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Fat (video) Tuesday – Law Island

Written by: Greg Maino, www.juskuz.com, Instagram: @igmaino, Facebook: @igmaino

ROUTE INFO:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35237434

VIDEO by: Brennan Guerriere

This past fall I purchased a fatbike. It was a bit of a commitment for me, as I’m one of those people who really struggled to understand what the big deal was with biking in the winter. Typically, winter for me is a time to do all of the things you can’t do during the warmer months… ski, snowshoe, ice climb, etc… And, fatbiking just seemed like a heavy, slow, cold, and less exciting version of riding in the summer.

John, Brennan, and Rob making their way through Burlington’s Old North End.

That said, with the pandemic still going strong I needed to find a new winter activity that was more convenient as my typical winter pastimes required travel and/or sharing space with more people than I’d prefer. Fortunately, there were a number of fatbike trail systems located nearby, and some interestiLaw Island my primary reason for getting a fatbike was so I could continue getting out for short overnights. I started getting into bikepacking a couple of years ago and have really enjoyed the freedom it has provided. A fatbike has allowed me to continue getting out despite the change of seasons, and I’ve enjoyed a number of overnights since the beginning of January. 

Enjoying the trails at the Intervale

My last trip was to Law Island, a 9-acre natural area conserved in 1994 by the Lake Champlain Land Trust. This island is located just a short distance off the Colchester Causeway which can be accessed from the Burlington Bike Path and is just 10 lovely miles from downtown Burlington. All season long we had been watching the ice and waiting for the right weather window, and when the stars aligned three friends and myself grabbed our bikes and our camping gear and got after it. 

We met in Burlington’s Old North End and rode backroads and side streets until we could get off the pavement at the Intervale Center, a 360 acre farm and trail system that is part of the Burlington Wildways Trail System. From the Intervale we rode trails through a number of other parks, before a short jaunt on the road to get to the Burlington Bike Path. One on the bike path we enjoyed some easy miles out to the causeway. Once on the causeway we made our way across the frozen lake to the island and setup camp, enjoying a great night before heading back to town the next morning. 

Crossing over the mouth of the Winooski River on the Burlington Bike Path with Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks in the background

Our route was ~30 miles roundtrip starting from the south end of Burlington, and was mostly trails and bike paths. It’s incredible that we can enjoy a trip like this right from our doorsteps, and I feel very fortunate to call Burlington home and to have discovered fat biking. 

On the Colchester Causeway approaching our destination for the night
Made it safely across the ice. Now to find a campsite.
The best part of the trip… Enjoying the warmth of a fire with good people
Our camping situation for the night. Plenty of flat space for everyone to spread out.
Rob and his minimalist setup.
The view from overhead as we make our way back across the ice the following morning. 
Almost home! Riding along the shore of Lake Champlain just north of Burlington. 

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2 Responses to Fat (video) Tuesday – Law Island

  1. Erv Spanks March 26, 2021 at 2:02 am #

    Fantastic edit! Brought me back to elementary school social studies movies, fun times.

    Thanks for sharing, cheers!

  2. Mark January 15, 2022 at 8:11 pm #

    Very charming video! I, too, am new to fat biking. I got my Mongoose Argus in December and have been thrilled with the bike. The forecast for Southern Maine (where I live) this winter is more ice than snow. But, thanks to my studded tires, I’ve been able to enjoy winter to the fullest

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