Burke, Kingdom Trails
- Thread starter Gene
- Start date
How are conditions so far this year? Wet or dry Spring?
Gene
The Dancing Machine
Sidewinder is a year closer to retirement. We rode everything except the ski hill.
All conditions are perfect right now. Only mild conditions were on New T as it rained on Thursday the day we rode.
Explain this...
Gene
The Dancing Machine
It is not nearly in good shape as it’s been in years past. Their turns are good. The trail has lots of roots and cracks in the flow. It works fine, but eventually they need to fix the flow. To today’s standards it is still a great ride and so classically known they will do what they need to.
New trail being built off wildflower inn over by the bull. They say it will open by July, but it looks perfect.
Do you need a pass for VH?
V-Dub
Well-Known Member
Yes, sounds like you can get one at the trail head or they have an address where you can grab one on the FB page
Gene
The Dancing Machine
Didn’t realize there were other trails than KT.
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johnbryanpeters
Well-Known Member
There's a route you can ride from KT to Victory, only a few miles.
Stillz
Well-Known Member
I checked out some of the history of Victory Hill, interesting struggle between the land owners/managers/trail builders and the state over whether the trails are an "improvement" and thus subject to the onerous VT development law known as Act 250. Seems like there was at one time an intent by KTA to adopt the Victory trails, but they backed off after the Act 250 issue was raised. The state determined that the Act did apply, and the trails must be closed until Act 250 approval was obtained. Looks like the issue is in the courts now, and the trails are open (for now).
The take-away for me is that even in outdoors & bike friendly spots like VT, trail access is fragile and can be easily taken away if the rules aren't followed.
The take-away for me is that even in outdoors & bike friendly spots like VT, trail access is fragile and can be easily taken away if the rules aren't followed.
I think this is overcomplicating it a little. It's being framed as a sob story IMO.
You make no money on the land use - no problem.
You make money & collect fees - problem.
I believe the landowners were making money, and this is where things go to pot.
V-Dub
Well-Known Member
and something about a cat and 2 chickens getting run over on the road in
Haha, actually yes this is part of the story I heard. But you may have told it to me.
Stillz
Well-Known Member
Interesting take, and you could be right. I guess "improvements" on the land in this case was a proxy for "making money".
I think the people collecting the money were the landowners. In general, in Vermont, NGAF. But then as @V-Dub says, when you kill the neighbor's cat, I think maybe you lose a little rope there.
johnbryanpeters
Well-Known Member
KT and Victory:
When a major land owner threw a hissy fit and cut KT in half a few years back, the question arose as to whether KT should be subject to Act 250 review. As a result of that kerfuffle, the Act 250 bureaucrats apparently felt that they had been caught with their pants down, which is why they decided to go after Victory and shut them down for a period.
I seriously doubt that Victory manages to make significant money on their system. The trails were built by a competent and experienced local with permission and were quietly in use for a while before the bureaucrats descended. I wish them the best of luck.
When a major land owner threw a hissy fit and cut KT in half a few years back, the question arose as to whether KT should be subject to Act 250 review. As a result of that kerfuffle, the Act 250 bureaucrats apparently felt that they had been caught with their pants down, which is why they decided to go after Victory and shut them down for a period.
I seriously doubt that Victory manages to make significant money on their system. The trails were built by a competent and experienced local with permission and were quietly in use for a while before the bureaucrats descended. I wish them the best of luck.