[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Great ride report and some beautiful country! These challenges and hardships make for memorable trips and a sense of adventure. Great work! Randy in Wisconsin On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 6:56:09 AM UTC-6 DavidP wrote: > Eric - You mentioned 26lbs of gear, I'm curious how much of that weight > you had up front in the Chest and if there was any noticeable impact on > handling? > > Thanks, > -Dave > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 11:47:57 PM UTC-5 Philip Williamson > wrote: > >> Such a well crafted ride report! Thanks for the pictures, they're great. >> >> Philip >> Sonoma County, Calif >> >> On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter >>> >>> 14-15 November 2022 >>> 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation >>> >>> [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] >>> >>> This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips >>> by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a >>> primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a >>> loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the >>> night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. >>> to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night >>> out. >>> >>> Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down >>> well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow >>> were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad >>> weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We >>> would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a >>> late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final >>> check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts >>> shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the >>> wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our >>> way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. >>> >>> [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] >>> >>> The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with >>> cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges >>> of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained >>> gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful >>> farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a >>> way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy >>> fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. >>> >>> Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and >>> rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only >>> stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and >>> had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into >>> a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with >>> a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk >>> candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins >>> full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local >>> favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were >>> fantastically good. >>> >>> [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] >>> >>> We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long >>> climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles >>> without interruption. >>> >>> The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times >>> quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You >>> would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads >>> and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There >>> are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from >>> long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. >>> We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most >>> part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving >>> salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. >>> >>> I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on >>> trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital >>> camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood >>> and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove >>> for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and >>> unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to >>> avoid. >>> >>> As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were >>> prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with >>> disks. We had a short chat
[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Eric - You mentioned 26lbs of gear, I'm curious how much of that weight you had up front in the Chest and if there was any noticeable impact on handling? Thanks, -Dave On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 11:47:57 PM UTC-5 Philip Williamson wrote: > Such a well crafted ride report! Thanks for the pictures, they're great. > > Philip > Sonoma County, Calif > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com > wrote: > >> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter >> >> 14-15 November 2022 >> 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation >> >> [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] >> >> This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips >> by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a >> primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a >> loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the >> night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. >> to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night >> out. >> >> Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down >> well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow >> were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad >> weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We >> would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a >> late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final >> check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts >> shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the >> wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our >> way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. >> >> [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] >> >> The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with >> cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges >> of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained >> gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful >> farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a >> way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy >> fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. >> >> Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and >> rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only >> stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and >> had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into >> a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with >> a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk >> candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins >> full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local >> favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were >> fantastically good. >> >> [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] >> >> We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long >> climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles >> without interruption. >> >> The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times >> quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You >> would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads >> and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There >> are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from >> long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. >> We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most >> part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving >> salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. >> >> I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on >> trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital >> camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood >> and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove >> for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and >> unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to >> avoid. >> >> As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were >> prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with >> disks. We had a short chat about where he was headed and I gave him the >> best directions I could. When I asked how much further we had to the top he >> said it was “a few miles.” Later on I realized he was tempering our >> distance and trying to be encouraging. The spinning continued. >> >> Once we were within five miles of the top Paul said
[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Such a well crafted ride report! Thanks for the pictures, they're great. Philip Sonoma County, Calif On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter > > 14-15 November 2022 > 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation > > [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] > > This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips > by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a > primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a > loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the > night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. > to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night > out. > > Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down > well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow > were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad > weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We > would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a > late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final > check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts > shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the > wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our > way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. > > [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] > > The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with > cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges > of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained > gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful > farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a > way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy > fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. > > Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and > rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only > stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and > had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into > a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with > a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk > candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins > full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local > favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were > fantastically good. > > [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] > > We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long climb > that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles without > interruption. > > The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times > quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You > would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads > and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There > are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from > long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. > We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most > part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving > salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. > > I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on > trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital > camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood > and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove > for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and > unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to > avoid. > > As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were > prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with > disks. We had a short chat about where he was headed and I gave him the > best directions I could. When I asked how much further we had to the top he > said it was “a few miles.” Later on I realized he was tempering our > distance and trying to be encouraging. The spinning continued. > > Once we were within five miles of the top Paul said something like “It’s > gotta end, soon! It’s can’t all be up!” We finally reached the top of our > climb and made it out to the national parkway that cuts along the mountain. > I had mentioned to Paul there was a combination restaurant/convenience > store/gas station where he could grab a snack. Once we were within eye shot > he sprinted
Re: [RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Very enjoyable read and photos! Thanks for sharing Eric. -Danny On Thu, Nov 17, 2022 at 8:44 PM DavidP wrote: > What a fantastic loop and a great place to overnight. Thanks for sharing! > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 9:40:38 PM UTC-5 brizbarn wrote: > >> Great write up! Not sleeping on a bike or hiking trip is the worst, but >> the rest sounds dreamy. Love the shot of the sunset with cabin. I've done >> a little hiking and camping, and stayed with my family in a cabin in the >> area, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. >> >> On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:57:20 PM UTC-8 pi...@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> Great ride report. Do you have pictures of inside the cabin? Or a >>> map/link to the cabin? >>> >>> On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com >>> wrote: >>> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter 14-15 November 2022 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night out. Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were fantastically good. [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles without interruption. The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to avoid. As we were passing a gate with signs
[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
What a fantastic loop and a great place to overnight. Thanks for sharing! On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 9:40:38 PM UTC-5 brizbarn wrote: > Great write up! Not sleeping on a bike or hiking trip is the worst, but > the rest sounds dreamy. Love the shot of the sunset with cabin. I've done > a little hiking and camping, and stayed with my family in a cabin in the > area, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:57:20 PM UTC-8 pi...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Great ride report. Do you have pictures of inside the cabin? Or a >> map/link to the cabin? >> >> On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter >>> >>> 14-15 November 2022 >>> 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation >>> >>> [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] >>> >>> This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips >>> by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a >>> primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a >>> loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the >>> night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. >>> to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night >>> out. >>> >>> Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down >>> well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow >>> were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad >>> weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We >>> would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a >>> late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final >>> check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts >>> shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the >>> wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our >>> way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. >>> >>> [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] >>> >>> The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with >>> cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges >>> of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained >>> gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful >>> farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a >>> way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy >>> fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. >>> >>> Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and >>> rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only >>> stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and >>> had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into >>> a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with >>> a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk >>> candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins >>> full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local >>> favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were >>> fantastically good. >>> >>> [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] >>> >>> We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long >>> climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles >>> without interruption. >>> >>> The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times >>> quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You >>> would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads >>> and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There >>> are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from >>> long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. >>> We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most >>> part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving >>> salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. >>> >>> I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on >>> trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital >>> camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood >>> and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove >>> for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and >>> unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to >>> avoid. >>> >>> As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were >>> prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with >>> disks. We had a short chat about where he
[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Great write up! Not sleeping on a bike or hiking trip is the worst, but the rest sounds dreamy. Love the shot of the sunset with cabin. I've done a little hiking and camping, and stayed with my family in a cabin in the area, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:57:20 PM UTC-8 pi...@gmail.com wrote: > Great ride report. Do you have pictures of inside the cabin? Or a map/link > to the cabin? > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com > wrote: > >> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter >> >> 14-15 November 2022 >> 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation >> >> [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] >> >> This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips >> by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a >> primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a >> loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the >> night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. >> to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night >> out. >> >> Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down >> well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow >> were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad >> weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We >> would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a >> late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final >> check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts >> shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the >> wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our >> way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. >> >> [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] >> >> The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with >> cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges >> of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained >> gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful >> farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a >> way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy >> fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. >> >> Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and >> rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only >> stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and >> had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into >> a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with >> a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk >> candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins >> full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local >> favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were >> fantastically good. >> >> [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] >> >> We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long >> climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles >> without interruption. >> >> The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times >> quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You >> would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads >> and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There >> are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from >> long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. >> We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most >> part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving >> salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. >> >> I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on >> trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital >> camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood >> and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove >> for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and >> unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to >> avoid. >> >> As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were >> prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with >> disks. We had a short chat about where he was headed and I gave him the >> best directions I could. When I asked how much further we had to the top he >> said it was “a few miles.” Later on I realized he was tempering our >> distance and trying to be encouraging. The
[RBW] Re: Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope cabin overnighter
Great ride report. Do you have pictures of inside the cabin? Or a map/link to the cabin? On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:22:44 PM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter > > 14-15 November 2022 > 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation > > [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg] > > This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight trips > by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I booked a > primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to make a > loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the > night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul R. > to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday night > out. > > Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip down > well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. Rain and snow > were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 38º. With bad > weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 11:00 AM. We > would have preferred to start earlier but obligations sometimes call for a > late start or no start at all. I unloaded my Appaloosa and did a final > check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL Susie Longbolts > shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the front wheel removed the > wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 11:50 we were on our > way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 40s. > > [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg] > > The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside with > cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty brown vestiges > of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and well-maintained > gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood of small beautiful > farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The road continued on in a > way that felt like trespassing as we rode between barns, over corn and soy > fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut for hay. > > Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph and > rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our only > stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain and > had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled into > a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store with > a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. Bulk > candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few bins > full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my local > favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were > fantastically good. > > [image: 03 Road SM.jpg] > > We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a long climb > that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 miles without > interruption. > > The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at times > quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for it. You > would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up these roads > and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton trucks. There > are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short reprieves from > long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for three hours. > We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but for the most > part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato chips, craving > salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail mix. > > I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed on > trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and our vital > camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to gather firewood > and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on the woodstove > for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in steep and > unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I hoped to > avoid. > > As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were > prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with > disks. We had a short chat about where he was headed and I gave him the > best directions I could. When I asked how much further we had to the top he > said it was “a few miles.” Later on I realized he was tempering our > distance and trying to be encouraging. The spinning continued. > > Once we were within five miles of the top Paul said something like “It’s > gotta end, soon! It’s can’t all be up!” We finally reached the top of our > climb and made it out to the national parkway that cuts along the mountain. > I had mentioned to Paul there was a combination restaurant/convenience > store/gas station where he could grab a snack. Once we were within eye shot > he sprinted to the
