If you have ever been to Southern West Virginia this poem will probably strike a chord with you.....Even though it is about a fictional country of hills and valleys.
“I remember….
The dark woods, masking slopes of sombre hills;
The grey clouds' leaden everlasting arch;
The dusky streams that flowed without a sound,
And the lone winds that whispered down the passes.
Vista upon vista marching, hills on hills,
Slope beyond slope, each dark with sullen trees,
Our gaunt land lay. So when a man climbed up
A rugged peak and gazed, his shaded eye
Saw but the endless vista--hill on hill,
Slope beyond slope, each hooded like its brothers.”
From the poem “Cimmeria” by Robert E. Howard
So, you are wondering now, "What has that got to do with trailriding?"
Bear with me a bit as I travel back to my teens and tie it in with today....
When I was a young guy, I bought a comic book I remember every winter. It was from Marvel and was called “What If Thor met Conan?”
This particular comic book had two unusual characters, the Marvel superhero Thor meeting up with Conan the Barbarian of pulps, novels and movie fame. Needless to say, for a young kid who was a huge fan of both Thor and Conan, it was a Very Big Thing to me.
One of the most vivid memories I have of that four colored epic on cheap newsprint was the part where Thor convinced Conan to travel back to Cimmeria, (Conan’s homeland) for some quest. Cimmeria was sort of like Appalachia in the ancient Hyborian world of everybody’s favorite Barbarian. Conan’s creator once wrote a poem called “Cimmeria” which was about what a dark, somber, mountainous place it was. It sounded like the Kentucky and West Virginia of my youth.
When they got there, Conan said something like, “Ugh, Cimmeria in the dead of winter.”
I can still remember laughing out loud at that. Because just like the fictional Cimmeria of the Hyborian Age, the winter in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky could indeed be a challenge.
And I usually remember it every year around wintertime here in the mountains of Appalachia. Whenever we get snow and it makes things look a bit gloomy and dreary I have been known to mutter, “Ugh, Cimmeria in the dead of winter” in honor of that mythical land of darkness and deep night.
As I sit here typing this it is bright and sunny. In fact, it’s so bright and sunny I went out to lunch wearing a short sleeved shirt! The thing is, it is the 24th of January….In other words, it’s the dead of winter and people are walking around in t-shirts. It was so warm yesterday I could not wait to get home and put on shorts.
Let me assure you, this is VERY uncommon weather for our area.
It doesn’t look or feel like winter….
In fact, it looks and feels like spring…..
What makes it all the more amazing is that not too many days ago it was snowing and bitterly cold!
No doubt it will be cold again.
But in the meantime, this spring like and very unusual weather is posing a challenge to a lot of people.
Some folks have come to our area ready for winter riding only to find that with the sun out on days like today it’s a bit closer to spring in feel…..
Let me give you some advice….
Check the weather locally before you come here.
For example, you can go to the weather feature on Yahoo or other web sites and type in “25601” which is the zip code for Logan County, which is home to two of the most visited of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
Or type in 25678 for Matewan which is home to one of our popular trail systems for the proper weather forecast in that neck of HMT country. Or 25130 for Boone County.
Then you can get an extended forecast for what to expect if you are coming this way soon.
(In fact, it is not a bad idea to do a weather check that way any time of the year.)
So even though in theory we are in the dead of winter in Appalachia right now, if you were riding this week, you would have been a lot better off with rain gear or layered clothing you can shed as the temperature heated up.
I can also recommend fleece as it is both warm and lightweight. Until the weather goes back to normal, it might be a good idea to bring along a backpack so if you do get overheated you can doff some outerwear and stash them in it to make your riding more comfortable.
As for me…
Well, even though it is “the dead of winter” I wish I was outside right now, riding around through the hills….because it may be January but it looks like April or May today.
So if you are coming this way, get online and do the five-day forecast thing with local zip codes to see what kind of weather to expect or prepare for.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Prepping your Ride....
Prepping your ride for the winter season
By Big Jim Charles
Today’s automotive machines are remarkable compared to earlier transportation devices but even though the technology is higher, one thing remains the same- The need for proper and routine maintenance to make sure your ride keeps going and going through the years.
As rugged as today’s ATVs, UTVs and Dirtbikes are they still need some tender loving care especially in regards to routine maintenance. Ever hear that routine oil changes are the life of a vehicle? Believe it. Many years ago, I worked at a Chevy dealership and a decrepit old care came in for a trade in. It was the same year as mine, but would hardly start. You had to sit there and pump it and pump it and pump it to get the gas to fire up and the engine to turn over. When I got it in the bay I changed all the fluids. Most of them were thick and sludgy like syrup. Some were actually gritty. After I changed the fluids the car started right up and I pulled it on into the repair section for the mechanic to go over it. I asked the owner when he last changed the oil, brake fluids and such….he could not remember…..I thought about that at the end of the day when I started my own car (same year model) right up and drove home. That car is STILL on the road by the way. Even though I sold it years ago. I know it had 300,000 miles on it when I sold it.
Some people will spend the winter riding. Others will put their quads and utes in storage.
Whether you like to ride in the white stuff or not, its still a good idea to change your oil. That way, when you are ready to ride, so is your machine!
Now some folks who have no plans to ride in the winter may get irate at the idea of changing fluids for a machine that will be sitting in the garage. What they have to remember is as the weather warms and cools condensation and moisture can find its way into your ride and can even possibly ruin your engine’s oil supply. Remember, water freezes at 32 degrees. How cold is it where your ride will be hiding? Do you really want unneeded moisture contaminating your precious vehicle’s oil supply? Change it.
Something else to keep in mind. ….Keep an eye on your belts valves and hoses. Cold weather can make rubber and metal contract. If you get ice built up, it could possibly cause pressure on the seals of those valves in your engine and around it.
When it comes to belts, valves and hoses that make your machine go, when in doubt, switch them out! And when you do change your oil do not forget to put in a fresh oil filter.
Speaking of filters, it is not a bad idea to switch out a machine’s air filter too, as they can dry rot over time and turn into a nasty, sludge filled sponge. Some riders like to put a little coating of oil into their air filter element to prevent dry rot.
Something else to keep in mind- Fuel. Today’s gasoline is not like the stuff grandad used. For one thing, it doesn’t have lead in it usually. For the other, because of the modern chemicals in it todays gasoline can actually break down in a few months and become useless. To make matters worse, moisture and condesnation can get into your fuel tank which in turn can freeze and cause damage to your fuel lines.
Instead of having to worry about the octane levels decreasing week by week, turning your tank of fuel into a tank of sludge, add some fuel stabilizer to your tank.
If you are gonna let your machine stay in storage through the winter an even better idea is to just drain the fuel out of it.
Also, if you are gonna put your machine in storage, keep your battery protected from cold. If you cannot start the machine up periodically or keep it inside, hook your battery up to a charging device. You can find them in many auto repair stores or even online at places like Cheaper Than Dirt. Some folks will unhook the battery and bring it indoors for the winter if they do not plan to ride, which is not a bad idea either.
Finally although many Extreme Riders love the Muddin’ the reality is that you should try to thoroughly clean your machine, especially in the winter. Caked on mud can lead to a rust problem later on your ride. If you love your “Heavy Metal” don’t let corrosion rob you of your pride and joy!
Put a little Vaseline or machine oil on the bolts of add on stuff so that they won’t rust and sieze up too.
A little bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way….ESPECIALLY in the dead of winter.
By Big Jim Charles
Today’s automotive machines are remarkable compared to earlier transportation devices but even though the technology is higher, one thing remains the same- The need for proper and routine maintenance to make sure your ride keeps going and going through the years.
As rugged as today’s ATVs, UTVs and Dirtbikes are they still need some tender loving care especially in regards to routine maintenance. Ever hear that routine oil changes are the life of a vehicle? Believe it. Many years ago, I worked at a Chevy dealership and a decrepit old care came in for a trade in. It was the same year as mine, but would hardly start. You had to sit there and pump it and pump it and pump it to get the gas to fire up and the engine to turn over. When I got it in the bay I changed all the fluids. Most of them were thick and sludgy like syrup. Some were actually gritty. After I changed the fluids the car started right up and I pulled it on into the repair section for the mechanic to go over it. I asked the owner when he last changed the oil, brake fluids and such….he could not remember…..I thought about that at the end of the day when I started my own car (same year model) right up and drove home. That car is STILL on the road by the way. Even though I sold it years ago. I know it had 300,000 miles on it when I sold it.
Some people will spend the winter riding. Others will put their quads and utes in storage.
Whether you like to ride in the white stuff or not, its still a good idea to change your oil. That way, when you are ready to ride, so is your machine!
Now some folks who have no plans to ride in the winter may get irate at the idea of changing fluids for a machine that will be sitting in the garage. What they have to remember is as the weather warms and cools condensation and moisture can find its way into your ride and can even possibly ruin your engine’s oil supply. Remember, water freezes at 32 degrees. How cold is it where your ride will be hiding? Do you really want unneeded moisture contaminating your precious vehicle’s oil supply? Change it.
Something else to keep in mind. ….Keep an eye on your belts valves and hoses. Cold weather can make rubber and metal contract. If you get ice built up, it could possibly cause pressure on the seals of those valves in your engine and around it.
When it comes to belts, valves and hoses that make your machine go, when in doubt, switch them out! And when you do change your oil do not forget to put in a fresh oil filter.
Speaking of filters, it is not a bad idea to switch out a machine’s air filter too, as they can dry rot over time and turn into a nasty, sludge filled sponge. Some riders like to put a little coating of oil into their air filter element to prevent dry rot.
Something else to keep in mind- Fuel. Today’s gasoline is not like the stuff grandad used. For one thing, it doesn’t have lead in it usually. For the other, because of the modern chemicals in it todays gasoline can actually break down in a few months and become useless. To make matters worse, moisture and condesnation can get into your fuel tank which in turn can freeze and cause damage to your fuel lines.
Instead of having to worry about the octane levels decreasing week by week, turning your tank of fuel into a tank of sludge, add some fuel stabilizer to your tank.
If you are gonna let your machine stay in storage through the winter an even better idea is to just drain the fuel out of it.
Also, if you are gonna put your machine in storage, keep your battery protected from cold. If you cannot start the machine up periodically or keep it inside, hook your battery up to a charging device. You can find them in many auto repair stores or even online at places like Cheaper Than Dirt. Some folks will unhook the battery and bring it indoors for the winter if they do not plan to ride, which is not a bad idea either.
Finally although many Extreme Riders love the Muddin’ the reality is that you should try to thoroughly clean your machine, especially in the winter. Caked on mud can lead to a rust problem later on your ride. If you love your “Heavy Metal” don’t let corrosion rob you of your pride and joy!
Put a little Vaseline or machine oil on the bolts of add on stuff so that they won’t rust and sieze up too.
A little bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way….ESPECIALLY in the dead of winter.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
How you, our riders help us!
Hey guys and gals,
If you have ever wondered just how much we listen to you, get a load of this!
The HMT Rangers have initiated an investigation into an illegal dump thanks to keen eyed riders bringing it to their attention!
There are many different ways our riders help us. From telling folks what a great vacation destination the trails are to reporting things to us that may not be all right.
During a recent ride, one HMT enthusiast had spotted an illegal dump and looked into it before contacting the HMRRA Rangers.
“A trail rider had come across this mess and reported it to me around Dec. 1,” said Hatfield-McCoy Ranger Jeremy Collins. "I went up and located the spot where he said it was and poked into it and found some mail, a bill with an address on it.”
Ranger Collins also took pictures of the illegal dump which was located in the Peach Creek area, for further evidence. An arrest warrant was obtained for the primary suspect.
Following a further investigation the suspect was located a few days later and taken to Magistrate Court on litter charges.
“They are going to have a court hearing on it later,” Collins said, adding that the Hatfield-McCoy Rangers are still investigating the incident.
Hatfield-McCoy Deputy Director John Fekete said the Rangers are investigating the matter seriously and that it was further proof that litter on the trails will not be tolerated. Fekete said the Authority was thankful to the trail rider who notified the Rangers about the incident and to the officers who worked on the case.
“Litter is a serious problem in our area, and we have to take it seriously,” Fekete noted saying that illegal dumps and pollution could hurt the local economy if tourists get the wrong impression of southern West Virginia.
Just goes to show you that when our riders talk, WE LISTEN!
If you have ever wondered just how much we listen to you, get a load of this!
The HMT Rangers have initiated an investigation into an illegal dump thanks to keen eyed riders bringing it to their attention!
There are many different ways our riders help us. From telling folks what a great vacation destination the trails are to reporting things to us that may not be all right.
During a recent ride, one HMT enthusiast had spotted an illegal dump and looked into it before contacting the HMRRA Rangers.
“A trail rider had come across this mess and reported it to me around Dec. 1,” said Hatfield-McCoy Ranger Jeremy Collins. "I went up and located the spot where he said it was and poked into it and found some mail, a bill with an address on it.”
Ranger Collins also took pictures of the illegal dump which was located in the Peach Creek area, for further evidence. An arrest warrant was obtained for the primary suspect.
Following a further investigation the suspect was located a few days later and taken to Magistrate Court on litter charges.
“They are going to have a court hearing on it later,” Collins said, adding that the Hatfield-McCoy Rangers are still investigating the incident.
Hatfield-McCoy Deputy Director John Fekete said the Rangers are investigating the matter seriously and that it was further proof that litter on the trails will not be tolerated. Fekete said the Authority was thankful to the trail rider who notified the Rangers about the incident and to the officers who worked on the case.
“Litter is a serious problem in our area, and we have to take it seriously,” Fekete noted saying that illegal dumps and pollution could hurt the local economy if tourists get the wrong impression of southern West Virginia.
Just goes to show you that when our riders talk, WE LISTEN!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Christmas at HMT
Christmastime is always a very busy and special time at the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority.
It's a time of merriment and good cheer, but it is also a time of hard work and contemplation. Trail management has to assess how good of a year we have had work-wise from maintaining and building new trails to which merchandise sells well and which needs to be phased out. There are annaul employee assessments as well as an annual employee Christmas party and the chance for all of HMT's far-flung employees to get together in one place and enjoy each other's company.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trails had another good year, according to
Executive Director Jeff Lusk, who shared the good news with HMRRA
employees at their annual Christmas party.
This year, in addition to what amounted to a day off with pay, the folks who work at the various trails and trailheads also recieved a bonus, a new jacket and more at the party where many old friends got together and shared in one of the most basic Christmas traditions- Fellowship.
We also got to hear some good news from management.
“For eleven years we have had continued growth in permit sales,” Jeff Lusk
said at the meeting, where employees got their holiday bonuses. “For
six years we have had continued growth in our merchandise sales. That
says a lot when you consider that the national economy has been in a
slump.”
Lusk thanked Hatfield-McCoys employees for their hard work and
dedication, noting that often when a problem arose, such as one
employee being off sick, other employees stepped forward and met those
challenges.
“That is no easy task, when you consider that we are operating six
trailheads in five counties,” Lusk added. “I told somebody this
morning, you really don’t realize how many employees we have except
for when we all get together like this and you see that parking lot
and it is filled.”
Lusk said he felt Hatfield-McCoy was a great place to work because of
the people who work there creating a friendly environment.
Deputy Director John Fekete and Marketing Director Mike Pinkerton
thanked their coworkers and Lusk for their role in helping the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails maintain the success it has seen over the past
11 years.
It's a time of merriment and good cheer, but it is also a time of hard work and contemplation. Trail management has to assess how good of a year we have had work-wise from maintaining and building new trails to which merchandise sells well and which needs to be phased out. There are annaul employee assessments as well as an annual employee Christmas party and the chance for all of HMT's far-flung employees to get together in one place and enjoy each other's company.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trails had another good year, according to
Executive Director Jeff Lusk, who shared the good news with HMRRA
employees at their annual Christmas party.
This year, in addition to what amounted to a day off with pay, the folks who work at the various trails and trailheads also recieved a bonus, a new jacket and more at the party where many old friends got together and shared in one of the most basic Christmas traditions- Fellowship.
We also got to hear some good news from management.
“For eleven years we have had continued growth in permit sales,” Jeff Lusk
said at the meeting, where employees got their holiday bonuses. “For
six years we have had continued growth in our merchandise sales. That
says a lot when you consider that the national economy has been in a
slump.”
Lusk thanked Hatfield-McCoys employees for their hard work and
dedication, noting that often when a problem arose, such as one
employee being off sick, other employees stepped forward and met those
challenges.
“That is no easy task, when you consider that we are operating six
trailheads in five counties,” Lusk added. “I told somebody this
morning, you really don’t realize how many employees we have except
for when we all get together like this and you see that parking lot
and it is filled.”
Lusk said he felt Hatfield-McCoy was a great place to work because of
the people who work there creating a friendly environment.
Deputy Director John Fekete and Marketing Director Mike Pinkerton
thanked their coworkers and Lusk for their role in helping the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails maintain the success it has seen over the past
11 years.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
For your own benefit
Hey folks,
Big Jim here with a little safety warnin'....
Have you ever seen that tee vee show on SPIKE called "A Thousand Ways to Die"?
Eventually they are gonna have a segment like this, if people don't get their heads out of their hindquarters as my dear ole pappy used to say....
Now, lets start with the voice over in that Ron Perleman style....
Cut to intro of an excited looking guy standing next to the cast of Deliverance..
"This, is Charlie. He has just made the last major bad choice of his life. You see, Charlie went to Wild and Wonderful West Virginia to ride the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Trails. The problem is that Charlie listened to some local folks who had a grudge and were two cheap to fork over the $26.50 that a year long permit would have cost them as natives. Despite the fact they just spent three times that amount on beer, lottery tickets and a carton of Lucky Strikes."
Cut to a guy dressed like an extra in a Civil War epic with bad teeth and the Lucky Strikes under his arm telling Charlie - "Shoot, don't ride them thar trails, you need to get over here next to the interstate and take this backroad to the Outlaw Trails= That's where we ride!"
Cue to voice over-
"Charlie didn't know it, but the guy giving him bad advice would rather sell his soul to Satan for an 8 track than ride that stretch of property. It belonged to a local utility company he got fired from and was posted "No Trespassing." In fact most of the locals who advise folks like Charlie to ride the "Outlaw Trails" are advising folks to risk life and limb to trespass, which is against the law.
Charlie's new found friend doesn't care about Charlie, or if Charlie has a good time. He just has a grudge against the ex-boss who fired him for sleeping on the job one time too many.
So Charlie takes the advice of Gomer,Goober and Gomber and heads for the Outlaw Trails. He makes his way to the foreboding spot and ignores the "No Trespassing" sign. Surely those guys who told him to come here wouldn't steer him wrong would they? - the voiceover announces as you see Charlie unlimbering his shiny ATV from the back of his sled.
Cut to a picture of Charlie riding off into a valley as the locals start stripping his vehicle. The Ron Perleman voice says, "This is one reason why they call it "Outlaw."
Cut to Charlie in the woods having a pretty bad go of it. The voice over comes back on and notes - "Unlike the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Trails, the so-called Outlaw trails are often ungraded. They are, after all, somebody's private property and are not set up for riders. Also there are generally no maps for them so if folks like Charlie get lost they are on their own. If Charlie gets into the back corner and breaks down, he is not going to encounter some freindly Ranger out on patrol to help him out and he probably won't even come across other riders who could assist him. For all intents and purposes Charlie is as alone as if he were riding on the Moon."
Cut to Charlie having a bad spill on an unmaintained stretch of land and getting stranded in the woods. The voice over comes back on and says. "Well, Charlie was in a pickle now...Night was coming on and so was Hypothermia....Even if Charlie could get out of this predicament he would possibly be facing fines, fees and so forth for trespassing. If the local search and rescue teams got called out he would have to reimburse that agency for expenses too. But Charlie has worse things to worry about now..."
It sounds funny and on the tee vee show it is portrayed as funny. But there is nothing funny about the trouble you can get into when you listen to bad advice from people who advise you to go trespassing on somebody elses unmaintained private property. HMT has way over 500 miles of well maintained marked and mapped trails. Staying on them is a SAFETY ISSUE. People who tell you to go 'off trail' onto Outlaw Trails are not giving you good advice. They could care less about your safety or riding experience. You don't know them, so you don't know the reasons why some of them dole out bad advice so Big Jim advises you to use common sense and avoid trespassing on somebody elses property when you can ride on one of the best maintained trail systems in this part of the world.
Big Jim here with a little safety warnin'....
Have you ever seen that tee vee show on SPIKE called "A Thousand Ways to Die"?
Eventually they are gonna have a segment like this, if people don't get their heads out of their hindquarters as my dear ole pappy used to say....
Now, lets start with the voice over in that Ron Perleman style....
Cut to intro of an excited looking guy standing next to the cast of Deliverance..
"This, is Charlie. He has just made the last major bad choice of his life. You see, Charlie went to Wild and Wonderful West Virginia to ride the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Trails. The problem is that Charlie listened to some local folks who had a grudge and were two cheap to fork over the $26.50 that a year long permit would have cost them as natives. Despite the fact they just spent three times that amount on beer, lottery tickets and a carton of Lucky Strikes."
Cut to a guy dressed like an extra in a Civil War epic with bad teeth and the Lucky Strikes under his arm telling Charlie - "Shoot, don't ride them thar trails, you need to get over here next to the interstate and take this backroad to the Outlaw Trails= That's where we ride!"
Cue to voice over-
"Charlie didn't know it, but the guy giving him bad advice would rather sell his soul to Satan for an 8 track than ride that stretch of property. It belonged to a local utility company he got fired from and was posted "No Trespassing." In fact most of the locals who advise folks like Charlie to ride the "Outlaw Trails" are advising folks to risk life and limb to trespass, which is against the law.
Charlie's new found friend doesn't care about Charlie, or if Charlie has a good time. He just has a grudge against the ex-boss who fired him for sleeping on the job one time too many.
So Charlie takes the advice of Gomer,Goober and Gomber and heads for the Outlaw Trails. He makes his way to the foreboding spot and ignores the "No Trespassing" sign. Surely those guys who told him to come here wouldn't steer him wrong would they? - the voiceover announces as you see Charlie unlimbering his shiny ATV from the back of his sled.
Cut to a picture of Charlie riding off into a valley as the locals start stripping his vehicle. The Ron Perleman voice says, "This is one reason why they call it "Outlaw."
Cut to Charlie in the woods having a pretty bad go of it. The voice over comes back on and notes - "Unlike the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Trails, the so-called Outlaw trails are often ungraded. They are, after all, somebody's private property and are not set up for riders. Also there are generally no maps for them so if folks like Charlie get lost they are on their own. If Charlie gets into the back corner and breaks down, he is not going to encounter some freindly Ranger out on patrol to help him out and he probably won't even come across other riders who could assist him. For all intents and purposes Charlie is as alone as if he were riding on the Moon."
Cut to Charlie having a bad spill on an unmaintained stretch of land and getting stranded in the woods. The voice over comes back on and says. "Well, Charlie was in a pickle now...Night was coming on and so was Hypothermia....Even if Charlie could get out of this predicament he would possibly be facing fines, fees and so forth for trespassing. If the local search and rescue teams got called out he would have to reimburse that agency for expenses too. But Charlie has worse things to worry about now..."
It sounds funny and on the tee vee show it is portrayed as funny. But there is nothing funny about the trouble you can get into when you listen to bad advice from people who advise you to go trespassing on somebody elses unmaintained private property. HMT has way over 500 miles of well maintained marked and mapped trails. Staying on them is a SAFETY ISSUE. People who tell you to go 'off trail' onto Outlaw Trails are not giving you good advice. They could care less about your safety or riding experience. You don't know them, so you don't know the reasons why some of them dole out bad advice so Big Jim advises you to use common sense and avoid trespassing on somebody elses property when you can ride on one of the best maintained trail systems in this part of the world.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Concerns about safety in the fall...
Hey Guys and Gals,
Big Jim here. Recently I have been asked a lot of questions about hunting season in WV vis a vis from visitors concerned about coming during November and December.
Some folks who are not familiar with the area and culture are afraid of possibly getting shot. As I keep explaining to 'em, "You have a better chance of getting shot paying for gasoline at the convenience store where you live than you have of getting shot in HMT country during hunting season."
There are several reasons for this, but the primary reason is that in much of HMT land there is no gun season for hunting....
Gun season is only available in Boone, Lincoln and part of Wayne county in the primary HMT area. There is no gun season in Logan, McDowell, Mingo or Wyoming Counties. Those areas are the heart of HMT country, basically. Hunters are limited to archery tackle for the most part in those arenas.
There are other reasons why its not a realistic thing to worry about and we will go into that here....
First of all, the reality is that it should not be much of a problem, as all of our trails are on private property. The majority of that property is owned by large land companies involved in natural resources extraction such as natural gas, timber and coal. Virtually none of them allow hunting, so your chances of wandering into a hunter in the woods is just about Nil.Most of the trail area is abutted by natural gas extraction and timber areas. More than likely, you probably would not ever encounter a hunter in the trail area, unless you wandered off onto the so-called "Outlaw Trails" and to be honest, even there if you encountered one, most likely both he and you would be trespassing. Its just another good reason to avoid the 'outlaw trails' and stick with the real ones, no matter what some goofy local may tell you.
Also, stop and consider this- In this area, most hunters don't actually "hunt" the way I was taught by my grandfather. My grandfather was part Blackfoot Indian and he taught me how to actually track game animals (and people for that matter) through the wilderness. That sort of hunting these days is called "spot and stalk." Back in the sixties and seventies it was just called hunting.
The most common form of hunting in our area today basically consists of guys climbing in a tree stand, sitting there all day silently and hoping an animal wanders by within range. It's actually what my grandfather would have called "sniping" more than hunting. The second most common form of hunting in this area is where a guy or sometimes two, will sit in a blind on the ground and wait for a deer to wander by...Once again, my grandfather, who was an exceptional woodsman would have called that sniping too. He was a very severe and strict man who did not talk much, by the way.
Ironically, many times when a hunter would get lost in the woods, the local sheriff's department would ask my grandfather to come and help find the missing fellows through his tracking skills. I am glad he taught me something of tracking. More than once I have gotten lost in the woods and wound up having to backtrack my way out!
What it basically boils down to is this. ....
No local hunter is gonna set up his blind or tree stand near an ATV trail where motors might 'startle' the game animals and make them run off, so stated concerns are pretty much overdone.
In much of the trail area, there is not even a gun season.
Something else to consider if you are a mite nervous about hunting season in the region. Some of our counties in Southern West Virginia do not even have gun season for deer hunting....In Logan County, deer hunting is archery only.
Also, in WV, Hunting education (which includes firearms safety training) is mandatory.
Big Jim here. Recently I have been asked a lot of questions about hunting season in WV vis a vis from visitors concerned about coming during November and December.
Some folks who are not familiar with the area and culture are afraid of possibly getting shot. As I keep explaining to 'em, "You have a better chance of getting shot paying for gasoline at the convenience store where you live than you have of getting shot in HMT country during hunting season."
There are several reasons for this, but the primary reason is that in much of HMT land there is no gun season for hunting....
Gun season is only available in Boone, Lincoln and part of Wayne county in the primary HMT area. There is no gun season in Logan, McDowell, Mingo or Wyoming Counties. Those areas are the heart of HMT country, basically. Hunters are limited to archery tackle for the most part in those arenas.
There are other reasons why its not a realistic thing to worry about and we will go into that here....
First of all, the reality is that it should not be much of a problem, as all of our trails are on private property. The majority of that property is owned by large land companies involved in natural resources extraction such as natural gas, timber and coal. Virtually none of them allow hunting, so your chances of wandering into a hunter in the woods is just about Nil.Most of the trail area is abutted by natural gas extraction and timber areas. More than likely, you probably would not ever encounter a hunter in the trail area, unless you wandered off onto the so-called "Outlaw Trails" and to be honest, even there if you encountered one, most likely both he and you would be trespassing. Its just another good reason to avoid the 'outlaw trails' and stick with the real ones, no matter what some goofy local may tell you.
Also, stop and consider this- In this area, most hunters don't actually "hunt" the way I was taught by my grandfather. My grandfather was part Blackfoot Indian and he taught me how to actually track game animals (and people for that matter) through the wilderness. That sort of hunting these days is called "spot and stalk." Back in the sixties and seventies it was just called hunting.
The most common form of hunting in our area today basically consists of guys climbing in a tree stand, sitting there all day silently and hoping an animal wanders by within range. It's actually what my grandfather would have called "sniping" more than hunting. The second most common form of hunting in this area is where a guy or sometimes two, will sit in a blind on the ground and wait for a deer to wander by...Once again, my grandfather, who was an exceptional woodsman would have called that sniping too. He was a very severe and strict man who did not talk much, by the way.
Ironically, many times when a hunter would get lost in the woods, the local sheriff's department would ask my grandfather to come and help find the missing fellows through his tracking skills. I am glad he taught me something of tracking. More than once I have gotten lost in the woods and wound up having to backtrack my way out!
What it basically boils down to is this. ....
No local hunter is gonna set up his blind or tree stand near an ATV trail where motors might 'startle' the game animals and make them run off, so stated concerns are pretty much overdone.
In much of the trail area, there is not even a gun season.
Something else to consider if you are a mite nervous about hunting season in the region. Some of our counties in Southern West Virginia do not even have gun season for deer hunting....In Logan County, deer hunting is archery only.
Also, in WV, Hunting education (which includes firearms safety training) is mandatory.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Hey folks,
Big Jim here.....
You know, Wild, Woolly and Wonderful West Virginia is known for it's vivid four colorful seasons and dramatic weather.
I remember when I was a kid, growing up in the hills and hollers of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky when the old timers would tell visitors, -"you don't like the weather? Well, stick around and it will change in 5 minutes."
That didn't strike me as a particularly funny joke, because the thing is, it is true.
For some time now, I have noticed in the spring and summer at Bearwallow that it can rain for an hour or two, then the sun comes out and within a half an hour the ground is so dry you could never guess it had rained for days!
Most riders enjoy fall riding the best , primarily for two reasons. For one thing, they get some relief from the summer heat, and for the other thing, the hills, hollers and valleys are particularly beautiful when the leaves turn bright red and yellow. Of course the "sere and yellow leaf" season is brief, as the weather gets colder in October and November the leaves begin to fall faster. Last year, the leaves turned around October 11. This year, I was a bit concerned that by October 11 they would be gone! LOL...
But fortunately the weather got warm again- ironically the week of Trailfest- and our visitors who time their visits to come during the Sere and Yellow Leaf Season were happy.
We had some unseasonably warm weather recently which made this week a major surprise...
You see, yesterday, Nov. 17 it got bitterly cold and began snowing!
That's right, it was snowing heavily yesterday morning around 8 a.m. and it was snowing heavy again around lunchtime. And today it was bitterly cold with white hoar-frost covering everything in HMT land. I honestly would not be surprised if we actually get some snow accumulation around Thanksgiving if this cold front sticks around. It happened a few years ago actually.
Anyway, I got to thinking, it might be a good idea to post some snow riding tips early thsi year. Not so much about clothing and gear, but in how you deal with snow.
First of all, of course, when their is snow on the ground, its not a bad idea to sign in on the visitors sheet at the trailheads and let the CSR know when you leave, if they are still on duty.
If you get in deep snow on an ATV one of the better ways to get unstuck is simple- Just stand up and rock your ride side by side and this can help get you a bit of traction.
Don't think Snow Ridin is the same as muddin' cuz it aint. That does not even take into account the problem of hypothermia by the way. There is a new device on the market to give cars and trucks some traction in snow. It basically looks like a rubber rumble ridge that you put under the front of the tire and roll over it. I dunno if it works on ATVs or not, but it looks like it should. For those of you who eschew "high tech" the traditional method should work as well as ever. When riding in winter wonderland, its always a good idea to pack a small shovel or military style "entrenchmant tool" which can be used in a last ditch effort to either shovel out of deep snow, or if you are as lazy as I am, to shovel some rocks and dirt in front of and behind your tires.
I always wear three layers of clothes which works well to keep me warm. One time I did have to use a heavy woolen muffler or scarf, to put in front of tires to get some traction. Those things are good to keep around even if you ride with a full face mask. Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it- when you are out in the deep woods!
I haven't ridden a dirtbike since I was a kid and had a bad spill on one (which is why I love ATVS! Less worry when riding for klutzes like me!) so I poked around to find some tips for dealing with snow in the winter on dirbtikes and found an interesting article at Dirtrider.com
They had some good advice about getting out of the freezing rut you may wind up stuck by.
The article noted you should shut off the throttle before you bury yourself any deeper. Then dismount and start breaking the snow in front of your bike with your boots.The author noted that usually pushing the front wheel through deep, crusted snow is what stopped you in the first place.
When you get about 15 feet of a good line, fire up your bike and click second or third-like sand, snow is easier if you're a gear or even two higher. Ease the throttle on and try to make the rear end hook up with a controlled spin. Whatever you do, do not abuse the clutch.
Keep your body weight neutral, and try to rock the bike a bit to get it free while you paddle with your feet. Once you get going and actually build some momentum, put your feet on the pegs, lean back and try to aim for shallower snow. If you pick your lines well and let the bike move underneath you, you should now be free and clear. And if you get stuck again, go back to step one and repeat the process.
Remember in the Immortal Words of the late great Douglas Smith - "DON'T PANIC"!!! (That's a favorite line of mine from the classic "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" novels and TV series...) A little common sense and imagination will serve you a LOT BETTER in a bad situation in the wilderness than anything else.
Have fun, ride safe and tell all your friends about HMT!
Big Jim Charles
Big Jim here.....
You know, Wild, Woolly and Wonderful West Virginia is known for it's vivid four colorful seasons and dramatic weather.
I remember when I was a kid, growing up in the hills and hollers of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky when the old timers would tell visitors, -"you don't like the weather? Well, stick around and it will change in 5 minutes."
That didn't strike me as a particularly funny joke, because the thing is, it is true.
For some time now, I have noticed in the spring and summer at Bearwallow that it can rain for an hour or two, then the sun comes out and within a half an hour the ground is so dry you could never guess it had rained for days!
Most riders enjoy fall riding the best , primarily for two reasons. For one thing, they get some relief from the summer heat, and for the other thing, the hills, hollers and valleys are particularly beautiful when the leaves turn bright red and yellow. Of course the "sere and yellow leaf" season is brief, as the weather gets colder in October and November the leaves begin to fall faster. Last year, the leaves turned around October 11. This year, I was a bit concerned that by October 11 they would be gone! LOL...
But fortunately the weather got warm again- ironically the week of Trailfest- and our visitors who time their visits to come during the Sere and Yellow Leaf Season were happy.
We had some unseasonably warm weather recently which made this week a major surprise...
You see, yesterday, Nov. 17 it got bitterly cold and began snowing!
That's right, it was snowing heavily yesterday morning around 8 a.m. and it was snowing heavy again around lunchtime. And today it was bitterly cold with white hoar-frost covering everything in HMT land. I honestly would not be surprised if we actually get some snow accumulation around Thanksgiving if this cold front sticks around. It happened a few years ago actually.
Anyway, I got to thinking, it might be a good idea to post some snow riding tips early thsi year. Not so much about clothing and gear, but in how you deal with snow.
First of all, of course, when their is snow on the ground, its not a bad idea to sign in on the visitors sheet at the trailheads and let the CSR know when you leave, if they are still on duty.
If you get in deep snow on an ATV one of the better ways to get unstuck is simple- Just stand up and rock your ride side by side and this can help get you a bit of traction.
Don't think Snow Ridin is the same as muddin' cuz it aint. That does not even take into account the problem of hypothermia by the way. There is a new device on the market to give cars and trucks some traction in snow. It basically looks like a rubber rumble ridge that you put under the front of the tire and roll over it. I dunno if it works on ATVs or not, but it looks like it should. For those of you who eschew "high tech" the traditional method should work as well as ever. When riding in winter wonderland, its always a good idea to pack a small shovel or military style "entrenchmant tool" which can be used in a last ditch effort to either shovel out of deep snow, or if you are as lazy as I am, to shovel some rocks and dirt in front of and behind your tires.
I always wear three layers of clothes which works well to keep me warm. One time I did have to use a heavy woolen muffler or scarf, to put in front of tires to get some traction. Those things are good to keep around even if you ride with a full face mask. Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it- when you are out in the deep woods!
I haven't ridden a dirtbike since I was a kid and had a bad spill on one (which is why I love ATVS! Less worry when riding for klutzes like me!) so I poked around to find some tips for dealing with snow in the winter on dirbtikes and found an interesting article at Dirtrider.com
They had some good advice about getting out of the freezing rut you may wind up stuck by.
The article noted you should shut off the throttle before you bury yourself any deeper. Then dismount and start breaking the snow in front of your bike with your boots.The author noted that usually pushing the front wheel through deep, crusted snow is what stopped you in the first place.
When you get about 15 feet of a good line, fire up your bike and click second or third-like sand, snow is easier if you're a gear or even two higher. Ease the throttle on and try to make the rear end hook up with a controlled spin. Whatever you do, do not abuse the clutch.
Keep your body weight neutral, and try to rock the bike a bit to get it free while you paddle with your feet. Once you get going and actually build some momentum, put your feet on the pegs, lean back and try to aim for shallower snow. If you pick your lines well and let the bike move underneath you, you should now be free and clear. And if you get stuck again, go back to step one and repeat the process.
Remember in the Immortal Words of the late great Douglas Smith - "DON'T PANIC"!!! (That's a favorite line of mine from the classic "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" novels and TV series...) A little common sense and imagination will serve you a LOT BETTER in a bad situation in the wilderness than anything else.
Have fun, ride safe and tell all your friends about HMT!
Big Jim Charles
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