Connie Prickett
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History with BETA: I've been a big fan of BETA ever since the Flume and Hardy Road trails were dramatically improved. Initially, I was mostly running on the new trails, stitching together every segment for maximum mileage. After finally upgrading my 1990s Cannondale hardtail for a modern ride, a new world for mountain biking also opened up for me. Now, in addition to having to decide which trail systems to go to, often leaving from home without driving to a trailhead, my dilemma is do I run or bike?
Favorite trail: Three Sisters, Gulo Gulo, and Bear Claw - because of the vital connections they make. Favorite season: Whatever season it is because the only thing I can do about it is to get outside. |
Thea Moruzzi
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History with BETA: I’ve enjoyed the JackRabbit ski trail since moving to the Adirondacks full time in 2004, and always appreciated the trail maintenance that the Adirondack Ski Touring Council did to maintain and improve the trail. So it was a natural step to join, once I bought a new bike and learned about the creation of BETA.
Favorite Trail: Gulo Gulo, Flume trail system. What’s not to love about this trail? Flowy ups and downs both ways, so you can get a good pumpy rhythm whether you’re near the beginning or end of your ride. Favorite Season: June! Yeah, that’s not a season, but it’s the best. Late spring perhaps? When the days are long, you can practically watch the plants grow and the warm sunshine is a welcome reprieve after the seemingly endless dark winter. It’s a wonderful time, easing into summer as my spring ski legs get stronger from riding. |
Sophie McClelland
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History with BETA: The Adirondacks Ski Touring Councils’ Ski-to-Swim Party was an annual event that I looked forward to in my childhood. Fast forward to about five years ago when I moved back to the Adirondacks, I ditched my running sneakers for a set of knobby wheels on suspension and discovered BETA by tagging along on fun group rides. Through BETA, I was introduced to a great community of active, engaging and passionate people who make a day on the trails more memorable and fun.
Favorite trail: Oooh – tough one! I would say the All-In trail on the Hardy Trail system is always a classic. Favorite season: I still struggle to decide which is better; biking on a nice crisp fall day in October before all the leaves have fallen or skiing some peel-away corn on the slides in the early spring before mud season is in full swing. |
Wes Lampman
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History with BETA: Since attending Paul Smith's college in the early ‘90s, I had the good fortune of having BETA maintained trails out the front door. Since then, the quality and quantity of BETA trails have grown, especially the singletrack. Most of my involvement with BETA has been helping with this expansion through volunteer trail work days.
Favorite trail: I love them all, but I ride and ski the trails around Wilmington the most because that is where I live. Favorite season: I don’t have a favorite, but the warm temps and long days of summer are becoming the most cherished as I get older. Only after a long winter of deep, cold powder snow of course! |
Bill Frazer
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History with BETA: In 2010 I was the President of Adirondack Ski Touring Council when BETA was first formed and became a sub organization of The Adirondack Ski Touring Council, which had the same mission of making and maintaining local community trails for all user groups. It has been amazing to see the evolution of our trails in terms of mileage and quality. I remember when 12 years ago a long ride for me in Lake Placid was just riding all the loggers loops but just recently I left my front door and did a 95 mile mountain bike loop back to my house.
Favorite Trail: Ski Trail: The whole Jack Rabbit Trail Bike Trail: all of them (I love our variety). Favorite Season: All of them (again I love the variety of skiing and riding). |
Carol MacKinnon Fox
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History with BETA: I experienced the Jackrabbit Trail on snowshoes the very first year I visited the Adirondacks, in 2005, and sent in my first membership form soon after that trip. When we started mountain biking in 2014, the amazing BETA trails hooked me on the sport--the variety and the great design are incredible.
Favorite trail: The Three Sisters Trail in Wilmington. I smile the whole time I ride it. The new trails at Fowler's Crossing are also fantastic. Favorite season: Winter! Also, summer! |
Bob Maswick
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History with BETA: I found myself constantly riding the local Lake Placid trails or walking the Jack Rabbit and wondered who developed and maintained them. Back then, the ASTC and BETA were two separate groups. I got involved helping Tony Goodwin a few times and knew immediately that I wanted to play a larger part in the groups who are responsible for this incredible community resource.
Favorite trail: Gulo Gulo, from PMD back to Ridge - it’s like a 1.5 mile long pump track! Favorite season: All of them except for Mud Season, those curious weeks where you can’t ride or ski. |
Kaley Basile
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History with BETA: After moving to the ADKs in the winter of 2017, I picked up skiing and later mountain biking. I had heard about a local mountain biking group in Etown and decided to show up to Otis Mountain for a Sunday morning Dirt Church session where I found ‘my people’ and was also introduced to the BETA organization. It was my 3rd time on a bike and I had never been more motivated! Since being a member of BETA, I’ve participated in solo and organized trail work and helped lead rides at the MTB Fest.
Favorite trail: Biking – Joel’s and All In. Skiing – the Old Mountain Road section of the Jackrabbit Trail Favorite season: I love them all, but summertime is my favorite. The days are long, the trails are dry, the air is hot, and the creeks are cold. |
Karen Miemis
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History with BETA: When Kris and I moved here 20 years ago, very few single-track biking trails existed. After discovering BETA and their incredible efforts, I was eager to get involved. At that point in my life, however, Kris and I were in the throes of parenting young boys. In recent years, I’ve become active on the Saranac Lake trail committee. I’ve worked to strengthen youth involvement in BETA, focusing on education, inclusion, and trail stewardship. A group of parents and I started a local non-profit with our boys called SLICK (Saranac Lake Innovative Cycling Kids). With BETA’s support, SLICK hosted the 1st annual Pisgah Pedalfest this summer in an effort to celebrate and enhance mountain biking in our community and raise money for a pump track.
Favorite trail: I love Marble Mtn, the 19th Hole at Craigwood, and every trail at Dewey. I can bike there from work when the last school bell rings. That mountain packs a punch in terms of versatility! When the snow is good, my favorite ski starts out my front door, up my road, across McKenzie Pond to the Jack Rabbit Trail, and up and over the pass to Lake Placid. Favorite season: When white shifts to green and the mud dries, I love spring biking. Light increases, trees begin to bud, and days feel lighter and brighter. Harnessing that energy permeating the natural world generates deep inner feelings of renewal and excitement. |
Patrick Carey
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Involvement in BETA: I’m working as part of a team on a trail and skills park project in Keene. The goal is to build trails and skills parks at the pavilion property on 9N and at the Keene Central School. My work often has me travelling on the weekends, so I do some trail maintenance solo during the week. It’s nice how members jump on trail upkeep as needed. Each year, my wife Rachel and I enjoy teaching clinics at Bike Fest.
Favorite trail: The beauty of living here is that I truly don’t have a favorite trail. Every one is so good and so engaging, the daily question is “What would be the perfect ride today?” I really love how each trail network here has its own flavor. They all make sense together, but they’re all unique. It’s fun to link multiple networks in one ride, something we can do more and more these days. Favorite Season: Early Fall. Those perfect days with cool, dry air and warm sun. When the leaves are starting to turn colors, but haven’t fallen yet. Truly some of the best days to be out on a bike in the Adirondacks. |
