About Mad River Riders
The Mad River Riders are dedicated to building and maintaining a sustainable trail network across the Mad River Valley for biking, trail running, hiking, fat biking, snowshoeing, and other human-powered activities. We believe that healthy outdoor recreation on good trails builds community, creates opportunities for fun and fitness, and fosters an appreciation for the natural world. The Riders were founded in 1986 and helped start the state-wide Vermont Mountain Bike Association in 1997. We also organize youth mountain biking programs including the Mad River Rippers, our popular kids' ride. Our annual events are focused on fun plus a little fundraising. Check out the Mad River Triathlon, Cranko de Mayo, Grateful Gravel, Unduro, and the Season-Ender Party.
We partner with many like-minded organizations:
If you want to get involved, email us at [email protected]. We can always use more help. There is trail work, programs, events, and much more to do!
We partner with many like-minded organizations:
- The USFS - Green Mountain National Forest
- VT Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Towns of Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, and Warren
- Dozens of private landowners
- Catamount Trail Association
- Mad River Path Association
- Vermont Association of Snow Travelers
- Vermont Land Trust
- Trust for Public Land
- Mad River Valley Planning District
- Mad River Valley Recreation District
- Mad River Valley Community Fund
If you want to get involved, email us at [email protected]. We can always use more help. There is trail work, programs, events, and much more to do!
Board Members & Staff
Andrew Hally - Comms & Marketing Chair
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Bob Kogut - Board President
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Carlton Cummiskey - Board Member
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Culley Thomas - Board Member
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Derek Lusso - Events Committee Chair
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Evan Booth - Board Member
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Evan Oppenheimer - Board Member
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Fletcher Malcom - Fundraising Committee Chair
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Jose Darias - Trail Crew Chief
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Kathy Haskell - Programs Committee Chair
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Kim Hall - Board Member
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Patrick Hartnett - Trails Committee Co-Chair
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Rob Wilich - Trails Committee Co-Chair
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Steph Hartnett - Treasurer
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Tom Weigel - Board Member
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Communications & Marketing:
Andrew Hally - co-chair
Kim Hall - co-chair
Events & Programs:
Derek Lusso
Kathy Haskell - programs chair
Marissa Wilich
Fundraising:
Bob Kogut - co-chair
Fletcher Malcom - co-chair
Trails:
Andrew Hally
Bernie Stebar
Carlton Cummiskey
Chris Stephenson
Culley Thomas
Evan Booth
Evan Oppenheimer
James Patterson
Patrick Hartnett - co-chair
Rob Wilich - co-chair
Scott Fleckenstein
Thatcher Simpson
Tom Weigel
Communications & Marketing:
Andrew Hally - co-chair
Kim Hall - co-chair
Events & Programs:
Derek Lusso
Kathy Haskell - programs chair
Marissa Wilich
Fundraising:
Bob Kogut - co-chair
Fletcher Malcom - co-chair
Trails:
Andrew Hally
Bernie Stebar
Carlton Cummiskey
Chris Stephenson
Culley Thomas
Evan Booth
Evan Oppenheimer
James Patterson
Patrick Hartnett - co-chair
Rob Wilich - co-chair
Scott Fleckenstein
Thatcher Simpson
Tom Weigel
Mad River Riders in the Media
Mad River Riders By The Numbers
History and Trail Protections
Mad River Riders founded: 1986
MRR Founding Chapter of VMBA: 1997
First legal state land multi-use trails in VT: 2002 - Phen Basin
Official VT-FPR State Recognition: 2006, with Stowe Mountain Bike Club (now Stowe Trails Partnership) and MRR officially adopting Perry Hill and Howe Block-Camel’s Hump State Forest, in addition to Phen Basin.
First VMBA chapter to build legal multi-use trails in Green Mountain National Forest: 2012 - Blueberry Lake (Flying Squirrel and Lenord’s Loop)
Official trails in 1997: 10 miles - all on private land
Official trails in 2022: 58+ miles - GMNF/USFS, 2 state forests, 3 town forests, more than 20 private landowners
Trails permanently protected in 1997: 0 miles
Trails permanently protected in 2022: 29 miles
Membership, Volunteers and Trail Investment
Members in 2011: 35
Beginner trails in 2011: 0 miles
Intermediate trails in 2011: 4 miles
Expert trails in 2011: 33 miles
Members in 2022: 702
Beginner trail miles in 2022: 5 miles
Intermediate trail miles in 2022: 14 miles
Expert trail miles in 2022: 36 miles
Volunteer hours in 2011: ~500
Volunteer hours in 2022: ~3500
Funds invested in MRV trail network 2011-2018 = $500,000+
Funds invested in MRV trail network 2019 = ~$90,000
Total MRV trail investment in 2019 (funds + volunteer hours) = $160,000
Trail Visits and Economic Impacts
Current estimated annual trail visits for the entire Riders network: ~90,000
Blueberry Lake
2016 Annual Visits: ~35,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,800,000
2018 Annual Visits: ~40,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$2,200,000
Lareau Farm and Howe Block Camel’s Hump State Forest
2016 Annual Visits: ~39,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,900,000
2018 Annual Visits: ~35,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,700,000
Mad River Riders founded: 1986
MRR Founding Chapter of VMBA: 1997
First legal state land multi-use trails in VT: 2002 - Phen Basin
Official VT-FPR State Recognition: 2006, with Stowe Mountain Bike Club (now Stowe Trails Partnership) and MRR officially adopting Perry Hill and Howe Block-Camel’s Hump State Forest, in addition to Phen Basin.
First VMBA chapter to build legal multi-use trails in Green Mountain National Forest: 2012 - Blueberry Lake (Flying Squirrel and Lenord’s Loop)
Official trails in 1997: 10 miles - all on private land
Official trails in 2022: 58+ miles - GMNF/USFS, 2 state forests, 3 town forests, more than 20 private landowners
Trails permanently protected in 1997: 0 miles
Trails permanently protected in 2022: 29 miles
Membership, Volunteers and Trail Investment
Members in 2011: 35
Beginner trails in 2011: 0 miles
Intermediate trails in 2011: 4 miles
Expert trails in 2011: 33 miles
Members in 2022: 702
Beginner trail miles in 2022: 5 miles
Intermediate trail miles in 2022: 14 miles
Expert trail miles in 2022: 36 miles
Volunteer hours in 2011: ~500
Volunteer hours in 2022: ~3500
Funds invested in MRV trail network 2011-2018 = $500,000+
Funds invested in MRV trail network 2019 = ~$90,000
Total MRV trail investment in 2019 (funds + volunteer hours) = $160,000
Trail Visits and Economic Impacts
Current estimated annual trail visits for the entire Riders network: ~90,000
Blueberry Lake
2016 Annual Visits: ~35,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,800,000
2018 Annual Visits: ~40,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$2,200,000
Lareau Farm and Howe Block Camel’s Hump State Forest
2016 Annual Visits: ~39,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,900,000
2018 Annual Visits: ~35,000
Annual local economic impact from visitors and locals: ~$1,700,000
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