The approaching summer outdoor adventure calendar is loaded with charity bicycle rides, volunteer days, triathlons and more.
There are those that are billed as fun, while others are true tests of stamina, toughness and discipline. Many adventure-type races and events now cater to families with some children-oriented courses. In this era of recycle, reduce and reuse, there is nothing like giving back. Instead of saying thank you to those out on the trails with hand tools during National Trails Day June 6, get on one of those work crews. Many organizations have events that day (americanhiking.org). Hancock’s Harris Center for Conservation Education plans about two miles worth of trail maintenance and construction, while Upper Valley Trails Alliance has a host of projects in towns like Lyme and Vermont communities like Norwich and South Woodstock. Nothing like a race that bills itself as one that may kill you. That’s the theme of the Peak Death Race (peakraces.com) on a Pittsfield, Vt., farm June 27. Over 10 miles, racers will be challenged with wood-chopping, crawling, barbed wire, mud, deep water diving and tunnel digging. Sounds like a grueling honey-do list. Women are ready for rock during Women’s Rock Weekend June 27 and 28 in North Conway (ime-usa.com). From newbies to advanced climbers, International Mountain Climbing School leads women up local rock faces like Cathedral and Whitehorse. From clinics to slide shows from well-known female climbers, the two-day event is empowering and instructional. Waterville Valley is home to the Black Fly Triathlon (blackflytri.com) July 10 through 12. The three-day event is family-friendly and includes short course triathlons and bike time trails. Participants who compete in the time trial, short course and international course can become Lord of the Flies. Children can compete in the Little Buggers Kids Triathlon for ages 7 to 12. They’ll swim in Corcoran’s Pond, and run and bike on a flat course. The 24 Hours of Great Glen is a mountain biking challenge in a festival-like atmosphere at the base of Mount Washington. Roll around the clock Aug. 8 and 9 on gnarly singletrack and forgiving carriage roads in teams of one, two, four and five. New is the 12 Hours of Great Glen for those who want to ride from noon to midnight. Sign up at 24hoursofgreatglen.com. There’s also a 24 Minutes of Great Glen, but, sorry, that’s just for kids.
Hanover’s Stoaked off-road triathlon (stoakedtri.com) serves up four races over the course of two days Aug. 8 and 9 at Storrs Pond. A 16-kilometer trail run starts things off Aug. 8 with some 2,000 feet of climbing along a course that includes tackling cross-country ski trails through Oak Hill. A standard course triathlon that afternoon includes a half-mile swim, 8.5-kilometer mountain bike ride (on some Dartmouth XC trails) and 4K trail run. Kids get in on the action, too, with a 50-yard swim, 3.3K mountain bike and 1.6K run. The big daddy of the weekend is Sunday’s XTERRA course with a 1K swim, 17K mountain bike and 8K trail run.