One if by land....

With the onset of daylight savings its been tough to get day rides in during the week.

Intersection at Berry Patch and Rays 11pm.

Grippis Rocks

Although some days are much nicer than others. This was yesterday morning at the vista on the Allegrippis Trails. After hitting the trails I wanted to check out the lake as it looked pretty much devoid of all motorized traffic, which makes for some rather surreal moments. Heres one.

I saw only three other boats on the lake....all of which where motorized and chock full of overweight hunters pursuing game by boat. Interesting manor in which to hunt, didn't seem to prove to fruitful as several hours they where returning with no beer and no deer.

trail gnomes and fall games

This is the ode' to the leafblower.

So we get crazy looks when out on the trails with blowers, but honestly it makes the work in the spring that much easier. And with limited volunteers to call upon, spreading the workload out is a easy way to make it much more manageable.

This is why the trails look the way they do. Yeah some might say its over the top even unnecessary. And well for the most part I agree...however I think the trails ride that much better when they are clean and clear. Take a look and you be the judge.

The STHL 550 and a gallon of mixed gas will run for approximately 5.5hrs and clean 3.0 miles of trail. At that rate it really isn't that bad to clean and clear the trails.

Before Blowing

After Blowing and Cleaning

Recent Eagle Scout Corey McKay on a bench installation workday. We had 10 volunteers come out and install the benches on the Fawn Trail and the Berry Patch Trail.

Recent rock work that increased the width of the armoring at the bottom of Sidewinder trail.

It takes a mighty fleet of tools to keep the trails clean and clear, to the level they are currently maintained. With donations from riders, area businesses, and the Friends of Raystown Lake, our small club is able to maintain 32 miles of fresh-cut trail.

But I guess its all still worth it.

raystown epic

So, finally its a weekend day, when there isn't a river shuttle thats needs to be run, a work-weekend to attend to, custom bike build to wrap up, or blowdown on Eagle Trail that must absolutely be cleared! And all the races are over and festivals dont happen on Sunday's.

Having recently built up a new el-mari with some of them fancy suspension forks, and some other more fresh parts, I needed to find some trails that justified such a plush ride. After not getting out on the bike for a few days, it was time to get some mileage in.

I had talked to the Corps, some time ago about the standing of the, 30 mile long Terrace Mtn Trail, as to whether or not bikes could or should be ridden on it. The very basic maps, that I was able to turn up had indications that it might be a good trail. But then why does no one ever ride or walk on it? I needed to find out.

If you aren't familiar with the terrace mountain, its on the "other side" of the lake. The one where there is practically nothing till you the resort, directly across from the Allegrippis Trails and Seven Points. The trail apparently starts at Saxton and runs all the way to just outside Huntingdon, on Corbins Road, roughly 30 miles. On a map it looks like the perfect point to point ride.

And so I devised the raystown epic:

From Huntingdon,

Corbins Road to the Terrace Mountain Trail

Terrace Mountain Trail- Trough Creek

Terrace Mountain Trail-Tatmun Run and 994 Bridge

Cross over the lake, right on James Creek Road.

Left on Fouses Crossing

Right onto Rt. 26

Rt. 26 make a right onto States Road

States-Seven Points Road Right- up the big hill.

Left at the top onto Bakers Hollow Road.

Ride the Trail System Perimeter Loop followed by south end. Exit the trails onto 7 Pts Road. Ride Piney Ride Back to H-City! If you choose to do this.....it was painful.

I left this morning around 10:00am with some energy stuff and light maintenance kit and a camera. So, here is what I found on my attempt at the Raystown Epic.

This is starting up the Corbins Road climb which is about 2.8 miles with grades of 10%

Back Down Terrace Mountain only to go back up and over about four times. I honestly believed for a brief second that when I got to the trailhead it was going to be a easy day of riding. Later on that proved not to be the case. As I was greeted with a nice pastoral setting with a clean trail running through it.

It was smooth riding and almost to open for the first mile and a half. Than the trail goes between old logging roads straight to crazy off-camber goat trails. That traverse the mountainside. Some so steep and off camber they are simply unrideable. Lots of good hike-a-bike practice.

After a good while the blowdowns started becoming to thick to bother riding. However because the trail uses log roads it did make for some fun log rides like this one.

Thats Susquehannock down there!

Plenty of rock.

This made the ride worth it. Halfway up old Finks Road.

I finished out in Trough Creek, and proceeded to ride out to the resort and across the Entrinken Bridge.... perfect colors, not so perfect strong wind.

Bear Trap? Thats Crazy! No Fred you go in the tube.

Crazy view with awesome sky coming towards Hesston.

Than Back to the Allegrippis for a quick dose of flow. Before heading all the way back to Huntingdon. I made it back to Huntingdon, around 5:30pm.

Archery Season and Dry Trails

Archery Season Starts Tomorrow October 2nd 2010. If you are in the woods please wear bright orange! (if nothing else bright colors)

It is not unsafe to be in the woods if you are wearing the proper colors. And realistically its archers....so you'd hope they could tell the difference between a rider and a deer.

The trails and our area recieved the heavy soaking rains that everywhere else on the East Coast did. So, yes the trails dry really quick and drain tremedously well, but still we ask that even if there is a muddy section ride through it not around it. This creates a larger trail and ultimately more work down the line. Thanks for following the lines.

Otherwise I'd say that by noon today they would be fine to ride...just leaf littered and debris filled. With high winds.

days turn like leaves

The last couple days have been quite busy on the trails. both in terms of riders and work. Couple more blowdowns cleaned. Couple more briar sections cleared.

This is the drain fix at fawn. Hopefully it'll prove itself. If not we'll have a wallow in about six weeks.

There is supposed to be three planks across the bottom. Porcupines! They only seem to be attacking the set of benches at the vista and signage from the vista back on the ridge to Red Legs. With minor damages elsewhere. No fix yet.

This could be one of the trail projects slated for the IMBA RMBA WorkWeekend October 8-10th

Trail Conditions and Other Bits

Condtions:

The trails are ridin' fast. With the lack of any soaking rains recently the dust factor is high, leaving a layer of small loose debris on top of the tread. Lower tire pressures and tightly spaced knobs seem to be working the best right now.

Briars are mostly cleared from the trails with some small patches on Hydro Loop and sections of the Deer Trails. Nothing horrible just here and there.

Other Bits:

The Trail Work and Ride Weekend Scheduled for October 8th-10th is on.

Ridge Campground at Seven Points Recreation Area will serve as HQ.

Interested in attending just email at whysinglespeed@gmail.com. Why not?

DirtFest 2011 is on for May 20-23rd. Bring your helmet!

The Sixty is coming......

One For Doug

This is for Doug.

Great Loop.