Winter Wonder Land....

Hello everybody from Hatfield-McCoy Country....

Well, it's the dead of winter in Appalachia and many of you may be thinking, "I guess the trails are closed, right?"
Wrong.

Big Jim is here to tell you that the trails are, for the most part, open around 364 days a year. Oh, every now and then those of us who work as CSRs get a holiday off, and our trailhead offices may be temporarily closed, but the trails themselves are still open for riding! Just check for maps over on the sign structure out from them.
Just yesterday I saw people riding around locally on ATVs and UTVs. Also, for whatever reason, I often see more local residents riding the trails in the dead of winter than I see in the spring, summer or fall.
Make no mistake- Hatfield-McCoy Country can be breathtakingly beautiful in the winter time when the white, powdery snow blankets everything! The air is so crisp and fresh, it really makes you think "Man, I am alive and living it up!" when you are out on the trails at this time of the year. Hmmm...Maybe that may be why I see more local riders at this time of the year!
There is something special about the Winter Wonderland in the most beautiful hills in Southern West Virginia and it is worth the extra time and preparations it takes for safe winter riding.
A few years ago, when one of the new trails opened up, my good friend Mike Pinkerton arranged for me to get to ride it a few weeks early, along with other journalists who worked for some national magazines. To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive, as these fellows were basically professional riders who had ridden all over the world. And of course, I am just a simple country boy.
As it was snowing that day, I made sure to dress warm. I had on three layers of clothing, a pair of thermal underwear, a sweat suit and a flannel shirt and bibbed overalls. I also topped this off with a jacket, gloves and a scarf.
Needless to say, some of the pros got a good laugh out of this initially, while boasting about their lightweight, high tech riding gear.
Well, around noon, when we stopped for lunch, I was amazed that I had managed to keep up with these talented fellows.....AND of course, they were amazed at how cold and shivering they were while I was nice and toasty in my multiple layers of flannel and cotton!
I really felt bad for these guys, but hey, I had told 'em I would be fine with my layered clothing effect and recommended they do the same....
When riding in the winter, there are some basic, simple, common sense tips to make sure your Winter WonderLand experience is a fun one.
First and foremost COVER UP!
Add gloves and scarves to your regular riding gear, and if you want to rely on high tech space age riding suits, please still wear some thermal underwear or layers of clothes too.
Secondly, don't overdo it! Try not to get too hot and sweaty in the winter because if you get wet under the outer layer of clothing it could lead to problems. Take your time while riding in the winter and keep prespiration to a minimum.
Just because it IS winter time, don't forget basic, simple things like hydration. Take along some drinking water. In fact, because it IS winter time, you might want to bring along some extra food in the form of high calorie snacks to keep your body core temperature up.
Also, whenever you are riding bring along some basic safety-survival gear. I have a small messenger bag with a compass, maps, lighter,flashlight, space blanket, water purification tablets, matches and so forth in it. (Big Jim was a Boy Scout in his youth, ya know....) If you are not an experienced camper or have had no wilderness training, you might want to invest in a book on wilderness survival tips for safety's sake and peace of mind. There are many good ones out there and I can recommend Cody Lunden's "98.6" which is about the importance of keeping your body's core temperature up to avoid problems with hypothermia. That knowledge and a good sensible kit will see you through just about anything short of a major accident.
You may never need it at all (so far I have not) but it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Remember, todays ATVs are more powerful, more reliable and safer than ever,but any machine can have a mechanical failure....In which case these items (along with a cell phone or a signaling mirror) can come in very handy.
Every so often people have a malfunction, flat tire or breakdown on the trails. I saw more of them this past summer than ever before. Having these items with you can be a lifesaver, especially in extreme weather conditions. Make sure your machine has been weatherized before hitting the snowy trails too!
Hatfield-McCoy is about fun and adventure, but it is about SAFETY first and foremost. With some common sense, some wise choices and some basic preparations, you can ensure your riding expereince with us is a good one!