GMARA is the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association.
What are our races like? In short:
We'll give you a topographical map with locations marked.
Each location will have a bright orange & white flag hanging in the woods.
Using a compass, you and your teammates find the flags before time is up!
Multi-sport
Our races usually involve multiple sports - bike, hike, paddle or swim in the summer, ski & snowshoe in the winter. They all involve navigation with map and compass. Sometimes we add things like rock climbing! The obstacles you'll find are all natural - Vermont terrain is enough of a test for any team.Team-based
Our adventure races require teams, there are no solo racers. Staying cheerful is part of the challenge (most teams succeed). It helps that we end our days with great post-race dinners, awards for top teams, and raffle prizes for all participants.Endurance
Adventure racing has been called "an expedition with a stopwatch". Our flagship events run for 10-12 hours; a full day outdoors. We also offer 1-, 3-, and 5-hour events that are more accessible for new racers, families with young children, and even experienced racers who just want a lighter day out.Balanced
GMARA races are built to be enjoyable for first-timers yet challenging enough for national champions. Whether you love the thrill of finding a gorgeous waterfall hidden deep in the woods or the excitement of hauling yourself on ropes over a ravine, once you can read a map you'll feel right at home.Interested? Want to learn more? Can't wait to sign up?
That's great to hear! The best way to get involved and stay informed is to join our mailing list, but you can also check out our event list to see what's coming soon, or browse through old results and photos to get a feel for past events.
2024 Events
The Hard Fall
An epic 24 hours of nonstop trekking, paddling, and mountain biking.
Test Your Nettle
An introductory 3-5 hour event to get your feet wet and your shoes muddy.
Women of AR Academy
A weekend event to help women further their adventure racing skills.
The Bitter Pill
Our premiere summer event. Twelve hours of quintessential Vermont adventure racing.
Some of our Past Events
The 2023 USARA National Championships
GMARA designed and directed the 24-hour USARA National Championships. Vermont's mountains rose to the occassion!
The Frigid Infliction
8-10 hours of winter adventure.
The Wintry Wander
1-3 hours of family-friendly snowshoeing.
The Murky Excursion
6-8 hours of overnight adventure.
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#17)
- Date:
- 2022/08/13
- Location:
- Blush Hill Country Club
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Hard Fall (#1)
- Date:
- 2021/10/09
- Location:
- Lake Willoughby
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#16)
- Date:
- 2021/08/14
- Location:
- Craftsbury Outdoor Center
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Catamount Winter Adventure
- Date:
- 2021/02/06 - 2021/02/14
- Location:
- Catamount Community Forest
- Results:
- Writeup
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Catamount Adventure
- Date:
- 2020/10/10 - 2020/10/18
- Location:
- Catamount Community Forest
- Results:
- Writeup
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#15)
- Date:
- 2019/08/10
- Location:
- Blush Hill Country Club
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Frigid Infliction (#14)
- Date:
- 2019/03/02
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- Test Your Nettle
- Date:
- 2019/03/02
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Frigid Infliction (#13)
- Date:
- 2018/03/03
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#14)
- Date:
- 2017/08/12
- Location:
- Sugarbush
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Frigid Infliction (#12)
- Date:
- 2017/03/04
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- Test Your Nettle: Frigid Edition
- Date:
- 2017/03/04
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Outdoor Gear Exchange Bitter Pill (#13)
- Date:
- 2016/08/06
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Outdoor Gear Exchange Frigid Infliction (#11)
- Date:
- 2016/03/05
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Outdoor Gear Exchange Bitter Pill (#12)
- Date:
- 2015/08/01
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Outdoor Gear Exchange Frigid Infliction (#10)
- Date:
- 2015/02/28
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Wintry Wander (#2)
- Date:
- 2015/02/28
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Outdoor Gear Exchange Bitter Pill (#11)
- Date:
- 2014/08/02
- Location:
- Cochran's Ski Area
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#9)
- Date:
- 2014/03/08
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Bolton Valley Wintry Wander (#1)
- Date:
- 2014/03/08
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#10)
- Date:
- 2013/08/17
- Location:
- Catamount Outdoor Family Center
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#8)
- Date:
- 2013/03/02
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#9)
- Date:
- 2012/07/28
- Location:
- Blueberry Hill
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Murky Excursion
- Date:
- 2012/06/08
- Location:
- Craftsbury
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#7)
- Date:
- 2012/03/03
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#8)
- Date:
- 2011/06/30
- Location:
- Blueberry Hill
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#6)
- Date:
- 2011/02/26
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#7)
- Date:
- 2010/08/07
- Location:
- Huntington / Stowe Town & Country
- Results:
- Writeup / Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#5)
- Date:
- 2010/03/06
- Location:
- Little River State Park / Trattoria La Festa
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#6)
- Date:
- 2009/08/01
- Location:
- Craftsbury
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#4)
- Date:
- 2009/03/07
- Location:
- Bolton Valley / Cider House
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Wheel of Fire - MTB Adventure Race
- Date:
- 2008/10/12
- Location:
- Hinesburg
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Bitter Pill (#5)
- Date:
- 2008/08/02
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The MVP Health Care Frigid Infliction (#3)
- Date:
- 2008/03/01
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#4)
- Date:
- 2007/08/04
- Location:
- Craftsbury
- Results:
- Full Results
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery / Team List
- Event:
- The Frigid Infliction (#2)
- Date:
- 2007/03/03
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Notes:
- First USARA qualifier!
- Event:
- The Bitter Pill (#3)
- Date:
- 2006/08/12
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Frigid Infliction (#1)
- Date:
- 2006/03/04
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Adventure Racing Unleashed Pillage Plunder Booty Siege (#2)
- Date:
- 2005/09/17
- Location:
- Smuggs
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Adventure Racing Unleashed Bitter Pill (#2)
- Date:
- 2005/06/18
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Adventure Racing Unleashed Pillage Plunder Booty Siege (#1)
- Date:
- 2004/09/18
- Location:
- Smuggs
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Adventure Racing Unleashed Bitter Pill (#1)
- Date:
- 2004/07/24
- Location:
- Bolton Valley
- Extras:
- Photo Gallery
- Event:
- The Green Mountain Adventure Race
- Date:
- 2003
- Location:
- Vermont
- 2011/08/20 - Event: Northern Lights nighttime ropes course
- 2008/09/20 - Event: training, Hardwick
- 2008/01/25 - Event: Petra + dinner
- 2007/??/?? - Event: Warren Miller
- 2006/01/13 - Event: Petra + dinner
- 2005/11/19 - Event: Warren Miller
- 2005/05/14 - Event: O clinic @ audubon
- 2004/06/26 - Event: Umiak kayak training
- 2004/06/11 - Event: Petra + pub & brewery
- 2004/06/05 - Event: evening orienteering @ Audubon ctr
- 2004/03/26 - Event: Petra + dinner
- 2002/08/31 - Stump-b-gone - milton, arrowhead lake, hard'ack
- 2002/05/25 - Outlast 6-8hr, Richmond Ontario - not GMARA, just the first thing.