Rikert Outdoor Center, formerly known as Rikert Nordic Center, is located in Ripton, Vermont. It is a Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoeing and FatBiking area.[1] It is located 20 minutes southeast of Middlebury, Vermont.[2] Rikert Outdoor Center is owned and operated by Middlebury College[3] and is home to the Middlebury College Nordic Ski Team.[4] It is located on Middlebury College's Breadloaf Campus.
History edit
Ski touring at the Breadloaf Mountain Camus began in 1975[5] with 4 trails. At that time there was no dedicated ski lodge, so a barn was used as the lodge.
By 2012, the number of groomed trails had grown to 25. In 2012, the Tormondsen Family Race Course was built. It is a 5km FIS certified homologated course designed by John Morton.[6]
In 2013, 5km of snowmaking was installed (on the Tormondsen Family Race Course).[3]
By 2015, the trails grew to 55km in total length.[7]
Facilities edit
As of 2023, Rikert Outdoor Center offers 55km of groomed cross-country and skate ski trails.[7][8] It also offers dedicated snowshoeing trails, and FatBiking is allowed on Ski and Snowshoe trails. The trails wind through fields, forests and along stone walls and streams.[9] The Outdoor Center is also fully ADA accessible and includes a full-service rental and retail shop[10]
References edit
- ^ "Rikert Outdoor Center". Cross Country Skiing. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". Indy Pass. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ a b "Ripton's Rikert Nordic Center Welcomes Wintertime Athletes - Stories from VT | Vermont Vacation - The Official Vermont Tourism Website - VermontVacation.com". www.vermontvacation.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "Nordic Skiing". Middlebury College. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ "Time Capsule – Winter at your pace". www.rikertoutdoor.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ Minde, Peter (2023-02-16). "The Wandering Skier, Part 3: Rikert Nordic". NYSkiBlog. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ a b "Winter at your pace". www.rikertoutdoor.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". VMBA. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "Business Directory". Cross Country Ski Areas Association. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". www.addisoncounty.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.