Got up bright and early this Memorial Day weekend, and met a small crew at the forest and we did 4 hours of trail work.
Category: Mountain Biking
Cut Down The Head Bangers – Trail Work
Went to Stephens today and worked 1 mile in/out of Lower Maze, and 1/2 mile in/out at the NICA Trail (Blue Rock) with loppers and a corona saw. I focused mostly on branches in 4 different spots that were low enough for a helmet to bang on. On my walk out, I did spend some time using the corona saw as a machete to cut down any face slappers and thorn bushes. Here are some before and after photos.
Spring Time Gives Me A Magical Tingly Feeling
The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing. Trees and flowers are blooming, just like the ones in this photo. Spring time in NJ’s forests is so magical that it makes my skin tingle all over!
Allamuchy
This is Allamuchy Mountain in Warren/Sussex County NJ. Photo was taken from the Lake Tranquility Area.
The ground where I stood to take the photo is about 600 feet above sea level. The peak of Allamuchy is over 1200. So there’s 600 feet of elevation gain, which is about the height of a 60 story residential building. The trail to the peak is about 5 to 7 miles (depending on what switchbacks you choose). So riding to the peak is like riding a bicycle up a 60 story building, not going straight up, but going around and around and around, stretching it over 5 or 7 miles. It’s kinda like walking up the stairs in a building. Stairs don’t go straight up like a ladder does. Stairs have a more gradual angle of incline than ladders. Depending on what shape you are in and what skills you have it could take 1 to 4 hours. It’s a cardio workout pretty much the entire way. I love it!
Here is what some of terrain looks like on the way up to the peak.
Woodpeckers are really having a blast with what’s left of this tree!
Ice Fishing at Stephens
Went for a ride at Stephens this morning. Passed by the lake and saw that there was a good sized community of people ice fishing. It was good to see others were enjoying nature, even in the frigid cold temps.
Yellow Snow
The best advice that I can give you for winter riding is, “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow.” Frank Zappa.
Get out there and ride, friends!
Allamuchy Pond / Deer Park
Allamuchy Pond / Deer Park
KittaLoo
Rode KittaLoo today. Kittatinny Valley as a warmup. Then went down the street and rode at the park that’s near Waterloo Village (Stephens)
Gangsta Vultures
It’s bad enough that it’s whooping cold out on my morning bike ride, but then a flock of vultures were taunting me. I know what they were thinking. They were waiting for me to die from hypothermia. They’re gangsta. Nothing but gangsta. Sheesh.
Balaclava Baklava
It wasn’t quite cold enough to wear a balaclava, but after riding I warmed up and ate some baklava.
