MOUNTAIN BIKING IN SOUTHERN VERMONT
Vermont is just a stone’s throw away, and three quarters of the state is covered with forest. Mountain biking, anyone?
Northern Vermont has the lion’s share of great trails, but several sites in southern Vermont stand out. The Hoot, Toot, & Whistle trail in Wilmington — just west of Brattleboro — provides 14 miles of good biking for beginners and advanced riders alike, with frequent spots to stop and check out the Harriman Reservoir (plus the trail name is fun to say).
About 40 minutes further north, in the town of Jamaica, adventurers can find biking and great scenery at Ball Mountain Lake, including views of the dam and nearby Stratton and Bromley Mountains. While you’re there, consider staying overnight — camping grounds are open through Columbus Day. They are located off Route 100, about seven miles north of the lake.
A little further west in Manchester, the Mount Equinox park land offers a great collection of trails that run the gamut from flat terrain to more demanding climbs and descents, most of which are well-marked with signage.
And let’s not forget the mountain bike park at Mount Snow in Somerset. Here you’ll find some serious downhill mountain biking, including Trail 7, the East Coast’s longest introductory downhill trail. Thrillseekers can take advantage of berms, ladders, and dirt jumps built into much of the mountain. Mount Snow isn’t your cheapest option for a day of mountain biking — a lift and trail day pass costs between $30 and $40 — but it’s a destination worth checking out at least once.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE IN AMHERST
Ultimate Frisbee is, well, the ultimate in chill summertime sports. And Amherst has a league of about 400 people of all ages playing in weekly matches.
The game is simple: Find a field, get two teams of seven together, and grab a disc. Players can’t run with the disc, but must pass it to other players in an attempt to throw a complete pass over the opposing team’s end zone. It’s a no-contact sport.
“The games themselves tend to be competitive, but amicable,” says Nathan Salwen, who started the league with his wife in 1996. “It’s great for anyone who is willing to try to sprint after a Frisbee.”
The Summer Ultimate League of Amherst’s season started in June, leading up to tournaments in August, but there are plenty of pickup games going on that anyone can join.
The Summer Ultimate League in Greenfield has a pickup game every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Greenfield Community College. Other pickup games are in: Northampton, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m., Vets Field; Haydenville, Fridays, 5 p.m., Ames Field; Chicopee, Mondays, 5:30 p.m., Szot Park practice field, and Thursdays, midnight, in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
For more information check out valleyultimate.org or www.suladisc.org.
Treetop Canopy Touring
If you look at monkeys swinging through the trees and think “why can’t I do that,” a treetop canopy tour may be your best bet for summer sport entertainment. It’s not a common thing, since it requires acreage, equipment, and lots of infrastructure. Fortunately, the Berkshires are home to Ramblewild, a treetop “aerial park.” Not only is it big, it lays claim to the title of largest such park in all of North America.
From platforms 10 and 15 feet above-ground, adventurers can embark on eight treetop courses. Four of the eight cross a ravine via ziplines 100 feet above-ground. The courses contain aerial obstacles like nets, balancing logs, high wires, and even high weirdness like airborne kayaking. The more timid visitor can walk trails and watch from the ground. The park is open all seasons, and summer rates run $57-$69.
Ramblewild, 110 Brodie Mountain Road, Lanesborough, (844) 472-6253, ramblewild.com.
Obstacle runs
Quads and guns like, woah? Itching to put them into some serious action? When running isn’t enough — when you have to prove that you can stand the test of strength, endurance, and the elements — there’s nothing like an obstacle series to show you where your limits are. Many of these events boast the creative (read: torturous) talents of ex-army and ex-navy gurus. They involve getting dirty, running, swinging, climbing, swimming, crawling, and jumping. Price of admission falls roughly in the $50 to $120 range. These mud-driven obstacle runs are on the rise and some are more extreme than others. Hint: the more an event is marketed towards women and includes “optional” elements, the easier it is likely to be. Here’s a list of upcoming obstacle series that hit varying points on the extreme spectrum.
July 11 — Dirty Girl Mud Run: Killington, Vermont
July 11 — Monster Mud Run at Loon Mountain: Lincoln, New Hampshire
July 18 — Shale Hill Tri-Obstaclon Obstacle Relay Challenge: Benson, Vermont
July 18 — Run the Ridge: Albany, New York
July 25 — New England BattleFrog Obstacle Race Series: Barre, Massachusetts
July 25 — The Trident Race: Bristol, Rhode Island
Aug. 1 — WipeoutRun: Boston, Massachusetts
Aug. 8 — WipeoutRun: Hartford, Connecticut
Aug. 8 — Dirty Girl Mud Run: New York City
To the kayak!
The Valley’s many rivers, streams, and tributaries are perfect for the kayak and canoe. It’s even great for those who don’t enjoy swimming — you don’t have to get wet if you don’t want to and still get to enjoy the view from the water. It’s also a gentle, effective way to build upper body strength. If you’re not ready to invest in a canoe or kayak of your own, try them out at Zoar Outdoor or Crab Apple Whitewater, both in Charlemont. Zoar offers introductory courses for kayaking beginners, intermediate courses, and guided kayak rentals on the Deerfield River. During the guided tours, kayakers not only get instruction but also a taste of the river’s natural and cultural history. The tours last about 3 and a half hours. Plus, if you do get wet and are in need of drying off, Zoar also offers ziplining and rock climbing instruction.•
