Category Archives: trails

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Battling Mt. Battie

The gnarly ascent of Mt. Battie. Camden, Maine.

So, Jan and I just returned from a wonderful trip to the Maine coast. We stayed in the great little seaside village of Camden, and took in all the sights and checked all the boxes. Upon arrival at the Portland Jetport, we drove directly to McLoon’s Lobster Shack in Thomaston, Maine, and had the obligatory lobster roll. It was fabulous as I had not had a lobster roll in 40 years. My last one was in Bethel, Vermont at a roadside restaurant named Tozier’s. But that was a long time to go without tasting another lobster roll. This one did not disappoint.

Look at that claw!!!

We also hit the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound later in the week, but we have to give the nod to McLoon’s for the sandwich and the view of the harbor from the Adirondack Chairs.

Some of the other checked boxes were a sail boat ride on the Schooner Surprise. Built in 1918, it was a beauty of a restored vessel and the day was superb on the Penobscot Bay. Our Captain Laird was so excited that a schooner built over 100 years ago was able to do 9.1 knots on the return trip. We did a lot of walking in the village of Camden and also made an excursion to Rockland, Maine and took in the Farnsworth Art Museum which featured many of the works of the Wyeth family. NC, Andrew, and Jamie and all of their relations. Amazing that the whole family, including cousins, were all artists and featured in the museum.

Andrew Wyeth painting of Chadds Ford, Pa. His birthplace.
Coastal oil painting by NC Wyeth.
Janet on the Schooner ” Surprise”
The view of lighthouses from Penobscot Bay aboard the Schooner Surprise.
Captain Laird

We also drove almost two hours to see Acadia National Park and drove the route around the park to see the sights. Unfortunately, the park was jammed with cars and people and some of the sights we were unable to see even if we did have a reservation. Seems to be the norm now with National Parks. You at least have to have a reservation and parking is a challenge. But we were able to take in what we could and headed back to Camden.

Checking the boxes on restaurants, lobster, and seaside views, we were always on the move as is our custom. But the physical activities of the days were all about hiking and the place to go is the Camden HIlls State Park just north of town. Jan and I like to hike and with the leaves changing rapidly in Maine, the anticipated views of the coastal mountains and the bay were on our mind. We were told that the trails leading to Mt. Battie were the ones to take for the views from the top, and we began our first hike anticipating a nice long jaunt. What we didn’t know, and no one told us, was that the ” moderate to strenuous hike” as outlined in the website, was a lot to bite off and chew. I kind of chuckled when we started to ascend rough granite sections of the trail and eventually had to climb on all fours to proceed on the almost vertical sections. Coming back down on our butts and all fours in certain sections, was also interesting as the method of descent. For a mountain with only about a 1000 vertical from sea level, it is a brute if you take the more challenging trails. Janet was a trooper, as I am somewhat familiar with hiking in the New England mountains. I always knew that steep granite sections were the norm, but this little coastal mountain which is dwarfed by the Whites of New Hampshire and the Greens of Vermont and the Adirondacks, was still a challenge for anyone attempting to see the views from the top.

Checking the trail maps

I also got a kick out of the locals, many with gray hairs and years in their hiking boots, smiling and making their way. I have always marveled at how some people attempt bicycle centuries and running marathons and don’t really look the part. “How in the world are they ever going to make it?”, I always said. New Englanders are unphased, and their grizzle is readily apparent on the hikes up Mt. Battie.

The unassuming Mt. Battie from Penobscot Bay. Tougher than it looks.

Jan and I took another trail on another day which was still a rugged climb on tombstone granite rocks. The park ranger who gave us a senior discount to enter, was very vague when we asked for recommendations for alternate hikes. In typical Maine fashion, he was low key and left the decision basically to us. We surged onward and Jan was once again a trooper as we made our way up and then descended, sometimes on our butts over sheer granite sheets, grabbing whatever we could with our hands so as not to slide totally off the trail. You know, you can drive to the top of Mt. Battie? But why do that when you can get some exercise and scare yourself on some vertical rock formations? Those New Englanders are tough ,and we were impressed with our fellow senior citizens who took it all in stride. Understatement is always the mood of people from that end of the country, and I have always liked the “can do”,” no problem” of hikers and skiers from the northeast.

As a tribute to Mt. Battie, we bought some Maine State Parks trucker hats from the ranger at the station and after a rather non-eventful conversation, we made it back to our bed and breakfast in Camden- The Hideaway Inn http://www.hideawayinnmaine.com Highly recommended with wonderful hosts- Rick and Charles.

The Hideaway Inn- wonderful place to stay in Camden

On the last day, we proudly wore out hats and pounded down some pancakes for breakfast with plump, Maine blueberries and Maine maple syrup. Another checked box on our exit from the Pine Tree State.

Penobscot Bay from Mt.Battie.

Reflecting back on our trip this week, Jan and I both say we want to go back to Camden. We loved the seaside atmosphere, the sailboats in the harbor, the hiking, and the food. We have both skied in Maine, and it was a nice alternative to see the coast in the fall. I would highly recommend it especially this time of year. And if you want to battle Battie, go for it. The challenge and the views are really well worth the effort. Thanks for reading and ……………………..think snow!

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It helps me.

“Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.” Psalm 104:25

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Adventurefest 2025 Surviving the Storm

The prayerful starts.

I always post on Adventurefest every year because it is such a great gathering of Christian, outdoor oriented men. The Boyer’s Pond Campground serves as the venue, and Greg Nass and his team hit a home run every year with activities like mountain biking, hiking, fishing, Harley rides, and even a welding tutorial. But more importantly, some thought provoking messages by his talented roster of Assembly of God pastors. There is nothing like physical activities in the beautiful Laurel Highlands coupled with spiritual activities that complete the whole experience of being in God’s wonderful natural environment.

Friday- Upon arrival at Laurel Mountain in the afternoon, our group of mountain bikers assembled in the parking lot near the ski area to take on the challenging trails as a start to the weekend.

Shark’s prayerful start to the Laurel Mountain ride.
Some of the local residents of Wolf Rocks welcoming us to Laurel Mountain. Mom and newborn.

We dodged the rain, which came at the end of the ride, changed clothes and headed for a wonderful meal at The Fat Squirrel in Jennerstown. Heading to Boyer’s Pond in a rainstorm, we set up our tents and headed to the 3 Cs Church on the campground. We heard Pastor Michael Abreau tell us how a lot of us are like a ’64 Impala waiting to be restored. God is the master mechanic, and the potential renovation is available for all of us if we let Him into our lives. Great message to end the day and head back to the tents. Rained all night but we managed to stay dry with functioning rain flies on the tents.

Saturday morning- Awoke to coffee, served by Shark, and oatmeal served by yours truly, with Roger Evans from West Virginia providing an egg casserole. Good thing we had John Casuccio’s awning for his camper to get out of the torrential rain to eat. We headed to the Quemahoning Reservoir to take on the challenging trail system in deep mud and slime. We were caked, along with our bikes after the ride, but managed to finish in sunny conditions after starting out in in the pouring rain.

Living Evidence Ministries let the music worship in the 3 Cs Church after all the activities ended.

After a quick lunch and shower, we all headed to the 3 Cs Church again to hear a panel discussion with Pastors Jonathan Whyns, Paul Boseviert, Pete Gacialone, and Todd Pugh. They answered tough questions about faith and spirituality. Time well spent with 4 guys who know the answers or are at least willing to comment humbly on the subjects presented. The session ended with Pastor Jimmy Rivera from City Limits Assembly of God in Philadelphia giving us an exhortation on seeking the Lord and allowing him to search your soul. Jimmy spoke about the unlimited neediness of the soul matching the unlimited grace of God. God the Creator breathed a soul into all of us ,and will come looking for that soul someday. Really convicting, followed by a passionate prayer from Jimmy for all of those guys willing to come forward in humility. Jimmy and Mark “Shark” Sauers prayed individually for all the guys. Shark was a great MC for the event and we all said- he found his calling for sure.

Normal Joe’s worshipping their God.
The Shark with his kilt- doing what great MCs do. Bringing it to the group.

After another great meal at the Fat Squirrel, ( courtesy of Bill Belch), we headed back to the campground and the walk to the Cross. Friday and Saturday nights, Greg and his team set up time for guys to come forward at a wooden cross and give their testimonies. Then after their testimony, they hammer a nail into the cross signifying that they are giving it up to the Lord. Amazing stories of drug dealing, addiction, potential suicide, lost families and spouses, and how someone who inserted themselves into their lives saved them from ruin. Those evangelistic souls preached the saving message of Christianity to people who really needed it, and the fruits of their labor stood at the cross and pounded those nails.

Greg Nass speaking at the Cross

The cool thing about Adventurefest and the organization -Adventuremen.org, is the evidence of humility and grace. In this troubled world, people need prayer and that is why most guys come to the event. Sure, they want to experience the camping, the fellowship, the fun events, the fires, the breakfasts, and on and on. But they are all normal Joe’s trying to get along in life. Nothing condescending about them. They don’t have an “above it all” attitude. These guys want to hear a good message that means something in their lives. They want to hear about forgiveness and the grace available for believers. Greg and his team provide a wonderful experience in the wilds of the Laurel Highlands- rain or not. Who cares?

On a final note, we lost our buddy Bob Anderson last year who attended Adventurefest for the first time. He loved it, had a great time, and after wanting to get more involved, tragically passed away two weeks later on the trails that he loved. We always say Bob went from Adventurefest to Heaven. What a journey! Greg fashioned a screw with Bob’s initials, and I screwed that into the cross on Saturday night. What a nice tribute to a great guy that we all so deeply miss. But we surely know where he is, as we knew his path in life.

Bob Anderson- second from left. Adventurefest 2024

About to tackle the mud at the Q

So, not to get too preachy here, but if you have an urge or curiosity, come to Adventurefest next year. Always the weekend before Father’s Day. Great times in the woods with a bunch of guys who will ride Harleys with you, throw axes with you, fish with you, hike with you, mountain bike with you and most of all……..inspire you. http://www.adventurefest.org http://www.adventuremen.org Thanks for reading.

” I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Phillipians 4:13

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A Drive to the North Country

The Lodge at Glendorn in Winter

Last week for Janet’s birthday, we took a drive north to do some skiing, snowshoeing, and relaxing at a wonderful place called The Lodge at Glendorn. I have posted about this place before but it is worth repeating what a wonderful experience it is to go there.

Janet kept checking the weather and we realized that we would be heading through Kane and Marienville in single digit temperatures. They don’t call those places the ” Icebox of Pennsylvania” for nothing. Those folks are really frozen in this winter, like many winters up north in Pa. The snow is deep, the roads are slick ( plowed and scraped but very little cinders) and literally no place to pull over in the Allegheny National Forest because of the deep snow and frozen conditions.

But my wife is a tough one when it comes to doing things and as long as she is warm, she is game for winter conditions. Good thing because she is married to me, a true lover of winter. After following two oversized loads through the Allegheny National Forest which added another hour of driving, we approached the gates of Glendorn and entered into a magical forest ( no pun intended) filled with lights and snow. Glendorn is so welcoming and the people who are lucky enough to work there could not be nicer. I figured if I was going to drag my wife out in the frozen tundra conditions, she should have some niceties too and Glendorn does not disappoint.

Janet always comments about how I pack it in, but I don’t want to miss anything. Especially on her birthday. We had lunch after we arrived, and immediately went snowshoeing. After about an hour on the trails at Glendorn, I took her to the Forest Spa for a massage and I headed back out on the trails for another hour and a half. There are so many trails and the peaceful atmosphere of the north country in winter is truly something to be treasured.

The next day, we headed to Holimont which ,for those of you who have not skied it, should be on your list. A private ski club on the weekends, it is open to the public during the week and is impeccably groomed. The atmosphere of the place is so warming and the people there are really friendly. They love their club and welcome visitors like us. Yes, it was brisk, but Janet was prepared and skied very well in very cold conditions. As we headed back to Glendorn, we remarked that if Holimont and Ellicottville were just a little closer, we would be going there all the time. Ellicottville is a great town and a real gem in Western New York. The nice thing is that it is only a 40 minute drive from Glendorn.

Notice that they let the riff raff in today. LOL!!

After a wonderful breakfast overlooking the property on our last day, we headed south back to reality. We took in the remote winter atmosphere of the National Forest and were amazed at the amount of snow that had fallen since we had arrived two days before. This winter has been a real “old fashioned” winter for sure. When you venture to the Laurel Highlands or up north to the “Iceboxes of Pa” you can really soak in the harshness and natural beauty of winter the way it should be. I love winter, I love fireplaces, I love snowy trails, I love great ski conditions. I am probably one of the only ones around my neighborhood who actually gets a little depressed when winter comes to a close. But when you tally up your ski days, and take in some great atmosphere, you can look back with very fond memories. No wonder I talk about skiing and winter all summer long. Some of my mountain bike friends, who do not ski, can’t get over it. But a trip to the North Country would explain it to all of them.

We are headed west at the end of March to ski and that will most likely end our 2025 campaign. But this winter locally has been spectacular. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have fun in the winter in these parts. Simply not true. It has been truly amazing. And we are hoping that the rodent was accurate in his predictions. More winter to come. Thanks for reading.

” I lift up mine eyes to the mountains” Psalm 121 1-4.

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Whoa Nellie!!!

Around the East , we are having a banner snow year, but the imminent freeze thaw cycles also lead to some icy conditions on the slopes where you need good sharp edges. But the same thing happens to the local trails that I ride in the winter. Usually, after a snow, the trails will pack down after hikers, runners, and fat bikers make the surface rideable. Kind of like a groomer at a ski area. I ride them with my Esker hard tail that I use in the winter with 2.6 tires. (Thanks Tom Florcik from Highline Bikes info@highlinebikes.com) That set up is good enough for most snow rides until the freeze thaw cycle starts. Then it gets a little sketchy. I end up talking to myself in sections. Encouraging myself, and riding the edges until I can find better spots. In the thaw/wet periods, I try not to ride so as to destroy the trail. But when I get the chance and the trails are rideable, they can be a good workout. Frozen trails are like riding in the summer. But thawing trails are soft and can give you a better workout than you might have bargained for. I see that on my Garmin watch when I look at the end of ride statistics. I work harder in softer conditions.

Sketchy trail conditions.

A lot of the guys that I ride with use studded tires in the winter. That works for sure. But I just go out when I can, and see if I can get by without them. If it gets too icy, I put Yak Traks on my hiking boots and go for a hike until the trail conditions get better. More snow is usually the remedy and the packing down cycle begins again. My neighbors think I am a bit touched when they see me load my bike in the Jeep in a snowstorm. But I like to ride, and peddling is my way to keep in shape and also have a little solace in the woods during a snowstorm. I have never been a gym guy, so I like to do things outdoors- no matter what the weather is doing. I don’t really live in ski country. It takes some effort to drive to the mountains to ski and drive to my local trail systems to ride. When the freeze thaw comes, I am prepared with sharp edges on my skis. But when I ride…………………whoa Nellie!!!!

So, getting back to my neighbors. They say, “why would a 70 year old guy ride in the dark, with lights, on snow covered or icy trails?” They just shake their head at me as if to say- “are you nuts?” But my response is always positive. I tell them how much fun it is, how beautiful a snow- covered trail is in the woods at night, and how trail conditions improve my bike handling skills. Most of my neighbors are my age or a little older and their idea of conditioning is a little different than mine. I am not your typical 70 year old for many reasons. But continuing to do the things I like will keep me young. I want to enjoy skiing and riding for as long as I can. You don’t quit doing things because you get old………you get old because you quit doing things. I think about how long I will be able to schlepp ski bags and luggage through airports, drive in raging snowstorms, and put up with all the inconveniences just to do the things I like to do? I hope for a long time. Just keep doing it. When you quit, then you have a problem. Got some new roller luggage and roller ski bags this year just to make sure.

The Winter Bike

So my message this week is again, not to let the weather get the best of you. Enjoy a walk, a hike, or something outdoors in the winter. And when the trail conditions get a little sketchy……enjoy the ride, or the slide…….. as it may be. Thanks for reading.

Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me. Cheers!!

“Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize….” -Phillipians 3 13-14

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Pack it In!

My motto- you can sleep when you’re dead.

When I saw this on the door of the Cafe LeMont up near State College, Pa. I laughed. It is so true. Carpe Diem, seize the day, pack it in. Janet always says I am in a hurry and always rush her into things. But when she gets it together and packs it in, she is happy. She doesn’t want to miss anything. And when we get together with our friends, Judy and Mike Smith, they are definitely cohorts in crime when it comes to squeezing every opportunity out of a day. Janet just rolls her eyes at the three of us but always complies. She may be tired at the end of a day, but always glad that she ……..packed it in.

Mike and Judy Smith- out hiking, cycling, and ski buddies. They are professionals at packing it in.

So, Janet said to me last week, ” where do you want to go for your birthday?” I really didn’t know, and we settled on a trip to State College with the Smiths. Janet and Judy were room- mates at PSU and Mike and I are usually along for the ride. We had not been to State College for a while and decided that would be a fun place to go. We stayed at the newly refurbished Nittany Lion Inn which was available because it was a non- football weekend. The busy itinerary for the weekend began when Janet and I drove to the Cafe Lemont, had lunch, and then donned the backpacks and headed up Mt. Nittany for a hike. Judy and Mike arrived a little later, and they set the land speed record up and back. LOL!! We all laughed and headed to check in at the hotel, shower, and then out to eat. No grass was growing under our feet that day. Hiking up Mt. Nittany is always fun and a rite of passage for Penn Staters. Again – Mike and I were along for the ride.

The view of Beaver Stadum from the top of Mt. Nittany.

Judy and Janet on their beloved Nittany Lion. Judy was a cheerleader back in the day. She still could be one.

After a quick cup of coffee the next morning, we all went out to Shingletown Gap for another hike. A beautiful trail with wonderful scenery and lots of rocks. I told them all that the people who hike the Appalachian Trail always call Pennsylvania ” Rocksylvania” because it is one of the more challenging sections on the route. Mike and I would agree because, as we knew full well, the subsequent mountain bike ride for the both of us would be full of challenging rocks. The ladies regrouped back at the Inn and Mike and I made our way to the Longberger Path and the Tussey Mountain Trail in the Rothrock State Forest. A route that he and I have ridden many, many times on our PSU weekends for football games with the ladies and their clan. As we made our way to the” Beer Tap” which is a fun marker at the confluence of a couple of trails, we forged ahead through heinous rock gardens along the way and wondering where the heck that Beer Tap was so we could begin the long descent back to the car. Mike led the way as I watched him battle the rock sections for as long as he could riding his bike before we had to hike some sections. But as the sun was setting, it was cold on the descent and the shower back at the hotel was a welcome relief. That trail seems longer and longer every year. Could it be that I am just getting older? Hmmm.

If you ever get the chance to see a NCAA Div 1 Volleyball game- go do it. Exciting.
Mike Smith at the Beer Tap- Tussey Mountain Trail
The Tussey Mountain Trail- Rocksylvania for sure.

Rushing back to pack it in some more after the hike and the ride, we all made our way to Rec Hall to watch the women’s volleyball game between PSU and Illinois. An exciting match for sure and thankful that Judy got tickets. We rushed to The Tavern right after the game, rammed down some food and then began our walk through the town and back up the hill to the hotel. A long day but …………….you can sleep when you’re dead. Right?

The next morning, after a road coffee, we did another hike at Mt. Nittany, had some lunch at the Cafe LeMont again and headed back home. A whirlwind couple of days which was anything but relaxing, but we did a lot and I, for one, was happy. The more I can pack in, the better I like it. Janet rolls her eyes again. But she knows who she married.

In the gondola in Utah with the Smittys and our friends Ralph and Amy Phillips

We will be heading back out west for another ski trip with the Flying Smittys this winter and I am sure that they will be up at at em early as is their usual protocol. Janet is used to the deal by now seeing that we have been taking ski trips with the Smiths for quite a while now. They love to ski, I love to ski, and Janet- well, once she is out and at it, loves to ski too. We just have to crowbar her out sometimes. LOL!!

So, I guess, the moral of the story for me here is ……………..get it while you can. There are so many opportunities in life that the operative word these days should be” yes”. It doesn’t have to be far away from home either. Lots of good places to visit and pack it in right in your home state. Great to travel, great to pack it in out of state or out of the country, but always wonderful to go for the gusto right in your neck of the woods. Remember- you don’t quit doing things because you get old, you get old because you quit doing things. Thanks for reading and pack it in – will ya?

A post snowshoe picnic right near the trails near our house. With the Smittys!
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Cyclo X 2024

Aaron Shafer- Founder of Cyclo X

Well, it was another hot and steamy day last Sunday for the annual ride to and through the City of Pittsburgh’s City Parks. A good turnout as usual even though it was the same day as Peddle Pittsburgh. I tell people all the time that Cyclo X is really a mountain bike ride because even though there is a lot of road riding in between parks, the trails in the parks themselves usually demand a mountain bike for most people. Mere mortals like me. I need the knobby tires as much as possible. The “A” group had people on mountain bikes but a lot of guys on gravel or cross bikes. Their skill is amazing. I ride with the “B ” group because I am a little “long in the tooth” for the “A ” group anymore. Despite the trite saying,………. age and treachery will NOT beat youth and skill. Hat’s off to Aaron for putting together great routes this year for both groups.

The “B” Group.

Just to give you some perspective, Aaron and 7 of his “A” group guys rode 80+ miles with some amazing vertical feet. Strava had it at 11,000 ft. Everything in Pittsburgh is up from the rivers and no matter where you go, there is a steep punchy climb. A real mix of trails, gravel and roads. Our group called it a day after 43 miles and close to 4,000 vertical feet and made our way back to the Grist House for some of their cold, delicious, craft beers. The Hazedelic IPA tasted pretty good in the 90 degree temperatures. But the routes are interesting and vary from year to year. Aaron even put some killer climbs in for the “B” group this year which left me kind of strained as we made our way up Mt. Washington on Sycamore Street. Hard to believe that the Thrift Drug Classic road race climbed this 8 times during the course of the race. Even then, a lot of pro riders dropped out after too many runs at that steep climb. But the lunch at Redbeard’s was a welcome rest. They are always so accommodating to our hot and sweaty group.

Shark and Sean Brady at Redbeard’s

The scenery was terrific as the bright and sunny day showcased all the city parks. It was kind of cool to see all the folks from Peddle Pittsburgh out and about too. It just shows that Pittsburgh has a lot of active folks with many outdoor opportunities. Road cyclists, mountain bikers, gravel riders, all enjoying what the city has to offer.

The send- off from the Grist House
The view from the Emerald Trails on Mt. Washington.

As much as the beautiful day showcased the city and it’s beautiful parks, there were some sights from the seat of a bicycle that made you ponder. Lots of homeless tents on the North Shore bicycle trail and also on the Southside. This is a problem and not really sure how to handle it but hoping that someone smarter than me can help these people out. My friend Pete Hilton, who was on the ride, is on the board of Light of Light Missions that does a great job trying to rehabilitate these folks who often have mental and drug related challenges. If Pittsburgh wants to showcase itself, they need to align as much as they can with organizations like Light of Life and help people in need. People in Pittsburgh are very friendly and helpful. They are the fabric that can solve this problem as well as showcase our city to the world as a caring community and an active outdoor community as well.

Pete Hilton and the Shark

I drove home that day thinking about how many more of the Cyclo X rides I can do. I realize that I am not 30 anymore and my riding strength is relative. But I believe in the importance of staying in shape, riding my bike, and keeping that positive attitude as long as I can. It is events like Cyclo X that keep me in the game. Thanks to Aaron and his hard work organizing this event and thanks to all the riders who came out. Try it next year- you will not be disappointed. Thanks for reading.

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The Headless Rider

You know, sometimes you have to come up with some ingenious ideas to get over on a chronic problem or use creativity in being proactive. Some work and some do not. Take the time I went to Tuckerman Ravine to climb and ski and thought that it would be a good idea to pre -pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and carry them in my backpack. At the end of the week of skiing and climbing and sleeping in the shelter up against my backpack, the prepacked bag of sandwiches from Pittsburgh ended up as a wad of peanut butter and jelly doughball in New Hampshire that was kind of disgusting at week’s end. Not a good idea.

Recently, however, I came up with a good one. The gnats in the woods this year have been particularly bothersome on mountain bike rides. As you start to perspire, those little buggers start to swarm your head supposedly looking for the moist, exhale of carbon dioxide. Riding up hills and grinding away, I found myself constantly swatting away gnats from my face and ears which really started to put a damper on what is usually an enjoyable experience riding my mountain bike. I found that anything over 7 MPH would help the situation, but climbing was usually below that speed. I tried every spray known to man and nothing really worked. Then it hit me……….a mosquito net. I ordered two from Amazon and they came the next day and problem solved. It worked great on the rides but there is one problem. Well, not really a problem, but a situation of perception.

I noticed that the net is rather dark and from far away, people have remarked that it looked like I had no head because it was so dark. Dogs started to bark at me in fright or not knowing quite what I was, coming up on them in the twilight. People think it is a good idea and make their remarks, but they also say I am rather scary looking coming up on them at a higher speed. I come breezing by with my bell warning them of my approach. It occurred to me after several comments that I was really like the Headless Horsemen in the famous Washington Irving short story ” The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. For the uninitiated, this tale written in 1820, is about a Hessian trooper during the Revolutionary War, that supposedly was decapitated by a cannon ball. The legend goes that at midnight, the horseman supposedly came to life in the graveyard and rode around the countryside looking for his severed head, terrorizing all who saw him. There is also a love story involved, but you can read that if you like. I always liked this short story and also liked Washington Irving, as he also wrote Rip van Winkle. But suffice to say, at dusk, riding my mountain bike, with the mosquito net, I can be quite daunting coming up from behind on some poor unsuspecting hiker or runner.

As good as the mosquito net works, the visual of no head tends to scare people and dogs. Especially when it starts to turn dark. I kind of laugh to myself when I come flying by and say nothing. The Ichabod Cranes of the world, on the trails, are quite intimidated by the approach of the Headless Rider of North Park and you never know, a new legend may emerge their as my rides continue.

I don’t have problems with gnats now, and this was probably one of the best innovations that I have come up with. But with my usual dark riding clothes, the dark net, and the silent passing with the bell, it could be a lot of fun around Halloween. But hopefully the gnats won’t be a problem anymore at that time. Think creatively and come up with something better than pre-packed peanut butter and jelly. There are lots of instances where your creativity could save the day. Thanks for reading and laughing.

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The Bell

Many of the trails that are used today are multi- use. That means, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and trail runners, all use them and, in some cases, there can be conflict. Typically ,things happen when a group of mountain bikers come up suddenly on a group of people on horses and startle the horses and the riders. Or maybe someone is peddling up a steep climb on a trail and another group of mountain bikers are rocketing downhill and ignore the rule about the uphill riders having the right of way. Conflict happens. Or trail runners often have a negative feeling about mountain bikers because they startle them, or they come screaming past them and expect the hikers or trail runners to move off the trail. Conflict happens again. It seems that the responsible users of any trail system really have to know the rules and, well………, just be aware of being courteous to other users. No wonder conflict happens, and it seems like I spend time on every ride trying to improve the opinions of other users. I try to be courteous and get off my bike when horses are present because I am aware that bikes spook horses.

The trails are for everyone.

It seems like I am always trying to make up for the few bad apples who seem to taint our reputation with their rude behavior. Can’t we all be courteous and just get along? Again, I spend a lot of time trying to improve the perception that mountain bikers are all rude, young, ignorant people who will take what they need. Some of us are older and have a little more sense and can obviously see when there is an opportunity to share the trail responsibly. That is one reason why I got a bell.

Riding Rothrock at State College

A number of years ago, I attended Dirt Fest in Big Bear, West Virginia and was walking through the expo and came upon a booth that sold Timber quick release bicycle bells. You can see mine in the photo above. A nice little bell that basically you unlock when you see someone ahead. The bell rings as you ride along the uneven trail. You don’t do anything but release the lock and the bell rings as you bounce along. Most people appreciate the bell. Some people have earbuds, and you still have to gently make your way past them. But for the most part, people tend to stand aside, let you by, and usually make a favorable comment about the bell. I tell kids that I am one of Santa’s elves and ask in the presence of their parents, if they are behaving. This usually gets a laugh and lightens the mood.

Rocks help the bell ring.

But for the most part, if you use your head and consider the other party, you can do the right thing for other users. Oftentimes, if I see the same people twice on a local ride, I will get off my bike and let them pass instead of always expecting them to move. They appreciate it. I also use the bell around corners because mountain bikers tend to move along quickly and can startle people coming at you from a blind bend in the trail. Again, they appreciate it. Sometimes you have to sell the fact that mountain bikers are not all that bad to some user groups, but the more courteous we are, the more successful we will be. An interesting statistic is that mountain bikers do the most work on trail systems. This was validated locally in a meeting with our local county officials who sang the praises of our Trail Pittsburgh organization. Most of us try to do the right thing but we seem to always be righting a wrong of a small few who ruin the reputation of those of us who care.

The bell seems to symbolize courtesy. It reminds us that we need to be kind, and helpful and respectful to others not only on multi use trails, but anywhere we go. Wouldn’t it be nice if more people thought of others instead of themselves? It seems like a lot of people seem stressed today and tend to look out for themselves. They may not think of others who may be having difficulties,, or seem to be in the way of our quest to get somewhere quickly. Maybe we need a bell with us in our daily life and not just on the trails? The multi- use trail systems are really like a pathway of life. We all are following that pathway together. Let’s watch out for each other. Thanks for reading.

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The Massacre at Tea Creek

The Tea Creek Trail Head
The Tea Creek Team

We all kind of laughed at the potential title to this post but in some ways, it was kind of true. Syed Hyder, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, John Casuccio and his daughter Haley, Pete Hilton and I all made the trek to Snowshoe, West Virginia to take in the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Races and do some riding in the always challenging trails of West Virginia. Little did we know that our ride in the Tea Creek area would turn into probably one of the most challenging rides we have ever done all due to a navigational error. But we will get into that in a bit. First things first. We started out with a nice ride at the Baker’s Ridge trails near the WVU campus with our good friend Roger Evans. He led us around these beautifully created trails as a first stop on our way south.

Roger- upper left. Gave us a good tour around Morgantown.

Moving towards Slaty Fork and Marlinton after the ride, we made our way to a wonderful cabin at the Jerico Bed and Breakfast complex. The cabins there are restored pre-Civil War structures that are truly spectacular. If you ever want a nice place to stay- look no further than the Jerico and rent one of those beautifully restored cabins. https://jericobb.com

The Lee Cabin- named after the famous Confederate general. Right near Marlinton, WVA.

After settling into the Lee Cabin, we awoke the next morning to a spectacularly sunny day with the changing leaves all holding court for our visual enjoyment. John and I had discussed the route on the Tea Creek ride prior to the trip and had agreed on a plan to take us down the Gauley Mountain Trail, making a right turn on the Bear Pen Trail which would eventually end up on a fire road which we could take back to the lot, or we could add a few miles by rerouting on some of the trails generally around the parking area. John and Haley had downloaded the map on their Garmin devices and I went old school with my map of the area from the old Wild 100 days. I have had a lot of experience riding in that region and had a pretty good idea of the good routes versus the tough routes. John suggested that we make a right turn on the way down the Gauley Mountain trail which deviated from our plan. But we were all cool with it as we were challenged on the rocky, rooty, always slimy terrain. As Shark would say, ” it gets West Virginia in a hurry” once you begin riding anything in that region and the Gauley Mountain Trail and the Red Trail were no different. You always have to keep your speed up because momentum is your friend. As soon as you slow down and think too hard about what is in front of you, trouble ensues.

Pondering the crossing
John and Syed slogging through

Had we decided to go all the way down, we could have hit the Tea Creek Mountain Trail which several of us had ridden before. That would have led us to the Tea Creek campground with an easy out on the Bannock Shoals trail to the fire road to the finish. But what could have been a nice “Gilligan’s Island” three hour tour turned into a true backcountry slogfest when our only route out was the Tea Creek Trail which was clearly marked on my map as ” not recommended”. I knew when we were headed there that it would be a very challenging route out. Most of it was unrideable and it even would be challenging as a hiking trail with multiple stream crossings before the trail ended.

We all tried to keep our shoes dry by handing each other our bikes and gingerly crossing the slimy rocks in the Tea Creek. But by the time we hit the 6th stream crossing, we all basically were trying to get across the best way we could which included hip deep wading and steep banks on the other side where we once again pushed our bikes up the steep inclines out of the creek and passing the bikes up the bank when needed. Our shoes were soaked and the going got tougher when we tried to ride some sections out. Shark fell and banged his noggin and had some blood on his lip which caused his Confederate general, snowwhite beard to sport some red. Doc Hyder made sure he was ok and we plodded on primarily pushing our bikes over four miles of steep, rocky, unrideable terrain. Along with the usual annoyances of stepping on ground bees nests and getting multiple stings, falling in the creek, getting pounded by the relentless uphill rocks, roots, and mud bogs, we finally escaped the Tea Creek Trail and made our way back to the fire road and ultimately to the parking lot……………..5+1/2 hours after we began. Including a half hour lunch break of pre-packed peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Always a winner and a life saver on long rides.

West Virginians are tough as we saw several of them on the rides plowing their way through everything. They are used to this challenging terrain, but our crew held our own in what was truly a backcountry adventure leading me to the conclusion that any deviations from the mapped plans can lead to more than we would bargain for. Haley, the mother of two young kids, was undaunted by it all and showed that once again, youth is wasted on the young. She was amazing.

The World Cup Races were fun to watch especially the downhill on Saturday. The fitness displayed by the XC racers on Sunday was amazing to see as well as they are all the best in the world and we had the good fortune to see them up close. Snowshoe does a great job putting on these races every year and hopefully the UCI schedule will permit another wild, wonderful event in the premier showcase resort in the area.

East Coast Legend Jeremiah Bishop. The always smiling Pete Hilton in background.
Defending Olympic Gold medalist and current World Champion Tom Pidcock. So cool to see him in person.
The very personable Brit Evie Richards -always a contender for the women’s XC crown. Our doc Syed on right.

I am getting a little long in the tooth for 5+1/2 hour rides, slogs, hikes or whatever you want to call it. But sometimes age and treachery survives ,and I will be back to try the new 30 mile trail system currently being developed near Marlinton. This system we are told, will be an IMBA Gold Trail System- the first on the East Coast. This will bring Marlinton well into the game of being a top- rated destination spot for mountain bike riding. But I will be using my maps for sure and not deviating from the plan. However, if it were not for the deviation, we would not have had the adventure we had. So, no problem, John. A fun adventure. Sometimes you have to deviate. Thanks for reading.

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When the Autumn Weather- Turns the Leaves to Flame

Skipper Lake at the Lodge at Glendorn

The title line here is from the iconic “September Song” – arranged by Kurt Weil and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. But when I play this song on my piano, ( from my mother’s sheet music), it reminds me that fall is here and the leaves are changing, the nights are cooler, and probably my favorite time of the year has arrived. As much as I try to rush into ski season, more and more I am relishing the cool, crisp days of fall with the spectacular foliage we have here in Western Pa. I am in no hurry for winter. It will come soon enough, and I will surely enjoy it. But as I get older, I really enjoy the changing of the seasons – especially summer to fall.

The other night, our posse was out mountain bike riding on one of our regular weekly scheduled rides, and we noticed that after the sun went down, it got real cool ,real fast. The sweatshirts came out and we sat around with our post ride beers and snacks ( courtesy of Bob K), and really enjoyed riding and relaxing in cooler weather without the swelter of summer. I seem to ride better when the humidity is lower and the temperatures start to moderate. But aside from that, to sit and take in the cool weather, a nice IPA, and listen to the cricket symphony of early fall is a true blessing.

Bear Cub sighting last fall.

Sometimes when you hike or ride in the fall, you come across some interesting things- like two bear cubs scampering up a tree in the Allegheny National Forest. I was looking for mom when I snapped this photo but got it and then quickly took off so as not to irritate the mother bear. The Laurel Mountains, close to here, also paint a picture a little earlier than in the suburbs. It is great to venture east and see the changing of the leaves happen a little earlier with the slight rise in elevation. Sunshine, cooler weather, and colder nights, seem to bring out the colors faster than in the city and suburbs. I tend to visit the Laurels a lot in the fall because of the wonderful fall portraits that display themselves in Ligonier, Somerset, and Rector, Pa. The fireplaces are cranking up and that smoky smell just excites me to no end. The smells of fall are intoxicating. There is something about a crackling fire that enhances the fall experience, and the smell of leaves is not really accurately describable – but we all know that smell.

I am also a fan of the tastes of fall. Nothing like a good Octoberfest to get you going. And even though I don’t enjoy the great wursts, sauerbraten, and pork loins anymore because I am not a meat eater, nobody can slam potato pancakes and apple sauce like me along with some nice braised red cabbage washed down with a great German beer or a local Penn Brewery Octoberfest lager. Maybe a warm pretzel as well! I like to listen to the ooom pahh German bands too. They seem to go along with the great beers and food.

Great time to hike or ride a mountain bike and take in scenes like this. Seven Springs, Pa.
My old outdoor fireplace was always blazing in the fall.

You know, I am not really sure I could ever live in a place that does not have the change of seasons. Especially a place that really does not have a fall season. I love wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, and even those times where you have a puffy jacket on and a pair of shorts. That kind of describes the weather here in the Mid -Atlantic and the Northeast. Cool mornings, warmer days, and then cool again at night. Great sleeping weather. I don’t miss the summer AC at all.

Bondieu Lake- The Lodge at Glendorn- Bradford, Pa.

As time marches on, I find myself taking time to really enjoy what God’s creation has to offer. I notice the flame red leaves on the trails as I ride, I take in the smells, I look for little things that might have gone un-noticed as a younger person. Watching a particular maple tree in my neighborhood change colors so slowly but yet somehow- so quickly. Holding my wife’s hand on a hike instead of rushing up a hill to be the first guy there. Fall is like that. It gives you perspective, but rewards you with scenery that you only see for a short time- once per year. My advice to all of you is get out there and enjoy it and take the time to enjoy it all. We have a good deal here in Western Pa. Thanks for reading.

The Transition Spur in transition time in the Laurels.