'25 Yeti Gathering - Vermont

2025 marked a first for Yeti – a satellite Gathering here in the States. Smaller, more intimate, and for the first time outside of Colorado. The idea was simple: extend our reach and bring the Gathering experience to our die-hard Yeti Freaks on the East Coast, many of whom might not otherwise make it to the traditional Colorado Gatherings out west. 

The Wildflower Inn, an idyllic B&B nestled near East Burke, Vermont became our homebase. Perched on the bucolic Darling Hill Road and surrounded by the famed Kingdom Trails (KT) network, it was the perfect spot for Yeti Freaks to dive into a weekend of singletrack, camaraderie, and age-old Gathering antics. 

By late morning, riders began arriving at the venue. Check-in came with hugs, high-fives, and stoke for the weekend ahead. Guests were welcomed with custom maple syrup bottles from local sugarmaker Makin’ Maple, UnTapped maple waffles and syrup packs, MountainFLOW chain lube, and some fresh Yeti swag. 

With bikes ready and stoke high, the first ride launched straight from homebase – a 14-mile sampler of some of Vermont’s most famous singletrack. Groups of ten with Yeti staff at the helm kept things tight and gave everyone the chance to connect more personally, while hero dirt, sculpted berms, punchy climbs, and green-room tunnels set the tone for the weekend. 

Back at the Inn, riders dusted off and gathered at the pub for a post-ride pint of Vermont’s finest before digging into a buffet-style Italian dinner, courtesy of The Wildflower Inn Restaurant. Chris Conroy grabbed the mic to welcome everyone, sharing the excitement of bringing Yeti’s fabled event to East Burke. 

After dinner, we fired up the projector for a screening of Leah Vanderlinden’s UPHILL and H+I Adventures’ Bhutan film, featuring Yeti Ambassadors Euan Wilson and Dan Milner.  

Then came a surprise: Yeti Ambassador Jubal Davis and Product Manager Ryan Thornberry hopped on stage and unveiled a sneak peek of the then-soon-to-launch LTe. Yeti Freaks crowded around, ogling the new full-powered beast in its juicy Manjo colorway. Jubal, Ryan and attendees chatted LTe tech, development, and ride-experience as the sun slipped below the Green Mountains. 

The big ride day dawned under heavy clouds. Riders fueled up on maple-loaded breakfast plates, pulled on rain gear, and braced for 30 miles of classic Vermont singletrack. The skies opened almost immediately, soaking the group to the bone. Shoes pooled with mud and rainwater. Drivetrains crunched and brakes wailed. But spirits never wavered.  

Instead, the rain added to the fun – side hits, catch berms, punchy climbs, and huckable rollers made for some all-time flow despite the slop. 

Halfway through, riders hit a Yeti Aid Station manned by H+I’s ever-cheerful Jodie, serving maple whiskey shots, snacks, N/A beers from Best Day Brewing, and packed lunches from the Wildflower Inn. Riders wrung out their gloves, cleaned their lenses, and refueled in preparation for the second half of the ride. 

Spirits recharged, the group dropped into Black Bear – two miles of flawless flow trail, and one among many of KT’s ‘must-do’ trails. Hoots and hollers echoed through the dense forest as riders boosted tabletops and rallied through perfectly sculpted berms. 

At the bottom, Yeti’s own Will Litty skidded out of the muck, drenched head to toe. Flashing a mud-splattered grin, he exclaimed, “Man, if that’s not the ‘flow-state’, I don’t know what is.” 

His energy summed up the day: soaked riders, gritty drivetrains, but not a frown in sight. Folks had every reason to be less-than-stoked on being sopping wet, bikes crunching with grit and specks of mud lodged between their teeth. But not a single one showed an ounce of negativity, or even thought of wiping the (muddy) grin off their faces – a testament to the caliber of riding here in Vermont, and the stoke of our Yeti freaks nationwide. 

Back at the Wildflower, the bike wash doubled as a rider wash, with hoses working overtime while laughter cut through the drizzle. Riders cleaned up, hit the patio for Hoogaritas (again, precision stirred with some native deciduous flora), and swapped stories from an unforgettable ‘Type-2’ adventure. 

The evening rolled on with a BBQ dinner, followed by S’mores, a custom Gathering cake celebrating Yeti’s 40th anniversary, and a special batch of Dirt Church’s Hero Dirt Stout to cap off the night. Live music filled the patio as the crew raised glasses to the weekend’s rides and a new chapter in Yeti Gatherings. 

Sunday morning started with another hearty, maple-fueled breakfast courtesy of the Wildflower Inn. A few intrepid riders squeezed in bonus laps on the Kingdom Trails, chasing a final dose of Vermont singletrack before heading home. The rest of the crew eased into the day – packing bikes, hugs and high-fives, and saying goodbyes. By late morning, the hillside had quieted, and riders rolled out with tired legs and a weekend’s worth of memorable stories and cherished friendships. 

This Gathering was proof of just how strong the Vermont riding scene is. Normally, Yeti plays ‘tour guide’ at these events. But in Burke, our East Coast Freaks proudly flipped the script. They showed off their backyard trails with local pride, guiding the crew through the Northeast Kingdom’s finest and reminding us of what makes this community so special. Vermont may be small, but the riding and community left a big impression. 

For Yeti, it was a chance to soak up a slice of New England riding culture, rally some turns, and share the stoke that binds riders from coast to coast. Vermont left us muddy, smiling, and grateful – a perfect extension of the Roots we’ve been growing for forty years. 

We’d like to offer a massive ‘Thank you’ to those that made this weekend so memorable: 

H+I Adventures

Hannah Sourbeer

The Wildflower Inn, Restaurant & Pub

Kingdom Trails and local landowners

Best Day Brewing

Dirt Church Brewing Company 

UnTapped Maple 

MountainFLOW Bike Products 

Alex Parker & Dad Makin’ Maple