back to back travel plans with opposite weather

The miles and elevations of Lincoln Gap Road. The
Warren approach is left. The Lincoln approach is right.

We returned home last Monday from Florida and left again last Wednesday for Vermont. In other words, we went from seventy degrees to "feels like" negative double digits. I can't complain though because Vermont only felt that cold for a few short instances on our entire trip. In addition, having five full days with friends we get to see once a year (sometimes less) is nothing to whine about. Eleven of us shared a home we rented in Warren, Vermont. The home was more of a gigantic cabin than a house and was designed by the famous architect David Sellers. Not only does David design homes, he also designed Lincoln Lodge at Sugarbush and the Mad River Rocket - a sled he created. 

Our five days in winter paradise consisted of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. A small group of us even drove north up to Burlington, so we could enjoy a Penny Cluse breakfast and a quick grocery run at City Market. The same group even made time for a hot buttered rum in front of the fireplace at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. The best part of the entire weekend (for me) was the sledding. I read about a guide service that drives you to Lincoln Gap Road - a road that is closed all snow season because of how much snow it receives. The grade is very steep (6%), making it impossible to keep clear and safe all winter, so the town shuts it down around the 2.7 mile marker (approaching from the Warren side, not Lincoln). We parked our car where the plowing ended and embarked on the mile plus hike straight to the top, gaining about one thousand feet in elevation. Then, we hopped on our sleds and sped down. We joked about going thirty to fifty miles per hour, and although I don't truly believe we were going that fast, there were times when we were flying. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. If you are in the area, make the trip and just keep walking up. Although it is steep, it is only a mile and you will get there sooner or later. The guide service charged fifty five dollars to provide a ride and a sled, but we did it all for free and had the time of our lives - a few of us brought our own sleds and conveniently enough, the homeowner had a few Mad River Rockets ready for our use at the cabin.