Luke Foley
Doug Martland
Genevieve Martland
Tim Peck
Mickey Spades
All by Tim Peck
Spring is here. Mickey Spades has been out on his dual sport riding the Puppy Dog Trail, Luke’s been snapping some awesome rock climbing photos, and I’ve even been out on my mountain bike, training for an upcoming bikepacking trip. If you missed any of these pieces the first time, be sure to check them out now.
The skiing is still awesome, but anybody that’s chatted with Tim or Mickey Spades recently knows that their minds have shifted to mountain bike season. Mickey, whose season has already started, is all abuzz about Borderland this and Bay Circuit that. But all that enthusiasm is mild compared to his jonesing about Little River, which he says I “just have to ride.”
With Spring in the air, it was time to dust off the bike panniers, pack some extra layers, and head out for an adventure on the dual sport. So last weekend, my buddy Jim and I set out to ride the Puppy Dog North Trail. It’s a 95-mile route that heads north from Westerly, Rhode Island for 95 miles to Greenfield, Massachusetts, along with a mix of beautiful country roads and dirt trails. Along the way it passes through some old-school towns, reminding riders of a time when life was simpler.
Climbing season is in full swing in Greater Boston and I’ve been psyched to get out to Quincy Quarries with Luke, Mickey, and the Ski Patrol Guys several times over the last few weeks. Getting back on real rock has been fantastic after a winter in the gym, and Luke’s captured the transition perfectly with the camera. Here's my favorites of his recent climbing pics, along with my description.
If you've never biked Little River in Vermont's Waterbury State Park, you're missing out. With 10+ minutes of continuous downhill on amazing machine-built berms and some sick doubles and drops, Little River is on my short list of places to ride in the Northeast. And because every obstacle is marked and usually has a B line, anyone—even Doug—can have a great day on this rider-friendly trail. It's a great place to spread your wings and learn to fly if you so choose.
This installment of the Quincy Quarries bouldering project covers the climbs found on O wall.
Get caught up on everything you’ve missed on The Whites Room with our latest Surf Station.
There’s nothing better than making you’re own tracks after a fresh snowfall. But when you live in Greater Boston finding fresh tracks can sometimes seem impossible. I mean, there’s millions of people around here and unless you time things perfectly, somebody usually beats you to the punch. Except, that is, at what feels like my secret stash—Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, Massachusetts, where fresh tracks abound.
There are a lot of things sexier than a new pair of gloves, but few things can make or break a day in the snow than a warm pair of mitts. When the weather gets cold and we head to the mountains, my “go to” gloves for the past ten years had been a pair of XL men’s mittens from the local outdoor outfitter. I’d throw a thin pair of gloves underneath and hope I’d be able shove my fingers far enough in to grip my ski poles. Perhaps they were warm ten years ago, but I can’t recall, for as far as my memory serves my fingers have been cold.
Snow kiting is another of my favorite winter sports. All you need is an open field with no power lines, a little bit of snow (four inches is perfect), and some wind.
My feet are in the wrong spot, my body position sucks, and my balance gets even iffier every time I take a stroke with this too-short paddle. My time on this wave is limited—in a few moments I’ll be off the board, floating in the runout downstream. But for now I’m having a blast. It’s fun to be a noob again.
What do you need to go out in the winter, paddling amongst the Cape Cod ice? Here’s my list.
There’s so much dual sport gear out there that sometimes it’s hard to know what’s best for you. Indeed, maybe you’ve bought gear on somebody’s recommendation, only to find that the conditions they’re using it in are quite different than yours. To help solve that problem, here’s a list of what I’ve found is working best for me in New England this winter. And if you’re looking to ride in conditions like these–essentially brisk days with the temps ranging from 39-55–this gear is worth checking out. Hopefully you’ll even find that it will work for you too.
When you’re flying through the backcountry on your dual sport, your helmet might be your most important safety tool. I’ve been wearing my Klim Krios ADV Helmet for months now and love it. So much so that I named it my 2018 Gear of the Year here on the TWR. Here’s why.
To say mountain biking has been stagnant for 10 years just isn’t true. Of all the sports I participate in, biking has progressed significantly, and all these changes are pushing the gear in the perfect direction. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring. But seriously, can we please drop the E-bikes!
I thought I knew a lot about the life of heli-skiing pioneer Hans Gmoser, having first read about him in Topher Donahue’s book Bugaboo Dreams. However, after reading Deep Powder & Steep Rock: The Life of Mountain Guide Hans Gmoser by Chick Scott, I now recognize that I only knew a small part of the picture, as Deep Powder & Steep Rock delivers a comprehensive look at Gmoser’s life. Documenting the entire journey from an Austrian-born boy who went on to become a legend in the Canadian mountains and the father of heli-skiing.
Borderland State Park, in Easton, Massachusetts, has awesome winter mountain biking. The best way to experience it is on a fat bike after a big snowfall. My favorite loop is about 9 miles and takes you through some of the best winter fat biking terrain Borderland has to offer. Here’s the beta (and a map so you don’t get lost).
