Monday: Wake up in Pisgah, head out early to DuPont, and back to Pisgah - North Mills Style

Breaking camp ^ at Daniel Ridge Loop and heading back down towards DuPont.
Thanks Obie for the tip on the camping up in here! It was awesome camping right next to the Davidson River.

A little lunch at DuPont then a little more at North Mills. Some rest, an Amp and it is time for a long climb up to the parkway.Some early leaf fall ^

We started out with about 10 miles in DuPont, riding my favorties: Burnt Mtn, Cedar Rock, Big Rock, Bridal Veil Falls. I tried to tempt Josh with more prime Pisgah but he had to get back home. I went onto North Mills.
The Pisgah portion of the day (graph is of the same ride when I did it with Johnny Calhoun earlier in the year):

Amos' Epics

Big Saturday Ride in Pisgah

Josh is leaving Boone behind and moving to Maine.
The goal for the weekend: Take Josh on some of my favorite Pisgah SW and DuPont trails as he has never ridden in this area. Unfortunately we only have 2 days and there are a lot of trails.
Starting point: Pisgah Ranger Station / Visitor Center
We started pedaling at 11:03 a.m.
Buckhorn Gap:Incredible views from Black Mountain. It is worth the hike-a-bike.

Josh droppin' the steeps on Black Mtn:After Black Mtn, we rode Thrift Cove over to Grassy Road Trail and onto Sycamore Cove which was a blast. We had intended to ride North Slope Ridge but it was "out of season" so we lunched at the Ranger Station, chilled out for awhile and then climbed back up FS477. This time we continued past the horse stables, all the way up to hwy 276 and checked out the Forest Discovery Center. The highlights: the trout pond, portable mill, & locamotive displays.

The trout were fighting over some of Josh's pancakes. If he had continued to throw them in, I was ready to go swimming and fight for my share, those are some good pancakes.

After deciding we were best off to ride back down the FS477 and hitting the Club Gap trail from there, we found the climb to take us back into the Forest Discovery Center property.The trail just kept climbing up to Club Gap from there. We finally made it to the intersetion:

Josh climbing the last of Club Gap Trail:

Avery Creek was a blast. I wish I had stopped for pics of some of the downhill but droppin' it was just too much fun. Reminded me of Sinkhole and Josh of Bee Hive. I had read some hype about it and it deserves the accolades, lotsa fun. And to think I nearly turned around at the beginning due to growth and trail conditions. I'm glad the North Slope Ridge was "out of season".Pisgah truly has it all. From the high elevations down to the marsh down in the bottoms:Ride stats:

Total mileage: 37.5 miles

Total time: 7:50 Moving time: 5:11 Stopped time: 2:38

Min elev: 2,120 Max elev: 4,196

Amos' Epics

Catawba on Friday with Susan then shuttle ride Saturday in WCWA with Obie, Jason, Kyle, & Brian

Friday, Susan and I were almost skunked on the Catawba but managed a run from the 2nd bridge downstream of the powerhouse. The release schedule was changed at the last minute and the water had been shut off about 10 minutes before we got to the dam. After some bushwhacking and careful steppin' considering snakes in the high weeds. We launched at the powerline and paddled down to River Glen. There were a few very nice play spots but we missed the good waves in the top section. Next time.

Obie called mid-morning and proposed a Wilson Creek Wilderness shuttle ride with him and his posse. The idea had crossed my mind to call him about the same thing but due to some misinformation, I had refrained from bothering Obie during his family time. I'm glad the information was wrong, it was a good day on some sweet trails with excellent company!
The view from the Hideaway was cloudy but sweet. It started raining while we were there and rained just enought to cool it down a little bit. Nice temps all day.Kyle and Jason

Fun ride. Good lines by all.

Distance: 11.4 miles

Starting elevation: 3,591' Ending elevation: 1,314'

Amos' Epics

It felt great to be back at "The Playground". Back to the old stompin' grounds.

Awesome ride. Good wildlife sightings. A group of 6 turkeys on the first big climb, a yearling deer switching back up the embankment, an appeliated Wood Pecker, another big turkey, a big Trout swimming in Wilson creek, and a Heron in Craig Creek.

The trail I call Big O was in great shape. I look forward to the day when I can see someone ride up the steepest, steep climb. I made my usual pitch from the first big pull out but it took me 3 tries this time, outta shape. I was proud to have made every downhill switchback my first attempt except this one:

I've never made it and never tried. Too steep & sharp for me.

Low water Wilson Creek:

There was a big trout swimming around in there:My 2nd time past Birthday Knob:

I love the trail Bee Hive. Lower your seat and drop off the mountain, going down now. The spot below was the first place I had to dismount. I carried back up and eventually managed to ride it on my 3rd attempt. It was the first but not the last place I had to attempt a second time, one a third but I finally made it. There is one log crossing I have not made, yet.

I go right at this point:

After I dropped out of Bee Hive, I rode up Upper Creek for a ways.

This is the point at which I turned around ^.

What a sad shame:

Ride Stats:

Distance: 20 miles

Total time: 3:27 Moving time: 2:43 Stopped time: 44 min

Start time: 4:32 pm end time: 8:00 pm
Average moving speed: 7.4 mph

I heard a song on the way home that has some amazing lyrics. I'm not a big Green Day fan but after hearing this one, I'll be listening to more of them. The song is called

Good Riddance

time of your life

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test, and dont ask why.

It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.

I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on the shelf in good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.

For what its worth, it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable but in the end is right.

I hope you had the time of your life.