|
By: Claude Taylor
Hatfield - McCoy Trail Predicaments
 |
Of all the pictures we have taken there, none
show the severity of some of the places on the
trails. I should say challenges, or better yet,
predicaments, that my so-called friends get us
into. I just finished my sixth trip to the
Hatfield-McCoyTrail Systems, and I was asked by
my wife, “Aren’t you tired of riding up there?”
Well, no! It is different every time we ride the
trail systems. This year, for the first time, we
rode the Pinnacle Creek Trail System. This was a
very different ride, very scenic, and we saw the
most deer there. We found the trails easy, even
the blacks. As usual the, “Come on you can do
it” came into play and I had to ride my 250
Suzuki Ozark on the black trails and not with
the greatest of ease but, with much bouncing
around, holding on for dear life, and holding my
breath. I also ride a Yamaha 350 Warrior. So,
I’m not a total wimp. I made it, but I don’t
know how; and L4 & L5 from the bottom of my back
is now at the bottom of my neck. I am the only
one without 4-wheel drive, and they have shamed
me so bad this year I have to get a new ATV. I
just have to find the right time to tell my
wife.
We left Pinnacle Creek and headed to the
Browning Fork Trail System we call “Rockhouse”
in Gilbert, WV. This is still our
all-time-favorite trail system. It has such a
variety of trails and degrees of difficulties or
predicaments. You can easily, well not easily,
ride for two or three days on this system. The
best is at the top trailhead, Rockhouse, and
into the town of Man for lunch at the “Hillbilly
Fire Pit” restaurant.
Gilbert, West Virginia seems to be the center
point of the trail system, and we like it there;
it is comfortable and friendly, and we like the
accommodations there. There is something special
about riding your ATV in town, going to a
restaurant or store, or just riding around. I
just hope some idiot doesn’t mess this up.
At the end of the day’s ride, we had our usual
fire-side meeting at the “Mountain Breeze Motel”
to review our day’s predicaments. We met a great
bunch of guys from New Jersey on their first
trip to the Hatfield-McCoy trails. Just when I
thought nobody read my articles, they tell me
they had read one of my articles and planned
their trip from it. That made my day! It is
great to share your experiences and then find
someone who has enjoyed it as much as you did.
During that fireside gathering, we were told a
story by someone, and you know who you are,
Kendell, about a cow and a wooden stick used to
prop-up a clothesline to keep the clothes off
the ground. I can’t tell the story; you have to
hear it from the source. It is one of the
funniest stories I’ve heard. So, you have to
ride the Hatfield-McCoy trails and go to a
fireside gathering at the Mountain Breeze Motel
to hear the story. This whole thing is about
getting away, enjoying riding ATVs with your
friends, and meeting great people along the way.
 |
The third day we went to Matewan, WV at the
Kentucky border, to ride the Buffalo Mountain
Trail System, our second favorite. Believe me
when I say that all of the trails are blue and
dark blue, but they are fun; we really like
them. On this mountain is an underground coal
fire that you can see the smoke coming out of
the ground and smell it and feel the heat from
it. There are lots of beautiful rock formations
and there were lots of, “come on, you can do it,
we will help you” predicaments on this system.
Kids, don’t try this, this is only done by
professional idiots, like my friends.
We had lunch in the town of Pikeville, Kentucky
on the other side of the river from Williamson,
West Virginia. How cool is that!
Day four was spent in Gilbert riding in town and
at the IROC, Indian Ridge Off-Road and Custom
Shop, getting an oil change, minor repairs,
buying parts and accessories. Later on when we
went back to the Browning Fork trails trying to
find predicaments we had been in a few years
ago, we found them. What a rush, why do I keep
listening to them, “Come on ,you can do it”!
The last day, day five, we rode Dingess Rum
Trail System. We had a fun full day even though
half the trails were closed because of logging.
As you would have it, we rode mostly dark blue
trails, you guessed it, and “Come on, you can do
it”!
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail Systems are the best in
the nation! You’ve got to do it! Just remember,
“The more the merrier is not always true.” My
friends will know what I mean.
|
