55 WINTER 2023 VOL . 04 / ISSUE 2 SNOWGOER . COM
56
Some of the wider trails in the area are a particularly welcome site to newcomers and to families who want a consistent and long view of the path ahead . are more two-lane highway . The cutline for the trail seems wider – not the actual trail necessarily , but the distance from the trail to the tree line gives the impression of more space . This is because most of Woodford ’ s trails are in the rustic and scenic Green Mountain National Forest , and the trails are on seasonal roads . These trails are laid out in a series of small loops that can be combined into larger ones . It ’ s not unheard of to see riders posting more than 200 miles in a day here .
One of these loops is the unique oneway Glastenbury Mountain Loop . For some , this loop is a time-honored tradition . At 3,748 feet at its summit – which sticks more than 1,100 feet higher than the surrounding valley – it ’ s not an easy task grooming , and sometimes it ’ s not groomed at all if conditions won ’ t allow . But local VAST workers take on this challenge , fighting both Mother Nature and snowmobile traffic to create a path for the ride up to the 60-foot fire tower that is a must-visit when in the area .
The view from the tower is unbelievable on a clear day . Looking to the north , Stratton Mountain ( elevation : 3,940 feet ) and its ski hill stand out above the rugged terrain , while looking to the south will expose Mount Greylock , the highest point in Massachusetts ( elevation : 3,491 feet ). Various wooded ridges decorated with conifer and hardwoods between Glastenbury and these points make for a dramatic view .
On some days , however , the tower can be socked-in with clouds – with the trees and tower coated in snow and ice it ’ s more of a surreal look , almost another planet . The ride down from the fire tower is one-way as well , and is most enjoyable when riding a tight challenging trail with the bonus that nobody should be coming toward you . Plus , it gives you time to focus on the sled and the incredible view .
Once back down on Trail 7 and pointed north , around every turn the trail just kept getting better . Cruising along and exploring dead-end trails was a joy – the trail was smooth going in and , of course , after we turned around it was smooth going out . It ’ s easy to see how riders can roll up many miles in Woodford . Food and fuel are plentiful , from grabbing a trailside burger to more formal sit-down fare . We settled for both food and fuel at the General Store – homemade sandwiches , soup and full fuel tanks did the trick .
The riding season in Woodford can be extended well into April with a good late-season snowfall , as experienced