Signups are now open at bit.ly/vtfall1018
Fall Break is quickly approaching, and Ski & Snowboard Club is heading to the biggest, raddest bike park in the East for the first time! With peak fall foliage in the Green Mountains, it's the perfect time to spend a long weekend off from school with the Skiwolves.
Here are the details...
We'll be leaving campus at 11am on Friday, October 5th, arriving to Emerald Lake State Park by sunset. Here, we'll set up to spend the next three nights camping in Vermont's State Park of the Year, located about 45 minutes from Killington.
Over the next three days we'll get outside and enjoy the best of what Vermont has to offer in the fall: hiking, biking and kayaking. Weather dependent, we'll spend Saturday hiking in the Green Mountain National Forest, Sunday either hiking or kayaking on beautiful Emerald Lake(optional), and Monday at Killington's Bike Park where we'll cap the trip off with an epic day of gravity fueled fun.
Killington has made serious investments in their mountain biking over the last few years, and is now the largest and highest rated bike park east of the Rockies. With three lifts and 29 trails, many built by Whistler-Blackcomb based Gravity Logic, you'll have your pick of long, smooth flowy trails or some gnarlier, rockier trails that will be sure to challenge your skills. Killington offers tons of truly beginner terrain off the Snowshed lift, so if you're new to the sport you'll find terrain that won't be over your head.
Pricing for the trip is as follows:
$159 for a one-day lift ticket, bike rental, protective equipment rentals, all travel, and three nights camping
$89 for a bike park ticket only, all travel and three nights camping (for those who own your own mountain bike).
What is included in this price?
-Three nights camping
-All travel
-Firewood for each night
-S'mores around the campfire each night
-Basic breakfast each morning
And for those renting a bike...
-Full day lift ticket and downhill mountain bike rental
-Full face helmet rental and protective padding
-Bike shoes
What is not included in this price?
-Sleeping bag (we suggest one rated for at least 40 degrees or colder!)
-Sleeping pad
-Flashlights/lanterns
-Other meals (lunch, dinner)
-Lessons for those who are new to the sport of mountain biking (email us for details and pricing)
Kayaking is an optional activity on Sunday, and will cost roughly an extra $15 to $30 per person at the campground. Rental bike insurance is available for those who want it for an extra $13, and will waive financial responsibility if you damage your rental.
Pricing above is for current undergraduates only. Because this trip is partially subsided by the Undergraduate Student Government via the student activity fee, we cannot apply the subsidy to non-undergrads. Grad students, alumni and non-SBU students are welcome on the trip but must pay the regular, discounted group rate which is an additional $52 per person.
========================================================
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN SLEEPING BAGS AND SLEEPING PADS. Because of their size, we don't have much room if everyone brings air mattresses. If you want to bring one instead of a pad, email us beforehand - sbuskiclub@gmail.com. Additionally, we highly recommend an external battery pack for your phone; there is no electricity at the campsite, which also means no wi-fi. Hot showers are available (bring quarters!) as is water.
We will be having a General Body Meeting on Wednesday, October 3rd from 1-2pm in the Campus Rec Center's Multipurpose Room to go over more trip info in greater detail. If you plan to attend this trip, make sure to come to this meeting but if you can't make it, just shoot us an email.
For clothing, we recommend long sleeves, long pants, and cycling gloves (or a lightweight winter glove depending on the temperature). Make sure to bring jackets and other cold weather gear, since the weather will likely be a bit more fall-like up in the mountains compared to Long Island.
This trip is limited to 14 participants (including only TWO spots for those owning a mountain bike!), so sign up soon to secure your spot. Your spot isn't guaranteed until payment is made online at http://mkt.com/skisbu.
As always, let us know if you have any questions. Email us at sbuskiclub@gmail.com!
===========================================================
Special note for those planning on bringing your own mountain bike
Your bike *MUST* have the following:
-A minimum of 5 inches of front suspension in the front forks
-Rear suspension
-Working disc brakes
-Bikes brought on the trip that do not meet the above restrictions will not be allowed on the trails for your own safety.
-Space is limited to 2 bikes on this trip
If you have your own mountain bike, you *must* also wear a full face helmet as well as elbow and knee padding (or rent them at Killington if you don't have them).
Separate protective gear rentals are available at the mountain:
$22 Full Face Helmet only
$18 Elbow/Knee/Shin Pads
============================================================