Ride report from flipper

[flipper]

Well, finally made it down.  Been way too long.  Hit Pinnacle Creek this morning at 7am.  It's April right?  32 degrees when I started out, I had the winter gloves on and the thumb warmer on high.  I headed out planning to try out the extreme trails 95, 96, and 97.  That ended in failure.,  Those were all closed.  Signs said not part of the HM trail system.  Although I did hike across the creek and found the sign for trail 97.  Still it was closed.  I proceeded a little further down 23 and came across black 94.  I thought that this was going to be like all the other blacks on this particular trail system having to only use 2 wheel drive..  I was pleasantly surprised to find my butt puckering just after the first turn.  The Grizzly was actually getting a good work out and I actually had to kiss the front rack a couple of times to keep the front end down.  Now I will admit, it would have gone smoother if I had swapped my tires before coming down.  I've run these Executioners here before but I have found the Big Horns work much better on rock.  After having fun on that one, I hit all the other trails, the others haven't seemed to change in the last couple of years.  Hitting Buffalo Mountain Monday morning, it's supposed to be a little warmer at sunrise.

[flipper]

Hit Buffalo Mt today.  This has always been my favorite system.  Took off from Williamson around 7:30am.  Couldn't wait to hit the new blacks, 94, 95, and 96.  Great trails in both directions.  Headed to Matewan on the 57, 56, 42, 55, 58, and 20.  I never go on this system without checking out trail 48.  This trail doesn't seem to get as much traffic as it was always kind of out of the way.  This has changed since 20 loops around now.  48 has always had a chaalenge mixed in with it, not so this time, groomed very smooth, (rats).  Well I couldn't wait to get on extreme trail 39.  This has always been my favorite trail of all the HM trails.  Heck I wondered why they hadn't marked it a double black before the new extreme designation.  OK big disapointment.  I was ready for some big excitment, nope they must have just gotten done grading it.  In all honesty, today, I would have rated it a mild blue.  Now don't anyone read what I just wrote and head out on 39 after a storm or week or month and get hurt.  I have ridden this trail dozens of times and thought  "holy crap, they need to rate this beyond a black rating".  I'm just stating today April 12, it was blue at best.  The black trail leading to it (38) has never been anything but easy, but I followed a dozer up it today, they are ready to make this an access road. By the way 23 is temporarly closed near the junction of black 99.  Headed into Matewan to the Depot for lunch.  I miss Donna May, she was great for a good conversation, still good food though.  Headed back on the green 18.  I really enjoyed this trail, lots of scenery.  On the way  back to Williamson I headed over to Black 92, this has never been that difficult, but this is where I figured out they must have been working on all the black and extreme trails.  Fresh dozer tracks on this trail and no challange.  Although I didn"t get any pucker factors today and I sound discouraged,  I'M NOT.  I loved the trails today.  I had a blast. Again do not take extreme 39 for granted, this trail can change at the drop of hat.

[2tv]

Nice reports Flipper.  I've always liked trail 48 myself and it seems like it has been different every time I've been on it.  I've seen that steep section smooth and I've seen it washed out to the point where the upper section of the steep part was like a "V" with the lower part being exceptionally rocky so one never knows what to expect with that trail.  As I recall trail 92 seemed rather tame for a black trail but there have been times when it's had some really deep mud holes on it...

[flipper]

I was on Rockhouse Tuesday.  Blue and black trails were in the best shape I have seen.  In fact 93 was so smooth I thought maybe the change the rating (remember trails can change overnight).  I hit the new black 32.  I say new because I remember the original black 32 and it puckered my butt.  This trail now is definatley not the same 32.  Very doable for anybody with a little experience behind them.  The only trails I didn't hit were extreme 94 95 and 96.  I have done them in the past and I didn't need to temped fate again.  When riding alone you have to use your head.  Something my Wife says I rarley use.
The next day I hit Bear Wallow.  I have always loved these trails.  I was itching to see what they had done to black 86  (now part of blue 16)  When it was black it was an awesome rock crawl.  Just as steep now but without the rocks.  (darn it).  Hit all the extremes, can't say their any differenmt when they were rated black.  Not for the faint of heart.  One trail I honestly think needs to be upgraded to extreme would be 94.  This has always been one heck of a climb and it didn't disapoint me this time.

[wthensler]

Flipper,

I would say most of my experience at Rockhouse was similar to yours.  As I recall, only Black 91 was a little gnarly in one section (rock steps), and I gave the Grizz a bit of steam and did my best to hold the front end into the slope on the way up.  At 52, I have to admit most of my best hill climbing days are behind me - but I still crave a decent technical hill climb, which luckily are in abundance at RH.  And Grizz Power hasn't left me short yet - what a great all-around and reliable rider it's been!

I have always loved Bear Wallow - though not as extensive a trail system as RH, it's less dusty and still a blast.  I have fond memories of my old pal Fast Freddy and his Banshee screaming up the steepest coal bank, and getting caught in the pond on T16.  Do they still have the trails open across the highway?

I try not to ride alone when I go down there - lucky for me my 16 YO nephew shares my love of the open trail with his Honda CR250.  However I have gone by myself and like you, try to limit the risk factor when there's no one else around.

[Mr.Ed]

wthensler    At Bear Wallow the trails across the road are closed. Was there over Easter, ranger said they would probably never reopen due to mining