"So, here we are, once again, searching for buried treasure." - David Goodman, referring to the process of finding backcountry stashes in the woods of Vermont.
The most recent Climb It For Climate saw nearly 40 uphill enthusiasts join together for a full moon skin at Lincoln Peak on December 5. Together, they trekked up Easy Rider to Pushover, and settled in at the top of the Gate House quad for a chilly transition before heading back downhill under a glowing moon. Upon returning to the Gate House Lodge, participants were joined by another dozen or so people for storytelling and open mic event focused on "The Homegrown Adventure." The event was hosted by Sugarbush, Friends of the Mad River (FMR), the Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition (MRVBC) and Protect Our Winters (POW).
RJ Thompson, executive director of Vermont Huts, gave his talk with two kids in tow. He shared stories of the journey to construct Chittenden Hut, the first backcountry hut of the 21 shelters in the Vermont Huts system. Following the arduous and painstaking process of constructing, transporting, and finishing the hut, he reflected upon the joys of being able to share this backcountry cabin with his wife, kids, and family. His story emphasized how special it is to have a network of remote huts like these to connect with family, share good times with friends, and create lasting memories, reported Friends of the Mad River’s Luke Foley.
Harwood Union High School junior, Cora Potts, spoke next of her burgeoning passion for splitboarding. She shared her memories of joining her father for uphill ride sessions during the Covid pandemic. With lifts shut down, and a little extra time on her hands, she and her family took to the outdoors. As her interest in the sport grew, and her frustration with snowshoeing uphill with a snowboard strapped to her back mounted, she eventually decided to purchase a splitboard, availing herself to many more opportunities to travel the back-, and sidecountry with ease. Lastly, Potts shared that being in the backcountry feels to her like a way to stay connected to the environment, and helps to motivate her in her advocacy for climate action through the Youth Lobby.
David Goodman, author of Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, shared the history of backcountry ski travel in Vermont, including his use of maps and documents from the 1930s to "discover" trails and ski lines cut by CCC crews back during the Great Depression. He used these resources, as well as countless hours bushwhacking through New England woods, to compile his well-known book. Amidst this wonderful history lesson, Goodman also regaled those present with several stories of "misadventures," including crashing a New Year's Eve party after getting turned around on Mount Mansfield and having to bail to the nearest house.
These guest presenters were joined by some from the audience, who used the Open Mic sessions to share their stories of finding adventure, connection, and community close to home. Emma Dannenberg, education and outreach officer from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, talked about finding community in the outdoors and her inspiration for the initiative of “Shred the ‘Shed”, a project aimed at helping people stay connected to their watershed in the winter. Carrie Pill, an artist from the Killington area, shared an experience of getting together a group of women backcountry enthusiasts for a point-to-point adventure from Killington to Pico. Marina Dosch, a recent addition to the MRVBC board, shared about moving from the West and finding connection to place and community through skiing.
“All the stories spoke to using our shared passion for the outdoors to find “our people” and to connect with a purpose bigger than ourselves,” Foley said.
The night culminated with the entire group circling up to share intentions for outdoor recreation and climate action as they move into 2026. From “skiing 70 days for their 70th birthday,” to “finding more community to ski, rather than flying solo,” to “aiming for 100 days of uphill touring this season,” participants used the inspiration of the evening to dream about this upcoming winter’s adventures.
There are several more events coming up later this winter: Two Uphill Races at Mt. Ellen on January 31, 2026, and February 28, 2026, as well as a season-long Uphill Challenge, which runs from January 1 through March 28. This winter’s Climb It For Climate series will culminate with another uphill touring rally, set for March 28, 2026. Find more information on the series at https://www.friendsofthemadriver.org/events.html.
You might also like
