Breadloaf Touring Center

Ripton, Addison County, Vermont

“Bread Loaf Touring Center, Ripton. Excellent range from beginner to expert; racing trail for competition. 35 km set; 3.5 km lit. Elevation 1400'-1800'. Instruction, rental, retail, repair, lodging nearby, change rooms, ski weeks, telemark, inn to inn tours. David Larson, Rte. 125, Ripton 05766. Tel. 388-7946.” -Cross Country Ski Vermont, 1984

Arial View of Breadloaf Campus; some building visible in Ski Chase photos below

Photo by Frank L. Forward, accessed from UVM Landscape Change Program;

originally submitted by Andrew Turgeon to Henry Sheldon Museum

Location: Route 125, Ripton, Vt. 05766

Directory listings: 1981-1985

Known operators: David Larson

Today: Still owned and operated by Middlebury College; goes by Rikert Nordic Center

History

Breadloaf was first listed in cross country directories in 1981, though, according to Michael Hussey, Breadloaf was hosting carnival races as early as 1937. Breadloaf was owned and operated by Middlebury College and a Middlebury campus by the same name still exists. Middlebury also owns and operates the Snow Bowl, the college's alpine area that has been open since the 1930s.

During it's time as Breadloaf, the area hosted the Great Amercan Ski Chase. Founded in 1978, xcskiworld.com describes it as "North America's longest-running and largest citizen's racing and touring series. Featuring thirteen premier ski marathons and winter festivals from Vermont to Alaska."

breadloaf2

1982 photograph of The Great American Ski Chase, Breadloaf

photo accessed from UVM Landscape Change Program; originally submitted by Renee Gliddon to the Henry Sheldon Museum

See more photos from the Great American Ski Chase at Breadloaf here.

Today Breadloaf officially operates under the name Rikert Ski Touring Center, though there were times when Rikert and Breadloaf weren't clearly seperated from each other or from the Snow Bowl, including 2003 and 2004 directories that still listed the area under Breadloaf. Most recently Rikert appears in the 2013 Vermont Winter Vacation Guide with this listing: Rikert Nordic Center, Middlebury College. Middlebury, VT 05753. General Info: 802-433-2744. www.gomiddlebury.edu/rikert . 42 km trails, 30/15 tracked/skating. Nordic instruction, repair, rental, retail shop, restaurant, lodging nearby, guided tours, snow shoeing.

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See the full listing of directory entries for Breadload Touring Center here.

Read more about Michael Hussey, Snow Bowl general manager Peter Mackey, and their involvement in Middlebury skiing here.