By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
Mountain biking is an activity that athletes of all ages can enjoy. Now, with the help of the Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association and other regional associations, bikers of all abilities can enjoy the trails too.
WAMBA is a member-driven, non-profit organization whose mission, according to their website, “is to build, maintain and preserve trails for non-motorized public recreation in the Woodstock area.” In recent years, part of this mission has been to create adaptive riding trails in the town. Adaptive mountain biking (aMTB) casts a wide net, but is typically for riders who will need modifications to their two-wheeled bike.
Kent McFarland is the Mt. Peg trail boss and has been deeply involved in the process of bringing adaptive biking to the area for many years. According to McFarland, WAMBA collaborated with the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), Adaptive Vermont, and the Kelly Bush Foundation to conduct an assessment of two trails at Saskadena Six and one at Mt. Peg to prepare for an upcoming VMBA event in August 2023.
The assessment involved taking a couple of riders on the mountain trails in order for them to show what does and doesn’t work for aMTB riders. The results of this test led to change. “So we checked out two trails at S6, the green climbing trail and a blue downhill trail,” he recalled. “The assessment showed that we just needed to fix a few small things. We did that, and there was a great event with all kinds of riders, including aMTB riders, from all over the state and region.”
McFarland said it felt amazing to see everyone riding, without limitations. This experience led him and WAMBA to learn more about aMTB, and created an excitement to create more trails.
In 2024, McFarland got to work drawing up plans for expanded, aMTB accessible trails at Mt. Peg. Along with Nick Mahood (WAMBA Board Vice President), Greg Vaughan (professional trail builder), Rob Vaughan, and over 1000 hours of volunteer time, the trails were built and refurbished.
Then, in 2025, came the next step. “The North End trails were assessed by the Adaptive Assessment program, a collaboration between VMBA, Vermont Adaptive, and the Kelly Bush Foundation,” he said, before explaining that a loop in the South End was also tested. “I wrote a grant proposal based on that to complete a few weeks of work to address the issues found, which was awarded from the Adaptive Upgrade grant program.”
With these funds, and three weeks of hard work this spring, the trails received their important aMTB upgrades, and they are now ready to be traversed by aMTB riders. These efforts attracted like-minded folks throughout Vermont.
Kim Bean is a VMBA Ambassador who rides and volunteers with WAMBA. She says she began to get very involved with the program when she learned of how much effort was being put into making trails accessible to adaptive athletes, a cause that hits close to home. “This is an important cause to me because my friend was injured with a T4 complete spinal cord injury while we were riding in the fall of 2020,” she said. “Having accessible trails means that we can ride together.”
In addition to working with VMBA and WAMBA, Bean serves on the board of Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, volunteers with Vermont Adaptive, and holds a BICP Level Two Adaptive Bike Coach certificate. She cherishes the ability to give her friend the same chance to ride that she has. “I think it is really special that Vermont is considered the premier state for adaptive mountain biking because we have organizations like VMBA, local chapters like WAMBA, and energetic volunteers and trail builders, making it possible for my friends to have opportunities to ride,” she said.
For Bean and McFarland, Mountain Biking can heal. “I started mountain biking back in 1989,” said McFarland. “Bikes are just part of me. They free your soul.”
“Mountain biking is fun,” she said. “It is a lot of work. It is a hard sport. But it is fun. You feel accomplished and confident. It is the most welcoming and supportive community to be a part of. The camaraderie is deep and real.”
According to WAMBA’s website, Mt. Peg now offers 4.5 miles of adaptive-accessible trails, while Saskadena Six offers two miles of pedal-powered downhill riding. Work is not done for 2026. “Aqueduct Trails are the focus of 2026 trail re-development, with plans for a central artery loop that will provide accessible riding opportunities. We hope to be online with adaptive trails by the end of 2026,” says the website.
