Hatfield McCoy Riding

[chevyjk33]

How do you tack this at the top of the page like the Marienville and Danbury threads?  I think we are going to try and hit this place a few times this fall and don't want it to get buried so we have to keep starting new threads. 

Anyway, ever since riding the bike trail twice in one weekend, all I can think about is going riding at HM on the utilities.  I was looking at the different trails and figuring out costs, distance, drive time, etc. 

Browning Fork

Distance:  from my house (where we would need to leave from) it says 610mi roundtrip

Drive Time:  Almost 5 hours flat to Randy's cabins

Est gas cost:  at $4.10 a gallon and 12mpg, it would be about $210 in gas roundtrip

Trail Breakdown

This really is the most diverse trail of all of them.  46% green, 25% blue, 16% black, 13% single track.  We did mostly green (easiest) and only a few blue.  That switchback we did was a blue trail.  I wonder what black is like?  I'm guessing only utility or dirtbike friendly.  115 miles of total trail. 

Places to Stay:

Livinggood lodge:  After last time, the only place I would want to stay is sexy Randy's.  That place rocked.  There are a ton of other options, but I like that one the most.  The Creekside is where we stayed last time.  Its a minimum two night stay and $90 a night for 4 people.  After that, it is an extra $20 per night per person.   


Little Coal River

Distance:  from my house (where we would need to leave from) it says 486mi roundtrip

Drive Time:  A little over 4 hours.

Est gas cost:  at $4.10 a gallon and 12mpg, it would be about $166 in gas roundtrip

Trail Breakdown

Lots more green here. I think they said it is the flatest of the trails too.  So we won't get those mountain views.  Breakdown is 60% green trails, 30% blue, 4% black, 6% single track.  65 miles of total trail.

Places to Stay:

Kathryns Cabins:  These things are tiny.  It would be pretty much for sleeping only.  Think of it as a hardtop tent.  $100 a night and $185 for two nights.  It does have direct trail access.

Little Coal River Campground:  Tent camping.  It reminds me of Punderson.  Parking spot camping, lots of trailers.  Blecht.  Tents are $15 a night.  Direct access to the trail.

Big Earls Campground: a little more open air camping.  Its for tent and trailer.  Not like Punderson or Jellystone, but still a campground.  I didn't see rates, but I'm sure it is $15-$20 a night for tents.  It has showers and bathrooms.  Direct trail access. 

That is it for Little Coal.  Not sure what is around it either.  For another hour of driving and $42 in gas, I would rather hit up Browning Fork unless we are doing a one-nighter.  There are literally 20+ some options around Browning Fork to stay.  I'll look up more later and paste them in above under Randy's place.       






 

[chevyjk33]

There is also the Dingess Rum trail.  Its in the middle at 4.5 hours, 570mi round trip,  but reading it, I think it would suck to do on a sport bike.  Utility or Dirtbike only.  Plus, for another 30 min of driving, Browning Fork looks way better.  All the other trails are much further south with the exception of Buffalo Mountain, but that is a very beginner trail for the same time and distance as Browning Fork.   

[cataway]

having been there about 10 times now Dingess Rum trail and Browning Fork trails are some of the best there is .
Browning Fork had many trails closed dew to the coal mining going on, some of the closed ones were  the end of #35,37, 29, 16 ,40, 25 ,45 and 26.
22 and 32 scared me to death

[Ben]

i would like to go back to Browning Fork again, cool place, then try Little Coal

[cataway]

ya ....ok...............when ?

[cataway]

 

New Pinnacle Creek Connector Opens
  Big news for fans of the Pinnacle Creek Trail System! A connector trail has opened to the town of Mullens, and you now can ride the trails from Pineville to Mullens. Gov. Joe Manchin and Wyoming County Delegate Richard Browning were among those who attended the grand opening Thursday, July 17.   Trail Authority and Mullens officials are excited over the economic boost trail users are sure to provide. Some new points of interest and an extreme difficult trail have also been added to the system. The Pinnacle Creek maps have been updated with the new connector;  
 
 
 
 

[DannyBoy]

So I doubt we are going to make it in September.  What about October/November/December?  I could see us going in October.  Probably won't feel the need to go back to silver lake, especially after a 3 day trip in September.  A trip in later October before all the leaves fall and then our new tradition of going on the first weekend of December?

I could see us going on either the 3rd or fourth weekend of October and then the weekend after Thanksgiving, which would be December 5th-7th.

Don't have to for first trip, but I'd definitely like to take an extra day for the December trip.

[chevyjk33]

I still want to go 100%.  Time off really depends on where we go I guess.  I really liked our cabin last time.  Also, who is going will make a differecen to for splitting costs.

[Heather]

Im very limited in days off, but I think I can swing one dayer maybe for the December one. I too would like to stay in Randys cabin for the December one. Maybe try a different place in November then

[DannyBoy]

November?  You mean December?  I don't really see us going in November if we're going in October too.

I actually like the sound of that though.  Lets go to Randys for two days in December and then just a one-day trip for browning fork or whatever the place is.  So how does mid-later October for that sound?

[DannyBoy]

And I figure that it would be me, jason, ben and heather going so we can actually fit in one truck, which is amazing (long as we can take Gary's trailer).  That means at least a cheap trip in terms of gas!

Jason, I wasn't sure if Cathy going on these rides or if you wanted to take her to Hatfield or not.  If so, then it'd probably be me,ben and heather riding together and then you two in your truck with your trailer.

[Ben]

i think we should try that little coal system for the october trip, will be closer

[Heather]

if cathy doesnt go I call the King Quad!!!

[Ben]

the king quad is still broken and will never be fixed

[DannyBoy]

I thought Jason got right on that after the last ANF trip?