Mountain Biking
Mountwood Park
Wood County, West Virginia
Biking Log:
by Christopher Burk, Outdoor Travels
4/12/03 Copperhead Road, Trip to the Moon, Qwik Out
My first time on my bike in over a year. I've been riding the stationary bike in the gym for the past couple of weeks in an attempt to get ready for our ODT trip to Slatyfork, WV, but there's just no substitute to actually being out there, riding through streams, around rocks, over fallen logs and slogging it up hills.
In an attempt to appease both my family and my desire to ride, I set out for the park around dawn. Pulling into the parking lot next to the lake boat ramp, I noticed two things. I was the only rider there (although the lot was more than half full with fishermen's trucks) and the thermometer in the car said 38 degrees. I guess I won't have to worry about heat exhaustion on my ride.
I had rode Mountwood one time before but most of my ride was along the old ORV trails. My plan was to ride Copperhead Road and Trip to the Moon trails, two trails well known for great single-track riding. The trailhead for Copperhead Road is on your right after you make a left out of the entrance to the parking lot next to the lake. It offers a rather gradual climb up to Trip to the Moon. The real fun starts once you're on Trip to the Moon. An assortment of gentle to moderate climbs, rock gardens and fallen logs coupled with fast, technical downhill sections and a couple of stream crossings makes Trip to the Moon a very rewarding trail to ride.
After a trip back to the car to get my gloves I forgot, I hit the trail. I had no sooner rode about 30 feet before I was beating feet, or as my fellow ODT'er Jeff would say, "Dabbing it." Granted, I haven't had a great deal of experience mountain biking, but in defense of my novice abilities, the first part of Copperhead Road is rather technical. It features a small stream crossing followed by a short but steep climb. The climb wouldn't be so difficult if it were not for the four or five waterbreak logs. I made it past two. Once past that, the trail gets a little easier at least in the sense that there are no more waterbreak logs to ride over.
Although there were no more artificially placed obstacles, there were more than enough rocks and roots to make up for it. And, the fact that it had been raining for the past four days coupled with the early morning hour, they were all nice and damp. I don't know how many times I spun out on roots while climbing or almost did an endo because the bike slid sideways.
Other than the trails I picked, I didn't really have a plan for how long or how far I was going to ride. Early on my thought was to ride so far in one direction then turn around. As the trail continued to climb, I was continuously thinking, "When I come back, this will all be downhill." That, and several stops kept me from coughing up a lung.
Before long though, my plans changed. I hit a nice flat section followed by some nice downhill. Now you would think that because I was going faster downhill than uphill my hands would be colder on the downhill sections especially taking into consideration the 38-degree temperatures. In fact, quite the opposite was true. My only guess as to why is that the effort of riding uphill sent more blood to my legs than the rest of my body. Once I started downhill, the demand declined and my hands warmed up. Whatever the case, by the time I got to the bottom, my hands were nice and warm. Just in time to start back up.
Although Copperhead Road goes uphill almost the whole way, Trip to the Moon is more like a roller coaster. It goes up, down and around but fortunately none of it is overly severe. Well, there is that one section, but I'll get to it later.
Two points worth mentioning along Trip to the Moon are the two stream crossings. The first is notable since it seems like the trail ends at the stream. The reason why is because as soon as you go through the stream and up the bank on the far side, you have to make a hard right. The second crossing in worth mentioning because of the small bridge you have to ride over. The bridge isn't very high but it isn't very wide either. And it doesn't help that it slopes to one side. I made it about three-quarters of the way across before panicking and bailing out.
Before crossing the bridge I also noticed a trail that wasn't on my map. It went off to the left up hill. After debating for several seconds on which way to go, the less vertical way won out. Although I was still somewhat curious as to where the other trail actual lead.
The last part of Trip to the Moon is the best part, or the worst part depending on how you want to look at it. It is the section the trail derives it name from. At the very top of the last climb is a wide-open field of grass and boulders aptly named "The Moon." And man is it a climb. Actually, only the first quarter of the climb is really steep. The rest of it is fairly moderate on the vertical scale but continuous on the horizontal one. As I worked my way to the top, i.e. walked a good deal of the way; two deer greeted me. They were just on the edge of the early morning fog. They looked at me for a moment or two then disappeared into the fog.
After the deer I was ready to call it a day. I had survived my first ride in over a year and now had a common frame of reference when discussing riding with Jeff and Dana. I had two options to get back to the car. I could go back down Trip to the Moon and then take either Apollo 13 or Qwik Out to the road. Since I knew that Qwik Out was shorter and exited closer to the car than Apollo 13, I opted to ride it.
On my way back I did have one last adventure. I made it down the steep section of Trip to the Moon without and problem at all. However, along Qwik Out I discovered another very steep section with several nasty rocks thrown in as well. As I approached the drop, it appeared there were two lines, one to the right and one to the left. Whether the line to left is correct or not, I don't know, but I do know it didn't work for me. Between the angle of decent and the rocks I lost my nerve and locked it up. Once past the gnarly section, I hopped back on finished the ride out.
4/13/03 Copperhead Road, Trip to the Moon, Apollo 13
I had so much fun riding the day before that I came back. I did things a little differently this time though. Since it was Sunday, my early morning ride was not an option but bringing the family and making a day out of it was. They could play on the playground equipment while I rode and then we all could have a nice picnic.
I decided to ride the same trail system again. There were several sections I wanted to tackle again now that I knew what to expect. The first one was those blasted waterbars at the beginning of Copperhead Road Trail. I was ready. Unlike yesterday, I kept my speed up through the stream, leaned forward while keeping weight on the back tire (Waterbars 2, Christopher 0) I did manage to make it farther up this time though.
Although the first part of the trail got the better of me once again, I faired much better on other sections. There were several climbs I finished without stopping that I didn't the day before. The drier conditions definitely helped. I wasn't spinning out on the roots as often. And, although I still had to stop a couple of times, never once did I feel like I was going to chuck a lung.
One thing I did not do was take the trail to the left as I approached the bridge. Circumventing a steep climb won out over curiosity once again. Besides, I was determined to make it across the bridge this time and by God I did. OK, it took me two tries, but at least I didn't give up.
In addition to my improvements, I rode a couple of new places. The first one was by accident, the second by choice. In my previous ride to "The Moon" I rode up until the trail leveled out. According to my map there wasn't much else and because of the fog, I couldn't see anything else either. There was no fog for my second trip to the moon and I quickly realized that wasn't the end. The trail continued on to a huge outcrop of rocks and a spectacular view of the surrounding areas. I also noticed a trail leading over the edge and back down. I surmised that this was the other end of the trail that starts next to the bridge. I'll have to ride it next time to confirm my conclusions.
The other new section I rode was Apollo 13. It's basically more of the same type of riding Trip to the Moon is, some nice rock gardens, a couple of technical sections and one very interesting stream crossing. I had to stop and figure that one out. As I approached the stream, it looked like the trail basically went straight through. I paused for a second or two and then plowed in. Half way up the bank on the other side I realized I made a mistake. The trail didn't cross the stream, the trail was the stream, or more appropriately the stream was the trail. You actually ride in the stream for about 100 feet before making the final climb back up to the road. Fortunately for me, the stream was low but it would make for an interesting ride when the water is higher.
All in all, I was very pleased with my weekend riding adventures. I rode sections of Mountwood I never had before and learned a lot about where my skill level currently is. Granted it would be nice to have a partner to ride with and talk to but considering how much huffing and puffing I was doing on Saturday, I doubt I would have been much of conversationalist.
5/3/03 Copperhead Road, Trip to the Moon, Dark Side of the Moon, Apollo 13, Haystack
Attempt number three at making it up the first climb on Copperhead Road. This time I added a new twist, clipless pedals. I had been practicing getting out of them in the back yard but this would be my first trail ride with the pedals. Once again the hill won out along with the pedals. I took a rather nasty wipeout when the bike slide out from under me and I couldn't get my foot out to stop the fall.
The trails themselves were in good condition considering the amount of rain the area has received in the past several weeks. Everything was wet but there were no major washed out areas on the sections I rode. Of course, between the wet logs and roots and my new pedals I had several falls that would have been simple dabs without them. Unfortunately, after a while my confidence was shaken and my riding style became very apprehensive.
The pedals did have their up side as well. They help immensely on some of the long climbs. There were several I rode non-stop that had previously left me sucking wind half way up.
I added two new trails to my riding list as well. The first one was the Dark Side of the Moon. The mystery trail that went up the hill to the left near my famous little bridge on Trip to the Moon. The Dark Side is a very interesting trail that has a little bit of everything. It starts at the top of the Moon and passes through a huge field of what can best be described as pampas grass. Once through the field, the trail drops into the woods and winds it's way back down to Trip to the Moon trail. Along the way there are several very sharp and steep switchbacks and a couple of log crossings.
The other new trail I rode was Haystack trail, a very exciting trail with lots of rocks, roots and a very cool (and scary went it's wet) bridge. I rode it up and back but unfortunately, since my confidence with my pedals was low, I did not ride Haystack very well. Granted, flipping over backwards when I spun out on a wet root didn't increase my faith any either. I just couldn't gather the courage to ride very fast without the fear of taking a really nasty spill. But that's part of riding, the only way you are going to get better is to try new things. With time, getting out of my pedals will be second nature and I'll ride with greater confidence.
7/27/03 Lake Trail, Shortcut, Stiles Mansion, Collarbone Cutoff, Log Jam, Haystack, Bail Out, Trip to the Moon, Apollo 13
by Jeff Cobb
I had read a Mountwood Park internet review posted by a rider from Ohio who complained that the park was all "work out" and no challenge. What trail did this guy ride? Nothing could be further from the truth. While the hilly sections of Mountwood certainly challenged my aerobic fitness level and lung capacity, the man-made log crossing and bridge obstacles were outstanding. Granted, I'm far from a pro, but I'm no slouch, either. They were challenging and a little hairy: a perfect combination!
What was originally planned as a small little diversion at the end of a weekend in Parkersburg to attend my 20-year high school reunion turned into a mountain biking bonanza. Christopher and I had a great time tackling just about every trail Mountwood had to offer. We did a series of trails around the lake that included Haystack and Collarbone, then crossed the road and did a series of trails clustered around the Moon loop. I usually ride alone, so it was great to ride with someone. I pushed myself and rode longer than I would have by myself, and I also wouldn't have ridden over as many obstacles without Christopher there. I guess it brings out the competitiveness and makes you take more risks.
Included in the many log crossings was a truly spectacular wipeout by Christopher. You had to be there to get the full effect, but he didn't have enough speed (or the right gear) to clear the log. He literally balanced on top of the log pile for a full 3-4 seconds. It seemed like he just hung there forever, then he realized he wasn't going to make it over or back down. He couldn't unclip fully, so he just accepted his fate and braced for the impact! I bailed out in the middle of several crossings, but I can say that I tried them all. I can't say the same thing for the second bridge we encounted. It was very narrow and slanted to one side, not to mention you can't get a straight run at it. Christopher wobbled across it, but I opted for the skirt and dabbed across.
The log obstacles at Mountwood were big, plentiful, and plenty hairy. They were tall, too: a couple of the log piles we navigated (or tried to navigate) were at least two feet tall. It was by far the best series of log crossings I've encountered on a trail system. Props Run in Slaty Fork comes in second. Mountwood is well groomed, and there are not as many roots or rocky areas as one usually gets in West Virginia. It was very dry the day we rode, and Christopher said the roots do play a factor when it's wet.
Riders in Mountwood will have to have a pretty high level of aerobic fitness. It's not ridiculously hilly, but there are plenty of challenging climbs both short and long. There were two fairly steep, long climbs that we spun out on, and one impossibly steep climb in the spillway of the lake that we both bailed out on. There were a couple of climbs that we had to stop at the top and recuperate for several minutes. It was close to actual physical pain. There was one fairly steep downhill with a log crossing smack dab in the middle which was actually the scariest thing I did all day. I could feel the adrenaline hitting my heart. Coming down that steep portion of the Trip to the Moon trail was pretty wild, too. It was really rutted and my back wheel locked up a few times and I was sliding all over the place.
Probably the only complaint I had was the lack of an early warning system. Since this was Christopher's home trail, he was usually leading. More times than I can remember, I'd come screaming up on a precipitous dropoff or challenging obstacle without any verbal alert from my riding partner. Many times, I had to clamp on the brakes and lock it up. Then I'd back up and re-approach the trail section so I could ride it. He'd sheepishly apologize, "Sorry dude, I was concentrating." Yeah, good thing I was too or I would have wiped out all day long! J
To wrap it up, these trails were FUN! Granted, riding with a buddy always makes the excursion more enjoyable, but Mountwood is worth riding alone or in groups. Next to Alafia in Florida, this is the best trail system I have rode, barely edging out Slaty Fork, although I should mention there were LOTS of trails in the Slaty trail system that we didn't get to ride.
8/17/03 – 9/21/03 Update:
I have probably been averaging about every weekend for my normal dawn ride in the past month. Considering how much rain the East has received this summer including Hurricane Isabel, the trails are in excellent shape. There has been a fair amount of debris across the trail and a couple of fallen trees and the climb up from the lake on Lake Trail is a little washed out in sections but that is about it.
One major change that has happened to the trails is that they are doing extensive work on the Copperhead Road trailhead. And I do mean extensive. To give you some idea, the first part of the trail with the small stream and steep climb are no more. It has been totally bulldozed. There is now a gravel path that goes to the left of the stream and works it’s way up the hill. It is currently roped off so I have not had a chance to ride and see exactly where it takes you and what effect it has on the Trip to the Moon trail. For now, the only access point is Bail Out, which is a shame since that eliminates a nice downhill section of trail. (It eliminates a fairly long climb as well so it could be considered good depending on how you look at it.)
9/4/03 Visitor's Log
Lake Trail, Shortcut, Stiles Mansion, Collarbone Cutoff, Log Jam, Haystack, Trip to the Moon, Apollo 13
by Dana Farnsworth
There's no place like home. You can never go back home again. I shall return. Home is where the heart is.
There are a lot of interesting quotes that deal with returning to one’s home. The best comparison I can make is returning to your grade school after years of not being in it. Chances are it was amazing how small everything seemed. Memories can be much larger than reality. Mountwood Park would prove to be similar to me - but no less disappointing.
Mountwood is the park I cut my mountain biking teeth on a few years ago. Back then I didn't ride often, but when I did ride, I was mashing the pedals on my Specialized at Mountwood Park. I returned to my biking cradle recently after a few years of not experiencing it. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. When I lived in West Virginia, I probably rode (exclusively) at Mountwood Park less than a dozen times. I remembered it being technical and aerobically challenging. Almost every time, I would stop halfway up "Trip to the Moon", panting heavily, and thinking my chest was going to explode, or I was going to puke, or I was going to have a brain aneurism. I rediscovered mountain biking after moving to Florida in 2000, and have since been busy aggressively developing my skills. So I was very curious how my old stomping grounds were going to stand up to my memories and recollections.
Well, after riding all over Mountwood with nearby resident, best buddy, and Outdoor Travels contributor Christopher Burk, I can tell you that it is BETTER than I remembered. The trails ranged from easy to moderately technical, not nearly as hard as I remembered, with rolling ridge trails, fun moderate downhill trails and a little easy riding double-track. Why is this better you ask? Well, the network of single-track is more extensive than I ever experienced, the scenery more gorgeous and the diversity of trail personality - greater. The one thing that hasn’t changed from my memory is its aerobic difficulty. Though not as hard as I remembered (I think I’m in better shape now), Mountwood still left me huffing up a lung a time or two!
The residents of the Parkersburg area as well as visitors who like to bike off-road have a real gem of a bicycle park in their backyard. I for one am looking forward to the next opportunity to go back to my old school and learn a few new lessons.
