Nor’East Trail Runners: Snowshoe Racing at Merck Forest

by Eliza Hamm, Race Director, Nor’east Trail Runs

The 2nd Annual Merck Forest Snowshoe Ultra race took place this year on March first. The first sap run had just been boiled. Before dusk, the day would see feats of endurance, camaraderie, and lots of maple syrup. Two dozen snowshoe runners set off from the Sap House through the crisp winter air to the echoing sound of cowbells, reverberating across the high Taconic valley. More excited than nervous, the snowshoers were a serious lot. They should be. This wasn’t just any race.

Known as the “Toughest sanctioned snowshoe race in the world” the Merck Forest Snowshoe Ultra is also one of the most lowkey and approachable. Athletes meet in the Sap House for hot cider and check-in, where you can find first time snowshoe racers mingling with national champions. Winding through 25 or 50 kilometers of beautiful working Taconic hardwood forest, the race leads snowshoers over 8,500 feet of elevation gain, cresting Mt. Antone a whopping four times in the 50K distance.

As the shadows drew longer, Cody Cutler of Sterling, Massachusetts, was the first to finish his final lap to complete the 50K in 6:33. He did it on a pair of Dion demo snowshoes, which he strapped to his running shoes for the first time (ever). Made in Bennington, Dion provided lightweight racing demos, outfitting over half the athletes looking to try out something more purpose built than the old wooden models. Judging on the times and highfives out there, it looks like they did the trick!

The Merck Snowshoe Ultra is one of 13 races in the area put on by Nor’east Trail Runs, as short as 1 mile and as long as 48 hours. We are bringing a brand new trail race to Merck this October, the Nor’witch Halloween 25K, 50K & 100K! Check out netrailruns.com to learn more about all our events. See you on the trail!

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Merck Forest continues to adhere to Vermont’s Stay Home and Stay Safe recommendations, and our Calendar is suspended. We hope to reschedule the following events and activities as soon as conditions permit. You will find full details and registration information at www.merckforest.org/events

HIKES & WORKSHOPS:

Second Saturday Hikes. 2 – 4pm, $5pp. Monthly through October Lift your spirits with a moderate staff-guided hike into our hillside forest.

Volunteer Work Parties. 10am – 3pm, FREE. Last Saturday of the month through October

We might mulch raspberries, prune apple trees or wage war on invasive exotics -- there’s always something to do on the farm!

Wilderness First Aid Workshop. May 2 – 3, 8:30 – 5pm, $200/240. Wilderness First Aid training for backcountry emergencies; CPR component available. Preregistration is required and enrollment is limited.

Basic Chainsaw Safety Workshop. May 9, 8:30am to 4pm, $190pp (Course is full….taking names on a waiting list). Chainsaw techniques and maintenance for beginners.

Early Morning Bird Walks. May 9, 23, June 13, 7 - 9am, $5pp. Conservation Manager Tim Duclos will lead early morning walks to document incoming migratory birds.

Migratory Bird Lecture. May 9, 10 – 11am, $5pp. Birds are arriving or moving through our area: why do they migrate and what challenges do they face? Learn about the phenomenon of avian migration.

Game of Logging Levels 1&2. May 23 – 24, $380pp. (Level 1 & 2 are full. We’re taking names on a waiting list). Precision felling and maximizing chainsaw performance.

Game of Logging, Levels 3 & 4. May 30-31, 8:30 to 4pm, $380. Limbing, bucking and handling difficult trees and storm cleanup

SPECIAL EVENTS:

MFFC Annual Meeting. June 12.

Keynote Speaker: Liz Putman, founder of Student Conservation Association and former MFFC Board member, Advisor.

SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS:

Wilderness Day Camp. July 13 – 17

Forest Day Camp (Session 1). July 20 – 24

Forest Day Camp (Session 2). August 3 – 7

SUMMER EVENTS:

BioBlitz 2020. July 25 – 26

Bluegrass Concert. August 1

Mushrooms! August 23. Family Mushroom Hunt (am); Mushroom ID Workshop (pm)

Thoreau Lecture in partnership with GMALL, MCL September 15

Thoreau Hike in partnership with GMALL, MFFC; September 19

Harvest Festival. September 19

Twilight on the Mountain, October 10

Plein Air Painting with George VanHook, in partnership with SVAC, October 11

FAMILY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES:

Meet the Lambs. May 16, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Suggested Donation $3. Have your little lambs meet our little lambs. There will be activities for children of all ages.

Meet and Feed the Animals. (Sunday afternoons from May 24 through October 11) and Farm Chores for Children (Thursday afternoons from July 2 through August 13)

Both events run from 3pm to 4pm, $5/child.

Join Merck staff as we tend the animals and perform routine farm chores.