Rooted in Stowe. Thoughtfully researched. Independently created.
Coffee strong enough that the smell could wake you upstairs. Bacon crackling. Laundry coming off the line smelling like lemon and sunshine.
That’s where my story of Stowe begins.
I’m Sarah Ouellette, founder of GearVT. I grew up in Stowe in the ’80s, where my parents ran a little inn in the Lower Village called Stowe Bound Lodge.
We had Merino sheep in the backyard. My dad sold Gallagher fencing. Our goose, Jonny, stood at the top of the hill and chased our neighbor, Mrs. Russel, back into her house.
People came to Stowe for a vacation. For us, it was home—with all the work, warmth, and occasional goose trouble that came with it.
A Childhood in Hospitality
I learned to ski young, with runs that meant climbing back up the hill before coming down again. I still have a plaque connected to our first skiers at the lodge. And I remember my mother in the backyard, and the smell of laundry dried on the line.
My mom was an incredible cook and a hospitality expert long before Airbnb. She understood the care that goes into welcoming people, feeding them well, and making a place comfortable.
Looking back, it’s the ordinary details I remember most. The coffee reaching upstairs. The sound of breakfast cooking. The fresh sheets.
Those memories still shape what I appreciate about a place to stay. Beyond the photographs and list of amenities, someone is doing the work of making people feel welcome.
Local Roots, Creative Work
My own path led to graphic and web design, search engine optimization, and work in hospitality. I earned an Associate of Science in Multimedia & Graphic Design from Champlain College and founded Creative Makers Studio in Morrisville.
I now live in Johnson, with Stowe still close to home.
GearVT brings together my connection to this area and the skills I’ve developed through my work. I care about how information looks, how clearly it answers a question, and how people find it.
SEO is part of that work: understanding what people search for and building useful pages that can earn their place in the results. With GearVT, I’m putting that experience into something of my own.
What You’ll Find
GearVT is growing into an independent guide to Stowe and the surrounding area, with a focus on:
- Ski and snowboard rentals: equipment choices, local shops, and practical comparisons.
- Bike rentals: options for different rides and ways to explore.
- Places to stay: lodging, locations, and the details that help you choose.
- Local perspective: the questions and observations that come from a personal connection to the area.
The goal is to make planning easier through thoughtful research and clear information.
My Approach
Growing up here gives me a perspective. Checking the details keeps it useful.
I’ll distinguish personal experience from information I’ve researched or received from businesses. Prices, services, and policies change, so sources and the timing of a comparison matter.
GearVT is independently owned and directed. Any paid placements will be clearly identified, and I’ll choose partnerships that fit the purpose of the site.
Whether you’re choosing rental equipment or a place to spend the weekend, I want you to feel that someone has taken the time to consider the details.
Because sometimes those are the things you remember longest.
For me, it’s still the coffee upstairs and sheets that smelled like lemon and sunshine.
Sarah Ouellette
Founder, GearVT