Benefit Bash on Sunday, May 18th

Save the date for the Mad River Path Association's annual springtime rite of passage - the Benefit Bash on Sunday, May 18th, at Lareau Farm Inn Pavilion in Waitsfield. The event starts with the association's annual meeting at 5:00 p.m., and continues with American Flatbread, a wide assortment of salads and deserts, cash bar, fabulous silent auction prizes and fantastic music by the Big Basin Band. Read more...

In conjunction with the Valley Walk and Roll Festival

Family Day on the Mad River Greenway
Sunday, May 18th   Read more...

Hike on the Mill Brook Trail
Thursday, May 15th   Read more...

Spring 2008 Donation Requests & Greetings

This year will be our busiest one on record and we want to invite you to be part of the action. We have expanded our community events from one to two and want to give everyone an opportunity to choose where you would like your support to go.

We have many opportunities for sponsors—donate a prize or gift certificate for a silent auction, provide a scrumptious food item, be a corporate sponsor and have your logo put on our Mad Dash banners in Warren Village or Irasville, or chose one of many levels of financial support. Proceeds from our events are used to support the activities of the Mad River Path Association and your help makes maintenance, improvements and expansion of the Path possible.

Last spring we held our 20th Anniversary Benefit Bash at Lareau Farm Inn Pavilion, and it was such a resounding success for both the Path and for those who attended that we have decided to make it an annual springtime rite of passage. Save the date of Sunday, May 18th for an early evening of music, American Flatbread, fabulous silent auction items and a great time to reconnect with friends, old and new.

Our 13th Mad Dash Community Fitness Event will be held on Sunday, September 21 on the Mad River Greenway. Last year we had over 450 runners, walkers, volunteers and supporters. The Kids’ Fun Run was our most successful ever with 82 participants, providing a great core of future Mad Dashers.

To solidify your support, please make your donation today. You may print and complete our Mad Dash Sponsorship form, and you may read here about donations to the Benefit Bash. Hopefully each will be self-explanatory, but if you have any questions, please give me a call at the Path office (496-7284) or send along an email.

Thank you so much for supporting one of the Mad River Valley’s most beloved recreational choices. We couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,
Carol Thompson
Executive Director

Mad River Path Association hires new Trail Manager

Dwight Gies from Fayston has been hired at the new Trail Manager for the MRPA. With previous experiences of being a crew leader and park manager for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps at Emerald Lake State Park, and also a park ranger with the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation at Jamaica State Park, Dwight comes to the Path with experience in leading volunteer and paid crews as well as knowledge of the Vermont state trail standards. Dwight will be working with local schools, organizing volunteer work days, clearing trails when needed, training new volunteers and assessing the current and future needs of the Path.

2008 Work Plans

Fred Gilbert, chairman of the MRPA Trails Committee, has started his list of trail projects for the 2008. Projects include: Upgrading, relocating one section and blazing the Millbrook Trail, extending the Path on the Kingsbury Community Farm property, repairing or replacing the VAST bridge on the Mad River Greenway, developing new trails on land recently purchased by the town of Warren near the Golden Lion Inn on the Kingsbury Greenway, and finishing the new trail in Fayston that the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps constructed last summer.


Chase Brook Bridge (adjacent to German Flat's Road) was destroyed by high water and ice on the evening of February 17th.
Photo taken by Dwight Gies.

Even with this long list of work to accomplish, the recent destruction by floodwaters of the bridge over the Chase Brook in Fayston adds another major project that needs to be addressed. This bridge is shared by the Catamount Trail and the MRPA and will need to be replaced as soon as possible. In the meantime, for those who are unable to cross the Chase Brook at this location, please respect the privacy of adjoining landowners and do not cross private property.

The Mad River Path Association is always looking for volunteers to help with the maintenance and construction of old and new trails and bridges. If you are interested in helping out, please call 496-7284 or send an email.

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