Welcome to the inaugural post of Fat Bike Friday! My goal with this new series is simple: explore trail systems within a one-hour drive of Rutland, Vermont, and see how they handle two fat tires.
To kick things off, I actually headed back to a spot I’d just visited the day before: Blueberry Lake in Warren, VT. Yesterday’s ride - Chasing the Sunset at Blueberry Lake & Toasting a World Cup Champion, left a bit to be desired due to some poor planning and the wrong bike choice. Plus, I had the perfect excuse for a do-over. The mountain biking jersey I bought at Lawson’s Finest Liquids the night before was a size too small. Being semi-retired (which is just a fancy word for unemployed), my schedule was wide open. I gladly took the excuse to drive back to Waitsfield, swap the shirt for a larger size, and head straight back to the trails.
Redemption at Blueberry Lake
This time, I came prepared. I had my warmer kit, my riding glasses, and my Shokz headphones—everything I stupidly left behind yesterday. My mission for the day was to hit everything I missed on Thursday: Armenta’s Way, Flying Squirrel, and a proper clockwise lap on Lenord’s Loop.
Right from the connector trail, the fat bike felt infinitely better on these trails than the full-suspension rig did. Guided by yesterday’s lessons, I took Lenord’s Loop clockwise and enjoyed a much smoother, easier climb.
At the top of the climb, I transitioned into Flying Squirrel. I ended up riding it counter-clockwise; the climb this way was steeper, but well-designed switchbacks made it entirely manageable. Near the apex of the trail, I spotted a bizarre sight: a small tree, maybe four inches round, leaning precariously and being supported entirely by another tree. It definitely qualified as a "widowmaker." I’m not sure if it was left that way intentionally, but it felt pretty dangerous. It really makes you wonder, what were they thinking?
Creaks, Cracks, and Fallen Giants
It was a pretty windy afternoon. While descending Flying Squirrel, I heard a sharp, loud crack echo through the woods—likely a massive branch snapping nearby. Because my music was turned up, I didn't hear a follow-up crash, but another rider heading the opposite way confirmed he heard it too. The descent down Flying Squirrel in this direction felt incredibly elongated, leaving me wondering if I had picked the wrong direction yet again. I guess I'll have to come back next week and try it the other way.
Leaving Flying Squirrel, I popped back onto Lenord’s Loop and pointed my tires toward my next objective: Armenta’s Way.
This intermediate blue trail steps up the difficulty a bit, winding down the hillside until you reach a spectacular rock outcropping. The overlook offers a stunning view stretching down the Mad River Valley toward Warren and VT-100. If you look closely at the rock formation itself, there is some really cool geology happening, including some clear quartz sills.
Heading back up from the overlook, I once again questioned my directional choices. Partway up, a rider passed me, only for me to catch right back up to him at a massive fallen tree blocking the trail. He opted to lug his bike directly over the thickest maze of branches. I took the easier route, skirting around the very tip of the tree's crown. The tree looked like a recent casualty—maybe within the last couple of days—as the broken wood wasn't perfectly green, but there were no established go-around paths yet.
I finished out the loop, took a bonus lap on Tootsie Roll for good measure, and ran into an older couple I had seen the day before. We stopped to chat while they were out walking their "grand-dog"—a massive pup who looked like she was actually walking them.
Chili and Craft Brews at Lawson's
I wrapped up the day the only way you should when you're in the valley: back at Lawson’s Finest Liquids for dinner. The taproom was buzzing with a live band and plenty of folks dressed up in early Halloween costumes.
🚴♂️ The Aprés-Ride Pairing:
• Food: A hot bowl of chili
• Brew: Steve's Backyard Red Ale
The malt profile of the Red Ale complemented the chili perfectly. Before hitting the road back to Rutland, I picked up a case of six 4-packs. It’s certainly a premium price tag, but you get a solid case discount at the source, and it completely beats hunting down their specialty varieties at local packies around Rutland.
All in all, it was a stellar day of Vermont mountain biking and world-class craft beer.
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