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Post by lojim on Oct 8, 2008 9:40:41 GMT -5
Let's start planning an ATV trip to Hatfield/McCoy trip for next calendar year (2009).
I know nothing about what is around down there (camping, hotels, food, parking, etc) - but I know I want to go. Quad Fest was a bust, so let's plan it for somewhere around that time.
Anyone interested?
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Post by lojim on Oct 8, 2008 17:36:12 GMT -5
So I started doing some preliminary research. I think that the browning fork trails seem like the 'best bang for the buck.' They are near Gilbert and Man, both separate towns that you can ride the ATV's in. Some of the accommodations can get pricy - but it depends on how many people are interested in coming. Cabins range in price but the average seems to be around $35/night/person. Camping is an option also. The campground there all have hot water showers with electric. $13/night/person for there. "The Browning Fork Trail System, located between the towns of Man and Gilbert, consists of 92 miles of trail. The Browning Fork Trail System has one trailhead/ranger station, Rockhouse, located just outside the town of Man. Browning Fork has the largest total mileage of any of the six Hatfield-McCoy Trail Systems and offers a wide variety of trails for all difficulty levels. The breakdown in trail percentages for this trail system is: 53% are green trails (easiest), 22% blue (more difficult), 13% black (most difficult), 5% red/black trails (extremely difficult), and 7% orange (single track only). This trail system has direct access to the cities of Man and Gilbert, WV. Each of these towns offer fuel, full service food, and lodging accommodations." www.trailsheaven.com/explore_the_trails/browningfork/default.aspxI'm thinking sometime over next summer we will go. In fact, sometime in July would be best for Jess and I. Let me know if you are interested.
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JustinHEMI
Weeklend Warrior
08 Brute Force
Posts: 74
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Post by JustinHEMI on Oct 12, 2008 19:06:59 GMT -5
Sign me up! I have a limited amount of time I can take off next year (thanks NRC) and I was thinking of planning a quadding get away... either Hatfield or Paiute. Lets do this.
Justin
PS I can pretty much take that window of time whenever I want.
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Post by lojim on Oct 14, 2008 13:40:32 GMT -5
Sweet deal! Personally, I think the camping route would be good to help save a little green. Plus, the point of a hotel is hot showers - but when a campground offers that too, I really don't see the need to spend triple the money.
I would really like to see a good sized group go - somewhere between 8-15 riders. That way, if some people wanted to ride black trails and some people wanted to ride green trails for a portion of the day, we would have enough in our group to do that.
Looking ahead I was thinking leave on a weekday morning to head down. It's a 7-9hour drive depending on where you leave from in PA. I would ride for 3-4 days and leave WV to head home on a Sunday morning. I debating about all week being gone - but I know my back end will be done by day 4 at the latest.
Possible dates: June 30/July1 - July 5. 4th of July weekend. I'm not sure about time off from work, but the 4th is on a Saturday this year. Some people may have off on the 3rd meaning that it is one less vacation day to take off. July 7/July8 - July 12 July 14/15 - July 19 July 21/22 - July 26
Anyone have any conflicts or preferences?
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JustinHEMI
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Posts: 74
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Post by JustinHEMI on Oct 14, 2008 18:44:56 GMT -5
Again, I am opened to when. I might be able to get another person to do, but he is wishy washy about everything so I won't count on it.
I agree on camping. I bought all of this car camping gear for a reason LOL. Its more fun anyway, sittin around a fire at the end of a long ride.
Justin
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Post by jeepboy07 on Oct 15, 2008 8:17:07 GMT -5
you know i am in just give me a date atles a month ahead of time and i will be good
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Post by lojim on Oct 15, 2008 8:58:59 GMT -5
I say let's just 'book' the date. I think there is some interest in it now - so by 'booking' it we can all start to make plans. July15 - July 19. Leaving in the morning on 7/15 to drive down. Riding 7/16, 17, and 18. Packing up and leaving 7/19 for the trip home. We will be CAMPING. There are 2 choices: paradiseislandwv.homestead.com/GodsWildernessCampground.htmlUnder 15 people to tent camp is $7 a person/night (showers included). If anyone brings a camper the cost is $16 for the first 2 people/night, then $5 a person/night after that. $3 more for electric/water. www.twinhollowcampground.com/2 people for $20/night, $5 person/night after that (max of 4 per site). Does not matter tents/campers. Electric/water hook up site $25 (instead of $20) Additional costs: Non-Resident permit: $47.00 (must be purchased online) Gas to get down: Market price (it's 400 miles from Mechanicsburg) 10mpg = 40gal = $120 (@ $3/gal)/vehicle. Food: basic supplies for cooking/eating If we take the camper (pop-up) we can have a fridge, propane cooktop, and a sink. If we tent camp we would have the fire pit or camp stoves if someone has them. Car-pooling is the way to go of course. I will offer up my trailer. It will haul 5 quads. If the consensus is to take the pop-up there would need to be another vehicle pulling that. Lets start planning!
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Post by dean on Oct 16, 2008 19:36:56 GMT -5
i'm out... July 18/19 is weekend of PA Jeeps in York. sorry guys.
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JustinHEMI
Weeklend Warrior
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Posts: 74
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Post by JustinHEMI on Oct 18, 2008 21:42:54 GMT -5
I am in! I put it in the calendar. I am flexible too so if something changes, no problems. Let me know how I can help.
Justin
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Post by lojim on Oct 19, 2008 12:19:39 GMT -5
Recruit people to come!
Right now you and I are 100%, Jess is 90%, and Jesse, Zach, and Jay are all 70%. I posted on the Zone too - but no interest there yet.
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wolvie07
Mall Crawler
Go STEELERS!!!
Posts: 43
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Post by wolvie07 on Oct 28, 2008 21:07:44 GMT -5
It's coincidental that you are talking about this. I just got back from Hatfield/McCoy on Sunday. We left Thurs night...rode for two days...and drove back on Sun.
We stayed in this crappy trailer in Gilbert for $450 - this covered 3 nights (with a washer/dryer-very, very useful). To be honest, Gilbert was mostly a dump although, riding through town was kind of cool and everyone was very friendly.
The trail system was very cool. The scenery was beautiful!!! BTW, for out of staters, the permit cost around $46 and lasts to the end of the calendar year. There were some harrowing turns, which if miscalculated, could easily end in injuries and a jacked up quad. The trails are bidirectional which caused a lot of near wrecks on the blind turns. Lots of twists and turns / ascents and descents/ and jumps. We had a yung'un riding a dirt bike with us so we stayed on the easiest trails. However, it rained one night and the next day the trail was muddy and puddled...in other words perfect for sloshing around the quads. Some trails looked like puddles connected by thin patches of mud. We rode from Gilbert to Man (another dumpy little town) about 26 miles on the easiest routes. We rode over 120 miles in those two days. My body was one huge muscle cramp- I couldn't bend over to take off my boots. Good times.
The one campground you alluded to is Twin Hollow Camp Grounds We met the owner- Wayne Ellis- very nice guy. He built up the whole place himself and a couple other fellows. That place is located ON the trail and has the best view. Very clean area and one of the few areas you could get cell phone reception-he even has a wi-fi hotspot setup. They have 6 cabins, 4 with a private bedroom and a couple open-bay racks, and 2 with just open-bay racks. There is a section for tent camping and a section for campers.
We really had a great time. Weather was perfect and the trees were obviously turning. We are trying to go back at the end of April, beginning of May. Wayne said this is the time when the snow stops and people start making their way back. We are actually thinking of hitting one of the other trail systems like the Little Coal River. It is about an hour+ closer and I'm hoping the name is a good indicator of some water crossings. Still need to research it.
I'll try to send some pics to Jim later to see if he can post them.
-Out
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wildbill40
Weeklend Warrior
If it ain't broke, I ain't touched it!
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Post by wildbill40 on Nov 1, 2008 3:41:05 GMT -5
Wolvie, Did you happen to notice if there are any quad rentals in that area, and rates? Also, I see you live in Shippensburg. I'm always looking for good people to ride with me on my trails in Franklin County (Path Valley, near Fannettsburg) and Huntingdon County (near Burnt Cabins). Trails are tight, wooded, and would probably be rated beginner and aggressive intermediate. I prefer adults only and 4x4 utility quads. Let me know if you are interested. lojim (above) may be interested in riding with us? Wild Bill, (St.Thomas)
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wolvie07
Mall Crawler
Go STEELERS!!!
Posts: 43
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Post by wolvie07 on Nov 3, 2008 21:32:35 GMT -5
Hey WildBill, There were places to rent in Gilbert. Saw some billboards but didn't check any places for selection or price. When researching the place initially, we did find places less than an hour away from Gilbert with rates like $150-$200+ for 8 hrs. This place was in Gilbert- www.irocwv.com/H-rental.htmlAnd yeah we could definitely sync up for some riding. We (some buddies from work) are actually going down to Green Ridge State Park in Flintstone, MD this Sat. I'm sure it is late notice, but there are some decent trails and most are 1 way. Jeeps and Dirt bikes are also allowed. When I called I was informed that they do not close for hunting season. Sorry Jim, I reread your post.. you already hit on some of the points that I needlessly reiterated. Just in case you did not see it, there is a video about the camp grounds on youtube. -Rob
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Post by lojim on Nov 4, 2008 14:53:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I would love to come down sometime to ride with you bill - but I just killed my quad over the weekend. I have no compression at all now. I am hoping it is *just* a timing chain. But then again it could also be the cam or even a cracked block. I have to make some calls and see what is up.
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bigben
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Post by bigben on Nov 5, 2008 12:08:35 GMT -5
I would go but our crew from here at work is heading to quadfest again this year. you say it was a bust I guess you did not like the dusty conditions? have fun fellas
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