One of my bucket list items when I first started coming to Rutland was to ride the dirt roads in and around Hubbardton and to visit the battlefield. It's the only battlefield of the Revolutionary War that is on Vermont soil. There was another one called the Battle of Bennington but it was actually fought in Hoosic, NY. What interesting to note about the Hubbardton Battle, though, was that it was more of a delaying action so that the main body of the Continental Army could reorganize and eventually defeat the British at the Battle of Saratoga.
I rode out from my house in Rutland over to West Rutland and headed north on Marble Street. It was a warm day and I pre-hydrated before leaving the house. Along the way there were some interesting uses of marble to be seen.
I thought this marble retaining wall was for one of the Marble Quarries rail lines that crisscross the area but when I checked the Topo Maps there are no tracks crossing this road at a right angle like what is shown in this picture. It's just an interesting choice of material.
The third hill in this picture is called Grandpa Knob but all three together remind me of a Sleeping Giant back in Connecticut.
I hit First Dirt 5.3 miles into the ride after the Marble Street's intersection with Water Street. If you wanted to do this route and wanted to start closer to the dirt roads I would recommend parking at the Whipple Hollow Trail Head and riding down to Water Street and then heading up Marble Street.
Marble Street is so straight you could land a plane on it.
RWGPS shows this road continuing after the intersection with Pleasant Street but it's clearly blocked off. It didn't say no trespassing but I thought better of continuing on at this point and decided to head out to Whipple Hollow Road and pick up the route from there.
The audible netted me some good cow pictures along the way.
I did ride down Bristol Road to see if that road actually connected. I rode past Whipple Hollow Cemetery and then into someone's house, so technically the road does go through but it's probably private property and not the type of property you want to be caught riding through.
The dirt started again on Fire Hill Road
and there was a punchy, 8.5% average climb with a max grade of 14%
along with more hero dirt
and some nice flowers
which I think is a Royal Orders Bearded Iris.
Crossed over the railroad tracks that leads to Florence Crushed Stone Plant and a nearby railroad wye track that services another mining operation.
Then I headed out on West Creek Road and into new territory
There was a farmer mowing hay
and more cows along the way,
including some Guernsey cows.
A little over 20 miles into the ride the real fun started with a Cat 2 hill climb, 4.6 miles long, with almost 1,000 ft of elevation gain, and a max grade topping out near 18%.
Although the route says it's all dirt the first of the two steep sections is actually paved.
Before the steepest section of the road there is the old High Pond Ski Area that was built in the early 1950s.
Most defunct ski areas that still can be found around Vermont only have trail cuts to remind us where they once were and sometimes there's still some old equipment laying around. However, this one, has a rebuilt Poma Lift and is now a private ski area.
The 17% steep section of the climb was brutal. It was a turning climb and if you were on the inside of the turn I bet the grade would have exceeded 20%. I was wishing for one more gear the whole time but when I got to the top I was very happy that I made it without having to stop and walk.
At the very top of the climb, looking north you could just make out the Adirondacks.
Here is the western view.
The climb to the battlefield was equally challenging
making it quite pleasant
and the dirt was out of this world!
I popped into the visitor's center and bought a couple of bottles of water.
There's a marble monument to the soldiers who fought and died here.
The British, with the help of German mercenaries won the day but it also delayed them enough that later on the British were defeated at the Battle of Saratoga.
Looking south at the Taconic Mountains
Heading down Monument Hill Road there were cows
and more cows
and even more cows.
One mistake I made in the planning of this route was not including Frisbee Hill Road, which is a dirt road that paralleled Monument Hill Road. Oh well, next time.
I rode Rt 4A back to West Rutland. Within the city limits there are sharrows!
I decided to call another audible and ride up to Quarterline Road and try Horton Road. To get there I had to take the West Rutland Bike Path,
and then climbed up Boardman Bridge Road.
I started cramping so I got off the bike and stretched a few times. Off in the distance you can just make out Pico Mountain.
Here's a better view of Pico Mountain.
Another stop to stretch and a look at Killington Mountain, the one pictured above that is the furthest away.
RWGPS doesn't accurately capture the start of the dirt road on Quarterline Road. It's a mile or two earlier than what's indicated on the map.
I have been wanting to ride Horton Road for awhile now and finally took the opportunity to do so.
If Quarterline is a Class 4 Road, then this must be a primitive road.
It was muddy, swampy, and just plain awful,
and very washed out.
Once on Creek Road I saw more cows,
and even more cows.
Finally turning onto River Road and crossing over Otter Creek I was on the final leg of the ride.
Passed over the Green Mountain Railroad. When I got back to the ranch I sat in the shade and ate salty peanuts and drank some Apple Cider that I bought at the Rutland Farmer's Market a few weeks ago. It had to some fizz to which meant it was probably fermented. It tasted great and surprisingly, afterwards, I never got another cramp. I did a little research and found that Apple Cider, according to the interwebs:
Apple cider vinegar is believed to help with muscle spasms by balancing electrolytes, reducing inflammation, and aiding in the body's absorption of cramp-fighting minerals.
It worked for me so I am sticking with it!
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