Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Slide Away

Winter may be winding down, but it still has a last hurrah or two left. Snow-centric sports, for example, are still going strong — take Catamount Trail Association’s third annual Backcountry Challenge Race & Tour. Competitive Nordic skiers and leisurely paced “tourists” alike tackle a thigh-burning 2300-foot climb and exhilarating1300-foot descent en route from the Trapp Family Touring Center to the Bolton Valley Nordic Center — on 70 percent ungroomed trails, no less. Besides the stunning mountaintop views, “A lot of people do it just because it’s a real challenge,” says CTA executive director Jim Fredericks. “If someone has to break snow, they break snow. It will all depend on the conditions of the day.” A post-race group meal and raffle prizes make it worth your while. Up for the adventure?