Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Shakin off Cabin Fever...(with pics)

Inspired by Beanz to get out and climb with the temps here in Central Pennsylvania being in the 40s on Saturday I went out for some single track climbing (although only about 1500 foot in elevation, nothing close to the 10,000 ft climbs in Cali) and to try out some trails I haven't ridden on yet. Got rid of my Cabin Fever

Little did I know this new trail I was looking for was a bit of a climb as well.

Where I have been...
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1828.jpg

Where I am going (into the Bat cave?)
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1829.jpg

Halfway there I guess. I was taking a different way to my favorite single track climb and was somewhat rewarded with some of the views that popped up from time to time through the trees although this pic doesn't quite do it justice.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1830.jpg

Finally found my favorite single track climbing trail. This is the easy part as it gets technical a little further up. The higher I went the more snow was still on the ground.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1832.jpg

About three quarters the way up the single track dumps out into a clearing for a gas line that makes its way through the forest. My destination was the top of that ridge. The view down into the valley on the other side is amazing. It looks down into Big Valley over the town of Belleville, PA which is a main area for the Amish community. However, I was running out of daylight and had to turn back before getting there.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1834.jpg


This is where I was in the clearing for the gas line when I took the above picture. The 2 ridges meet at the end of the climb.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1835.jpg

The end of my climbing for the day. Had to make it back to the car by sunset.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr240/BigUgly_2008/DSCN1836.jpg

Bombing back down the climb was a blast. I always forget to try to take a pic of me and my bike. Next time.

Thanks Beanz for the inspiration to get out and climb last week. I was able to shake the Cabin Fever and embrace the climb!! Almost forgot how much fun climbing was!!

Wow, nice pics! Looks like a good to place to do some climbing. One of the things that I find nice about climbing is that you get into a groove then lose your mind. I'ts about the trail, trees and dirt (wish we had some snow). It's more like relaxing and losing your head rather than a workout.:thumb:

I like the Bat cave pic. We have one like that but it's sort of scary entering thinking 2 or 3 mtn lions might be waiting to jump me from behind. Sometimes I get the willies!Hehehe!:p

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

Nice trail, looks like a good grunt!

I like the Bat cave pic. We have one like that but it's sort of scary entering thinking 2 or 3 mtn lions might be waiting to jump me from behind. Sometimes I get the willies!Hehehe!:p

I sometimes get the willies as well since I am usually riding alone in the woods. Pennsylvania Game Commission swears there are no mtn lions in PA but there have been pictures that rebuke that. Only thing I worry about are Bear and Rattle Snakes. Rattle snakes only come out when it's really hot out. Crossed paths with bears every now and then but they are usually running away. I usually try to make as much noise as possible so I don't sneak up on one to startle them. This trip I found myself humming 'Ride of the Valkyries' very loudly :)

We do have mtn lions and bears, but when I am climbing my breathing makes plenty of noise.

Don't listen to government lies. There ARE mountain lions reappearing in the Northeast. A colleague of mine who raises chickens in NE CT has had a problem with one. Also in VT they're reappearing as well. Doesn't surprise me at all that there would be some in PA as well. Those mountains can get pretty remote, so there's plenty of space for them.