If you make it up the “wall” on Norton Road, you won’t complain about any of the other hills. This ride will allow you to use the lowest of your low gears as you grind up the two long climbs.
You do have the first six miles on paved roads to warm up before turning onto Norton Road. You then begin to climb for almost a mile before reaching a very steep but short pitch to the top. After you recover, you can relax and enjoy the downhill schuss into Middletown Springs. The ride continues up the hills to the south of this lovely small hamlet with a long climb on Coy Hill Road.
Once over a short section on the 4th class Mountain Road, you will have a long downhill run that descends 1,200 feet to Lake St Catherine. This long downhill is a nice reward for all your hard work in the first half of the ride with a word of caution as you descend a rough and steep section of Lamb’s Hill road. You then return on paved roads to Poultney.