, morning yoga and a class on carving a wooden spoon were unexpected pleasures that contributed to making this a trip none of us will ever forget.

Spending time in this magnificent Canadian wilderness restored my spirit. It turns out Misha was right.  I did it!

Despite the challenging weather stretch we did hit some nice powder!

MRP Adventures Summer Camps!

Mad River Path Adventures Summer Camp

Enrollment is now open for five, one-week-long overnight adventure camps for students ages 10 – 14 Experience the joy of living in nature!

Sliding-scale tuition and financial aid are available