Stories from a HUSBAND - FATHER - SON - GRANDFATHER - UNCLE - BROTHER - FRIEND - TEACHER
SO MANY TRAILS
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I can't remember the last time I spent an entire summer mountain biking in so many new places...on so many "new to me" trails...and on trails I hadn't been on in nearly a decade. Over the past few months, I've done just that. The biggest perk I get from my job (if you want to call it that...I get to teach history to kids) is time. Time is the one resource that you can NEVER get back. So, this summer...along with Mark, Glenn, Tim, Chris, and Matt...I've used my time mountain biking to explore, and re-explore, a variety of different places and trails. I truly am blessed to have such great state and local parks and forests...populated with miles and miles of trails...just waiting to be ridden. I'm equally blessed to have friends who share the same passion. So (without any further rambling), here's some of the places that I, my friends, and my Stumpjumper have explored the past two and a half months. Enjoy!
STONY VALLEY RAIL TRAIL
Mark told me that he would ride Stony Valley anyday of the week. Even though it is "rail trail," it was one of the most visually stimulating rides of the summer. While riding almost thirty miles on a rainy Monday, we explored the ruins of Cold Spring (a 19th century resort) and got to see Rausch Creek being diverted into limestone wells in order to purify the water.
While riding the Stony Valley Rail Trail, Mark and I took a short detour to explore the ruins of Cold Spring, a 19th century resort town, which is located in State Game Lands No. 221. -- June 5, 2017
The remains of Cold Spring Resort -- June 5, 2017
Rausch Creek being diverted into limestone wells to remove the acid in thewater caused by nearby abandoned coal mines. -- June 5, 2017
SWATARA STATE PARK
For our first Tuesday ride of the summer, Tim and I met Matt at Swatara State Park. The ten miles we rode that day doesn't sound like a lot...but my legs always seem to know after I've ridden there!
Riding on loop D at Swatara State Park. -- June 6, 2017
Dave Raymond, Tim Sindlinger, Matt Linnane. -- June 6, 2017
OHIOPYLE STATE PARK
I spent a week camping in Ohiopyle State Park with my son Alex this summer. I had a blast riding the Sugarloaf trail system, Baughman Trail, and some super scenic sections of the Great Allegheny Passage. Alex brought his GoPro and new drone along on the trip...so I managed to get some amazing footage. The descent down Baughman Trail dropped approximately 800 feet in just under two miles!
Taking a break at Baughman Overlook in Ohiopyle State Park. -- June 13, 2017
Riding Baughman Trail at Ohiopyle State Park. -- June 15, 2017
Crossing over the Youghiogheny River on the Great Allegheny Passage. -- June 15, 2017
Riding the Great Allegheny Passage in Ohiopyle State Park. -- June 13, 2017
About a mile from my campsite, I paused to take in the view of the Laurel Highlands around Ohiopyle State Park. -- June 15, 2017
THE LAKES
I only made two trips to the Lakes this summer. The first, with Mikey, Glenn, and Mark, was a fun mid-day ride with the guys. My second ride at the lakes was a stop on my way home from Baltimore to turn my pedals and squeeze in five quick miles.
Fun ride at the Lakes with Mikey, Glenn, and Mark. -- June 22, 2017
With just a short window to ride, I stopped for a quick five mile loop around Lake Williams. -- August 14, 2017
ROCKY RIDGE COUNTY PARK
My good friend Chris Keller started his own business this past year. His new company is located just about a mile from my house. Whenever his schedule allows, we head up to Rocky Ridge County Park and mountain bike a few miles.
Ridin Fresh and Twisty at Rocky Ridge County Park. -- June 9, 2017
A super humid ride with Chris Keller at Rocky Ridge County Park. -- July 13, 2017
HARRISBURG GREEN BELT
Okay...this one surprised the heck out of me. When Mark told me there were trails in Harrisburg, I didn't know what to expect. I surely didn't think I'd be riding 15+ miles of singletrack located right in, and around, the city. Urban mountain biking at its best! Thanks, SAMBA!
Harrisburg Green Belt -- July 26, 2017
Riding the trails along the Green Belt in Harrisburg, PA. -- June 27, 2017
Mark Lentz, Dave Raymond, and Glenn Medice on the Harrisburg Green Belt. -- July 26, 2017
TUSCARORA STATE FOREST
What a day Mark and I had in Tuscarora State Forest! We mountain biked 29 miles and climbed 4,000 feet through what seemed like a surreal tropical forest.
Love this picture of Mark riding in Tuscarora State Forest. -- July 6, 2017
My Stumpjumper along a fire road in Tuscarora State Forest. -- July 6, 2017
Tim's maiden voyage to ride the Allegrippis Trails! I did my best to piece together a fun loop for the three of us. Personally, Hydro Loop was my favorite. It's the one trail that gets you super close to the water of Raystown Lake...and, like water, the trail just flows. Loved it!
Dave Raymond, Tim Sindlinger, and Glenn Medice on Hydro Loop. -- July 11, 2017
Riding the Allegrippis Trail System. -- July 11, 2017
MICHAUX STATE FOREST
You'd think by now I would have the trails in Michaux State Forest memorized like the back of my hand...but not the case. Along with Mark, this summer I rode more "new to me" trails in Michaux than I had since he and I first started riding there. Ridgeline trail was amazing...but today the combination of Triple Pine and Astronomy Trails completely blew me a way.
It wasn't all about "new" trails in Michaux this summer. On our Tuesday rides, I did my best to revisit some of the trails that Glenn and I had ridden together almost ten years ago. Three weeks ago, during our "Rockiest Tuesday of the Year," we ended on Bear Knob...which is super fun to ride. I was stoked that everyone else seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.
My Stumpjumper on Ridgeline Trail in Michaux State Forest. -- July 31, 2017
Dave Raymond and Mark Lentz on Ridgeline Trail. -- July 31, 2017
The rockiest ride of the year. Riding Bear Knob in Michaux State Forest. -- August 1, 2017
My bike on Bear Knob in Michaux State Forest. -- August 1, 2017
Last Tuesday ride of the summer. Tim Sindlinger, Dave Raymond, Glenn Medice, Matt Linnane. -- August 15, 2017
Mark Lentz riding Campground Trail in Michaux State Forest. -- August 18, 2017
Mark Lentz and Dave Raymond. Wrapping up the last of the summer. -- August 18, 2017
I can't remember the last time my mountain biking miles exceded my road cycling miles...but this summer that surely was the case. As much as I like my road bike, mountain biking has always been my passion. The past few months on my Stumpjumper with my friends have been nothing short of amazing. Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean the riding ends...there's so many trails that need to be ridden.
I ate so many post-ride (hike) ice-cream cones this summer...but my favorite, by far, was the Glen Dairy Bar in Watkins Glen, New York. -- July 20, 2017
Life is a journey...not a destination.
David A. Raymond -- August 18, 2017
Yes...that is a black bear about 30 yards in front of Mark and I in Michaux State Forest! -- July 31, 2017
Here's the GARMIN maps and data from the rides featured in this post...
A day off of the bicycle doesn't mean a day spent inside. With the end of summer in view, and the school year encroaching soon, I took my sixteen year old son, Alex, and his buddies (Robby and Austin) to Michaux State Forest for a day of hiking, picnicking, and exploring. Our day today was split into three parts. We planned to hike up through Tumbling Run Game Preserve, have a picnic lunch at the furnace stack in Pine Grove Furnace State Park , and then hike up to the top of Pole Steeple. Although the trail head at Tumbling Run is not marked, it is easy to get to if you know what you are looking for. After passing Pine Grove Furnace State Park on state route 233 (headed South) you will be looking for a obvious gravel parking area located on the right between Woodrow Road and Dead Woman's Hollow Road. It is important to know that the last "nice" bathrooms are located at the furnace stack at Pine Grove Furnace ...
In the early 1980s my mom and dad began taking my brother, Jake, and I camping at Rocky Gap State Park near Cumberland, Maryland . During the summer months we seemingly went every weekend. I loved it there. Rocky Gap was just a short drive from our home in Bedford, Pennsylvania. We spent our days playing on the beach and fishing in the lake. My mother made incredible meals for us at the campground and each evening my dad would make a campfire. The campfire was my favorite part. My dad made mountain pies, my mom would make popcorn over the fire, and my brother and I would roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Our camping trips ended in the late 80s when both my brother and I reached high school. Our schedules were just too hectic. That was the last I would see of Rocky Gap for 25 years. Rocky Gap State Park and campgrounds sits at the base of Evitts Mountain in western Maryland -- May 30, 2016 When I began dating m...
Upside-Down covered bridges, canals, flamingos, nuclear power plants, paper mills, Underground Railroad Stations, battlefields, National Parks, gnomes, wild turkeys, deer, lighthouses, airplanes, snow, rattlesnakes, Mountain Laurel, museums, ugly sweaters, rivers, rocks, the ocean, spectacular views, great company, and of course...ice cream. These are just a fraction of the things I’ve experienced along the trails in 2024. What follows is a synopsis of my favorite bike rides and hikes of the past year. Happy New Year and see you along the trails in 2025! David Raymond in Ohiopyle State Park. -- June 10, 2024 SWATARA RAIL TRAIL FEBRUARY 11, 2024 Swatara State park has been a mountain biking destination for me for over 15 years (and it was again for Ben and I this year)... but, in 2024, I decided to check out the rail trail that runs through the 3,520 acre park. The Swatara Creek meanders its way through forests and wetlands of the park....
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