Appalachian Gap

6.2 miles, 1,601 ft of climbing, 4.9% average grade.

The season closer, and Vermont's most feared stretch of pavement: Route 17 from the Mad River valley over Appalachian Gap, climbing in surges that save the steepest grades for the final switchbacks. Raced in early October, it pairs the sharpest pitches in the series calendar with peak Green Mountain foliage.

Highlights

• The final points of the BUMPS season
• Vermont's most feared road climb, steepest at the top
• Peak foliage over the Mad River valley
• Run as the Allen Clark Memorial, honoring a beloved local racer

Must Know

• October in the Gap: start temperatures near freezing are normal, and the summit is windy. Dress to descend.
• The grade builds toward the top, the race is won and lost on the final mile.
• It's foliage season; expect leaf-peeper traffic on the drive in.

Lodging

Waitsfield and Warren in the Mad River valley have inns and B&Bs with real Vermont charm; Sugarbush's base lodging is minutes from the start.

Food & Views

• Waitsfield's farm-to-table spots and the valley's bakeries
• American Flatbread's original hearth in Waitsfield
• Views: the western overlook at the Gap itself, straight down the Champlain Valley

Nearby Routes

• Road: the six-gaps loop begins and ends here. Lincoln Gap's 24% wall is next door
• Gravel: the Roxbury and Braintree gap roads
• Hike: the Long Trail crosses the road at the Gap
• MTB: Sugarbush and Blueberry Lake networks in the valley

Resources

• Allen Clark Hill Climb, official race site
• PJAMM climb profile