Vermont is making significant strides in outdoor recreation with the development of The Velomont, an ambitious 485-mile multi-use trail designed to span the entire state. This collaborative project aims to integrate existing trail networks, link 27 communities, and provide huts and hostels for overnight stays, with new construction now ramping up after years of planning, permits, and public input.
A core commitment of the organizers is to ensure the trail is as user-friendly as possible, particularly for the growing community of disabled athletes who utilize specially designed adaptive mountain bikes. Angus McCusker, Velomont trail director with the nonprofit Vermont Huts and Trails, noted, "For us, it's not a huge lift to just be mindful when we're trying to build trail or improve trail to think about the adaptive rider."
However, a primary challenge lies in connecting to existing trail networks that were not originally designed for adaptive equipment. To address this, the project is actively conducting adaptive assessments. Louis Arevalo of Essex Junction, an adaptive athlete paralyzed in a skiing accident six years ago, is among those assisting with these evaluations.
Riding an electric-powered, recumbent-style three-wheeler, which is wider and heavier than standard mountain bikes, Arevalo recently participated in an assessment on overgrown single-track trails in Randolph, a town nestled along the eastern edge of the Green Mountains.
Arevalo, who pedals with his hands and is often accompanied by his service dog Azul, expressed the profound impact of accessible trails. "Once you realize what these bikes are capable (of) or this equipment actually opens up, it kind of blows your mind," he said, adding that getting back on the trails has been a "game changer." He emphasized the importance of outdoor access in Vermont, stating, "There's a reason we live in the Green Mountain state. It's because we like to get outside…you know, seeing the squirrels and chipmunks and birds… I mean, it's life."
During an assessment, Nick Bennette, executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association—another nonprofit spearheading the Velomont efforts—encountered difficulties with a different adaptive bike on tight turns. He highlighted the value of testing various adaptive bikes, as "they all handle a little differently." Bennette and his team are meticulously documenting issues and proposing solutions, such as "scalloping out a bit of material on the outside of that corner" to allow adaptive bikes to navigate turns without altering the trail's overall ride experience.
Beyond the trails themselves, contractors are also focusing on making overnight accommodations accessible. This summer, an ADA-accessible hostel is being built in downtown Randolph. Additionally, two remote huts along the trail will feature locked sheds stocked with off-road wheelchairs, eliminating the need for bikers to transport their own.
McCusker showcased the Chittenden Brook Hut, which now includes a new ramp and a wider driveway. "So if you're an adaptive rider, you can imagine rolling right up here and you can transfer to your chair that's available here, and then roll down the ramp and go down to the fireplace, to the privy, to make your meal," he explained.
Arevalo, who stayed at the hut last summer for his first camping trip since his accident, praised the experience: "There was a babbling brook right there…and it was really refreshing to have easy access to a beautifully built hut that was easy to navigate, and then have these world-class trails right out the door.
And with these Velomont trails, I can actually plan a hut-to-hut trip with other people."
Jeff Alexander, director of strategic partnerships with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities access outdoor recreation, underscores the economic benefit of such initiatives. An economic impact analysis commissioned by his group estimated their programming generated over $10 million last year. Alexander concluded, "The adaptive community has money, they travel, they want to travel and they want to play with everybody. We just need to level the playing field so that everyone can play together."
Louis Arevalo rides his adaptive mountain bike through the trails at Randolph Town Forest during an adaptive assessment on Thursday, June 25. Nick Bennette, with the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, rides behind. Zoe McDonald/Vermont Public hide caption
