Bad-A$$ Ladies Mountain Biking Weekend

When Michelle didn't get a weekend backpacking pass from the doctor, we could either carry the 50lb pack for her or revise our camping plans. Where can you find drive-in yet primitive sites, somewhat spread out from one another, at a park offering everything from canoeing to hiking to ORV/ATV riding to mountain bike trails? And only a couple hours from DC? This little-known gem must remain a secret, so we'll always get the campsite we want!

Friday night found us relaxing around an excellent campfire, wood provided by The Cat's Meow, a fire that was free to burn without constant meddling by outside testosterone-laden forces (left unnamed) who feel compelled to prod and jab at the fire, fiddling constantly. It was getting pretty chilly as fall is finally here, so we turned in early to get a head start on the trail in the morning. We did have a brief debate over which map we should use ... hmmm.

Sometime around 3:00 I was awoken by little animal screams and hooting... most likely an unfortunate critter got grabbed by an owl. We also heard some noises we decided must have been deer. And squirrels or birds rooting around in leaves sound like a saber-toothed tiger in the dark of night!

After a quick breakfast in the morning, we geared up, realizing only one of us actually brought bright clothing, despite our discussions about the bow-hunting and squirrel hunting going on in the woods. We warmed up on a brief road section from the campsite, then hit the trail, which immediately dropped into a gravelly ravine. The next 4 - 5 miles were winding singletrack up, up, up Polish Mountain, elev. 1800. We wound our way through beautiful deciduous forest, alternately yellow then orange, then red with the changing leaves. It was a perfect day, cool temps and a clear blue sky.

Once we hit the top of Polish Mountain, it was slooshy, jittery, slippery shale all the way back down. This was followed by some up and down pine forest area, then a sweet, long, obstacle-free descent to a "weird section" with twists and roots and streams everywhere. Some climbs followed, including a really amazingly steep descent that Mical and Michelle totally raged. We were eventually dumped out on some forest road for more fast descending, followed by a painful uphill switchback section. Once you took your bike for a hike up the hill, you were rewarded by more excellent ridable singletrack.

That 12-mile trail was "totally dialed" by lunchtime, so we had some food then set out to explore the rest of the park. We checked out the ranger station overlook, drove down to the Potomac/C&O canal area and made plans for a future Adventure Weekend. We drove up to another overlook, and just for fun, went back the long way and took the truck down some really crazy washed-out rutted roads. Megan will have a second career as a South American birdwatching tour group driver; she handles those roads like a pro!

The night was young, so it was time for us to get serious... about dinner and beer! Mountain House meals were really tasty and required minimal prep and cleanup (sponsorship?) and we enjoyed a Raspberry Lambic to celebrate Mical's recent birthday. We turned in a little later, lulled to sleep by the dude at the campsite a quarter mile away who must have been practicing for the next American Idol.

We woke up a little stiff and sore, but could we just pack up and go home? H no! But this time, we thought we'd explore the roads a little and cut out the big climbs of Polish Mountain, then drop back into the trail. Those roads were STEEP -- there were no rocks or roots to give you an excuse to get off and push, so you had to keep churning in low gear, up up up. Then DOWN! Really FAST! Then it was back onto the trail for another 5 or so miles, 10 total.

Well, I think we all can agree the mountain bike loop and park is superb, and maybe next time we'll invite the fellas, but you are gonna have to R-E-S-P-E-C-T our awesome fire-building Cap-a-bil-i-ty!

Here are the Pix of the Rockin' Chix!

More Girls with Bikes, Our Raging Campfire plus a Moth