Want to take a guess? There are 11 different spaces on the map now, but going back 25 years, where did it all start? There were a few unofficial networks in the prehistoric FOTW era, but many of them popped up around the same time in 2000-2002. Those networks include:
- Carse Hills
- Hinesburg Town Forest
- Mobbs Farm
- Mud Pond
- Saxon Hill
- Sleepy Hollow (in collaboration with Eli!)
And your answer is… Mud Pond!
This was the first network. It was built with permission and collaboration from the Town of Williston. At almost the exact same time, Mobbs Farm went through a similar process.
Since Mobbs Farm is on our “where to ride” section, we are going to dive deeper into this place. We will have more about Hans Jenny in another forecast, but he worked with the Mobbs Committee to map out a 5 mile loop using old logging and farm roads combined with new singletrack on the valley side.
Folks biked here in the 90s, but there was no singletrack to be had. Chris Smith, is a long time member of this committee, recalls a vision of incorporating every interesting rock on the property. A year later, another 4 mile loop was added to the hill side. At the time, the loop was identified with black and yellow arrows, and those can still be found scattered throughout the valley side today. You may notice the same markings at Mud Pond, since these 2 networks came to be around the same time!
Mobbs Farm, as you might imagine, was farmed for centuries until 1968. In the 1970’s, town plans for the property included a community center with pool, tennis courts, and clubhouse. Much of the ledge throughout the property was difficult for development, so passive recreation became its predominant use.
Acknowledgements go to many of the Mobbs Farm Committee members doing work each year to improve and maintain this space. FOTW is only a small component of that today. A special thanks to Chris and her husband Dan Smith for lots of leaf blowing, tree cutting and winter snowdog grooming at Mobbs. Chris has summarized this place well, “I love that FOTW continues to care for these old-school rake-and-ride trails. They’re an important part of Vermont MTB history, and they’re fun to ride!” These trails are a time capsule and uniquely different from our more popular networks like Saxon, Hinesburg and Sleepy.
Pop on the Back To The Future sound track on your headphones and go for a historic ride! Keep your eyes peeled for a few iconic old cars, although we don’t know how they got there!