This past Sunday morning PAW and I met at Depot rd. in Auburn (FOMBA) with one goal in mind, mileage.
Riding around FOMBA on past rides I had seen the sign that states "Bear Brook" that way, and always wanted to try that, so with our need to get in some miles to train for the NH100, PAW bought into the idea.
We headed out to NH trail 11, then trail 15 doing some of the Watershed Wahoo trails around Tower Hill Rd. We crossed rte 27 (the only time our tires touched pavement) which is about the halfway point between the 2 parks, the trails are mainly used for snowmobiles and undulate up and down with skree and baby heads, soft sand, some mud, and trees and their branches crossing into our path. It took us about 1.5 hours to make it to Bear Brook. We had escorts for this whole section, horse flies, fast little insects they are. When I was riding behind PAW it looked like a comet's tail. From FOMBA to BB the total was 12.5 miles.
PAW freaking out over the horseflies
When we got to BB we were greeted with a climb up Hall mtn, from here we could see the cell tower on Tower Hill Rd.
AOF's steed on the top of Hall Mtn.
PAW on the trail along the ridge of Hall Mtn
Tower Hill in the distance from Hall mtn trail
PAW could tell you the trails we did, I apologize for not knowing the names. We went to the toll booth to get a new map and decided to have lunch in the picnic area, and we rolled up on YoG and his crew. They were headed out for a ripper of their own at BB. After lunch and re-filling the camelbacks by the statue of the CCC worker, we started making our way back to trail 15 south. This time we opted to go around Hall mtn, but not without a small glitch (ask PAW if he will be donating to the 4-H clubs this year).
PAW getting ready to ride Little Bear(?)
We figured out a way to do it and snuck in some more singletrack. We did about 17.5 miles in the park, giving us a total of 30 so far for the day.
My handlebars and PAW going down Podunk Rd. at Bear Brook
PAW on Podunk Rd.
On trail 15 south I came upon a Moose cow and her 2 calves, both me and the moose were very spooked. They aren't the most graceful animal when they run, and all 3 tromped out of site, I skidded going uphill PAW pointed out later.
For some reason it seemed shorter on the way back, we followed our 'bread crumbs' the only bike tire tracks at the intersections that didn't look familiar to us, and crossed 27, then made it into the Tower Hill area, and finally into FOMBA territory. We rode around and got a little turned around and finally found our reward for all this riding, a rip on "Woodpecker". That was the perfect end to our Epic, and we ended up riding 45.5 miles in 5:30!
This was the longest Mtn bike ride for me, and PAW as well. That was such a fun ride, it felt like 4 rides in one, and I guess it was. Hopefully we can have another epic soon as we both train for the NH100, next may be Ft Rock to Pawtuckaway.
See ya out there,
Dan
No comments:
Post a Comment