Super Duper

This weekend saw several events.  First, there was a super moon.  I'm not entirely sure what makes it so super but I know it was full and that made it pretty cool.  Second, there was a birthday; Cathy's in particular.  Finally, it was Cino de Mayo.  That doesn't have any significance to me, but I guess if we needed another reason to celebrate than so be it.

So Saturday, with the culmination of all these events, a group of us decided to go out into the woods and camp.  We headed to an area that has a great overlook whereby we could enjoy the full moon, have some cake, and drink some margaritas.  It was a perfect night for camping with an amazing moon that was so bright that it seemed like the sun was out.  

The best part about this particular trip was the fact that  I slept like a rock.  There is something about sleeping out in the woods, near a fire, that really works well for sack time.  I guess all the celebrating (read: tequila heavy margaritas) didn't hurt either. 

Bike-ation

As I mentioned in my last post, this weekend was spent road tripping and riding bikes. Wormy Worm, J-WAG, my self, and the Seb Rocket caravanned down to the Shenandoah Valley Bike Coalition’s annual mountain bike festival. I’ve been down to the area to help out with bike races but had never ridden there. This was going to be a much deserved and full-scale suffer-fest of epic proportions. I just wasn’t aware of how much suffering would occur.

We all took off work on Friday for the trip and, after a brief stop in Harrisonburg for some supplies and to visit some bike shops; we rolled into the Stokesville campground at about three o’clock in the afternoon. This left just enough time to get geared up and head off to the downhill race. It was a short bike ride and a mild (by Shenandoah standards) singletrack climb to the start of the race and then about five minutes to bomb down some fast and swoopy singletrack. I wasn’t trying to compete in this race but I did want to recon the trails. This would be my first taste of what to expect. It was challenging, but I attributed my lack of skills to the fact that I’ve been off the bike for a while and needed to get my bearings back.

Saturday started early as we had a big day planned. Since Dr. Worm lived in the area for a while he knew the trails and would act as our guide. The three of us started out with a larger group and I quickly realized how my day was going to end up. My account of the ride goes something like this:

Step One - ride (or attempt to ride) straight up a mountain for about two and a half hours while getting punched in the face by steep section after steep section.

Step Two - spend about ten minutes riding an amazingly flowy and smooth ribbon of singletrack down the backside of the mountain you just rode up.

Step Three – slum back to the campground and cool off in the river before relaxing and enjoying the sunshine and amazing fall weather.

Sunday began with some sore legs and slow movements but we broke camp early and began heading back north. We stopped off to ride some trails near the local ski resort that Jerome had worked on. This ride was similar to the previous day except it wasn’t as big and I was almost completely crushed by the time it ended. Fortunately this was only about two hours which was about all I could handle.

All in all, it was a great weekend with great people and amazing trails that humbled me as a mountain bike rider. It will definitely be something I put on my calendar for future years as it’s a really chill event. The only downside was taking a digger in the mud to end my Sunday ride and provide a little extra clean-up of myself, my gear, and my bike.

Wedding Bells

While it should come as no surprise, I’m highly exhausted. This weekend was more intense and action packed then most. It involved yard work, bike rides, entertaining, and, most importantly, a wedding. Apparently this time of year seems to be good for weddings since I know three couples that are getting hitched in the next few weeks, but this past Saturday was all about Herm and Justine.

As luck would have it, the weather cooperated and the rain that has been pummeling us took a break. This allowed the outdoor ceremony to go off without issue. It was a grand affair that went well into the night with bonfires and camping and fireworks. Personally, I had a great time so I’ll just assume everyone else did too. Congratulations Mike and Justine and thanks for throwing such a wonderful party.

Be Double E…

Once again, this weekend graced us with some unseasonable warm weather (at least for the end of October). With an all but full moon, we rallied the troops and planned a little camping trip. It was an all-star cast that included eight adults, three kids, and one dog. Since some of the kids were going to be first-time campers we chose a spot that would allow people to drive close or hike in depending on their prerogative.

Clay, Cathy, and I decided to hike in from the Little Flat Fire Tower. This would give us about three miles along the ridge to get out to the campsite. It was about seventy degrees when we set out so it was an ideal day for a light hike and camping excursion. The ridge was ablaze with colors and the views were spectacular as we made the hour long hike.

Once there, we gathered wood and started our obligatory fire and settled into camp. Slowly, the rest of the group trickled in and the merriment ensued. As the evening progressed, we made our way out the rocks to take in the moonlit views of Bear Meadows. It was truly an amazing site.

It was a fantastic night to be camping and everyone had a great time. We were out in the woods with a nice little fire for warmth, a slightly overcast yet moonlit night, and great company. We laughed and joked and just enjoyed everyone’s company. Hopefully it won’t take another year to get back out for another campout.

It’s All About The View

Fall is starting to settle into the Valley and the trees are starting to change. This weekend I was out in Rothrock for a bonfire, pig roast, and general merriment. Several of us decided to camp so we wouldn’t have to drive back in to town. As an added bonus, it was a fantastic night with cold crisp air that made getting zipped up my sleeping bag that much nicer.

Sunday morning was nice and sunny so on the drive out I decided to stop and take a few pictures. Looking down into the valley I was greeted with brilliant colors and some low clouds that were fighting to hang around before the sun burned them off. It was one of those views that you just need to sit back and take in. There was nothing but trees, hills, and Mother Nature doing what she does best. The pictures don’t truly capture the moment but it’s nice to have a reminder of why I live in Central Pennsylvania.

Cleanup on Aisle Two

This weekend I went on a three day - two night backpacking trip on the Black Forest Trail in Central Pennsylvania. Seven of us (plus three dogs) set out to do a 20 mile stretch which was roughly half the total distance of the BFT. I knew everyone in the group but was only close with two of the would-be hikers so I was looking forward to getting to know more about the other four travelers.

We met at Spring’s house on Friday morning to organize some gear and have a little breakfast before driving up to Pine Creek and starting the trip. Once at the trail-head we split into two groups. Four of us and two dogs started off to do the first stretch while the others drove on and parked near the first camp location. They set up camp, prepared dinner, and waited for us to arrive.

The first day was about six miles. The part I didn’t anticipate was the first two of those miles being straight up hill (for about 1500 feet) and the last mile straight down hill (for about 1000 feet). Normally that wouldn’t be an issue but throw in a false dog injury, half broken water filter, shin-deep stream crossing, an attacking swarm of bees, cell phone voice mail (seriously?) and over-loaded packs and you have the makings of a trip with more stories than I can include in this post (which is precisely the reality of the situation).

After the first day was concluded things started to settle in a bit more. Day two started out with bagel sandwiches, hot coffee, and first degree burns (those were all mine though). I wasn’t sure if that was an indication of the day to come but I hoped it was not, especially based on the previous day’s adventures. Fortunately, it was an isolated incident and had no bearing on our future luck.

Aside from the burly uphills and the precarious stream crossings, the rest of the trip went really well. All the camp sites we used were bonzer. They were right along the icy-cold creek which made for invigorating post-hike rejuvenation. The dinners were not only plentiful but also super delicious (thanks Jamie & Darcy). And the conversations by the fire; okay that wasn’t always appropriate but at least it was consistent from night to day (and back again).

By the time the trip was over I learned more about the rest of the group than I probably cared, but I guess that’s what happens when you spend a weekend with people in the wilderness. Thanks to Spring I have at least one more use for rocks, and to top it off I ran into Tomi (of all people) on the trial. It was a lot of fun and definitely a weekend I won’t soon forget.

Here We Go Again

Lately I’ve noticed my blog posts seem a little boring. I feel like I’m just recycling the same post over and over again. Sure a few of the details are different, but overall the theme is the same; “This weekend I rode my bike, blah, blah, blah.” I don’t mean to imply that I take for granted the fact that I’m able to be active and have the fun that I do, but I’m beginning to realize I might need to write about something different.

Sure, some people might say bombing down a mountain road at 50 miles per hour on a road bike isn’t all that vanilla, but talking about it week after week tends to get a little repetitive. This weekend was no different. What happened you ask? I spent a night camping with Scott and Betty on Saturday and went for a bike ride on Sunday, but I’m not going to tell you about either of those things (I’ll show you a picture instead).

I’m not trying to imply that I need to incorporate death-defying stunts and other acts of danger (or stupidity) into my life on a daily basis, but every now and then it might be nice to have a story that involves boxing a kangaroo or wrestling a shark or riding an elephant or planting a tree. Of course, it would be a tree that produces bikes or snowboards or something cool, but I think you get the point.

In the future, I’ll do my best to incorporate more variety into these posts. I can’t guarantee the stories will be altogether true, but hopefully they’ll be interesting to read.

The Power of One

While it’s not really winter yet, it is late in the fall and camping is not necessarily on the top of my “to do” list. However, once in a while the conditions are ideal including brisk fall temperatures, an idyllic location, and great people (that’s right, I’m talking about you Scott, Betty, Kota, and Cathy). The site in this case is simply referred to as Lone Pine. I’m not sure who gave it this moniker or when, but the name fits. In the middle of a deciduous forest stands one solitary pine tree. It takes several miles to hike in, but once there, it’s definitely worth the while.

At this time of year, most of the trees have forfeited their leaves and therefore that one evergreen tree stands alone in all its splendor and grandeur. It’s almost like the oaks, maples, and birch trees have stepped aside and this pine is finally allowed to be the center of attention instead of another giant stick lost in the mix. Regardless, this majestic tree is secluded in a valley and provides a spectacular location for camping. The ground is littered with pine needles providing soft bedding for anyone wishing to spend the night sheltered under the tree’s intact canopy.

The evening was absolutely perfect. I didn’t sleep well, but that’s of no consequence. The night provided a calm that is usually only found indoors and the temperatures dipped into the thirties making for ideal conditions to have a few drinks and stay warm by the fire before slipping into a sleeping bag. While we were only out for one night, it was a night that I won’t soon forget. I’m just glad I’m still able to be outside enjoying what the changing seasons offer.