>> BIKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MAIN THING FOR ME.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST FORM OF FREEDOM.

YOU CAN RIDE DOWN TO THE STORE, RIDE TO YOUR FRIEND'S HOUSE.

TRAIL BUILDING WAS DEFINITELY THE WOODS A LOT TO BUILD BY MYSELF.

IT'S MY MEDITATION.

I NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION OF BEING A TRAIL BUILDER.

SORT OF SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED.

MY NAME IS TOM LEPESQUEUR.

I RUN AN EXCAVATION COMPANY CALLED LEPESQUEUR AND DAUGHTERS.

PRIMARILY THESE DAYS I BUILD BIKE TRAILS.

I HAVE BUILT TRAILS ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND, HERE IN VERMONT I HAVE BUILT TRAILS AS FAR DOWN AS BENNINGTON AND FURTHER NORTH IN STOWE.

I REALLY LIKE BUILDING TRAILS FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT FEELS GREAT WHEN YOU COME BACK AFTER A WEEKEND OF WORK AND THERE'S TIRE TRACKS ON YOUR TRAIL.

IT'S GETTING USED.

THE MOST MOTIVATING FACTORS IN DOING THIS IS SEEING PEOPLE'S FACES OR HEARING THEM IN THE WOODS LIKE WHOOPING, COMING AROUND THE CORNER, JUST LIKE SMILING.

MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

THE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE IN THE WOODS ENJOYING IT.

I PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE LANDSCAPE.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST BUILDING THE TRAIL ITSELF.

IT'S THINKING ABOUT HOW ALL THE PIECES AROUND IT ARE GOING TO INTERACT WITH IT OVER TIME.

BECAUSE OF THE WAY NATURE ACTS ON TERRAIN, SEASONS AND IF YOU'RE REALLY DISRUPTING ALL THE AREA AROUND YOU, YOU'RE PROBABLY ALSO DISRUPTING WHERE WATER GOES AND EVERYTHING.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO TRY TO USE THE NATURAL TERRAIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND HOPEFULLY LEAVE A PERFECT RIBBON OF DIRT BEHIND THE EXCAVATOR.

WHOEVER OWNS THE LAND THEY DON'T WANT IT LOOK BACK AT THAT AND JUST SEE STUMPS UPTURNED EVERYWHERE AND HOLES, TREES KNOCKED OVER THAN KIND OF STUFF.

IT SORT OF ENDS UP BEING A BIT OF A SLOW MOTION PAINTING GOING THROUGH THE WOODS.

I THINK ABOUT IT MORE LIKE THAT THAN A FULL ON EXCAVATION PROJECT.

GREW UP IN A PRETTY RURAL AREA IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MY BROTHER AND I RODE BIKES ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT YOU SORT OF HAD TO CREATE A PLACE TO GO.

DEFINITELY DIDN'T THINK OF IT AS TRAIL BUILDING AT THE TIME BUT I THINK IN HINDSIGHT WE BUILD TRAILS ALL THE TIME JUST SO WE COULD RIDE.

WE HAD SOME AWESOME NEIGHBORS GROWING UP.

THEY WOULD LET US TAKE THEIR WOOD, THEIR TOOLS.

I REMEMBER USING TRACTORS THAT WERE THOSE GUYS.

THEY WOULD COME BACK AND THEIR PARKING LOT WOULD BE FULL OF RAMPS.

THE FIRST ACTUAL TRAIL BUILDING JOB WHERE WE GOT PAID WERE AT HIGHLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK.

I HAD SOME EXPERIENCE USING AN EXCAVATOR AND WE HAD A LOT OF CREATIVITY.

OUR PARENTS DIDN'T WORK ALL THAT MUCH.

IT WAS BY DESIGN.

THEY WERE MOTIVATED TO SPEND TIME WITH US AND TO RAISE US THE BEST THAT THEY COULD.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT INSPIRED BY THAT SORT OF BEING ABLE TO REALLY PUT SO MUCH ENERGY INTO RAISING YOUR KIDS, PROVIDING THEM WITH SOME KIND OF GOOD EDUCATION AND STRUCTURE IN THEIR LIVES, AND THAT'S LIKE MY MAIN PRIORITY THESE DAYS.

IF I'M ABLE TO FIT MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL BUILDING AROUND THAT THAT'S VERY SWEET.

I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, MAGGIE AND LUCY.

MAGGIE IS SIX, LUCY IS FOUR.

JUST STUCK.

LEPESQUEUR AND DAUGHTERS.

WE WERE JOKING ABOUT IT AND THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, WELL, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.

THAT IS OUR FAMILY.

PAY HOMAGE TO THEM A LITTLE BIT.

NOW THAT'S THE TITLE.

NOT TRYING TO PUSH THEM INTO IT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF MY MAIN PASSION, BUT THEY HAVE JUST GOTTEN MORE AND MORE INTO IT.

THEY ARE PEDALING WELL NOW AND WE CAN ACTUALLY RIDE SOME OF THE TRAILS AROUND HERE.

THEY SEEM PRETTY INTO RIDING.

I'LL BE HAPPY NO MATTER WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT I'M DEFINITELY HAPPY WHEN THEY WANT TO GO RIDE BIKES.