Fall in New England means crisp mornings, golden leaves, and smooth, winding gravel—and there's no better place to experience it than Vermont's Mad River Valley. Join us for a few days of unforgettable riding, coaching, and connection at our new gravel camp: a festival-style adventure where bikes meet waterfalls, wood-fired saunas, and fun. It's perfect for riders who want more than a training block. If you're craving adventure, connection, and a chance to ride hard and chill harder, this week was built for you.
This camp takes place at Madbush Falls, a custom-built cycling retreat with direct access to hundreds of miles of iconic Vermont gravel. The location is a dream for adventurous riders: beautiful climbs, low-dust roads, covered bridges, swimming holes, and fast, flowing dirt.
After the ride, the celebration continues. Cool off in the waterfall-fed plunge pool, relax in wood-fired saunas overlooking the river, and gather around the fire pit with friends old and new. This camp blends the best of BaseCamp coaching with the spirit of a festival: it's laid back, communal, and all about the joy of riding bikes. Whether you're looking to sharpen your gravel skills, explore new terrain, or just hang out with awesome people, this camp delivers.
We're keeping this camp intentionally small to protect the experience and preserve the intimate, community-focused feel. Once it fills, it's full.
The Experience
The Riding
Iconic Roads, Unforgettable Views
Explore hundreds of miles of scenic Vermont gravel. Ride fast, flowy roads, pass through small towns and covered bridges, and climb forested hills with panoramic views.
The average high temperature in the Mad River Valley in the month of September is 65ºF (18ºC). You'll want to bring some warmer clothes for the evenings, as the air typically cools to around 50ºF (10ºC) at night and can even drop into the 30s (0-4ºC).
The Lodging
Your home base for the week is Madbush Falls Rider Outpost in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. Smack in the middle of thousands of miles of world-class dirt, you’ll find everything you need in one place: a locally-inspired restaurant-bar, new accommodations with great coffee and spectacular views, and a full bike shop to make sure you keep rolling. It's the perfect homebase to recover and relax after a beautiful autumn ride, enjoy a delicious local meal, and connect with the BaseCamp community, and you can add extra nights before or after the camp at our exclusive group rate if you'd like to plan a personal adventure on the island.
We have two accommodation options designed to bring you closer to nature or add a little luxury to your stay; each one is described below. There are a variety of differently-styled indoor rooms, each with its own unique character and featuring all of the amenities below at a minimum, with either a queen or king bed.
Lodging Options
Creekside Tent
Want a comfy and convenient way to stay close to nature while still being comfortable? Reserve a creekside tent with a queen bed, solar lighting, covered outdoor patio with camp chairs and hammocks, and access to a shared fire pit and gathering space. Hot showers, bathrooms, coffee, and gathering spaces are just steps away!
Cozy Room
Want a little more luxury? Upgrade to an indoor room complete with a retro mini-fridge and freezer, Drip Kit coffee in handcrafted mugs, Ursa Major skincare products, and dedicated outdoor spaces. Queen or king beds feature brand new Malouf mattresses and custom Vermont-made headboards with built-in double-decker side tables. Each room has a custom Vermont-made desk with integrated power stations, a comfortable chair, and Blue Ridge Chairworks outdoor furniture. None of the rooms have televisions, but there is fast and dependable WiFi throughout the property.
The Food
Hearty Vermont-inspired meals
Madbush's Vermont-inspired menu will give you the get-up-and-go you need in the morning and a hearty reward after a big day.
What to look forward to:
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Five delicious dinners designed to help you refuel after a day spent exploring
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Five hearty breakfasts, with plenty of coffee, to power you through miles of gravel
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Optional local alcoholic beverages (not included)
We'll all gather for meals so that everyone can share their stories of adventure from the day.
Coaching Support
Our expert coaching team will be with you on every ride helping to improve your skills, expand your training knowledge, and gain confidence on off-road terrain. Our low coach-to-rider ratio ensures you'll get a hands-on approach to help you level up!
What you can expect:
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Daily On-the-Bike Coaching: Learn and apply techniques in real time during supported rides, with coaches guiding pace, skills, and effort zones.
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Targeted Ride Groups: Choose your ride group daily, each with specific performance goals to match your fitness and skill level.
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Small Group Learning: Participate in Coach Corner sessions and post-ride debriefings, where you’ll dive deeper into key cycling topics.
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Evening Education Sessions: Join presentations led by our team on training science, race preparation, nutrition, and more.
This is your chance to train smarter, ride stronger, and gain insights that'll stick with you long after the camp ends.
Meet the Camp Coaches
Tim Cusick
BaseCamp Founder and Head Coach
Brian Hammond
BaseCamp Elite Coach
Namrita Brooke
BaseCamp Head Coach and Nutritionist
Greg Waggoner
BaseCamp Elite Coach
Tina Hart
Camp Coordinator, BaseCamp Elite Coach
The Details
What's Included
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Six days and five nights in the Vermont mountains
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Daily gravel rides with BaseCamp coaches
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Hands-on skills coaching and ride support
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Access to Madbush Falls plunge pool and Savu saunas
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Five dinners and five breakfasts with locally-sourced, rider-focused menus
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Boutique lodging or creekside tent accommodations
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Custom camp jersey if you register before July 1, 2026
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BaseCamp swag
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Optional workshops and plenty of opportunities to connect with your BaseCamp coaches and community
What's Not Included
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Airfare or other travel expenses
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Transportation
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Extra nights of lodging before or after camp (these can be added to your registration upon request)
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Bike rental (you can book directly from Madbush)
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Coach tips
Guide Gratuities
Guide gratuities are customary and at your own discretion, to recognize service, hospitality, and the little extras that surprise and delight. We suggest a tip for your guides between 5-10% of your trip cost per guest and, of course, you may choose to give more if your guides made your trip an unforgettable experience. Gratuities can be paid in cash or online, and will be divided among the guide team.
Pricing
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$2,099 per person for double tent
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$2,599 per person for double indoor room
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$1,299 per person for non-riding attendees in double tent
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$1,699 per person for non-riding attendees in double indoor room
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Single-occupancy upgrade: $400 for tent, $500 for indoor room
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$500 deposit per person due upon registration, with remaining payment due 6 weeks before camp begins
Please note that there is an additional 2.5% fee if paying final camp balances with a credit card; to avoid the additional fee, you can simply pay the final balance with ACH transfer or by mailing a check.
Cancelation Policy
All camp deposits are fully or partially refundable as follows:
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Before March 22, 2026: Your deposit is fully refundable, minus a $50 processing fee.
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Before June 20, 2026: Your deposit is 50% refundable.
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After June 20, 2026: Your deposit is not refundable.
The Rides and Itinerary
The BaseCamp team is hard at work putting together a daily schedule that will allow you to experience the best of Vermont. More information on exact routes and a daily itinerary are coming soon!
The Ride Groups
At BaseCamp Vermont, we believe great rides start with riding in the right group for your pace and skill level. Our ride system is built specifically for Level 1 and Level 2 cyclists (learn more about rider levels here), with carefully organized groups based on fitness and ability. Vermont is beautiful, but it's also hilly! Expect to be doing some climbing each day.
Riders are grouped to match FTP ranges from approximately 2.0 to 4.0+ w/kg to help you find the right pace, the right challenge, and the right people so you can focus on building fitness, skills, and confidence every day.
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We offer multiple ride groups each day with clearly defined pace and power targets so you can train at the right intensity for your fitness and goals.
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Supportive and skill-aligned groupings allow you to ride with others of similar strength and experience, whether you're pushing your limits or riding steady.
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Daily adjustments are encouraged; move between groups as needed throughout the week based on how you're feeling or what you're targeting.
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Experienced coaches and ride leaders guide every group to ensure a smooth, safe, and well-organized ride experience.
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We believe in a culture of encouragement and inclusion where riders challenge themselves while supporting one another both on and off the bike.
No matter your pace, you'll never ride alone, and you'll always ride with purpose.
The Routes
Our routes will feature Vermont's world-class gravel. You'll find dirt roads that are naturally tacky (smooth roads and minimal dust) and a variety of stunning autumnal views. Routes will typically range from 25-80 miles and include 2,300 to 8,500 feet of climbing each day. More information about exact routes will be shared closer to camp!
Camp Itinerary
Thursday, Oct 2
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Camp checkin and cabin assignment
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Welcome BBQ dinner
7:00 p.m.
Campfire and social fun
Friday, Oct 3
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Riders Meeting
9:30-11:30 a.m. Skills and Drills Practice
11:30 a.m. Lunch
12:30-5:00 p.m. Group Rides
3-4 route options available
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Social Activities
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Saturday, Oct 4
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Rider meeting
9:30-11:00 a.m. Skills and Drills Practice
11:00 a.m. Lunch
12:00 p.m. Riders Meeting
12:30-5:00 p.m. Group Rides
2-3 route options available
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Social Activities
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Sunday, Oct 5
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Riders Meeting
9:00-11:30 a.m. Group Rides
11:30 a.m. Snacks and Cleanup
1:00 p.m. Departure
The Travel
Travel
The closest airport to the Mad River Valley is the Burlington International Airport (BTV), about an hour's drive from Madbush Falls.
It's simple to hire a taxi or Uber at the airport or book one ahead of time, and there are lots of rental cars available if you'd like to have four wheels available throughout your trip in addition to two.
Travel support
We're happy to help with travel support and any questions you might have. Contact us and let us help you make the best travel arrangements possible.
Travel Insurance
Even with the best possible planning, there are always elements beyond our control like flight delays, illnesses, and family emergencies. A good travel insurance policy will reduce the stress of these situations by covering most (if not all) of their extra cost. We strongly recommend coverage specific to COVID-19.
The Bike Options
Bring Your bike
Bringing your own bike to camp has obvious advantages in individual comfort. Before your trip, we suggest getting a tuneup at your local bike shop so it's ready to roll for your week of riding. Once at camp, our team will help you assemble your bike and make sure it's ready to ride!
Riders Outpost at Madbush is a full-service bike shop and can help with major mechanical issues or work with you if you forget a key part.
Check out these helpful resources:
Ship Your Bike
For a small fee, you can ship your bike to Riders Outpost (Madbush Falls' full-service bike shop) ahead of camp, and their expert team will receive it and build it up for you. They can also package it and send it home, as well.
Rent a Bike
If you'd like to rent a bike directly from Riders Outpost, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the seasonal change of bikes, it is recommended to wait until June to reserve a bike, but you can learn more and reserve a bike here on their website.
Camp FAQs
What is a bunkhouse?
Camp Thompson features ten bunkhouse cabins, each with six bunkbeds (we are using floor-level beds only), heating, and electricity. There are no private bathrooms. Linens are not included in lodging.
Are there bathrooms and showers?
The bunkhouses are conveniently located around two communal, heated bathhouses featuring full showers and facilities.
Can I bring my RV or tent?
RVs and tents are not allowed at Camp Thompson, but you can grab a site at Pine Grove Furnace Campgrounds, which is connected to Camp Thompson via bike and walking paths. If you're going with this option, sign up above for the "training only" option.
Is there a hotel nearby?
The best hotel is in downtown Carlisle at the Comfort Suites, 13 miles away from Camp Thompson, but they are likely sold out. Other hotels nearby (15 miles from camp) are MainStay Suites Carlisle - Harrisburg, Fairfield Inn and Suites Carlisle, and Holiday Inn Express Carlisle Southwest.
Can we bring our pets?
Sorry, pets are not allowed at Camp Thompson.
What is the food like?
Our catered meals will be prepared in the dining hall. The food will not be fancy, but it is our goal to provide healthy options for all.