11/10 GW ride?

[1derwoman]

Hi, I am off work Friday 11/10 Veteran's Day. I have not yet ridden Eliz Furnace/Bear Wallow (Signal Knob), and would like to give it a whirl.

I am not volunteering to lead a ride, just looking for company. I have hiked this a number of times, except the lower fire road portion. I am looking forward to the uphill fireroad (yes, I like uphill), but I don't much like white-knuckle downhills so I'll be taking it slow on the way down. I am a good follower, and I carry a space blanket and first aid kit for really desperate times :)

Anyone interested?

pbransberger@verizon.net

[1derwoman]

re-posting this in the hopes someone will be excited to see the invitation!

I am off work Friday 11/10 Veteran's Day. I have not yet ridden Eliz Furnace/Bear Wallow (Signal Knob), and would like to give it a whirl.

I am not volunteering to lead a ride, just looking for company. I have hiked this a number of times, except the lower fire road portion. I am looking forward to the uphill fireroad (yes, I like uphill), but I don't much like white-knuckle downhills so I'll be taking it slow on the way down.

Anyone interested?

pbransberger@verizon.net

[jabberwocky]

I would be in, but unfortunately I have to work. If you want to do it on a weekend, I'll even volunteer to lead it though.

[bacalhau]

I can't do it friday either, but I might be able for this sunday - if my legs are not burned out from saturday hike. Been working too much in my backyard , so it's time for playing in someone's else backyard :)

[Squirrel Girl]

I can do EF tomorrow. I've been there several times. Though my first trip was solo, from my perspective I don't see any problem with anyone who can do a 10 mile mountain hike, doing the same with a bike. So long as you can push you way back to the parking lot and have a halfway decent ability to read a map, you can make it.

[1derwoman]

So, Squirrel Girl, does that mean you want to ride? I am checking on some other weekend plans and should know this evening what time I'll be riding GW/
EF tomorrow (Friday). I'll check back here to see if you're interested, or be in touch at pbransberger@verizon.net or 202-491-9348.

Thanks J and Bacalau offering for another day. But, I have the day off tomorrow and must play!!

[Squirrel Girl]

So, Squirrel Girl, does that mean you want to ride?
Sure, so long as you can put up with me!

[Squirrel Girl]

What a ride we had today!

Well, it started out with Peace being a little late. Then riding up the fireroad I was even slower than my normal pokey pace (not riding enough lately). And then! With that recent big rainstorm, the creek was WAYYYYY up. It was a good 8" deeper than I'd ever seen it. Even the easy crossings were daunting. Many stepping stones were under water.

We decided to take off our shoes and socks. First we compared toenail polish. Then we barefooted our way across. Repeat. Repeat again. Etc, etc. Up the next fireroad, turn left at the single track. Whoops. Take off our shoesies again. Up and over around the lake and back to the doubletrack. Right on the hike-a-bike trail. Another stream. :rolleyes: This time I was able to rock hop across using my bike to steady me. Peace took off her shoes, crossed, then put on trail shoes for the slog up. We had a brief snack at the top, then hustled on our way. By now it's 4:30 pm, which was a little worrying given it's just a little more than a month to the shortest day of the year.

The leaves were mostly down, and that certainly didn't make the way down through the rocks any easier. I had a crash not far down. Not too bad, but a little ouchie. Soon Peace fell over, but her fall was punctuated by laughter.

Down we went, and the darker and darker it became. Peace had never ridden in the dark before and commented on such. I responded, "THIS is not dark, but it will be before we get off the mountain!"

I held off breaking out my emergency caving light to use what little ambient light there was. Finally, I started to move faster than Peace, and she let me lead. A bit later, I had to get my light out. What a place to have your first night ride! Elizabeth Furnace on emergeny backup light! Peace started to comment on her white knuckles, and expressed concern that I would be mad at her because she had been late and she'd ruined my day. Bwahh, hahhh, hahh, hahhh! Oh, she didn't know me before, but she did before the ride was over! Ptui to races, bring it on to adventure! Woo Hoo! Having just ridden Schaeffer for the first time in the dark just 23 hours before, I was primed for non-WF, dark riding. Apparently, Mz White Knuckles wasn't too keen when I mentioned to her that those things that were fluttering past our faces in the dark were bats! :) She had assumed (and apparently wished) they were falling leaves. ;)

We made it back to the cars by 6 pm in full darkness. We were both stoked! Laughter and smiles and happy times! On the way down, I regaled Peace with stories of some of my crazy caving adventures that put this to shame. But "normal" people don't usually do such things. Peace was a real trooper for all these new things being thrust upon her. Yay! :)

[jabberwocky]

Sounds like a good time, wish I could have made it. I probably wouldn't have done any of my signature swimming in the creeks or lake though (at least not intentionally).

Allow me to express my sympathy to poor Peace, getting a concentrated does of Babs all at once. She's probably at home hiding in a closet. :)

So, how nasty was the downhill with all the leaves? I'm looking to lead a casual ride there next weekend. I'll tell people to bring a few extra pairs of socks for the stream crossings.

[Squirrel Girl]

Allow me to express my sympathy to poor Peace, getting a concentrated does of Babs all at once. She's probably at home hiding in a closet. :)

So, how nasty was the downhill with all the leaves? I'm looking to lead a casual ride there next weekend. I'll tell people to bring a few extra pairs of socks for the stream crossings.
Actually... Peace said, "I need a drink." :rolleyes:

We had a good time.

The leaves definitely made things a little more difficult. Obviously we made it, relatively unscathed. But nonetheless, it was a bit more challenging. Of course, we were contending with the dark, too, so it wasn't possible to completely separate the effect of the leaves.

We discussed the idea of bringing more sox. (or MORE sox) The problem is that if you soak your feet with your shoes on, it's almost worthless to put on dry sox. They'll immediately soak up water from the shoes, and you have instantly wet sox again.

Hmm, maybe you need more monkey sox..... :)

[joep]

I was there today too. A last minute decision when I realized I had the day off and my kid did not! That makes three weekends in a row at efurnace for me. I don't think I could ever get sick of that place, or could I? (http://fearlessdogeaters.blogspot.com/2006/11/letter-to-elizabeth-furnace.html)

[bacalhau]

Pretty much nothing will save you from wet feet or socks...other than pull out your wings and fly over.
Welll, as I don't have any wings in my back, neither my ears I big enough to pull a "dumbo", my debate in the winter time is about suffer for a few seconds crossing the water barefoot, or just go for it and keep pedaling fast enought so, the feet keep warm.
Even with neopherene socks it does not quite work. I found out the hard way that, barefoot is a must if the crossing ihappens in the first half of the ride, and shoes on, is aceptable if you are a only a mile or two from the car. As good as a extra pair of socks, is a small towel with which you can dry your feet with :)

Great job girls
Better than leave/finish a trail in the dark is only topped by staying in the trail the whole night :D

[Squirrel Girl]

I was there today too. A last minute decision when I realized I had the day off and my kid did not! That makes three weekends in a row at efurnace for me. I don't think I could ever get sick of that place, or could I? (http://fearlessdogeaters.blogspot.com/2006/11/letter-to-elizabeth-furnace.html)Hi Joe,

I got there early, and while waiting for Peace, I looped around the parking areas, and saw the car with the Dirt Rag and WUSS stickers. But when they're not parked at WF, I don't recognize everyone's cars. :) I figured there were a limited number of suspects, though. :)

Then I chatted with the lady in the car with the New Mexico license plates (I happened to be wearing my NM cycling sox that day), so that was fun to think about the Land of Enchantment. Even without a towel, my NM sox were nearly dry for the whole trip. The amount of water covering the skin was miniscule compared to a foot dunking in shoes.

Aw, come on, bacalhau, we were never in danger! :) We could always walk out in the dark. An we certainly did do some walking. But mostly riding.

It brought to mind the Fog Slog I did in the Dominican Republic a few years ago. We did a 14 km hike back from basecamp to the cars. It had gotten even muddier while we camped. Then on the hike back it misted. Then it got dark. Then it poured rain. Then we had to use out lights to lead the mules on since they had refused to move:
http://www.deepcaves.net/dr/fog_slog.htm
http://www.deepcaves.net/dr/barb_mud_nightA.jpg

[1derwoman]

Babs rocks! Don't let her get away acting like she's all humble and "too old too out of shape" etc. when she says it. Without her I would have had a sucky ride. As it was, I loved it! Enough to go back again today, and go up to Signal Knob, at that. I am beat!!!

Here's a few highlights of my EF weekend:
-I redefined my triathlete status: three sports=(1) on foot carry the (2) bike while crossing (3) water. Anyone can be a triathlete!
-It was good to ride it in the dark for the first time--seeing what I rode last night, in the light of day today, I am stoked!
-Some joker teenager hiker today was like "Are you with three other people?" (No, I was riding alone) "Because they're way ahead of you" (bite my a#$!! they helicoptered in!). And then I say "Have a nice hike" and he's like "Yeah, you too. I mean have a good bike ride. ha ha ha" I just hop-hop-hopped away on down the trail...
-So today I still did the shoes-off-shoes-on 5 times in Mud Hole Crap. But I went without the socks. Just easier, and ended up keeping 'em dry for the hike-a-bike when I dabbed in a mud-puddle 2 minutes after the last river crossing. BTW, the whole damn Orange trail/fireroad up to Signal Knob was a river. Running water in the tire tracks.
-I like the uphill uphill uphill bring it ONNNN!!
-All in all, I am so proud of me and Mikey the Trikey for 2 days of insane riding! Thanks again Squirrel Girl. Chit chit chit to you :D

J., do host a ride there soon!! Sad for me, tho, I can't make it next weekend to show off my new skillz...

[jabberwocky]

Babs rocks! Don't let her get away acting like she's all humble and "too old too out of shape" etc. when she says it. Without her I would have had a sucky ride. As it was, I loved it! Enough to go back again today, and go up to Signal Knob, at that. I am beat!!!Yeah, Babs talks like she sucks, but she ain't a bad rider by any means. Someone needs to beat that negativity out of her, but shes always armed with that whip so it isn't gonna be me. :)

I like the uphill uphill uphill bring it ONNNN!!Ok, see, this is just crazy talk. :)

Now, personally I like EF, but I think the fireroad climb is boring as hell (although worth it to get to the downhill). If you think uphill is fun, you should try riding from the parking lot up bear wallow and doing it as an out and back. :D
J., do host a ride there soon!! Sad for me, tho, I can't make it next weekend to show off my new skillz...We shall see. If my Fountainhead ride gets screwed by the weather gods tonite, I may move Fountainhead to next weekend and postpone EF a week or two.

Glad you had a good time though! EF is lots of fun. Very different than the trails closer in to DC.

[joep]

but I think the fireroad climb is boring as hell


And I yawn all the way down Bear Wallow... :D

Actually that fireroad climb is quite nice. If fact, it's sooo good that Wrench, Liz, and I did it twice in the same ride last weekend. :rolleyes:

[jabberwocky]

And I yawn all the way down Bear Wallow... :D Thats because you need to trade that kiddie toy you call a bike in for something more capable. ;)
(Note to the humor impaired: I am kidding. The bear wallow downhill is probably the only place around here that I have ever stayed in front of Joe on, so I would be quite annoyed if he bought a real bike :) ).

Actually that fireroad climb is quite nice. If fact, it's sooo good that Wrench, Liz, and I did it twice in the same ride last weekend. :rolleyes:Ya know, Liz told me that, and I was a bit speechless. To me, that is like spending big bucks on an assortment of Godiva chocolates and then eating the box. To each their own, I suppose. :)

[bacalhau]

Hi Peace,
at what time - more or less were you riding Signal Knob at EF today? I hiked with my wife this morning/early afternoon, and saw a couple bikers, but I guess not you ...
Well it is a big place , but the weather was really great - actually almost too warm for a hike :) go figure in November

[deansidr]

Me and my buddy Jay were out on Saturday so that was probably us you ran into. I remember passing some hikers as I was climbing up to Signal Knob.

Peace,

Did you run into that troop of boy scouts. There was like 20 of 'em.

All in all a great day yesterday with weather that I wish was the norm around here. Although there were rivers running down the fireroad climb on both sides of us.

[bacalhau]

we climbed on the orange trail and then descend part on the service road , connect to the blue trail till the parking lot. We did come across two solo riders at the signal knob, and after that there was a group of three - two guys and a girl, and I believe another two single riders descending.
The weather was incredible warm for the season, but I feel sorry for those scouts today - wet and cold camping is never fun.
There are way too many leaves on the ground right now LOL, which made our hiking very slipery - I bet was no better for biking :)

[Squirrel Girl]

There are way too many leaves on the ground right now LOL, which made our hiking very slipery - I bet was no better for biking :)I had my brand new Maxxis Ignitors on, so I didn't have an issue with slipperiness. :)

[liznotter]

we climbed on the orange trail and then descend part on the service road , connect to the blue trail till the parking lot. We did come across two solo riders at the signal knob, and after that there was a group of three - two guys and a girl, and I believe another two single riders descending.
The weather was incredible warm for the season, but I feel sorry for those scouts today - wet and cold camping is never fun.
There are way too many leaves on the ground right now LOL, which made our hiking very slipery - I bet was no better for biking :) I think we saw you yesterday... we were the group of three. Saw the scouts, just missed one of the little buggers when he decided at the last minute to change sides of the trail and stepped right in front of me. Good thing I was going very sloooowwwwly through them. Another little guy with a great big backpack fell right over backwards when he saw us.... :o
Actually that fireroad climb is quite nice. If fact, it's sooo good that Wrench, Liz, and I did it twice in the same ride last weekendI liked the fireroad climb!... nothing like the Bataan Death March / Push-a-bike climb up the Mine Gap trail to the Massanutten Trail. I came up with an entirely new class of curse words during that part.

The really scary part came after the ride, when two seemingly inexperienced and ill-equipped riders (as in, no helmet) came up to us and asked directions to the trail....two hours before dark. Hope they made it out again....

[joep]

the Bataan Death March / Push-a-bike climb up the Mine Gap trail to the Massanutten Trail.

What possesed you people to go UP Mine Gap?!? I usually ride the road up to Massanutten trail. Methinks riderx was out to inflict some pain that day. :eek:

[mtbmore]

Pretty much nothing will save you from wet feet or socks... Even with neopherene socks it does not quite work. I found out the hard way that, barefoot is a must if the crossing ihappens in the first half of the ride, and shoes on, is aceptable if you are a only a mile or two from the car. As good as a extra pair of socks, is a small towel with which you can dry your feet with :)

:D
My brother got me a pair of Sealskins booties for Christmas last year. I too was skeptical having used other goretex-like booties in the past. But these things are incredible. I went through every water crossing at EF except the last Passage Creek crossing before Mudhole Gap. I would have done that one also but I worried about falling in the creek not getting my feet wet. I also went went through the middle of the water just before the climb up Bear Wallow. My feet were a tad damp but mostly from perspiration not water from the creek crossings. I had no discomfort the whole ride. Bring on the Winter!!!!!!

Scud

[bacalhau]

My brother got me a pair of Sealskins booties for Christmas last year. I too was skeptical having used other goretex-like booties in the past. But these things are incredible. I went through every water crossing at EF except the last Passage Creek crossing before Mudhole Gap. I would have done that one also but I worried about falling in the creek not getting my feet wet. I also went went through the middle of the water just before the climb up Bear Wallow. My feet were a tad damp but mostly from perspiration not water from the creek crossings. I had no discomfort the whole ride. Bring on the Winter!!!!!!

Scud


True! I love my socks, and pretty much experienced the same dampness, mostly for perpiration, but... I should had mention that the bad event happened crossing the creek at McKeldin Park- Patasco area. It was very cold, deep (around 18 inches and wide -at least some good 40 feet. So my shoes were submerged completly for more than a few seconds. For small crossings, even a 10 feet, is mostly a splash, and the water barely makes it inside. Snow it's a different problem :(
A second pair of socks helps when you feet are becoming numb and very prunny, so if they get a good soaking, take them off, squeeze all the water you can and keep those feet moving :rolleyes:

[wrench177]

What possesed you people to go UP Mine Gap?!? I usually ride the road up to Massanutten trail. Methinks riderx was out to inflict some pain that day. :eek:
Apparently that is his idea of getting back into shape. 3 weeks off his bike and he wanted to play a little "catch-up". Personally, I didn't mind it as much as that stinking hike a bike up to Bear Wallow. Riderx had suggested the Signal Knob trail, but we opted for the hike-a-bike. Me thinks it was a mistake.

Pain was inflicted, however RiderX provided a post-ride gowler of his fine Robust Porter. It was just the ticket to take the edge off my aching body.

Joe, thanks for the ride and the Porter. Both were awesome. :D

Todd

[camp]

What possesed you people to go UP Mine Gap?!?Ahhh, the Mine Gap climb. The hardest 10 minutes in the GW (if you're pedalling).
Back in my geared-bike days, that climb was always the barometer of my fitness. It was cleanable when all was right, good karma, dry, no leaves, not too late in the ride etc...

Now, I'm almost afraid to try it on a single-speed.

Did the Joes clean it??

[riderx]

Ahhh, the Mine Gap climb. The hardest 10 minutes in the GW (if you're pedalling).
Back in my geared-bike days, that climb was always the barometer of my fitness. It was cleanable when all was right, good karma, dry, no leaves, not too late in the ride etc...

Now, I'm almost afraid to try it on a single-speed.

Did the Joes clean it??Not a chance. Deep leaves and a lowered fiitness level meant plenty of walking for this kid. Even in peak condition I have not cleaned it on the single (yet ;) ).

[camp]

Not a chance. Deep leaves and a lowered fiitness level meant plenty of walking for this kid. Even in peak condition I have not cleaned it on the single (yet ;) ).from the gravel road, to the saddle at the trail jct. One helluva challenge, even with gears.

[joep]

Did the Joes clean it??

I have not attempted it, but what would you do once you get to the top of Mine Gap? Ride to Woodstock tower and descend on the road? (zzz...) Or is there another route?

[camp]

I have not attempted it, but what would you do once you get to the top of Mine Gap? Ride to Woodstock tower and descend on the road? (zzz...) Or is there another route?I must've confused you somewhere. At the top of Mine Gap, left on orange goes to the tower. Right on orange goes to Powell's Fort/Mudhole Gap.

I'm sure you've done this many times...??...?? no?

[joep]

I must've confused you somewhere. At the top of Mine Gap, left on orange goes to the tower. Right on orange goes to Powell's Fort/Mudhole Gap.

I'm sure you've done this many times...??...?? no?

I'm confused. I thought Mine Gap descended into the fireroad at the top of Mudhole Gap. Climbing up Mine Gap to the orange and turning right, I thought would lead to the Tuscarora slog to Signal Knob, yes?

I think a ride is in order to sort this out. Let me know the next time you're in the neighborhood.

[camp]

I'm confused. I thought Mine Gap descended into the fireroad at the top of Mudhole Gap. Climbing up Mine Gap to the orange and turning right, I thought would lead to the Tuscarora slog to Signal Knob, yes?
Mine Gap is the purple connector from the gravel road to the ridge. It's all in Mine Gap proper. It's the MMT which descends into the fireroad above Mudhole. At the top of that descent, orange meets Blue (the slog). Blue also goes off the mtn to the west and I-81 at that point, as the blue continues it's way thru the Wolf Gap area, and eventually PA (I can see the ridge from my new house BTW :D ).

I sure WISH the trails in Michaux were as easy to learn, and as well mapped and blazed as the GW. It is ridiculously difficult figuring my way around here.

[1derwoman]

Me and my buddy Jay were out on Saturday so that was probably us you ran into. I remember passing some hikers as I was climbing up to Signal Knob.

Peace,

Did you run into that troop of boy scouts. There was like 20 of 'em.

All in all a great day yesterday with weather that I wish was the norm around here. Although there were rivers running down the fireroad climb on both sides of us.

Yeah, i saw the boy scouts, all sitting down like they were being death-marched somewhereh, the wise-arse one of which mocked me b/c you and your crew were ahead of me. What I want to know is how you got to the top before me?!? Flew in? Cuz there was no other bikes on the Mud Hole Crap side while I was on it. I actually saw a ranger with a chainsaw and for a minute thought, "uh oh I am gonna have to run!" Unless you left before me, in which case that's okay and I don't feel so slow.

[deansidr]

We left before you. If you parked in that lower lot you would have seen a silver xterra. That was mine. We ran into the first boyscouts right at the first right hand turn after signal knob then ran into the rest of 'em as we were going down hill.