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Were were not even three miles in and my thighs were burning.  Don’t
let anyone tell you that just because it’s flat, it’s not a workout. 
The sand was simulating a Colorado climb.  Even downhills required a
workout just to move.  The warm temps here have made pineland riding
difficult this year.

The red trail eventually puts us out on some doubletrack which was a little more firmer.

We could have opted for the purple trail but instead I suggested we
explore a less traveled fire cut.  Everyone was in agreement and after
a mile in I was regretting it.  We were heading toward the Mullica
River which meant it was getting more sandy with every pedal. 
Eventually we reach the river and stop to rest our legs.

We then proceed to head to the Batsto Village, but another firecut
catches the eye of Jeff.  Didn’t we already learn our lesson? 
Obviously not as we turn onto the deepest and sandiest fire cut I have
ever ridden.  I think climbing a paved 4000′ 7% grade would be easier.

But it’s all good and there’s still smiles on everyones faces.

Back at Quakerbridge Road we head off to the White Trail, home to the
180′ climb.  This trail makes good use of what little hill there his by
undulating up and down and around numerous times without crossing
itself.  It’s also true singletrack and not nasty fire cut.

There was a planned burn in this section recently so everything smells like roasted marshmallows.

At this point we lose one of the singlespeeders (I opt out today and I
am glad I did – the sand was killer) to a broken chain.  With no extra
8 speed links he’s dead in the water.  We continue on to the blue trail
road to regroup and decide a course of action.

Back at the road I suggest heading down to the rail bed and back to the
car would be the shortest route.  Then they could drive up Quakerbridge
and pick up the broken rig.  If you have a mechanical here it’s a long
way out no matter where you are.  I am overruled as we head back up the
hill (on the road) to the start of the White trail.  We wait a short
time and the others come out with the broken rig.  As the guide, I go
with another rider back to the car on the road.  It was a long ride
back!  The rails would have been half the distance.

Aye Caramba!  My legs were burning like I had ridden 40 miles uphill!

Sand just sucks the life out of you. 

2/5/06 – Wharton State Forest, NJ

We met up with some of the Delaware Trailspinners to show them some more ridable (even when wet) terrain. There were eight of us heading out with Jeff and I leading the group around this huge forest. The sandy roads were damp, but ridable. We ride up Quakerbridge Road to the red trail entrance. Things were a bit chewed up from enduro riders which made the already soft sand worse. But we kept going.

(continue reading…)

I was shortly joined by Dan, Kurt, and Mike.  So we head out and
quickly decided that the singletrack will be unpassable due to the
heavy snow bending the saplings.  So, we opt for a doubletrack
ride to Batsto Village and back.  It’s a long ride and even longer
trodging through snow.  But, the scenery was spectacular!

The fire road isn’t too bad at this point since some 4×4’s have made
ruts for us to ride in. Every so often we stop to admire mother nature
and Kurt proclaims it’s like being on LSD. With this look in the next
picture and the Target bag hanging out of his helmet, he certainly
looks like he’s on drugs.  More like crack, though.  He said
the bad was an old motocross trick to keep crap from falling down your
kneck.

I would have to say that Mother Nature did a great job today.  The
sky was so blue, the trees so green, and the snow…  well you
know.

Only a couple of miles in and we have the first problem of the
day.  Dan’s derailleur has frozen in granny gear.  Short of
pissing on it, there is nothing we can do.

He continues on spinning ferociously until Mike finally get’s it
working again only to find out that Dan now has a flat.  Knowing
his day is cursed, hge turns around and heads back before the Jersey
Devil gets him.

Onward we go, albeit slowly.  It’s bot a race today anyway and the steady grind courtesy of the snow makes a great workout.

We make it to Quaker Bridge and the Mullica River flowing coldly beneath it.  So peaceful!

We then turn onto some doubletrack.  It looks like one lone 4×4
tried to get through, but judging from all the bent branches it’ll be
one scratched up truck. 

Soon we get to a point where there is a tree across the trail and the
4×4 tracks have doubled back.  We climb over and continue on with
only about a mile to get to the village.

We reach Batsto Village (http://www.batstovillage.org) and stop in the
visitor center to warm up, hit the bathroom, and chat it up with the
friendly old ladies working in the gift shop.  It must be a very
slow day for them, but they love to volunteer and talk about the
village and trails.  They point out a trail for us to take so we
can have sort of a loop back to Atsion.  We walk (out of respect
for their rules) through the village to the trail and take some photos
on the way.

This is the saw mill that is still working and powered by water.

The water comes from the Batsto lake dam.

A few of the village residences from when it was a working factory town in the early 1800’s.

Ah, finally some singletrack.  There are some footprints to start with but that changes shortly in.

Let know one tell you that riding in this stuff is easy.  Also,
the sand that is beneath the snow has not frozen yet making it even
harder.

We stop for a food break at the Batsto river.  One of the three kayakable rivers that run through the forest.

More fresh marks in the singletrack.

Even the king of balance, Mike Air Newman walks this bridge.

More singletrack with deep loose sand underneath.  It was a pedal to match any climb!

We make it to the Batsto River campsite and it looks like some fresh
kayak tracks.  I’m still trying to gather up enough nerve to kayak
in the winter, plus the money for a wet suit just in case.

We then meet up with Quakerbridge Road again and cruise out to the car in slush.

Here’s the topo, profile, and satellite view of the ride.

For you Google Earth folks, here’s the KML:

http://www.schnauzers.ws/batsto.kml