On June 20th, 2018, I plan to get on my bike at the Vermont/Canadian border in North Troy, VT at 4:30 am on June 20th and head south along VT Route 100.

If all goes well, I’ll make use of the day’s 15 1/2 hours of daylight and make it to North Adams, Massachusetts, some 215 miles away. This well-traveled and frequently completed bike ride can take up to 4 days or more, yet each year there are a number of riders who tackle the ‘200 on 100’ ride in a single day.

To my knowledge, however, none of them have then turned around the next day and started a run back north on the Long Trail.

On June 21st, on the morning of the solstice, I’ll change bike shoes for trail runners and start up the Long Trail. The first 4 miles or so are still in Massachusetts, which adds some distance and elevation gain to make the first day a bit longer, but, again, if all goes well, I’ll be on my way north toward Journey’s End at the Long Trail’s northern terminus.

Check out the Google Map of the ride & run below:

With the help of friends and family, I’ve started breaking down the days a bit more granularly — trying my best to balance distance and elevation, keeping in mind the transition from bike to run, and making sure I have support when I need it most.

This year, I’m inviting people to join me every step of the way on the Long Trail; most of my adventures have been in far-flung locations in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, so my hope is to bring the conversation about building individual, community, and ecological resilience to Vermont and share the experience as widely as possible. If you’re interested in joining for a day, half-day, or even a few miles, shoot me an email and let me know! 

I am also fundraising to support 3 Vermont non-profits that are essential to conservation, education, and recreation in our state: The Green Mountain Club, The NorthWoods Stewardship Center, and the Catamount Trail Association. These non-profits and their dedicated members, staff, and volunteers are helping every day to build a more resilience and long-lasting relationship between Vermont communities, visitors to the state, and the natural environment we’re so fortunate to live in.

More details to come soon!