Hatfield McCoy 2011

Sweet Piece o' Highway

2011-04-19T19:36:00.000-05:00

Thank you Senator Byrd. Rest in peace.

Day 2: Bear Wallow Hallow… or Ain’t No Bear Going Up that Hill

2011-04-11T19:22:00.002-05:00

Bear Wallow, such a lovely trail system. But note to self, if the trail is labeled black, it’s probably really a black, not a blue. There is an old expression: if you’re going through hell, just keep on going. This expression does not apply to riding trails in West Virginia. Trail 69 and 94… the first trail makes you think you’ll be fine, come what may, then the second trails starts beating you harder and harder until little boys riding two-wheel drive sport machines have no choice but to submit. A mere 200 yards from the top of the trail, I cried uncle. Too steep, too rocky… I lost my nerve. The two 4x4 machines were able to finish the job (L-Dub and Grubby), but the rest of us had to double back and go the long way. We’ll live to ride another day.

We rode into Logan, the Wendy’s has been remodeled. The ride into town takes you through a neighborhood that always causes me a little anxiety and a little depression. The word squalor comes to mind.

Back on the trails, we headed out to find the coal hills. Some joker switched a couple trail signs on trail 16, which sent us on a little detour, but we made it. The biggest hill was impassable, and Hans’s jump was washed out.

The most humorous moment of the day, nay the whole year, occurred at the big mud hole on trail 16. This will forever be known as Andy’s Pool (unless someone else thinks of a more creative way to describe the place where Andy went for a swim.) Andy decided to try to ride through what looked to be the easy end of the mud hole. He nosed his machine in and it quickly swallowed him whole. In what seemed like slow motion, his machine rejected the notion and sent him bum over tea kettle right into the drink… the nasty brown frog and salamander infested drink. The rest of us laughed our bums off. Funniest thing ever.

Here we are at dinner still laughing about it:

Day 1: School House Rock… or if the House is a Rockin’

2011-04-11T18:26:00.005-05:00

Everyone arrived in Gilbert before lunch on Sunday, so we saddled and headed out on the oldest and most venerable of Hatfield McCoy Trails – La Maison de la Roche.

Rock House is like your favorite wine… from ten years ago. It’s complex, varied, and leaves you a little numb. It’s also fairly familiar and can be a little monotonous. Not that we’re complaining… the weather was perfect, there was nearly zero dust, and little traffic.

On our way to Man, WV for gas and a snack, we came across a couple riding slowly, in their church clothes, with a small poodle-ish dog in the husband’s lap. I really didn’t mean to splash them as I passed, but I am not sorry I did.

The good thing about knowing the system well is that we know what trails to avoid. Namely trail 19… But there were a few surprises in store, like trail 16. Imagine a perfectly groomed trail lined with 12 inch tall green grass flanking both sides weaving through the mountains for five miles. Sweet.

As we descended the final hill back in to Gilbert, I ran out of gas… proof that we essentially got in a full day of riding. Everyone was pretty whipped, so after a trip to Hardee’s for some grub, we quickly retired to get ready for day 2.

I Wanna Ride

2011-04-07T13:49:00.000-05:00

In case the counter is making you sick... something else to look at.

Boot Dryer

2011-03-27T18:49:00.002-05:00

Ordered one of these today... Just in case.

Bent Stem

2011-03-18T17:12:00.003-05:00

Well, it was definitely bent. Not dramatically, but enough to mess up the handlebars and the lower bearings.

Hurry up Mr. UPS!

2011-03-12T09:06:00.002-05:00

Parts are in route! New chain and sprockets (went down a tooth on the front), new grips, oil change and rear brake pads (as usual). I finally got a parking brake block off plate too. I don't think that thing has worked since the first year I bought it.

Booked at the Bear

2011-02-16T20:49:00.004-05:00

We arrive Sunday, April 10.

We ride Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday.

We depart Thursday, April 14.

Four nights = $763. With six guys that's about $127 a piece for lodging.

Permits are $50 for the year.

Ridin' with the Hans

2010-05-15T09:32:00.003-05:00

Butterflies and Wheelies: Random Recollections of Hatfield-McCoy 2010 by A. Richard Gagne

2010-05-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

Best gallon of milk ever. Ever. Needle nose pliers, vise-grips and mammoth crawdads. I think you have a bad bearing. It's been making that noise all day. Oops. Your tools smell like cat food. Too much fun. What's the code for the door? Rain + Buffalo Mountain. We should leave him behind, but what if he rolled it again? Evil Yamahas. Candy cigarettes? Wow. Candy cigarettes. Ouch, a butterfly to the face at 40 miles an hour. Coal hill completely impossible this year. Not getting shafted at the ATV parts store. You're in my personal space. Extremely dusty. I wish it would rain. Oops. At least its not dusty anymore. It was awesome. If I was 25 and had no kids, I would get one. Maybe I should check my bearings too. You would think a Yamaha would be on its best behavior when surrounded by so many Hondas. Too much fun. I almost had a date tonight. Whatcha got there? A bowl of dirt. A wheelie from Kentucky to West Virginia. Hans broke Todd's machine. He stole two of Howard's beers. Trail 31, a little rough this year, but still my favorite. I always forget, but heading towards Gilbert is the best way. West Virginia tattoos. smiley face. Barbeque chicken pizza. Three times. Puddles. No Entry. Purple Monte Carlo. Sleep talking. Old Milwaukee. Starters closed. Too much fun. Chinese knock-off knock-offs. Big A's hole. Nate's hill. Rob's corner. Zach's curb. I need my own spot.

A Picture of my Posterior for Posterity

2010-05-06T05:58:00.001-05:00

Is he smiling at me?

2010-05-04T19:47:00.002-05:00

Have a nice day. Come again.

Where's Toodles and his demon possessed machine?

2010-05-04T19:33:00.000-05:00

Day 3 – Back to Rock House

2010-05-04T19:26:00.001-05:00

Rock House earned new respect today after a very nice day of riding. Not without incident mind you, but still a nice day of riding.

This morning we left Gilbert and headed to the aptly named Man, WV. To make the trip more interesting I thought we take some trails we don’t usually ride. As Big A would say, “here’s the thing…” Apparently, the Hatfield McCoy Trail Authority decided to start using a different kind of sign to indicate trails that are closed to trail riding. Sadly, these new signs are the same size and color of signs that indicate underground gas lines. In the hills of West Virginia, underground gas line signs are quite ubiquitous. After the first thousand or so, they blend into the scenery like poison ivy and toothless women.

The first time I missed one of these signs, we suffered no ill effects. But not long after I did the same thing again. This time we ran into a giant landslide at the very end of a very long and very wet trail. This meant we had to do the same miserable trail again in the opposite direction. This was made worse by the fact the Hans was getting hungry for lunch, which means he whines like a little girl, complains of hunger pains, and rides right on my tail revving his engine to try to get me to move faster. Just joking... he wasn't right on my tail. But I digress…

Back on track, we were headed to Man. Along the way, Todd’s demon possessed machine decided to throw a chain. If it was a horse, it would have likely received a merciful bullet in the head. But alas, he needed it to get home, so he put it back together and we finally made it to Man… Wendy’s for lunch, gas at the Speedway and back on the trails we went.

After Man we headed out to do the trails on the western half of Rock House. Going up one of the longest hill climbs of the trail system, Todd’s demon possessed machine did it again. This time the chain came completely off… the master link separated. Miraculously, as Andy, Rich, Hans and I waited at the top of the trail unaware, L-Dub, Toodles, and Howie managed to find the pieces of the master link on the trail and reassembled the chain. When he arrived on top of the hill, Todd asked, “what is the quickest way back to the trailhead?” Unfortunately, we were as far as physically possible from the trailhead. But, we safely made our way back to Gilbert without any further issues after a full day of riding.

The weather was amazing and with the exception of a very worn out trail 19, the trail system was great. All and all a good day on the trails, and another fun set of memories from Appalachia.

Day 2 – Bear Wallow

2010-05-04T06:29:00.003-05:00

Oh Bear Wallow… we should really love you more than Buffalo Mountain. So many nice trails… so forgiving and fun… not to mention the Coal Hill.

We had a late start this morning because we first had to fix Andy’s rear end bearings. Todd had a little electrical work and rear brake work to perform as well. Finally got to the trailhead about noon.

As it happens, we had some more mechanical issues today. Todd’s machine was getting water down near the spark plug causing it to stall out. We nursed it to Logan where Todd got some handy silicone from the local NAPA and fixed it for good. After some Wendy’s and some gas, we headed out in search of the Coal Hill.

When it was found, the Coal Hill was unmerciful. The tallest climb was washed out beyond ride-ability, but we had some fun on the other portions of the hill. Later we stopped by Grubby’s pit for a moment, but no one was willing to go in… certainly not me.

As we worked our way back towards the trailhead, Howard christened his new machine with a trip into the ditch where his machine took a little rest sitting on its side. Meanwhile, Howard got a little rest himself along with a bruise on his hip where he landed on his pocket knife. That’s why I only carry soft stuff in my pockets.

Bear Wallow never disappoints. The weather was perfect, the trails were nearly abandoned, and we had a great ride… even if it was a little shorter than normal. Hardee’s for dinner and a nice talk with Jeff the landlord back at the house. Oh, and we changed another set or rear end bearings, this time in Rich’s machine.
Tomorrow brings Rock House. Good times, good times.

Day 1 – Buffalo Mountain

2010-05-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

We decided to start with one of our favorite trail systems – Buffalo Mountain. It rained last night, so there was absolutely no dust. There were, on the other hand, an over abundance of cold, annoying, goggle obscuring mud puddles.

First we rode to Delbarton, a pleasant warm up and then back to the trucks. Next, we headed off to Williamson. We arrived in Williamson at almost exactly noon… on Sunday in West Virginia… it was pretty much a ghost town. The single gas station in town was open so we grabbed a snack and got gas. The helpful attendant suggested we cross the border to Kentucky to get some fast food. Larry was the bravest getting Taco Bell. He’s crazy.

From Williamson, we started riding to Matewan. Got delayed on Trail 12 for a few minutes… more on that at a later date… long story. As we continued to Matewan, we encountered some mechanical issues with Todd’s machine, but a little Yankee ingenuity cleared things up and we made it the rest of the way. On the way back, Andy’s machine spun a rear end bearing... we weren’t far the trailhead so we finished the trip back. Naturally, since it was a less than perfect day, it started raining as soon as we pulled in to the parking lot. Beautiful…

Shakedown

2010-05-01T18:41:00.003-05:00

The party from the north and the party from the other Virginia arrived in Gilbert almost simultaneously. After settling into our accommodations, we headed over to Wise Guys Pizza for lunch.

A couple slices later we were headed out to ride Rockhouse for our shakedown ride. Surprisingly, everything worked well and we took advantage of the nice weather to ride to the actual Rockhouse rock formation. All in all about 42 miles for our shakedown ride.

A lot of traffic on the trails, but its Saturday on the most popular trail system, so a busy trail system is just a sign of a healthy Hatfield McCoy Trail System.

The highlight of day one is actually the dinner; courtesy of Richard, a West Virginia Boiled Bug dinner (aka Lobster). 2 per rider. Mmmmm…

Weather is looking better...

2010-04-30T09:01:00.001-05:00

Shoulda known better....

2010-04-27T21:01:00.002-05:00

I regret to say that I am not going to be able to go on the trip this year after all. At least the hope of going motivated me enough to get my machine running. Now I can start banging out all that yard work I've been neglecting.

To Fix or Not to Fix?

2010-04-27T00:53:00.004-05:00

Got the oil changed today and figured out the problem with the rear brakes. The cable for the foot pedal was almost completely seized. I was able to lift it up the pedal by jamming the head of a framing hammer between the pedal and the foot peg. Pushed it back down by stepping on it. Several reps of this loosened it up a little bit, but not anywhere even remotely close to "usable". The question is - is it worth fixing? I NEVER use the foot pedal and the handlebar lever seems to work just fine.

The Front brakes seem a little soft. I might investigate that tomorrow. I discovered this today when I tried to take it into the woods behind my house and could not get over the tree laying across the trail on an extremely steep hill. Front brakes alone would not keep the machine from rolling down the hill. This created an interesting situation as I tried to get it turned around without tipping over. I was also in shorts and sandals and hadn't properly installed the seat - but all worked out in the end...

Indian Ridge

2010-04-26T13:38:00.001-05:00

Did we ride Indian Ridge last year?

My Machine

2010-04-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Everybody is talking about their machines, so I guess that I will too.

I bought and installed a new clutch cable. Last year my forearm and hand were really sore from pulling in the clutch. The new cable has a really smooth easy pull to it. I also adjusted the location of the lever. This should help a lot.

I replaced all of the brake pads, but I stripped the dinky little screws on the front master cylinder cover, come on Honda!, and had to drill them out. Luckily, Lowe's had replacement screws. A little bit of never seize from my 19 year old tube of it, and I should be all set for the next time.

New chain and sprockets, I still had the originals, from Primary Drive and I went down one tooth in the front to 14 because I heard this helps with acceleration and hillclimbing, two of my favorite activities, but I will lose a little on the top end, but thats okay, since going wide open is not one of my favorite activities.

My el cheapo Walmart battery that I bought last year isn't holding a charge very well. I am going to run 60 feet of extension cord to the shed and hook the charger up to it and see what happens.

Oil is changed. A few new stickers put on (Motion Pro, Primary Drive and Fly). Got new lenses for the goggles and a nice pair of gloves to replace one of the pairs that ~~was stolen~~ I lost.

Head Count

2010-04-26T08:43:00.001-05:00

Do we have a definite head count? I need to let Tina know so that she can get our permits.

Rob
Andy
Rich
Arik
Larry
Todd
Howard
Hans?

Forgive me father...

2010-04-26T07:53:00.002-05:00

I believe I may have broken the 11'th Commandment.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ATV"

I'm considering just leaving my ATV at home and riding b&#*h with Howard.

Man that is a nice machine.

The Rancher is Running!

2010-04-26T07:47:00.002-05:00

Cleaned out the carb and put in some fresh gas, and it's as good as new. Idles a little weird, so I've got some adjusting to do, but I rode it around for a few minutes and it seems to run just fine. Although the Battery did not hold a charge since Tuesday. That's not a good sign. Those aren't cheap either. But it started on the first pull, so I may just let it go.

Next up - figure out what's going on with the rear brake cable, change the oil and we are good to go.

Almost ready....

2010-04-25T18:56:00.000-05:00

Removed plow - check
Swapped out tires - check
New Wheel bearing - check
New Oil and filter - check
Cleaned and Oiled Air filter - check

Now just waiting for my Brake parts that were sent to some guy in North Carolina by accident... Hopfully they will show up in the next day or two or I will have to improvise.

More carburetor talk

2010-04-22T08:11:00.002-05:00

So I pulled the Carb off. First of all, this is the most complicated Carb I have ever worked on. (granted, I have only ever worked on 2 other ones, so it's not a huge sample) there were like 100 tubes/wires that had to be removed. Yes, I said wires. This thing has a carb heater which supposedly helps it cold start. I don't know if it makes much difference or not. I guess I've never had trouble starting it in the winter, so I guess it works. It was kind of a PAIN to remove, though. It's positioned in such a way that you think this screw needs to be removed to take it off - until you get the screw all the way out and realize it's the pilot screw and now you have no idea what position it was in. I'll worry about that later.

Once I got all the tubes disconnected, and pulled it out, I drained the bowl and some really green looking gas came out. I started disassembling it - sidebar: Why are carburetor screws always really soft philips head screws that are super-tight? I got the float bowl and vacuum cover off, but wrecked about half the screw heads in the process.

Anyway, I got the float bowl and vacuum cover off and It actually looks pretty good. No tell-tale Jelly or really even varnish. There is some grit in the bottom of the float bowl, but that's about it. I pulled the main Jet out and looked through it with a flashlight - it looks pretty clean. Didn't take any of the other jets out or disassemble it further. I'm just going to dip it in some carb cleaner and see what happens. The vacuum Piston seems to move freely, although there is a little bit of varnish on the sides and the needle looks a little dirty. I'll clean those up too before I put it back together.

Getting Ready

2010-04-20T08:38:00.002-05:00

Well, I started getting my machine ready. Cleaned out the Garage, changed the plug, and charged the battery. Then I nearly killed the battery trying to get it to start but no luck. Opened up the airbox and pulled out a REALLY NASTY air filter, then cleaned out the giant possum nest. Got it to run briefly by spraying starter fluid directly into the carb, but as soon as it runs out of starter fluid it dies again. Conclusion: probably time to clean out the carb. I suppose it could be just bad gas, but my gut tells me it's the carb.

Machine Prep

2010-04-17T21:54:00.008-05:00

Machine prep is under way. Installed a new set of rearend bearings (All Balls brand in case you were wondering) in my machine.

Tomorrow, I will move on to general maintenance. Air filter, chain lube, oil change, etc. This will be the first time ever, EVER, that this machine hasn't had Honda HP4 Synthetic in it... I am going with Mobil 1 instead. Primarily because I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices charged by my local Honda dealer.

A few other odds and ends and she'll be ready for another dance with coal country. (Year 8)

Missing Gear

2010-04-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

I used to have 6 (3 pair) of A.R.C black riding socks (enough for one trip without having to do laundry) now I only have 5 (2 1/2 pair) of A.R.C. black riding socks. You can see where this puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to not doing any laundry.

If anybody has discovered a lone black sock in their stuff could you let me know so I don't go out and do something crazy like buy another pair of socks? Thanks.

Also, I am missing two pairs of gloves, 1 blue pair of Thor and a blue pair of O'Neal. Perhaps you fell in love with them and they accidentally fell into your suitcase. It's okay. Nobody is judging you.

Getting Revved Up

2010-04-16T15:27:00.000-05:00

Rumors are Flying

2010-04-12T20:58:00.002-05:00

I heard a rumor that Big A may be gracing the hills of West Virginia with his presence once again. Here's hoping Big A's hole will become reaquainted with its namesake!

More Bad News for the Region

2010-04-06T06:52:00.001-05:00

25 dead in W.Va. mine blast, worst since 1984. This is not far from the center of HM country.

Its Blinking!

2010-04-01T12:57:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year.

The best just got better!

2010-03-23T19:14:00.001-05:00

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is expanding again, with a new 20 mile section of trail at it's Buffalo Mountain System scheduled to begin construction starting mid-March, 2010. Agreements are in place and the mapping has been completed for the new riding area. The new trail section is located in the Lick Creek area of Mingo County near Matewan, WV. The new trails are planned to be a mix of both multi-use and single track trails. When this new addition is completed, the Buffalo Mountain system will rival the Rockhouse trail system for the most overall trail mileage in the Hatfield-McCoy Trail network. Riders can anticipate this new trail addition being completed and opening to the public in the next few weeks.

Five Questions to Ponder

2010-02-24T15:38:00.002-05:00

1. Is Todd going to fry us up a turkey?

2. Is Big A going to diss us again this year?

3. Can Rob and Howard put aside their differences and be friends?

4. Will Coal Hill foil me again?

5. What happens if a 100 year flood strikes in the 100th year and then again in the first year?

New Banner is Up

2010-02-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

Anybody excited yet (about the trip, not the banner)?

2010 Passes Available

2009-12-22T13:21:00.000-05:00

According to this link, if your order your 2010 pass before Christmas, you get a free t-shirt.
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=207591107939&id=46553239633

HM Twenty Ten

2009-11-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

It's the time of year again when we have to start thinking about dates for next year's trip to West Virginia. Rob suggested the weekend of May 1st. Anytime works for me at this point.

Let me know what works and what definitely doesn't work for you as soon as possible, so I can let Tina know.

Thanks

Flying Hellfish cookout

2009-07-12T15:04:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple pictures of the gang that gathered for the cookout.

Wingnut

2009-06-27T11:20:00.002-05:00

During a break, Todd stopped to fish and caught the rarest of the rare, the landlocked mountain bluefish.

Day 1 - Bear Wallow

2009-05-10T19:41:00.002-05:00

Grubby getting reaquainted with an old friend.
Rob coming down the bend.

Hans airing out his 450r.

Andy showing his contempt for the coal hill.

Rough Start

2009-05-09T21:38:00.002-05:00

This is one of the three roads into Gilbert. The other two are only one lane (or less) at some point or another.
The other half of this mobile home is on the other side of the street.
A couple feet of mud doesn't do a lot for business at the local pharmacy.
Thankfully we have electricity. But no water. A 9:00 pm curfew is in effect for the town. Not the best start for the trip.

A couple years ago we were here during a once in a lifetime tornado. This year a flood. Next year? Locusts? Frogs?

Changes to the Counter

2009-05-04T14:55:00.002-05:00

The changes I had previously made to the counter have been modified to only take effect when we are one day away. During the process of fixing a bug that Big A pointed out to me, the counter caused me a splitting headache, and I can't stomach the thought of seeing it for three days straight.

Disclaimer: changing the counter has nothing to do with sympathy towards others and how the counter might affect their brains, it is simply a matter of self preservation. Nothing more, nothing less.

we could eat here

2009-05-04T14:10:00.002-05:00

http://starterssportsrestaurant.com/

they have those tropical non-alcoholic smoothies that Todd is so fond of.

Head Count

2009-05-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

do we have a solid head count that I can give to Tina for permits and figuring out the lodging bill and whatnot?

Which trail systems to ride?

2009-05-04T09:58:00.000-05:00

(you can vote for more than one)

Here are links to the systems:

Bear Wallow
Pinnacle Creek
Indian Ridge
Buffalo Mountain
Rockhouse

And my two cents:

Bear Wallow, definitely.

Buffalo Mountain, I think we ought to try the bbq place, although I would be open to trailering to the Matewan trailhead, instead of the trailhead we usually stop at, getting a light lunch in Williamson, and then eating in Matewan for dinner. Just a suggestion, maybe we could mix it up this year or maybe Williamson has bbq.

Indian Ridge, it sucks that its an hour and a half away, but we've only been once (ate at Ashland company store) but they have a connector to a town now.

Alternate: Rockhouse (Man trailhead). Just trying to mix it up a bit and hit some of the trails we don't make it to as often because we are so beat up by the time we get there.

is this the place?

2009-05-01T12:53:00.002-05:00

http://www.hatfield-mccoyresort.com/index.php?go=4

link to big picture

Whett Your Whistle for BBQ

2009-04-25T05:45:00.000-05:00

Countdown

2009-04-22T14:15:00.001-05:00

I added a new feature to the countdown guaranteed to annoy and anger you. Gotta wait until there's 3 days left before you need to fight the urge to punch me though.

Trailer Test

2009-04-12T13:29:00.002-05:00

After multiple repairs and a new set of wheels and tires, I decided to test the trailer this weekend with a ride over to Gagknee's. Thankfully everything seems to be in good working order and ready for the trip.

Stupid Hurts

2009-04-09T19:28:00.002-05:00

I was watching some Hatfield McCoy videos with OBB on YouTube and came across this one... DANG!

She Blinks

2009-04-08T18:01:00.001-05:00

My Wish List

2009-04-07T11:33:00.020-05:00

Parking brake block off

Grips

Handle bars

Clutch perch and lever

Kenda Klaw 23x7x10

This one was a tough choice. I thought about going with the Razrs like my back tires, but they are getting worn out too and I'd like to try something different as I was never fully satisfied with them. Maybe the Knarly.

I Think

2009-04-01T19:34:00.000-05:00

I'm going to take Aaron this year

Heres Mine

2009-04-01T12:05:00.002-05:00

Off the Subject

2009-04-01T10:08:00.004-05:00

This has nothing to do with ATVs, but this blog has very little activity, so I'm going to post it anyway. I have found my next car:

The 34k price tag is a little steep, but I figure in about 4 years, I can afford a 4-year-old used one.

Horses?

2009-03-30T08:57:00.002-05:00

I think that if I ever came around a corner and saw a horse I'd either crap my pants or accidentally drive off a cliff.

Name Change

2009-03-25T12:39:00.001-05:00

I'm going to call Big A's Hole, Big A Hole from now on. My reasoning? We don't say "Washington's Monument" or "Lincoln's Memorial", do we?

YouTube is forever

2009-03-04T11:20:00.002-05:00

So remember the video clip Larry shot a couple of years ago while cruising around Matewan? I posted it on this blog, but used You Tube to host it. It never occurred to me that anybody else would ever view it. Anyway, it was been viewed 4,189 times. By contrast, the ones with "Big A's Hole" have only been viewed a couple hundred times.

Anyway, nearly 2 years later, I still get comments on the Matewan video - with a wide range of emotions. People who are ATV friendly, very UNFRIENDLY, and even one very excited football fan. You can read them here if you wish:

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=sGL4gRmKIB8

In case you care...

2009-02-09T16:38:00.001-05:00

i went to the optometrist today and got myself some new contacts and glasses. A full 88 days before the trip as opposed to the usual 12 days.

its gonna be our best trip yet. i can feel it.

91 Days

2009-02-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

Feels like a lifetime.

the office - Calendar (February 4, 2009)

2009-02-06T10:53:00.003-05:00

"I'm petrified of nipple chafing. Once it starts, it is a vicious cycle. You have sensitive nipples... they chafe, so they become more sensitive, so they chafe more. So, I take precautions."
--Andy (from the office)

Mr. Fancy Pants

2008-12-25T17:57:00.000-05:00

This year I will be part of the fancy pants club.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T19:21:00.001-05:00

Be sure to post information about any ATV accesssories you receive from Santa in preparation for this year's trip.

No Banshees (or Banchis)

2008-11-21T13:14:00.001-05:00

Let's not invite this guy...

Carpool'n

2008-11-11T18:47:00.002-05:00

Just wondering if we had a tenative count on who is going this year from up north. I believe that we have a definate of 3, being L-dub, Wingnut, and myself. I'm pretty sure that Hans and Frans are planning on going again this year. That is a full trailer of 5. I have heard that Gubby and Nate might be interested as well. That is going to make travel a little difficult. Has anyone else heard from them?

What a difference!

2008-10-27T18:18:00.003-05:00

After going for a ride this weekend, Burnsy and Wingnut helped me put this into my Foreman. It's a Warn424 kit that replaces the front drive shaft and allows my fulltime 4x4 machine to dis-engage the front differential an run in 2 wheel drive. I makes the machine steer much easier, and swing the rear-end around when in 2 wheel drive and then when I need it, just press the button and back into 4 wheel drive. Finally, I can sling mud with the best of them!!

Almost Andy

2008-10-18T18:19:00.003-05:00

I saw this picture on the H/M homepage and thought it was Andy... until I took a closer look at the helmet.

Dates for Next Year

2008-10-10T15:25:00.003-05:00

Tina, the proprietor of our favorite lodge, the Big Bear Lodge, is gonna hold April 16-20, for us for a few days until I make the official decision, unless Todd can't make it then. In which case we'll go May 9-13.

Welcome

2008-10-10T15:23:00.002-05:00

Todd (did we come up with a nickname for Todd? I'm drawing a blank) is now an official author on this blog.

Required Reading

2008-10-10T15:21:00.001-05:00

The Hatfield-McCoy official blog.

http://trailsheaven.blogspot.com/

Time for a New Count Down?

2008-09-01T20:51:00.001-05:00

Ummm, is it time to start thinking about dates for next year's ride yet?

Big Bear Lodge

2008-05-12T08:10:00.001-05:00

The Flying HELLFISH !

New Maps

2008-05-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

Major Changes to the Browning Fork Trails and Hatfield-McCoy Trails

Lyburn, WV- For ATV enthusiasts who think they’ve seen and ridden it all on the Hatfield-
McCoy Trails, they may want to think again.

The southern West Virginia trail system has begun a massive update of their trail maps and signage to help riders find attractions they may be interested in, whether it be trails with scenic overlooks or trails with rock ledges you’ll need a winch to climb. Currently the changes have been completed on the Browning Fork Trail System, with the remaining six systems expected to be finished in approximately 1 month.

“Our trails have many attractions, from scenic overlooks to abandoned mining operations that really show off the history and natural beauty of area,” said Hatfield-McCoy Deputy Director John Fekete. “We really wanted to give our riders destinations to ride to while they’re out on the trails. The division between our difficult trails and extreme trails was done for the same reason, so that our experienced riders looking for a challenge know which spots are going to give them what their looking for.”

Improvements to the maps and signage include markings designating UTV approved trails, points of interest being marked on the map for riders to find, and the new designation between ‘Most Difficult’ (black) trails and ‘Extreme Difficult’ (black/red) trails and the division of single track trails into ‘More Difficult’ (orange square) and ‘Most Difficult’ (orange diamond) categories. Riders can go online to www.trailsheaven.com and check out the new Browning Fork map now.

Had Beef Brisket Yesterday

2008-05-05T15:47:00.002-05:00

It reminded me of that time Todd said he makes brisket a few times a year. Ah, sweet, sweet Hatfield-McCoy trip memories.

Is it time to set a date yet?

My Impressions of HM '08

2008-04-22T12:06:00.014-05:00

For any one who was curious, which included myself, all those purple trees we saw are Eastern Redbud.

I didn't get the memo about everyone getting new tires. For this I will be eternally bitter. Oh sure, I read the post about L-Dub getting new tires because everyone else was, but apparently my brain thought that "everyone" meant "no one but Larry".

Rockhouse bites. From the Gilbert trail connector (I do like the new connector however) to any trail worth riding is torture. Trail 19 is sado-masochistic. I propose that next year we trailer to the Man trailhead. At least from there we can more easily get to the trails that we like the best.

Bear Wallow, I hardly knew ye. Great riding. The best of the weekend. Oh sure, the ride into Logan was a bit scary, but everything else was just grand. If only they would keep more of the trails in this system open. All hail the coal pile. Man. That was a thrill. My apologies to the guy who rolled down the little hill. Although it wasn't my fault. You're just a lousy rider. Trail 97 was my favorite individual trail. Short and sweet. I'm glad I turned around and rode back up.

Buffalo Mountain and rain. They go together like Hans and Franz. Definitely not as good of a system as it used to be, but riding on the edge of a cliff for 45 minutes straight has its moments. With Nate's Hill being castrated last year and Trail 39 having lost its pucker factor this year, there's not much of a challenge here any more. Other than that "edge of the cliff" thing and the rain, and the "sliding off the edge of the cliff" thing because of the rain. Big A's hole was violated, and I let it happen. They say that time heals all wounds. In this case, I'm not so sure.

The Pit Stop and peanuts were better than any movie and popcorn. And the classic musty grass flavor of Old Milwaukee was icing on the cake.

Pictures

2008-04-22T11:51:00.008-05:00

Here are a bunch of pictures in no particuliar order.

Brian playing in the mud.

Sean playing in the mud.

Lunch in Logan.

Pit stop.
Breakfast of champians. (Breakfast sandwich wrapped in a sticky bun)

Coming down the coal hill.

Going up the coal hill.

Todd playing King of the Mountian.

Andy taking the steepest way up.

Playing in the mud.

Rockhouse
Rockhouse
Gilbert traffic jam.

LDUB Screwed up. Rolled it, but it never stopped running.

Shakedown ride after 17 hours of driving.

Walmart in Logan, cut out of the mountain

Driving into town.
Highway to nowhere. Maybe someday they will finish it.

Typical home.
Some little town.

Day Tres or Quattro... depending on how you count.

2008-04-20T20:28:00.002-05:00

The final day of riding was reserved for Buffalo Mountain. Per tradition, we unloaded at the Rev. Compton trail head and headed south towards historic Matewan. There was a light sprinkle of rain that served to keep down the dust without much further effect.

We made our way to Matewan hitting the blue and black trails on the way. We paused on top of Nate's hill to admire the view and reminisce about Nate's misfortune on a rented Arctic Cat many years ago. The trail to the top is still fun, but not as intense as it once was.

From Nate's Hill we continued on to Big A's hole. Again we paused, this time for a moment of silence in memory of Grubby and Big A, who were not able to make this year's ride. In their stead, Hans and Frans rode through the hallowed ground in a solemn tribute. The whole seemed a little deeper this year, I suspect it was preparing for Big A and was disappointed when he didn't show.

Next stop was Todd's "walk down hill." There was no walking this time. The trail had been fixed and everyone rolled down with no hesitation. After finishing the black trails at the Matewan end of the trail system we headed into town for some lunch. The usual place and the usual orders. Rich had chicken planks and I had a BBQ sandwich. We then went across the river to Kentucky to get gas.

Back on the trail we headed back to the trail head and on to Delbarton. On the way to the trail head, we made the obligatory stop at the "mine entrance" now gated with an iron gate. There was some comments about H-M making the slow march towards a Massachusetts style form of a nanny state. We continued on to Delbarton, a charming little hamlet with some nice brick store fronts. It's similar in size to Matewan. Maybe next time we should try to eat there instead of Matewan. Rich and I spied a Chevy S10 painted to look like the General Lee... the epitome of cool.

Back to the trail head again. After a brief discussion about the nature of democracy and dictatorship, we came to a consensus decision to head to Williamson. The clouds were looking more ominous, but the rain remained light. I sold Frans on the idea of going to Williamson on the promise that there would be a long full throttle section he could use to test the limits of his 700 EFI Grizzly. On our way to Williamson we knocked out the last of the blue trails.

About halfway to Williamson it became more apparent that the rain was not going to remain light. The helpful dust controlling sprinkles had turned into a steady soaking rain. The trail was getting slick, the goggles were getting blurry, and the troops were getting restless. We decided, again by consensus, to turn back. Frans would again be denied an opportunity to go flat out. I too was disappointed, but by the time we got to the first stop it was clear to everyone, we made the right choice.

We pushed on, taking the quickest way we could back to the trail head. That meant going through a now rain swollen puddle the size of an Olympic swimming pool. Soaked to the gills we loaded up in a hurry to head back to Gilbert. In spite of the early finish, we managed to get more than 70 miles in and rode every trail in the system (sans Trails 10 and 92).

After warm showers and dry clothes, we headed over to the new Good Fellas Pizzeria (GFP) for dinner. After dinner, we went to Hardee's for malts (another consensus decision) and returned to the house to watch the Simpsons Movie. A good day and a good trip.

Day Duece

2008-04-18T20:43:00.001-05:00

Perfect weather + excellent trails + no mechanical or safety issues = a superb day on the trails.

Today we rode Bear Wallow, or as Andy is fond of saying, Bear Wallow Hollow. This was our fist time at Bear Wallow since our 2003 trip. The trails were varied and not too crowded with the hill climbs and fast sections that make traveling to West Virginia worth the mileage. The trails were not nearly as rough as the well worn Rockhouse trail system.

Our first major stop was an enormous mud hole we stopped at in 2003. Hans and Frans did their best to entertain us with their antics and banter as they played in the mud. Splashing in the mud they washed some salamander eggs up on shore. I wanted to eat them, but Andy wanted to put them back in the water.

Then we wandered out to the end of the trail system. We didn’t see a closed sign, but it soon became apparent that we had gone beyond the approved riding area. After riding over several trees and moving one, we gave up and turned back. The area looked like it had been hit by a tornado, with tons of downed trees.

On our way to lunch we saw an area that had been hit by a wildfire. It was still smoldering in some areas.

For the first time we rode into the town of Logan, the self-proclaimed, “friendliest town in West Virginia.” If I lived in Logan, I am not sure I would be very friendly. The road into Logan passed through a section of town that was a little rough even by West Virginia standards. We pulled up to a stop light next to the B&B gun and pawn shop and made our way to a gas station. After we got gas, we ate at the “Great Escape.” I drank approximately 38 ounces of Diet Dr. Pepper… it was a small. It was a late lunch so Rich, Todd, and Hans got ice cream too.

After we finished eating, we toured the town. Because of a Shriner who was passing out flyers in the middle of the road, we got stuck in a traffic jam. We got beeped at for letting someone merge into the traffic. The stop light let one car through at a time and took about 5 minutes to turn green again.

Back on the trail, we rode the entire system all the greens, blues, and several blacks. Then we did some of our favorite trails again.

No mishaps today. On the way back to Gilbert, some of the guys help a lady change a flat tire. Frans offers to bench press the car while the tire was changed. I am confident the goodwill will be returned to us in the form of safe riding again tomorrow.

Larry is going to post some pictures in a bit. Nighty night.

Wildlife Report

2008-04-17T21:21:00.003-05:00

Not a lot of wildlife to report from day one. One deer, a doe, a female deer. And a ton of a butterflies... Tiger Swallowtails to be precise.

I think the bears may be attacking quads. We saw two machines that were missing rear wheels. One was still driving, using a large branch jammed in the frame as a makeshift skid.

Day Two

2008-04-17T20:51:00.002-05:00

The rest of the group got in around 1am, they shredded a trailer tire on the way, but work able to swap it out and continue on their way.

We rode from Gilbert again today. It was pretty cold this morning so everyone dressed in layers and we headed out. It quickly warmed up quickly and by the time we stopped in Man lunch, most everyone was just down to normal riding gear. I don't know how warm it got, but the thermometer back at the lodge said it was 70 in the shade around 5 pm.

No major insidents to speak of except for L-DUB, rolling his machine going down a switch-back. He was able to get out of way of the machine, and there was no serious damage to either L-DUB or his machine. The machine got it digital display punched out, but nothing else was bent or broke.

Half the group gave up around 4 and went for a malt break at Hardy's. About 55 miles in all.

A few a the guys went back out for a couple hours and took a last run at some of the more difficult trails ended up with about 80 miles.

Headed to bed... Nighty, Night.

The kids wanted to come too!

2008-04-17T17:50:00.002-05:00

Here are the S's and the Dubya's Sitting on all of the Atv's before the guys left. Just think someday the kids can come too!

Day One

2008-04-16T20:09:00.002-05:00

Got into Dilbert around 1 in the afternoon. Had lunch at Hardee's and went for a ride around 3.

Got about 20 miles in and did alot of playing around in the mud.

Internet here this year is pretty lousy. It will only let me on for a few minutes at a time.

Everyone is tired. Headed to bed early.

H-M Competition

2008-04-16T11:51:00.002-05:00

The H-M Trail Authority is going to have a little extra competition in Southern WV.

Spanning nearly 8,000 acres of lush Southern West Virginia forest, Burning Rock Off-Road Park offers 100 miles of total trails. Each trail is uniquely different offering something for every skill level. From single track to double track and beyond, the park truly has a variety of terrain for your riding pleasure.

Opens July 4, 2008.

Hopefully it will help draw even more riders to WV and reduce the wear and traffic on the existing trails.

All packed up.

2008-04-15T10:44:00.001-05:00

We are headed out around 7pm, so we should be in the Logan/Gilbert area around noon Wednesday.

Counter

2008-04-11T09:01:00.003-05:00

In another day the counter will start blinking every 50 ms. I'm thinking of making seizure-inducing color changes too.

Sweet.......

2008-04-10T13:55:00.003-05:00

Where to Ride?

2008-04-08T20:48:00.003-05:00

I vote for Bear Wallow, Rockhouse and Buffalo Mountain. In that order. And if you twisted my arm, I'd ride Rockhouse two days and skip Buffalo Mountain.

Weather is looking better all the time.

2008-04-07T20:08:00.002-05:00

60's and 70's. With a quick shower to keep the dust down. :)

This year trip.

2008-04-04T08:41:00.002-05:00

Since Big-A cannot go this year. Are there any volunteers to wear the pasties?

Maybe I'll tell the wife, we don't need them this year...

Any plans

2008-03-31T17:27:00.001-05:00

to video tape this years ride?

It's happening again...

2008-03-17T17:40:00.004-05:00

... it is FLASHING!!!!

I'm talking about the counter for all you sickos that like to start rumors.

Coupon...

2008-03-14T20:05:00.002-05:00

In case anyone else is planning a big purchase... I have a $20 off coupon for $150 or more purchases from Rocky Mountain ATV. The coupon code is 1123GC (it says to feel free to share with friends)

Caved...

2008-03-13T07:44:00.001-05:00

I ordered a set of Mud Lite XL on black rims.

http://www.itptires.com/mudlite.html

Peer Pressure

2008-03-11T08:26:00.001-05:00

I'm feeling left out...

It seems everyone else is buying new tires for the trip and now I'm feeling the urge.

What to do?

Trail Branding

2008-01-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

The good folks at Hatfield McCoy have developed some new logos for each of the trails. The logo for Bear Wallow is my favorite.

Left Foot, Right Foot, Wet Foot, Dry Foot

2007-12-26T21:04:00.001-05:00

How many different feet you meet...

My wife gave me new boots for Christmas. No more West Virginia trench foot!

Comments

2007-12-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

How about something like this?

FYI- "Because it's there" is a line from Deliverance.

Sticker for 2008

2007-12-11T17:28:00.001-05:00

I am thinking about producing a new sticker for the 2008 H-M Ride. I am interested in suggestions. A couple options include something from the Hellfish, Stonecutters, or Isotopes genre. I was also considering playing on the West Virginia theme (see exhibit to the right). Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions.