Sunday, January 28th my friend Larry and I led a ride for a group of his Virginia friends from Old Forge State Park/Camp Penn in the Michaux State Forest. Most of these folks had previously ridden or raced in Michaux knew that it would be a great day of technical trails. At the ride start the temps were in the upper 20s, but we had some climbing ahead of us that would warm us up. We started up Swift Run Road to the fire tower where we ran into the Sunday morning MBM group ride.
It was great to see so many folks out enjoying the trails during winter. Our group took off down the fire tower trail to Carumble and then over to the start of Lee's Rocks. I wanted to show this group Heaven or Hell but I haven't ridden it since last fall and knew it would be full of sticks and leaves. We did it anyway. The beginning rock move or "gate" was icy and unrideable, the rest was very leafy and hard to follow, and there were a couple of blowdowns we had to step over. Despite this many folks rode some of the more technical sections including the first and second successful attempts at the only section that have never been ridden before, a technical rock ledge drop into a 90 degree left hand turn on the edge of a cliff. I rode it Sunday after countless attempts and then Larry nailed it the first time he ever saw it. 
Heaven or Hell Trail
After Heaven or Hell, we went down the Narrows to Staley Road, then climbed up Black Andy's to the Shelf trail. We rode up Sawmill all the way to the gas line then took Deer Bone down to Staley (really faint). Charcoal Hearth was a nice and fast way back over to Staley which we took up to Rothrock, and then Rothrock back up to Curran's Road past the firetower, and down to the cliff overlooking Old Forge (Chimney Rocks?). To finish up, we blasted down the blue trail all the way. Larry showed me a section near the bottom with some great technical moves that I have never seen before.
Larry and Roger chillin at the vista.
Great group of folks, and a great ride.
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