March 2026 / NEWS BRIEFS

Mad River Glen Acquires “20th Hole” Land Parcel

The Mad River Glen Cooperative successfully acquired the 1,100-acre land parcel for $2.5 million, with shareholders approving the purchase in a 1,214 to 11 vote on February 25. It secures long-term control over adjacent, historically utilized terrain, preserving it for recreational use and environmental stewardship. 

The deal covers 1,100 acres (referred to as the “20th Hole”) adjacent to the existing ski area, which was previously owned by the Pratt family. The purchase price was $2.5 million, with the total project cost reaching approximately $2.75 million, funded by donor support and the Stark Mountain Foundation. The land will be protected by a conservation easement, preventing future subdivision and ensuring it remains for outdoor recreation. This move was triggered by a Right of First Refusal when an outside buyer made an offer on the land: madriverglen.com.

Bear Den Partners and Smugglers’ Notch Announce Sale

On Feb. 11, Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Bear Den Partners announced a collaborative ownership transition that shifts the Vermont-based independent resort operator into partnership with Smugglers’ Notch of Jeffersonville, one of North America’s most celebrated family-focused mountain destinations.

Smugglers’ Notch has been owned and operated for the past 29 years by William Stritzler, whose values-driven leadership has shaped the resort’s enduring reputation for family connection, community, and an authentic mountain experience. The Stritzler family will continue to have an ownership stake and Bill’s daughter Lisa will serve as an advisor on the future of the mountain. The partnership with Bear Den Partners reflects a shared commitment to preserving these principles while supporting the resort’s long-term vitality.

Widely recognized for maintaining a classic family mountain atmosphere, Smugglers’ Notch prioritizes simplicity, warmth, and meaningful guest experiences across all seasons. In winter, the resort manages daily capacity to ensure uncrowded slopes, exceptional instruction, and a throwback skiing and riding experience. In the warmer months, Smuggs offers extensive summer and fall programming, including mountain biking, hiking, ziplining, disc golf, water features, skate parks, shopping, and family activities that bring guests back year after year.

Bear Den Partners is led by lifelong Vermont skier and investment professional Ken Graham, chairman of Bear Den Partners, and ski industry veteran Jon Schaefer, who serves as CEO. In 2025, Bear Den acquired Burke Mountain Vermont, where the Graham family have been skiers and community members for over 50 years. The Schaefer family also owns and operates Berkshire East and Bosq… in western Massachusetts and Catamount Mountain Resort on the MA/NY border. Bear Den emphasizes local leadership, operational independence, and respect for each mountain’s unique character.

Under the new ownership structure, Smugglers’ Notch will continue to operate with its existing culture, values, and commitment to guests, employees, and the surrounding community. Future investments will be targeted and collaborative, focusing on core infrastructure, guest experience, employee support, and long-term stewardship of the resort: smuggs.com.

Henry Loher Wins the Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition

On Feb. 14-15, 55 ski jumpers took part in the 104th Harris Hill Ski Jump Competition in Brattleboro. They came from as far away as Norway and Slovenia to compete on the only Olympic-sized ski jump in New England. Nearly 6,000 people came out to watch the jumpers fly down the ramp and glide through the air.

The athletes are judged not only on distance but on style, with judges looking at three parts of their jump: their formation while they are in flight; their landing in the telemark position with one ski in front of the other, knees bent; and how well they maintain their form after they’ve touched down on the outrun at the end of their jump.

This year’s competition, which coincided with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, saw 17-year-old Henry Loher from Lake Placid, NY (NYSEF), edge out Slovenia’s Urh Rosar. Urh had been on track to permanently retire the trophy after winning the open class championships for the past two years in a row. But Henry’s second jump of 99 meters (325 feet) gave him a total score of 252.5 to best Orh’s 250, becoming the first US jumper since 2013 to win the tournament.

The first ever women’s class trophy was awarded to Slovenia’s Nejka Repinc with a 91.5 meter (300 feet) jump putting her ahead of her other competitors.

In 1922, a college kid named Fred Harris built a wooden ski jump in his hometown of Brattleboro, and the Harris Hill Ski Jump was born: harrishillskijump.com.

NFCT Announces 2025 Thru-Paddlers

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail has announced the latest additions to its roster of official thru-paddlers on Jan. 22. Five paddlers completed the entire 740-mile inland water trail in 2025: Austin Garber of Hermon, ME; Jonah Vitale-Wolff of Petersburgh, NY; Cassandra Smith and Henry Kohler of Martinsburg, PA; and Justin Reich of Arlington, MA. 

The NFCT is a mapped inland water trail tracing 740 miles of Indigenous and historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. The canoe trail starts in Old Forge, NY, and ends in Fort Kent, ME, traversing 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and towns, and more than 65 portages.

Thru-paddling involves traversing the NFCT by paddlecraft, downstream and upstream via flatwater, whitewater and overland, through deep wilderness and trail town communities. To be recognized as an official NFCT thru-paddler, individuals must complete the entire route as one expedition during a single season. They are also required to formally register their trip for thru-paddler status. Thru-paddlers are classified in two categories: those who complete the trail from west to east self-propelled, and those who complete the trail west to east supported by shuttles. All five paddlers in 2025 were recognized as self-propelled.

While thru-paddlers take on the whole canoe trail at once, the vast majority of NFCT paddlers pick specific sections for day trips, overnights, and week-long trips. Learn more about shorter suggested trips: northernforestcanoetrail.org.

Forest Service Approves 72 Miles for Velomont Bike Trail

Vermont Huts & Trails and the Vermont Mountain Bike Association are excited about the US Forest Service’s 2025 approval to designate 72 miles of National Forest System roads and trails in the Manchester Ranger District within the Green Mountain National Forest as part of the Velomont Trail – a future, state-wide, hut-supported mountain bike and multiuse trail running from Massachusetts to Canada.

The newly designated section includes a mix of new trail construction, upgrades to existing routes, and targeted relocations to improve sustainability and user experience. Once complete, it will expand mountain bike access to areas where limited or no opportunities currently exist, increase connectivity between rural towns, and open new points of entry to the outdoors – designed to be adaptive-friendly wherever possible.

Key highlights – Environmental safeguards: Trail alignment was adjusted to avoid sensitive flora, fauna, and cultural resources. Tribal and public engagement: The Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians and the Elnu Abenaki Tribe were consulted, as well as over 200 public comments received – the majority in support. Greater trail connectivity: This decision adds to the recently-signed Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project in the Rochester District; which, pending final specialist reviews, will authorize over 100 combined miles of Velomont Trail.

A true, multi-organizational effort, VHT will be working with local VMBA chapters, like the SoVTA, on new trail construction, as well as the Catamount Trail Association  on existing trail that will be ultimately shared with the Velomont. Construction on the trail can begin immediately, with phased openings as sections are completed: vermonthuts.org

Vermont Huts & Trails is a nonprofit whose mission is to foster a deeper appreciation of our natural environment and strengthen Vermont’s communities by providing enriching and immersive outdoor experiences for all. Founded in 1997, Vermont Mountain Bike Association is a nonprofit that, through a family of 28 chapters, serves as the unified voice for mountain biking in Vermont: vmba.org.