Vermont Splitboard Festival
I’m about a week late writing this one, and I’m going to blame it on a certain, slightly sketch, cherry doughnut, purchased at a gas station in Holyoke, MA along with an equally dodgy cup of “highway-coffee” (you know the type). I don’t know what kind of fool would think a cherry flavored doughnut from a gas station would ever be a good idea, but after an hour and a half of white-knuckle driving from Hartford in trash weather, starting at dark ‘o clock, my judgement may have been skewed. A few more hours of white-knuckle driving landed me at the Middlebury Snowbowl, seconds after the parking lot had reached capacity. Clearly, this situation would have been avoided, had I not stopped for that cursed doughnut.
Overflow parking was located a few slushy, slippy miles down the mountain at nearby Middlebury College, where I promptly missed the next shuttle. It was almost 10:30 and rumors of an hour and a half wait circulated amongst the grumbling crowd forming in the parking lot. Stupid dougnut. The nice couple who parked next to me hatched a plan and offered a ride back up the hill. Bill was just going drop Leslie and I at the lodge, but “accidentally” found a few precious inches of space to park his truck in the process.
Thanks Leslie and Bill!
Okay. Back on track. Uphill pass, then event registration. Let’s get at it.
The Vermont Splitboard Festival is the Green Mountain State’s year yearly get together for the region’s self propelled riders, featuring equipment demos, avalanche safety education, guided tours and a well stocked raffle. Here are a few scenes from the expo area at the base .
Of course, the real action was happening out on the mountain.
At about 2:00, the Unlikely Riders hosted their guided tour.
Unlikely Riders is a Vermont non-profit focused on encouraging BIPOC participation in snow sports. Their projects include getting donated gear to those in need, community ski/ride days, education and instruction. You can find out more about them HERE.
Several tours, and a few hastily eaten pb&j sandwiches later (chased with some beef jerky and a couple of Pop Tarts), late afternoon caught up with me. A small mountain of gear, donated by the event sponsors, was raffled off, with proceeds going to support the Catamount Trail.
A big Thank You goes to Splitboard VT, the volunteers, tour leaders, and brand ambassadors who put in time on a powder day to make this event a success.
Fortunately, my drive back to Connecticut fairly was uneventful, and I managed to walk through the front door before midnight. Unfortunately, I spent the next two days in bed, unable to eat, while the angriest of microbes waged brutal war on every inch of my digestive system. I have no scientific, logical or otherwise reasonable justification, but I’m going to say it anyhow -
Stupid doughnut.