We pulled into the parking lot around 8:30am.
I had to rent snowshoes, so I made my way to the Nordic Center
while Geoff prepped his gear at the car. Walking down, I realized our facilities typically don’t operate until 9am, so I was pleased to see they were open early. The staff there was very helpful in finding me what I needed (snowshoes that would fit over my
snowboard boots) quickly. I noticed the stack of trail maps on the counter and thought it would be a good idea to grab one. However, knowing from past experience that these tend to turn into soggy, ripped up
masses in my pocket or backpack, I opted to purchase the Mount Mansfield Region
Nordic Ski & Snowshoe waterproof trail map; this later proved to be a wise
decision. I was back to the car in less
than ten minutes which was awesome because we were eager to get moving.
Upon arrival to the car, I started
my pre-hike checklist.
The night prior, I had heard about an incident where a
couple of skiers were nearly stuck on Woodward Trail due to binding
malfunctions. I didn't want this to happen to me so I was thorough about checking my pack. Six Cliff Bars - because a sandwich won’t survive - one full
water bladder, roughly a half gallon; extra gloves; extra hat; two long sleeve
thermal t-shirts; one long sleeve Under Armor; one pair of extra socks; one set of
extra lenses for my goggles; a turtle fur neck-warmer; a tubeless toilet paper roll
in a sealed Ziploc bag and my helmet.
Next was the tool kit. Screwdrivers, one
Phillips and one flat; Duct Tape; paracord; a headlamp and extra batteries; two
lighters and a Leatherman. I felt pretty good about what I had, so I strapped my pack
to my back and we headed out.
Our route took us up to
Bryant lodge first, which we had determined would be a good spot to stop and make any
adjustments if necessary. The trail had
been well traveled and it made for easy going which was a nice way to start. I
could hear the dull hum of the lifts operating in the background but that
slowly faded away until everything was silent.
As we gained in elevation, the
trees became so coated with snow that they prevented any sound from traveling.
I stopped and took it all in for a second. This was my first time out here and
I was feeling a bit disappointed at all of the excuses I had made for not
getting out earlier.
Bryant Camp is this awesome old cabin in the woods
equipped with double doors for warmth, a cooking slate and a sleeping loft. It
is the perfect send off location. From that point, there is quick access to Devils
Drop, Heavenly Highway and the Catamount Trail.
I won’t share the exact places where we rode, but what I can say is that it was the best and deepest snow I
have ridden in my 15 years of snowboarding. Everywhere we looked was the most
epic tree line I had seen on the east. I wanted to ride all of it but I knew my
legs would never allow it.
By the conclusion of my adventure, I finally understood the phrase “earn your
turns.” And my legs did too. There is so much terrain out there within this amazing network of
trails and I’m going back every chance I get.
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