Stick Season at PHP

 

Like every other state in New England, Vermont has four seasons but unlike those states it also has two bonus seasons: Stick Season - after all the leaves have fallen but before any major snowfalls; Mud Season - when the snow melts and the trails and dirt roads get soft and muddy. 

PHP in Autumn

With ski season coming next month in November Ann and I took our last downhill mountain biking laps at Killington around lunchtime. Then we headed back home and I rode over to PHP for some unassisted ascending  

New Dropper Post Day!

After a few rides and having to periodically stop to change my seat post height either for climbing or descending I decided it was time to add a dropper. I took the bike over to Down Valley Bikes in Rutland. It was a little pricey but it was worth it and they did a great job. Of course it took a bit longer than it would have taken if I had it done in Connecticut but that’s Vermont for you. 

Memorial Day camping and riding bikes

 

Ann and I went tent camping at Lake Saint Catherine State Park in Poultney, VT on Memorial Day weekend and we brought our mountain bikes. We also got to try out her new Yakima Backswing for the bike rack. Awesome design and functionality which lets you keep the bikes on the rack but get them out of the way when loading and unloading. 

July at PHP

 

I brought my hard tail up to Vermont in July to ride at Pine Hill Park, because I was keeping my Specialized up at Killington and I wanted to be able to ride the park Friday afternoons when I get up to Rutland.

eMTBs at Waldo

On Friday Scott decided to join me on a mountain bike ride at Waldo State Park in Southbury. We headed out on the main trail and as we neared the big climb these two females were on what looked like eMTBs coming the other way, but I could have been mistaken.  This is the first time I have been out riding in the woods and seen others riding, too. 

MINI Bicycle Holder

I have never been happy with my rack mounted bicycle trays for the MINI Cooper. The road bike rack just never seemed to hold the bike tight enough and I could hear it rocking. Don't get me wrong, they worked fine, none of my bikes ever came off but the rocking noise is what bothers me the most.

30 Days of Biking - Day 17

Fat Amy is Back!

Two broken spokes after the last ride I just picked up the bike today and took her out at Upper Paugussett for ride after work. I tell people that they should wait at least 24 hours to ride Upper Paugussett for a reason, let it dry out, but some people just don't care and ride regardless and it shows because in all the soft spots there are ruts everywhere. I just don't get it. These people are just selfish and don't really care about the trails.

I made a little rock crossing at this wet area on the Poly Brody this evening. Tired of riding through the mud.

There was pine three down near the 3rd brook crossing that has already been cut.

Thank you to who ever did this.

However right next to the tree I found this fall line trail. 

Come on, really? 

Don't you know better?

I figure I am going to be re-blocking this for times to come

I found the bridge by the Pond Brook boat ramp out of position

So I moved it into the proper position

30 Days of Biking - Day 12

Whole lotta Gussy

I approached Upper Paugusset form Sanford Road and after coming around the bend I noticed a little rake and ride trail that dumps straight out onto the road. 

There were quite a few cars in the parking lot again and on the Brody Road I met up with a family whose son used to play soccer with my son. They live nearby and they were out for a hike due to being caged up at home for a long time. I kept riding till I hit the top part of the Gussy and discovered that all my pin flags for my flow project had been removed, save for one yellow flag.  This really gets me angry. Doesn't matter though, I have ridden it long enough now to know where the new trail is going to go. I might even use this as an alternative to the current yellow trail because that is a fall line trail.

On the Jeep road that heads back to Sanford Road I found the rake and ride trail that dumps back onto the road. Apparently there is a rock that makes for a good drop if you were to come down the Blue Blazed Trail, which you are not supposed to ride. It appears the raker just takes the trail back to Sanford Road. The descent to the road is kind of hairy as well.

There is very little garbage on the trails these days but when I see something I pick it up. I doubt this not from a mountain biker. More like a walker. Wish people would respect the forest better.

30 Days of Biking - Day 8

RAW @ Gussy

Headed out to Upper Paugusset after work on Wednesday because I wanted to do some flagging on a little flow project on the top part of the Gussy that started by cutting up the blowdown the last time I was there. My intention is not to block off the roller in any way or form but merely as a way to set up a future modification of Gussy to add more single track and tie the trail directly into the Mulikin.

 

I took a pano of the new route however it's hard to see what's really going on here so I this is what it will look like using Trail Forks.

Heading down the rest of the Gussy I got a spectacular view of the setting sun from the Brew Crew Roller.

After dumping out onto Sanford Road I headed back into the forest via the Brody Road and noticed a few things on the State Sign.

Continuing down the Brody Road I stopped to take care of this spring pole that has been blocking most of the road for a couple of months now.

I cut off the section blocking the road with my handsaw.

30 Days of Biking - Day 1

This year I decided to do the 30 Days of Biking Challenge, in which every day of April you need to ride your bike. The advantage this year over the last time I did the challenge is I can now ride indoors on Zwift but my goal is to ride outside as much as possible.

April Fools was an exceptionally beautiful day despite a mandatory Stay at Home order issued by Connecticut's Governor, but it doesn't mean you can't go out for a hike or a bike ride. So I headed out to Upper Paugussett State Forest, near my house for a quick loop up the Poly Brody Forest Road and then down the Upper Gussy Trail.

It was a Goldilocks day!

Pandemic Rail Trail Ride to Black Hog Brewery

It seems that after every big ride the prior day I make big plans to follow up with another one but I rarely execute on it. Today's ride wasn't the exception but had some roots. I wanted to do loop consisting of the Larkin Bridle Trail, Hop Brook singletrack, Middlebury Trolley Trail, Flanders Nature Center Trails, Trolley Singletrack and then ride dirt roads back to the car.  The consolation prize of that grandiose plan was to ride to Black Hog, get some beer, drink some beer and ride back to the car.

Looks like proximity to the Rail Trail has gotten popular for Black Hog Brewery because now there is the Hog Path. I was here maybe two or three years ago (from the rail trail) and we bush whacked through here and the singletrack just to the east of the brewery looked like a rake and ride trail right through a stream.

Play the Price is Right Loser music! 

I should have checked the website.

Riding the rail trail was interesting because there were more people out walking, since that is about all you can do right now with everything else closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. When I rode by these people, some would move off the trail and others would not.

Norbrook Farm Brewery Trails in the snow

On Friday I called Norbrook Farms and asked whether or not their trails would be open. Wasn't sure how cold it has been in the Icebox of Connecticut but they did get some snow this past week so I decided to check. The woman I spoke to said, of course they are open. Whether or not she really new the answer now points to she really didn't know since the consensus from Facebook says that there were closed due to the freeze/thaw taking place this winter.

I found frozen trails with a crunchy under layer and 1 to 2 inches of fresh powder. It was snowing on my drive up to Butternut this morning (I went Telemark skiing for 4 hours before) and snowing once again on the drive back down to Connecticut.

After a quick cursory lap on one of the green trails I came back to the car because I forgot something and the snow stopped.  I didn't have a lot of time because I got their late and I didn't bring lights.

Icy trails leads to hard landings

I usually don't ride Upper Paugussett on a Saturday between September and New Years because of hunting in the forest. I went out this Saturday because I had a big road ride planned for Sunday (which was subsequently cancelled).

Ruh roh Shaggy, rots of ruts

The ride I had on Tuesday during yet another ice storm wasn't too bad. We were expecting 5 to10 inches of snow but instead got half an inch accompanied with freezing rain. I did find a lot of ruts, frozen now, but saddening to see. There were a few wet sections here and there that I tried not to disturb any further.

Riding in the snow at Upper Paugussett State Forest

The forecast had called for a lot more snow but there was only a half an inch by midday on Monday.

Round 2 with crashes and mechanicals

My neighbor's son texted me midday and wanted to know what time I would be home from work on Tuesday. I told him when I decided to stop as I was working from home. Clearly, he wanted to ride as he saw my ride from the morning on Strava.
  

I took a break from work after 5 and headed out with Bucky. I knew the trails had seen some action after my ride in the morning so we headed in from Pond Brook.  The bridge is still where I left it!  We headed up to the Hunter's Tree Stand Trail, which is where the lunch riders went, too.

Mother Nature's belated April Fool's Joke

Woke up to Newtown Schools on a two hour delay and at least 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground already and certainly more coming.  With no kid transport duty required, I quickly dressed for a ride in the woods and got on Fat Amy.

There was maybe an inch of snow on the Poly Brody Forest Road to start but the deeper I got into the forest the deeper the snow got.  I kept my eyes open looking for the bear but I didn't see her nor any tracks.

I am just a material girl living in a material world

After sitting in the car for 4+ hours  (round trip) to take my son to a ski race up at Jiminy Peak where it was 25 degrees I jumped on the bike and headed out to Upper Paugussett for a quick rip before heading to a Saint Paddy's Day party.

Another Napoleon Death March Ride

With the power back on, it was out for 24 hours due to the storm, I thought I might check out the forest.  My neighbor's son got a mountain bike for his birthday and I promised him I would take him riding with me.  After a few starts and stops, he couldn't find his helmet, he needed a pant strap, and I had to put his water in my Hydrapak, we finally headed towards Upper Paugussett State Forest.

Riding down Tamarack Road we came upon this obstacle.

Heading to the Echo Valley parking area we encountered another obstacle.

The snow was pretty crusty and almost impossible to ride

I was able to pedal through it just barely and Bucky was having a terrible time.

We turned around at the gate and headed home.