The Wild Things 2025 Blog

2025 Wild Things Blog

We had a wonderful week of summer weather and an equally wonderful group of students at our Wild Things Camp! After setting camp at Stetson Hollow, we paddled from Middlesex Dam to Waterbury on Monday. As always, the rapid swimming at the bottom of the Mad River was a favorite.

On Tuesday, we got up early and headed to climb at Bolton Dome. Before lunch, all students completed between three to five climbs (most climbed barefoot), and just as the hot sun hit the rock wall, we were done and ready for a swim at Huntington Gorge.

Marveling at the stunning rock formations on the Winooski River.

Cooling off in the cold and clear Mad River.

On Wednesday, we were up early again and on the way to caving. The cold of the deep underground was a welcome change after the summer heat. On the way home, we picked loads of blueberries at the Sunshine Valley Farm in Rochester. 

Thursday morning started with blueberry pancakes cooked over a fire. We headed for Lareau Farm, where we stacked firewood and picked potatoes and raspberries. Then, we moved to Knoll Farm where we spent the afternoon picking blueberries for Meals on Wheels. We ended the day with a potato soup made from Lareau Farm veggies and blueberry cookies baked with the Knoll Farm berries.

Peeling cedar farm posts.

Friday greeted us with a clear, cool morning. At 6:30 AM, we were at Lincoln Gap ready for the ascent of Mount Abe. It was a perfect summit day with the unrestricted visibility, providing clear views of the Adirondacks to the West, Canada to the North, the White Mountains to the east, and down the spine of the Greens to the South. The camp ended with a funny skit choreographed by our multi-talented apprentice Clara Schwartz.

Part of what made this week so special is that the students talked about stories, nature, and adventure instead of social media and the digital world in which they live. This made for a healthy social environment, where everyone was able to be fully present, noticing the wonders of nature, and supporting one another, while instructors did not have to put hardly any energy into redirecting the student conversations. The week was also marked by kindness, respect, and mutual support. I want to thank the families of Mad River Path Adventures for choosing to raise your children to value making real-world connections to one another and our beautiful natural surroundings.

Picking blueberries for Meals on Wheels at Knoll Farm.

At the end of this week, we wished farewell to our summer guide, Anna Mairose, who headed back to Cincinnati for her junior year in college. Thank you, Anna!

Ahead of the MRP team are the two weeks of busy Path work before our final trip of the summer, an expedition to the Ashuapmushuan River in Quebec with a group of families.

Peaks and Rivers 2025 Blog

Peaks and Rivers 2025 Blog

We kicked off camp on Sunday, first spending some time getting to know each other and then packing for six days of adventure. It was a very warm day, so we headed off to Middlesex Dam to start the “river” portion of our camp! Once on the Winooski, we had a paddling lesson and a swim test. After gaining paddling skills, we set up our first camp and cooked dinner, learning many new backcountry living tasks as we went.

Monday brought our first full day! After packing up camp, we started a ten mile paddle from Middlesex to Bolton Dam. We took many breaks to swim and jump off cliffs to stay cool. A few times throughout the paddle we could also see the summit of Camel's Hump in the distance! It was exciting to see where we would be in a few days. The day came to a close with a half mile up-and-over-the hill portage around Bolton Dam and camp set-up, ending with a much deserved beautiful evening enjoying the views of the surrounding hills and river. 

Down the river with Camel’s Hump in the distance.

On Tuesday, we started our final paddle segment on the Winooski River. There were lots of small rapids, making for an extra fun morning. Once we arrived at the Long Trail take-out, we unpacked our river gear, leaving only the essential mountain gear. It was now time to start the “peaks” portion of the camp! We started our journey up the Long Trail, stopping to appreciate the view at Duxbury Window and enjoy some lunch (peanut butter and jam filled tortillas became a favorite meal of the students). After a few hours on the Long Trail, we set-up base camp, taking in the beauty of the forest we got to call home for a few nights.

On Wednesday, after an early morning start we re-joined the Long Trail and summited Camel’s Hump. The hike made for a fun chance to appreciate the trail and the company of one another. The summit views were incredible, allowing us to see much of the state of Vermont and some of its most famous natural landmarks. Students could see the entirety of their river trip on the Winooski, and noted how far they were able to travel without cars and with just their own power! We spent the afternoon back at base camp, swimming and cleaning clothes in the lake.

We enjoyed great water level and many exciting rapids.

On Thursday, we had a rest day. Students enjoyed sleeping in and waking up to a special pancake breakfast. We made and performed skits to one another to capture some of the most memorable moments at camp. We also worked on carving skills, starting with a chopstick to gain confidence in the carving strokes and then moving on to a spoon. After lunch, students went out on short navigational walks in small groups. When a group of three did not return from their task in the expected 30-minute time, we initiated a search. After two hours of searching by ourselves, we called for help and divided into two groups. One group remained with students at camp, while the other assisted with the rescue efforts.

The search for missing students was directed by State Search and Rescue Coordinator, with assistance from State Police, and five volunteer organizations, including Waterbury Backcountry Rescue, Camels Hump Backcountry Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Rescue Team, New England K-9 Team and North Country Search Dogs. The search was incredibly well organized and coordinated, with clear communications. Everyone was positive that we would locate the kids first thing in the morning and, as predicted, the missing students were located with the first light, half a mile from camp in good spirits.

We later learned that after getting turned around on their return to camp, the missing students found a dry spot in the forest, with a view of the valley below, and settled in for the night. They were just waking up, when they heard the calls, and were greeted by a search dog emerging from the woods.  Students stayed together, stopped as soon as they realized they were lost, found drinking water, and supported one another. They performed remarkably well after just five days of training. We are grateful to everyone who showed up to help with grace, skills and professionalism.

The rest of the group stayed up at the base camp, having their final camp morning and then hiking down the mountain on the Long Trail. Friday afternoon provided a chance for all of the students and instructors to be back together again. In the week following, we processed this event with staff, families and students, strengthened safety protocols, and felt a strong sense of summer camp community rooted in trust.

Making spoons.

Our Side of the Mountains 2025 Blog

Our Side of the Mountains - Kicking off a summer of fun!

Our first adventure camp of the summer, Our Side of the Mountains, had an awesome week. Read a recap of all their activities below, from Summer Trail Steward Emily Richards.

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Wow, we got up to lots of wild adventures this past week!

On Monday we learned to paddle and then practiced our skills as we headed down the Winooski River. Once we got to the mouth of Mad River, we pulled our boats upstream, finding a secluded spot to swim in the clear, cold water. We swam in the rapids, ferrying with all our might upstream and letting ourselves enjoy floating downstream.

Day 1: Canoeing down the Winooski River

On Tuesday, we continued to practice and improve our canoeing skills, paddling from Middlesex to Waterbury. We enjoyed the river’s scenic cliffs and the thrill of the small rapids. There were lots of chances to dip in the water and swim around to stay cool.

Day 2: Cliff jumping

On Wednesday, we headed to Bolton Dome. The kids were brave, climbing up steep rocks and trusting the belayer below them on the way down. Some of the kids had a grasp of climbing knots and belaying by the end, setting them up for future climbing outings! A morning climb at Bolton Dome of course calls for an afternoon adventure to Bolton Potholes. The students had a lot of fun challenging themselves to jump from tall rocks and playing in the waterfall.

Day 3: Rock climbing

We ventured up Mt. Abe on Thursday. We learned how to distinguish different plants from each other, particularly fir and spruce, allowing us to have a greater understanding of the nature’s diversity. At the top, we got an incredible panoramic view all the way from the Adirondacks to the White Mountains, and we had a quick visit to the old plane crash.

Day 4: On the summit of Mount Abe!

Friday’s ice caving adventure took us further afield. We hiked to the cave through a pristine forest, so teeming with energy and life that it would make the perfect backdrop for enchanted forest stories. The students relied on their senses to find the cave entrance, looking for a big enough hole in the rocks and cold air coming up from it. We piled on our winter layers and ventured in, forcing us to embrace our fears and enjoy the beauty of complete silence and darkness.

Day 5: Caving

The week was brought to a close by a student inspired skit of the week’s adventures and performance of a song we had learned throughout the week. It was a great culmination to a fun week!

Spring Adventures with MRV Elementary Students

This Spring, we had the pleasure of working with several groups of elementary students around the Mad River Valley. We paddled, made art, learned how to orienteer, and more!

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This Place is for the Birds!

Local artist Jeannie Marie Nicklas is working with the Waitsfield Elementary School Students on the “This Place is For The Birds” artwork project. Guided by Jeannie, students are participating in the design of the interpretive bird panels that will be mounted in the gazebo along the Waits Way Path. The funding for this project is provided by a grant from the MRV Rec District.

Paddling Days with Waitsfield Elementary

Led by Mad River Path, a group of seven Waitsfield Elementary School students learned canoeing skills and explored Blueberry Lake and the Mad River during the three weeks of the Inspiration Project. The Inspiration Project is a unique program where students can learn life skills and hobbies like pottery, rocket building, meterology, and outdoor recreation.

Orienteering with Fayston Elementary

Last week at Fayston Elementary, we carried out an orienteering activity. Students learned how to orient themselves with a compass, understand a map scale, and think through other ways to stay found in the woods. In teams, they relied on maps and a compass to find nine sets of treats hidden on the Mad River Path in the Chase Brook Town Forest. It made for a fun afternoon!

Cargo E-Bikes Demonstration Project

Thanks to a grant from the VT Agency of Transportation, the employees and volunteers of the Mad River Path, Friends of the Mad River, and Mad River Valley Planning District now have three electric-assist cargo bikes for their trail, conservation, and community work in the Mad River Valley.

Each of the bikes was carefully researched and chosen for a specific purpose from the two local bike shops, the Bicycle Express in Waterbury and the Vermont Bike Shop in Barre. This project reduces the use of single-occupancy vehicles and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while keeping us healthy and happy.  We would like to share our bikes with the community. A cargo e-bike is a game-changer when it comes to active transportation!

Give us a call or drop us a line if you’d like to try one of these amazing, simple machines.

Help Support Our AmeriCorps Summer Trail Steward

Dear Mad River Valley Community,

Two weeks ago, we announced the welcoming of Emily Richards as the Mad River Path’s first AmeriCorps Service Member. A week later, the federal government terminated the AmeriCorps program. 
 
The state of Vermont has determined that the termination notice was issued illegally and joined 14 other states in suing the federal government. While the state believes the lawsuit will be ultimately successful, it had to pause the summer positions. 
 
AmeriCorps is an important program that gives thousands of young people nationwide meaningful service opportunities, while benefiting communities. It is a mutually beneficial relationship that gives Service Members a sense of purpose and belonging, while also improving our communities through meaningful work.
 
As an AmeriCorps Service Member, Emily will be doing important work in the valley: maintaining the Mad River Path, working with youth in our summer camps, and making progress on the Active Transportation Corridor. 
 
The Mad River Path Executive Committee has determined that continuing our work without interruption is our obligation to the Mad River Valley community. The simple act of honoring our commitment to our service member gives all of us a sense of agency in the face of the senseless actions we would otherwise have no control over.
 
Please support Emily’s position. We need to raise $6,000 by Friday, May 29, the first day of Emily’s service.

Thank you,
Misha Golfman 

A note from Emily Richards:
Hi all!! I will be serving as the Summer Trail Steward and Teaching Assistant for MRPA. A little about me: I have a degree in Molecular & Cell Biology from UC San Diego, am currently conducting research into prion diseases, and will be starting an MS in Epidemiology this fall. I was born in Montreal, Canada and have lived in a few different states and countries since. I am very excited to explore more of Vermont! I am incredibly passionate about both protecting nature and making it accessible. I have a plethora of camping and hiking experience and have dabbled in virtually every outdoor sport. I also have experience with teaching and trail maintenance. If you see me around, please say hello!! 

Borrow a Canoe for Free This Summer!

The 2025 Mad River Triathlon: A Community Celebration

The 2025 Mad River Triathlon was a great community celebration! We had 301 participants, representing 11 states (CT, IL, MA, ME, NH, NY, OK, PA, RI, TN, VT), with 120 racers from the Mad River Valley area.

There were 65 individual participants and 70 teams. 20 of the teams completed the whole course racing together, embodying a collaborative spirit of the Triathlon. Our youngest participant was 9, and the oldest was 82! 76 volunteers prepared aid stations, pulled boats out of the cold water, and marshaled for upward of 8 hours; the volunteer spirit is alive and thriving in the MRV!

The Green Mountain Transit shuttle bus was filled to capacity, and the GMVS van helped to fill the gaps. Thank you to the many people who chose public transportation over driving, reducing the traffic and improving the safety of the event. MRVAS responded to two incidents, one involving an injured biker and another a hypothermic paddler, both were released.

Thanks to the MRV business community, we raffled off over 100 prizes donated by local businesses and auctioned 12 valuable local food and lodging options towards the fundraising goal of supporting the evolving cooperation between our organizations. 

Mount Ellen was vibrating with energy to the tune of Ragged Company, hilarious announcements by Doug Bergstein and Bear Simmons, and an exhausted, but exuberant crowd of participants, spectators, and volunteers. 

Rob Center, who founded the original Mad River Triathlon in 1979, put together an amazing team called Waddle, Wander, Wobble & Wipe Out! We were honored to have Rob, Silas, Ed, Ed, and Lucas compete and speak about the history of the event at the celebration. 

This was a harder race compared to 2024. The river was lower, requiring much maneuvering and effort, and the ski course was more than twice the length. Whitney Tree Service team came in first once again at 2:37 minutes, as compared to 2:11 minutes in 2024 on a fast-flowing river and a shortened (due to snow conditions) ski course. The fastest individual female was Elisa Otter from Montpelier at 3:30, and the fastest male was Schuyler Timmons from Richmond at 3:04.

One of the stated goals of the Triathlon was to welcome spring, and, considering that the temps rose to well over 60 with abundant sunshine on Monday, following the event, we did it!

We extend a heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, Lawsons’ Finest Liquids, Sugarbush Resort, Red Hen Bakery, Madbush Falls, Waitsfield Telecom, Bicycle Express, VHB, Burlington Beer Company, Creative Micro, and Yoga Lab for helping us to offer a high-quality event to the community.

Finally, we want to thank the many spectators who showed up on a gray, cold April day to cheer on the brave participants, way to go MRV!

Working together, Mad River Path, Friends of the Mad River, Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, and the Mad River Riders were able to put together an incredibly well-supported event, way better organized than any of us could have done alone.

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Mad River Triathlon scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026. The registration is now open and you can get a 30% off the regular price if you register by May 18.

Making a Difference Where It Matters

These days, it seems like there is work to do everywhere to make our communities more sustainable, accessible, and connected. As federal funding for climate resilience comes under threat, we can all make an impact locally with just a couple minutes out of your day. We've highlighted three quick ways to make a real difference:

1. Sign a petition

Federal funding for active transportation is critically at risk. US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is on course to freeze funding for several important projects in our state. Tell the Department of Transportation to reverse course and support human-powered transportation alternatives!

2. Vote on the future of the Active Transportation Corridor

We need as much input as possible on the various alternatives for the Active Transportation Corridor! You can review our recap of our latest meeting and add your own votes for the proposed segments.

VOTING DIRECTIONS: Scroll down the page until you get to each individual segment and find the purple Google Form to the right of each. Click on the form  for each segment to vote.

3. Volunteer in your community

The Mad River Triathlon is still looking for volunteers to help us pull off an amazing event! Click the button below to view available time slots and positions. There's still plenty of ways to plug in.

We're Hiring!

MRP is seeking a Summer Trail Steward and Teaching Assistant!

Summer Trail Steward and Teaching Assistant will gain valuable trail management and teaching skills while serving side-by-side with experienced staff in the beautiful Mad River Valley and the Central Green Mountains. You will have the opportunity to introduce local children and teens to outdoor living, adventure sports, and contribute to the development of an inclusive Active Transportation Corridor through the Mad River Valley. You will develop an appreciation for the importance of nature connection and the essential role of bike and pedestrian infrastructure in building communities. 

This position is part of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps (VHCB AmeriCorps).  The VHCB AmeriCorps program supports the innovative dual-goal approach to creating stable affordable housing opportunities for Vermont residents while preserving the natural and working landscape. VHCB AmeriCorps is a national service program that places members with non-profit housing or land and energy conservation organizations around the state.

Mad River Path is a community-supported organization leading the implementation of the Active Transportation Corridor from Warren to Moretown in the Mad River Valley, Vermont. We connect communities and provide access to nature and opportunities for outdoor recreation for valley residents and visitors. We believe that inclusive and safe human-powered transportation infrastructure fosters positive social change, healing our relationships with nature and each other leading to a sustainable future.

More information and full job description can be found on the VHCB website.