Vermont Travel Notes

For the past six years, the Tubbs Snowshoe Company has been holding a series of snowshoe walks and races to raise funds for the Susan G Komen for the Cure organization.

Last year, Tubb's Romp to Stomp was held in five US cities, had 3,800 participants and raised about $250,000 for the Komen foundation.

Vermont's 2009 Romp to Stomp will be held January 31 at the Stratton Nordic Center.

There will be three events: a 3K fun run, a 3K walk, and a 5K walk. Representatives from Tubbs will be on hand for free snowshoe demos. Even if you have never used snowshoes, you can participate. Snowshoeing is easy to learn and a lot of fun. It's a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

You can pre-register online ($30) or at the event ($35 - arrive early to do so). Checks or cash only are accepted.

Stratton is located in southern Vermont.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the Tubbs photo above)

VAST Snowmobile Photo

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers is a huge association made up of snowmobile clubs around the state. Next Saturday, January 31, they are offering a free snowmobile ride event for military personnel (past and present) and their families.

The event will be at the field behind Kenyon's Variety Store on Route 100 between Moretown and Waitsfield Vermont.

The event starts at 10:00 am and goes to 2:00 pm. "This is a great chance to try out snowmobiling
at no cost in a safe environment."

Our inn is located about ten minutes away. We normally offer a five percent military discount but for this event we will double that to ten percent that weekend.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

(c) Bolton Valley Resort

Bolton Valley Resort and the Catamount Trail Association are presenting a Backcountry Ski Festival tomorrow, January 25 starting at 10:00 am.

There will be equipment reps available to answer questions. Instructors will be on hand to help new and intermediate skiers and there will be a guided tour of Bolton's well know back country terrain which is a great way to learn the territory without the worry of getting lost - it's a very large and remote area.

If you don't have backcountry ski equipment, you can rent it at the Bolton Nordic Center. It is best to call ahead and reserve it: 802-434-6876.

There is a $25 charge for festival participants which includes a Nordic trail pass, access to the clinics, tours and the vendor area.

The Catamount Trail Association maintains Vermont's Catamount cross country ski trail which runs some 300 miles the length of the state north and south.

Bolton Valley is located off Route 2 between Waterbury and Burlington.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Forbes.com has an article called America's Best Snowy Drives with an accompanying slide show listing the top ten winter drives in the US.

Of note to us is that one is in Vermont, one is in nearby upstate New York, and they missed a great one in New Hampshire.

The Vermont drive is Route 100 from Stowe to Rochester. This is a 48 mile section of Route 100 that I am familiar with because my inn is on that road in Waterbury. You will find the entire drive enjoyable but the best part will be between Warren and Rochester where you are driving in the Green Mountain National Forest. I wrote a travel review of Route 100 on Milebymile.com that includes this section. It will have more details on what you can expect to find.

A nearby drive in upstate New York is within an easy drive of Vermont. This Lake George Loop starts and ends in Glens Falls NY at the southern end of Lake George.

One of my favorite drives in the country is in nearby New Hampshire. It takes me just 45 minutes to get over there from my north central VT location. The road is State Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, a magnificent drive. The road runs East and West so it is best to drive it without the sun in your eyes. In other words, from east to west in the morning, and west to east in the afternoon.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Photo (c) Okemo


Here is a very good deal I just found on the Okemo Blog. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 22, and continuing through Saturday, January 24, Okemo is extending its "Try and Buy" from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.

This program starts when the lifts start. It gives you a chance to see what the conditions are like before you purchase a lift ticket.

More information about this and other lift ticket information is available on the resort's website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor

There are all manner of things to do in the winter and if you are looking for something different to try, consider ice climbing. It's basically mountain climbing on large, frozen waterfalls.

Sunrise Adventures Climbing School here in Vermont is offering an ice climbing school at the end of this month at Smuggler's Notch near Jeffersonville.

Sunrise is based at Triple Diamond Ski and Sports on Route 108 a couple of hundred yards from the Smugglers Notch Ski Resort.

There will be equipment demonstrations, classes, slide show, and some apres' climbing socializing. The classes are on Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1. See the schedule on the Ice Bash 2009 web page (scroll down to see the class listings and prices). You can register online or use their email or phone number to get in touch with them.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn