tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080722424823226332024-02-18T19:06:09.623-08:00Squirrel ChatterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-55490824972087093262017-07-06T10:02:00.000-07:002017-07-06T10:02:47.691-07:00Hickory Creek Wilderness Area & Hickory Creek TrailThe <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/allegheny/recarea/?recid=6141" target="_blank">Hickory Creek Wilderness Area</a> is nearly 9,000 acres of designated wilderness within the Allegheny National Forest. The Hickory Creek Trail is a ~12 mile loop that meanders through the wilderness area. Many people use this loop as a short, overnight backpacking trip or a long day hike. The 12 mile loop has about 1,000 feet of elevation change, so it's not constant climbing, but the terrain changes enough to make it interesting. Being a wilderness area, the trail receives very little maintenance. This means that in many places the trail markers have faded, the trail is a little overgrown, and many trees have fallen across the trail. The Hickory Creek Trail was also recently mentioned in <a href="https://www.backpacker.com/" target="_blank">Backpacker Magazine</a>.<br />
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On July 3, 2017 the Country Squirrel Outfitters owners, Steve and Miranda, decided to explore the Hickory Creek Trail. A trail run / day hike was to be the method to tackle the trail. Equipped with trail running hydration packs and some nutritional snacks, the "CSO Team" arrived at the trailhead around 10am. There were 3 other vehicles in the parking lot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSO Owners, Steve & Miranda, at the trailhead</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The journey begins with a 1.4 mile hike to the Hickory Creek Trail loop. At mile 0.7 you enter the actual Hickory Creek Wilderness area, which is indicated by a weathered wooden sign. In another 0.7 miles (mile 1.4) you encounter a second wooden sign at the Hickory Creek junction. This first section of trail is fairly flat with a few rolling hills. The trail was marked with faded white/tan/yellow blazes on the trees. It was pretty clear that the blazes hadn't been re-painted in recent years. The trail also had a few trees that had fallen across it, but overall, this section of the trail was able to be run. At the junction intersection, you encounter another small wooden sign that indicates the south and north loops. We decided to begin the loop by heading south.<br />
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After beginning our trek on the Hickory Creek loop, we quickly realized that the running portion of the journey was going to be a slow one. The first major obstacle we encountered was a very sizable patch of stinging nettle. By "sizable," I mean about 2 miles worth of stinging nettle. After tiptoeing our way through this patch of evil and wicked plant, we continued on our way. The stinging nettle really slowed our pace as we tried to avoid touching the nettles as much as we could. The trail would continue to wind through the wilderness area, which included a few climbs up and over rolling hills and a few jumps over some small headwater streams. We would encounter another couple and their dog. The couple was from Ohio and they had done an overnight backpacking trip on the trail.<br />
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Unfortunately, the stinging nettle would continue to be a theme throughout the day as we would encounter several smaller patches of nettle throughout the trail. We would also find many, many down trees across the trail. Many of these trees had recently fallen in one of the severe storms the area experienced. Most of these trees were quite large and required a detour off trail to work your way around the fallen trees. In some cases, we had to climb up and over the fallen trees. In some portions of the trail, there were so many downed trees that "trail running" became nearly impossible. You could only run for about a hundred yards before encountering another fallen tree. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve surveying one of the many large fallen trees and trying to locate the trail.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda climbing over another one of the clusters of trees blocking the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-dwhWNiio08OfPd0WoP8YGsJcGj37-BpyKddre227hZBw7DSQsH17Qq0q8J7_OTXP_oIacuJAMd05cyq0eOynMceQgR3Jq0I4IfFr5_yt_54epexdFxOTLk2mYBOlr3GQnSphKUYnXM/s1600/Hickory+Creek+cluster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-dwhWNiio08OfPd0WoP8YGsJcGj37-BpyKddre227hZBw7DSQsH17Qq0q8J7_OTXP_oIacuJAMd05cyq0eOynMceQgR3Jq0I4IfFr5_yt_54epexdFxOTLk2mYBOlr3GQnSphKUYnXM/s400/Hickory+Creek+cluster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve climbing through yet another large cluster of trees</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We encountered another coupe of hikers around the midway point of the loop trail. They had started the loop by heading north. This was also the first significant stream crossing, which we surveyed with the other couple of hikers. We all managed to find a safe crossing and keep our feet relatively dry. However, dry feet would soon come to pass as we would encounter another significant stream crossing in another mile or two. This is the location where we temporarily lost the trail for a few minutes and had to do some exploring to try to locate the trail. We would cross the stream several times while trying to locate the trail and would eventually give up on trying to keep our feet dry.<br />
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Along the way we would encounter several locations that had been used throughout the years by backpackers as their campsite for the evening. These were primitive sites, but a couple of them had included fire rings constructed of native stones. One campsite location was also equipped with a table that had artfully been constructed of flat stones. (Note: This is a wilderness area, so impacts to the environment, including moving stones, should be kept to a minimum and avoided whenever possible).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFcA9ZHdulqHAHXyQxdS969cUawUh5iF_m7ny2l5djrwaXsYl-9zWcII7bd0Cfyx8TELF3VSxzPMAjwuVabqlD9M2MQm_-eMsHBdsoFE_d444tzmz1bwnluFLUC7fvykLnnVxVtVtwzM/s1600/Hickory+Creek+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFcA9ZHdulqHAHXyQxdS969cUawUh5iF_m7ny2l5djrwaXsYl-9zWcII7bd0Cfyx8TELF3VSxzPMAjwuVabqlD9M2MQm_-eMsHBdsoFE_d444tzmz1bwnluFLUC7fvykLnnVxVtVtwzM/s400/Hickory+Creek+table.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve checking out one of the campsites, which included a rock "table"</td></tr>
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Overall, the Hickory Creek Wilderness area is just that - a wilderness. The trail is a relatively easy hike, but it is sometimes hard to follow and has a lot of fallen trees that are blocking the trail. Being a wilderness area, I don't foresee these trees being cleared any time soon. So, if you plan to hike, backpack or trail run this trail in the near future, expect to climb over fallen trees. However, despite the fallen trees and evil stinging nettle, the trail is quite beautiful and we both greatly enjoyed our trail run/ day hike.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2Lt4jVNxqDvSET2ctS3Ygvc1S90yPn8ERmQD5cUBvuNVPmVldLsBTXPU238aWfb5fxmUB0U-l-XEPO22yEX7uDPra5n8bgOa1dfbMIKsEXwYjVp1H6fUEPW9_poJXyhFDlyb0iPhLwk/s1600/Hickory+Creek+Miranda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2Lt4jVNxqDvSET2ctS3Ygvc1S90yPn8ERmQD5cUBvuNVPmVldLsBTXPU238aWfb5fxmUB0U-l-XEPO22yEX7uDPra5n8bgOa1dfbMIKsEXwYjVp1H6fUEPW9_poJXyhFDlyb0iPhLwk/s400/Hickory+Creek+Miranda.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda taking a quick break under a few hemlock trees along one of the many beautiful sections of the trail.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve running through a large patch of ferns along the trail</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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When we reached the end of the trail, my <a href="http://www.suunto.com/en-US/" target="_blank">Suunto</a> GPS watch indicated that the entire journey was 13.95 miles in length. Much of the literature and online information indicates that this is a 12 mile hike. My distance included the navigation around many of the fallen trees and a little bit of exploring when we temporarily lost the trail near the midway point. Regardless, the entire hike is definitely a little longer than 12 miles and would more accurately be 13 to 13.5 miles in total length. It took us 4 hours and 32 minutes to complete the trek. The Hickory Creek Wilderness Area and Hickory Creek Trail are definitely something that you should put on your "to do" list. In our journey, we managed to see abundant amounts of wildlife (a young black bear, several deer, two turkeys, a garter snake, and many, many chipmunks). It's a beautiful area and if you are okay with a remote trail with minimal maintenance and minimal trail markings, it's a great trail for a day (or two) of adventure. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-52524063420114123772017-05-22T09:19:00.000-07:002017-05-22T09:19:48.568-07:00Gnaw on This: "Dances with Dirt" Trail MarathonIn my continued search for new adventures and new trail races across the US, I came across the "Dances with Dirt" series of trail races. The one in Gnaw Bone, Indiana (yes, that is actually the name of the town) caught my particular attention. How could I resist a race called "<a href="http://www.dwdgnawbone.com/" target="_blank">Dances with Dirt</a>" in a town called Gnaw Bone? Besides, the state of Indiana was still on my "to do" list in my quest to run a marathon or ultra-marathon in every state. As I read more into the race details, it became clear that this was the type of event for me - lots of hills, lots of mud, and all sorts of "this race is not for wimps" warnings on the event website. Sign me up!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marathon elevation profile for the Gnaw Bone race.</td></tr>
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Only three weeks removed from the Hyner Trail Challenge 50K, I still felt that my body had time to recover. However, I hadn't done any long runs since that 50K race. My weekly routine had become a series of shorter 4 to 6 mile trail runs and nothing of any significant distance. Regardless, I felt that I was still in a good position to give the Gnaw Bone trail marathon a good effort. <br />
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Due to obligations at <a href="http://countrysquirreloutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Country Squirrel Outfitters</a>, Miranda was unable to accompany me on the trek to Indiana. So, I would have to fly this one solo - something I hadn't done in several years. I made the 8 hour drive to Gnaw Bone and found my way to the registration and packet pickup location the evening before the race. <a href="http://mikesmusicbarn.com/" target="_blank">Mike's Music and Dance Barn</a> was the staging area for the race packet pickup and would also be the site of the start and finish of the race. Mike's Music and Dance Barn is precisely as you would expect. It's a good 'ol country honky-tonk barn with line dancing and live country music. Not really my thing, but to each their own. After-all, I'm in a town called "Gnaw Bone," so who was I to judge.<br />
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The race would feature several different distances for nearly every level of runner - 10K, Half-Marathon, Marathon, 50K, 50 Mile and a Relay event. The lists of folks that had per-registered for the various distances were hanging at the registration table. Upon examination, I discovered that it was pretty clear that the marathon distance was the least popular. The 10K and half-marathon each had over 200 runners. The marathon had a measly 35 pre-registered runners. Even the 50K had more registered runners than the marathon. I guess if you are going to run 26.2 miles, why not run a few extra miles for the 50K, right? Truthfully, I kind of felt like I was wimping out a little bit by only running the marathon. I signed the "if you die, we're not responsible" waiver and picked up my registration packet and bib number. The young man at the registration table explained to me that my meal ticket and beer ticked were attached to the bottom of the race bib - what an evil thing to do to a runner. So, you're telling me that not only do we have to run a 26+ mile race, but we also have to make sure that we don't accidentally loose our beer ticket? That's a lot of unnecessary pressure and responsibility to put on a runner. I made sure my beer ticket was firmly attached, then I inspected the race shirt. The shirt featured a sweet design on the front, which featured a skull and cross bones type of logo. The back of the shirt, well, that concerned me a little:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of the Dances with Dirt, Gnaw Bone, Indiana race shirt</td></tr>
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The morning of the race I arrived at the "Dance Barn" in ample time prior to the start of the marathon. I actually made it in time to see the start of the 50K race. The 50 mile runners had already departed for their own journey. After the start of the 50K there were a lot less folks hanging around. A few of the half-marathon and relay runners had started to arrive, but it was mostly just the 30 or so marathon runners that were making some last minute adjustments to their shoes and hydration packs. After some really brief announcements from the race director who explained; "<i>Sorry about the trail conditions. We had some storms here recently and a lot of trees came down on the trail. We didn't have time to clean them up. There's also a bunch of mud. So, the first part of the race is going to suck and the trail conditions are shitty. But, after that, you'll be running on some really nice trail." </i>The race director then said<i> "Hold on a second. ___ will start the race. I'm going to pull my truck up the road here and make sure you all find your way through the junk yard." </i>Junk yard? He must be joking, right? After the race director pulled away in his pickup truck and out of sight, one of the other race workers started the race with a simple <i>"Go." </i><br />
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Sure enough, about a quarter mile up a dirt road, we found ourselves running through a junk yard. After finding our way through the junk, we were immediately greeted with some muddy trails. Less than a mile into the race and soggy socks syndrome was upon us. The first 3-4 miles was mostly a gradual incline with muddy trails. There were also many down trees, which would set the stage for the rest of the day. After leaving the Dance Barn and junk yard behind us, we would leave the private property and connect onto the trails within the <a href="http://www.browncountystatepark.com/" target="_blank">Brown County State Park</a> system. For the better part of the next 25+ miles, we would run within the State Park.<br />
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Although the race didn't feature the intense, long climbs that I have grown accustom to in my training runs and recent races, the course did feature sufficient amounts of rolling hills and short, steep climbs. What the trails didn't offer was any rock. Any of you that run/race in PA know that we have plenty of rocks - small rocks, medium sized rocks, big rocks, boulders and giant rocks. In fact, some of the trails more closely resemble boulder fields than any type of "trail." It was actually refreshing to have trail surface that was actually relatively rock free.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwPL4PwG-TUrMMjvDXeVb0FAOhyphenhyphenLYPcUe2IFAuQc73QAtnTUnO6b-L9rb0V4xOZ0GtjLLW-BbCKz0CV57rhscq7gC5gtn7RrpLq5PbyS9Uw_xUgf9ir926cleYK6xp-BMcGa9R9S7fSg/s1600/Slope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwPL4PwG-TUrMMjvDXeVb0FAOhyphenhyphenLYPcUe2IFAuQc73QAtnTUnO6b-L9rb0V4xOZ0GtjLLW-BbCKz0CV57rhscq7gC5gtn7RrpLq5PbyS9Uw_xUgf9ir926cleYK6xp-BMcGa9R9S7fSg/s400/Slope.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scramble up the slope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Being that much of the race course was within the Park system, that meant that it also featured a variety of obstacles and a variety of terrain. This ranged from stream crossings, wooden stairs, wooden bridges, fallen trees, mud, short sections of gravel roads, steep climbs, and even a few sections of paved road through a campground area. However, overall, the trails were largely smooth, rolling and winding single track.<br />
<br />
Around mile 15 we encountered what some would call "bushwhacking," but I prefer to call "orienteering without a map or compass." After descending down a steep section of single track and then crossing a small stream, the race course flagging had us head up a steep slippery slope of leaves and mud. There was no trail. Just a forested hillside and the evidence of other runner's failed attempts at finding traction on the leaf littered, wet and muddy surface. After clawing my way up the forested slip-n-slide, I crested the top of the ridge and found nothing but more forested area. Again, no trail. You could occasionally see some pink flagging hanging in a few random trees off in the distance. This "orienteering" section would last for another 2 miles. It required a lot of concentration as you had to keep an eye open ahead to make sure you could find the flagging to keep you on course, but you also had to keep an eye on the ground to make sure you could find your way over the vegetation, tree branches, logs, and other woodland features as you scurried your way through the countryside. Eventually, we would follow the flagging to a fence. After scaling the wooden fence, we would find ourselves back on some established single track trail.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the stream channel "trail"</td></tr>
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After several more miles of rolling hills, mud and varied terrain, we would find ourselves nearing the last few miles of trail before the finish line. One word to describe the last section of the race would be "wet." The last few miles would include some swampy areas and about a half mile of stream running - the act of actually running up a stream channel. After emerging from the water like a mayfly, we made the final run across the grassy field to the finish line. My finishing time was 6 hours and 14 minutes. I was 10th overall out of 30 runners that completed the marathon distance. Maybe more importantly, I was able to hang onto my beer ticket during the whole race. After crossing the finish line, I made sure to cash it in for an appropriate beverage from <a href="http://quaffon.com/" target="_blank">Big Woods Brewing Company</a>. Overall, my Dances With Dirt experience in Gnaw Bone was a good one. I'm glad that I chose this event for my Indiana running. I may consider one of the other Dances With Dirt events in the future. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve, crossing the finish line of the 2017 Dances With Dirt Marathon in Gnaw Bone, Indiana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-59826342910050312482017-05-15T07:14:00.000-07:002017-05-15T07:14:47.964-07:001st Annual Eternal Tap Group Ride<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group of cyclists at the start of the ride</td></tr>
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To kick off the Country Squirrel Outfitters group rides for the 2017 season, we put together the 1st Annual Eternal Tap Ride on the morning of April 29th. The ride began at CSO and riders pedaled their way to <a href="https://www.straubbeer.com/" target="_blank">Straub Brewery</a> for a visit to the "Eternal Tap" and the Straub gift shop. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group of 11 cyclists visiting the Eternal Tap at Straub Brewery</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
The ride concluded with a rainy jaunt back to Country Squirrel Outfitters for the conclusion of the 22 mile ride. Despite the rain, the cyclists had a great time and we thank Straub Brewery for hosting the group and allowing a bunch of spandex wearing cyclists to visit.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-55154960636320146192017-04-27T11:03:00.000-07:002017-05-05T06:18:33.551-07:00Hyner View Trail Challenge: Eight Years, The Return<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Since the first running in 2007, the <a href="http://www.hikerun.com/" target="_blank">Hyner View Trail Challenge</a> has become one of the marquee events in Pennsylvania trail
running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, it was one of the
area’s first of its kind in the blossoming sport of trail running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sport that would, in the subsequent decade,
explode in popularity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hyner” as it is
referred to, is a grueling 25K (16+ mile) trudge up, over and through some of
the finest landscapes that the <a href="http://pawilds.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wilds</a> has to offer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants are faced with three challenging
climbs, each a mile or more in length, with names like; Humble Hill and
S.O.B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Total elevation gain for the 25K
is more than 4,200 feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are able
to survive the relentless climbing, you are greeted with wicked descents on
gnarly, rock and root laden single track, and even some stream crossings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Atop the Hyner View, if you can gather
yourself together for a brief moment, you have the opportunity to take in some
of the most spectacular vistas that Pennsylvania has to offer. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TLZSLyRFe25tbEtsDRqTixoLUy2kz51xLY-dsDt-zJlyZ39wkRw2fmuwb_QqVS9oDLY57nZaiP9HGGAIEg-ON0FBpsmy7s0bYyII5ypj9P2k3OAbvEcnvq5CRbRUHbdyPgA1RWfAgCQ/s1600/Race+Profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TLZSLyRFe25tbEtsDRqTixoLUy2kz51xLY-dsDt-zJlyZ39wkRw2fmuwb_QqVS9oDLY57nZaiP9HGGAIEg-ON0FBpsmy7s0bYyII5ypj9P2k3OAbvEcnvq5CRbRUHbdyPgA1RWfAgCQ/s400/Race+Profile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50K Race Profile, which includes over 7,200 feet of climbing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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Hyner has become to area trail runners what the marathon is
to local road runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the bench
mark at which you judge yourself and, in many ways, others judge you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of your other accomplishments,
athletic accolades or finishing times, you can’t consider yourself a hard-core
Pennsylvania trail runner if you’ve never done Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone in the trail running community knows
about Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of whether
you’ve personally run it or not, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>
about Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among trail runners, Hyner
is talked about like it is a magical or mystical place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place where one goes to seek their rights
of passage or to enter into trail running manhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place where, if you choose to challenge the
mountain, there is a chance that you will never be seen or heard from
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hyner aurora is strong in all
of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us that have “done
Hyner” feel a sense of accomplishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Time isn’t important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one ever
cares what your Hyner finishing time was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, a true measure of your Hyner finish time should be how long –
hours, days, sometimes even weeks – it takes you to be able to walk normal
again after you cross the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finishing time is not relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’ve lined up at the starting line, traversed the magical
mountains, and returned to the finish line in one piece, bloody or not, you’ve
earned your Hyner badge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can then,
and only then, consider yourself a trail runner and proclaim “I’ve done Hyner.”</div>
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My first Hyner experience came in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, I was running Hyner before Matt
Lipsey was even old enough to crack open a post-race beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyner was a newer event, only 2 years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t carry the same
distinction that it carries today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
many people were familiar with the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frankly, there were a lot less trail runners back then too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, that 2009 Hyner race included over 600
trail runners and hikers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in the
midst of training for my first 50K trail race – the North Face Endurance
Challenge 50K in the Catskill Mountains of New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyner was to be a “training run” as I
prepared for my larger goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
last minute decision to run Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back
then, registration could be done a few weeks out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured it would be a good test of my
fitness level and training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also
looked like a pretty fun event and I noticed that <a href="http://www.troegs.com/" target="_blank">Troegs brewery</a> was one of the
major sponsors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that probably
meant free beer after the race, so I decided to give it a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_4o0cdmQiFoTjLxZ-MREyddROhXu_a1kQSiw5hPnRntzbK36zlhjuxfl6lVNnKO7DWhxiTsBkVc_Bsx1cJ3OAxQMHWxTnNkp4m66rCzi8pFNKGwlWCf-TuFfepn4xj-HSIgRc4A8g3U/s1600/2009+Hyner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_4o0cdmQiFoTjLxZ-MREyddROhXu_a1kQSiw5hPnRntzbK36zlhjuxfl6lVNnKO7DWhxiTsBkVc_Bsx1cJ3OAxQMHWxTnNkp4m66rCzi8pFNKGwlWCf-TuFfepn4xj-HSIgRc4A8g3U/s320/2009+Hyner.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve at the top of Hyner View in 2009 (Race Bib #551)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Personally, things were much different for me back
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in that 30-something age
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was about 15 pounds lighter and
I had a lot more free time for training runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had a little less hair on my face and a lot more hair on my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went into that race, much like I do every
race, unfamiliar with the trails, unfamiliar with the terrain, and unknowing of
what was about to smack me in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I approach every race that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For me, the unknown is part of the fun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t dwell on race statistics, or previous
finishing times, memorize trail maps or study elevation profiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I think runners tend to over-analyze
all of that data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of what the
data says and what the elevation profile looks like, everyone that steps foot
on the starting line has the same task at hand – we all have to traverse the
same terrain and get to the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I do have an uncanny ability to remember details about trails
and remember races that I’ve completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been running in trail races for nearly 20 years and I can remember
specifics about every race that I’ve completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The memories from that Hyner race stuck with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My finishing time in the 25K in 2009 was 3
hours and 6 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good enough
for 25<sup>th</sup> overall out of 652 finishers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Hyner, I went on to finish that 50K trail
race that I was training for and added a road marathon and a 50 mile trail race
to my portfolio over the next few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2009 was a good running year for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Those that know me, know that I rarely compete in the same
race more than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thrill of a new
adventure is part of the lure for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With hundreds, even thousands, of trail race events across the US every
year, I tend to seek new challenges instead of trying my hand again on the same
trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t fault those that do the
same events year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
good reasons to do that – challenge yourself to set a new PR time, support a
specific cause or organization, or for the awesome post-race beverages, food
and <span class="_Tgc">camaraderie</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One could certainly argue
that every year Mother Nature changes things up, so you are never really
running the same trails. I would certainly agree with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have always been a “been there,
done that, what can I do next” kind of runner seeking new adventures and new
trails. I would put those Hyner memories in the vault and continue on with many
other races over the next several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the following years, I would spend time residing briefly in Maryland
and then a few years in Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyner
never really crossed my mind again.</div>
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A few years later, my wife and I would move from Colorado to
the town of Ridgway, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The move to
Ridgway was, in large part, due to the outfitter business that we own, <a href="https://countrysquirreloutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Country Squirrel Outfitters</a>, and the vast outdoor recreational opportunities that the
area offered. In Ridgway, we would find a higher than usual population of
runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t be long before I
started to hear chatter about “Hyner.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In those few years that I was removed from Pennsylvania, Hyner had
become <u>THE </u>trail running event in the Pennsylvania Wilds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had grown from that little known trail
event up there in the little known town of Renovo (or “Renov-Ah” as the locals
call it), to the bar at which local trail runners are measured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People would begin asking “have you ever done
Hyner?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I had done Hyner, but was I
missing something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recalled Hyner
being a wonderful event, being challenging, and well organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I had done events that were more
challenging, more miles, and at higher elevations (over 12,000 feet in
Colorado).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one cared about those
events or even asked about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
people talked about was Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
my running friends would run Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of them make the annual trek to Renovo and run Hyner year after year. More and
more people I knew were running Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone was talking about Hyner and training for Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyner was the focal point of trail running existence.</div>
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The very things that make Hyner so wonderful are also the
things that, in some ways, makes me dislike Hyner. Craig Fleming, the PA Trail
Dogs, the Western Clinton County Sportsmen’s Association and others that have a
hand in organizing the event do an absolute fantastic job in organizing,
hosting, supporting, and advertising the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The post-race party is right there among the best that I have ever
experienced and the aid stations are top notched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pre and post-race trail running camaraderie
at Hyner is exciting enough to bring you back year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the awesome job that those folks
do, along with the magical allure of Hyner, also creates an unbelievable demand
for registration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current event caps
at 1,000 25K runners and 300 50K runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s 1,300 people on some pretty narrow trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This creates a significant amount of
congestion along much of the race course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So much so that, if you find yourself in the wrong pack of runners, you
will actually be reduced to standing and waiting for runners in front of you to
get through the congestion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing and
waiting isn’t exactly how most runners envision a “race.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be incredibly frustrating for those
of us that, more often than not, are accustom to running alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, the event sells out 5 months or more
before the race date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
significant hurdle for those of us that are race registration procrastinators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, the race organizers do a terrific
job of best managing 1,300 runners on race day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My only other criticism is that trekking poles should be abolished in
trail running events of this size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
came to this realization after being stabbed by a trekking pole and tripped by
another set of poles along my 2017 excursion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You might as well hand everyone Samurai swords and let everyone battle
for their position.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hadn’t even considered running Hyner again until
2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With so many of the local running
community talking about Hyner and with so many of my running friends training
for Hyner, I considered giving it another go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The 2016 race quickly sold out and the decision was made for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No worries, it wasn’t high on my bucket list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had done it once before and that was good
enough for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As 2016 was coming to a
close, I didn’t even think much about Hyner in 2017 until, much to my surprise,
my wife started talking about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Miranda, my wife, isn’t much of a runner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least she proclaims that she isn’t a
runner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had previously completed a
half-marathon trail race, but she didn’t run regularly nor did she enjoy running
all that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pretty shocked when
Miranda told me that she wanted to run Hyner in 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then late November or early December
and the open registration spots had already dwindled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She promptly registered for the 2017 event
before it sold out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had just come off of some of the worst running training in
recent years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>June through August of
that year, I was running a measly 4 to 6 miles per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had lost motivation to run, was burnt out
on the sport, and was really enjoying the extra time I was able to spend on the
bicycle(s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that cycling kept me
at a pretty good fitness level, but it wasn’t quite the same as running fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as I was starting to get back into
running in late August and early September, I suffered a bicycle accident that
left me with a broken clavicle. Doc’s orders were no running or cycling for
10-12 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when Miranda told me
she wanted to run Hyner and registered for the event, I was faced with a tough decision
- to Hyner, or not to Hyner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was
the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With open registration
spots continuing to become scarcer, I decided that I would give it another
run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what can only be explained by
the consumption of a good Imperial Stout, I made the decision to register for
the 50K instead of the 25K this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was justified by me telling myself that I had never run the 50K Hyner before,
so it was like running a new race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
running fitness was pretty much at rock bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After 3 months of cycling and nearly no running, which was followed by 2
and a half months of broken clavicle – no running or cycling, I was in no
position to be sanely registering for a 50K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regardless, I threw together a couch to 50K running plan – google didn’t
seem to have any suggestions for that plan, so I just made stuff up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I had been running pretty constantly over more than 2
decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that time I had
completed something like; 15 marathons, several 50Ks and a 50 mile race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t exactly a newbie in distance running
and I had a lot of base training miles under my belt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, my body responded well and I was
able to build up to some respectable mileage in several weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had the luxury of living in an area
that has some pretty awesome trails and a lot of running community
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group runs and group hill
repeats kept me motivated and on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terrain
that is home of the local race event, the <a href="http://www.elkcountyboulderdash.com/" target="_blank">Elk County Boulder Dash</a>, was my
playground, which gave me an ideal venue for training runs and long runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also helped that Miranda was also
training, so occasionally, we, along with our dog, would get to enjoy running
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, to my surprise, Miranda
seemed to actually enjoy (some of) her training runs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Training for the 2017 Hyner Challenge was going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was up to 20-22 mile weekly long runs on
the Boulder Dash trails when Miranda and I both came down with some sort of
flu/cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed an entire week and a
half of running and the nagging cough hung on for weeks following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not exactly what you wanted to have when you
are supposed to be at the peak of your training leading up to a race
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, I managed to salvage
what I could of training opportunities in the few weeks prior to the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The morning of the 2017 Hyner was upon us and we made the
1.5 hour trek from our home to the start of the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drive in to the event was pretty amazing
in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw elk grazing along the
road, whitetailed deer running across the road in front of our Subaru, a porcupine
doing what porcupines do, gray squirrels bouncing here, there and everywhere, and
a raccoon scurrying along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that
in less than a 2 hour drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very essence
of what the Pennsylvania Wilds Region is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we pulled into the registration location
with Hyner View looming above, the folks parking vehicles had it down to a
science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were well organized and
knew exactly what needed to be done to jam some 1,000 vehicles into a grassy field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon our arrival, it wasn’t long until we
started to see familiar faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bob
Bauer, Josh Brock and Jason Lang were among the first to greet us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks from the local running club, The <a href="http://www.elkcountystriders.com/" target="_blank">Elk County Striders</a>, came out in vast numbers for the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty tight-knit group and includes
some pretty badass runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Elk
County Striders were well represented at Hyner 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miranda and I found our way into the
registration building and eagerly accepted our race packet, which included a Hyner
logo tech shirt, the coveted Hyner socks, personalized race bibs with the
runners name, and some other goodies.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtye9YpXZy7tfJJsmhgF_v6tsgL_gNp-bg1Eg07isBNvVkDWFDzKV-UifBcH2TEgHgOmf0SnP77vIWVqkz3Qfs4oi3NpKmB53q0etPwhgxauGy-eRgkrTXfNRmuRIyOV5L0_Jj1v4e5iM/s1600/CSO+AT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtye9YpXZy7tfJJsmhgF_v6tsgL_gNp-bg1Eg07isBNvVkDWFDzKV-UifBcH2TEgHgOmf0SnP77vIWVqkz3Qfs4oi3NpKmB53q0etPwhgxauGy-eRgkrTXfNRmuRIyOV5L0_Jj1v4e5iM/s400/CSO+AT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda & Steve in the Pre-Race Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 50K race was to begin an hour before the 25K and the
start time was fast approaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
rain drops began to fall, we pinned our race numbers on our Country Squirrel
Outfitters tech tees, had another participant take our pre-race photo, and
walked our way from the parking/registration area to the starting line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 50K runners huddled under the pavilion to
stay dry, which, in retrospect, seems kind of pointless considering we were all
about to embark on a journey that would make us drip in sweat and traverse many
stream crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, we all congregated
under the pavilion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some pre-race
announcements from Craig Fleming, the race director, and Cindy Adams- Dunn, the
Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the
50K race began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The start of an ultra
race is usually pretty anti-climactic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aside from a handful of elite runners, the rest of the field usually
starts with a slow waddle or what most runners would describe as “jogging.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyphenhyphenP1OoyXK4FRZ4xAGI_dhvn6qViEX_9jK6Dio615yOEj93uXzHhYdKU5ukjUxtCctBhaXSYY_iHgi8UddUMGafIr-l9DWtzYIsh6rhaaPjJ5iwnlAgfxkfzZkK1F5PhggimxIUyLslQ/s1600/Hyner+View+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyphenhyphenP1OoyXK4FRZ4xAGI_dhvn6qViEX_9jK6Dio615yOEj93uXzHhYdKU5ukjUxtCctBhaXSYY_iHgi8UddUMGafIr-l9DWtzYIsh6rhaaPjJ5iwnlAgfxkfzZkK1F5PhggimxIUyLslQ/s320/Hyner+View+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve at the top of Hyner View in 2017 (Race Bib #218)</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It had been 8 years since I was in this position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traversing the magical mountains and
challenging myself against everything that Hyner could throw at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 6 miles or so of the 50K course
follows the same trails as the 25K course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This includes the big climb up Humble Hill to the top of Hyner View.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to tackle Humble Hill with little
problem, aside from the congestion from some slower runners ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Atop Hyner View I heard a familiar voice,
Jason Lang, who was wearing a Country Squirrel Outfitters hoodie, had found his
way to the top and was taking photos and videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the last time I would hear a
familiar voice or see a familiar face until the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around mile 6, the 50K course breaks away
from the 25K course and follows some different trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This terrain isn’t much different from the
25K course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s much more of the same -
climbing mountains, descending mountains, and traversing stream crossings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt good throughout the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to stay upright and was able to
maintain a nice steady pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aid
stations were well stocked and I took every opportunity to consume as much as I
could at those wonderful buffet stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have always been fortunate and my stomach is as tough as nails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t suffer from the gastrointestinal
issues that many runners experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
probably the only person I know that could actually gain weight during an ultra
event. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around mile 21, the 50K course re-joins the 25K course
(around mile 9 for the 25K runners).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is where we started to intermingle with the 25K runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Passing on your left” followed by “good job,
keep up the good work” became the standard greeting that I would proclaim as I
approached other runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 25K
runners that were still out there on the course were more than happy to step
aside and let the 50K runners pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of them would also offer their own return words of encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we continued to climb up the Johnson Run
stream valley, it became quite interesting and, at times, comical to see the
different methods and techniques that the runners and hikers used to deal with
the vast amounts of water and multiple stream crossings. If you didn’t have
them already, soggy socks were inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final significant climb, takes you up Cleveland Hollow and just as
you think you are about to summit, you are greeted by S.O.B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The appropriately named S.O.B. is a nearly
vertical section of trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s short,
but it is steep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where I tapped
into my scrambling, bouldering and rock climbing experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hands and feet working together are much
better than just a single set of feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many tired and weary runners struggle with this section of trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you reach the top, you pretty much have
it made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final 2 miles is relatively
flat, which is followed by a descent down Huff Run to the paved road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A final mile jaunt down the road, and across
the bridge takes you to the last little climb to the finish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I crossed the bridge and rounded the corner to the final
little climb, I noticed another familiar face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aimee Kemick, one of the 25K runners and a fellow Elk County Strider,
had already completed the race and was walking back to the parking area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave Aimee a high-five and continued my way
up the trail to the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
finish was pretty much as anti-climactic as the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I crossed the timing mat and stopped my
Garmin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was handed the coveted, much
talked about and often photographed Hyner finishers hat – a tan and navy blue
colored one to distinguish me apart from the 25K finishers that received a navy
blue and lime green colored hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My 2017
Hyner 50K finishing time was 6 hours and 44 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was 104 out of 243 finishers in the 50K race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After receiving my finishers hat, I look around for more
familiar faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Searching for Miranda to
see how her race went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard a voice
call my name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joel Noal, a fellow 50K
finisher and a blast from my past, stuck out his hand to greet me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had first met Joel some 15 years ago when I
lived in Hollidaysburg, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, we both
worked out at the same YMCA and we had occasionally done some training runs
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t seen or spoken to
Joel in nearly a decade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After talking
with Joel for a few minutes I continued on, searching the crowed for Miranda
and also eagerly searching for the beer tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I managed to find both within a few feet of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miranda was with the Lampman family – Kathy (a
Country Squirrel Outfitters employee), Gary and their daughter, Abbie, along
with Bob Bauer, and Kevin Brunner – all of which were 25K finishers. The group
swapped battle stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abbie even had
some battle scars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then inhaled 2
pieces of pizza, chugged a bottle of water and enjoyed a nice cold beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a good day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The race was pretty much what I expected and what I
remembered from my experiences 8 years prior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a wonderfully organized and supported event with loads of
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrain is challenging, but
not the hardest thing I’ve ever done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
can certainly eat you up and spit you out if you are unprepared, undertrained, or
inexperienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does Hyner deserve to be
on the pedestal and carry the distinction that many runners give it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that is for each runner to
decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, Hyner is Hyner and
it is something that all trail runners should put on their bucket list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just happy to be able to proclaim “yeah,
I’ve done Hyner.”</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Steve Putt</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Owner, Country Squirrel Outfitters</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
2009 Hyner 25K Finisher</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
2017
Hyner 50K Finisher <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-68191417541648515202014-11-06T16:28:00.000-08:002014-11-06T16:28:17.631-08:00The Ghosts and Goblins Night Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS87jHvhjc8KJz-IhgDSo7bG-nr9Q8tlkFNpCIft_3zRA5qmyiPb0JNYLb_yrXlNHYYNSsUylbY9nuLkfZ7NkZ2qO-bEj_SdXeB_a0-Q1Q7w8K9sYdR5I50PpnjepiEYMxiev22gPidU/s1600/Ghosts+and+Goblins+Ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS87jHvhjc8KJz-IhgDSo7bG-nr9Q8tlkFNpCIft_3zRA5qmyiPb0JNYLb_yrXlNHYYNSsUylbY9nuLkfZ7NkZ2qO-bEj_SdXeB_a0-Q1Q7w8K9sYdR5I50PpnjepiEYMxiev22gPidU/s1600/Ghosts+and+Goblins+Ride.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">
<i>Front row, left to right:David Votano, Shawn Whitaker, Bev Yates,
Aimee Kemick. Back row, left to right: Mitch Powers, Steve Putt, Rick
Gabler, Bill Granche, Kathy Lampman, Jerry Stewart, Bill Gerber.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Liberation Serif","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span class="hasCaption"><i> </i></span>The
first ever Ghosts and Goblins Night Ride hosted by Country Squirrel Outfitters
this past Thursday night (October 30th) was well attended, and all that we had hoped for.
Eleven courageous night riders cleared the way from the Trailhead of the
Clarion-Little Toby Trail all the way down river to the overpass crossing the
railroad tracks making it safe for Halloween, ha. Eleven bold riders rode 17
miles and braved the chill, the night and the ghouls haunting the night. In the
beams of their headlamps and head lights, some swore to have seen a wisp of
movement within the whirl or winds, and the rattle of brush. One rider heard an
unearthly hoot, that when he turned to locate the sound, sent him careening
into the ravine (Actually, a large stone had been unearthed, and the rider
swerved to avoid an endo). What a sight to see lights and reflectors rolling
along in an almost silent, magical, rhythm. The chill was nothing but
invigorating, and all returned unscathed in a refreshed and satisfied mood.
Half of the group celebrated a Thirsty Thursday at Jordan's Bar and Grill on
Main Street where the 3<sup>rd</sup> Annual Winter Solstice Celebration was
planned for December. The first was a winter ride on the trail, but the second
was a run due to the in-climate weather. Be watching the CSO page to learn the
specifics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Liberation Serif","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>- Submitted by "Wild Bill" Granche, CSO Staff Member </i></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-1169742341049833252014-11-04T05:37:00.007-08:002014-11-06T16:08:48.133-08:00A North Carolina AdventureIn October of 2014 the CSO owners, Steve and Miranda, along with their energetic adventure dog, Scout (a one year old English Springer Spaniel), headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for some adventure and gear testing. The primary goal of the trip was to climb Mount Mitchell, which is the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River. However, before heading to the summit of Mount Mitchell, they made a brief stop in West Virginia to explore some trails in and around the New River Gorge. This weekend also happened to be <a href="http://officialbridgeday.com/" target="_blank">Bridge Day</a>, which is the one day per year that the Gorge bridge is open for base jumping, rappelling and other adrenaline junkie activities. After taking in some sites at the bridge, they took a short day hike on the <a href="http://www.newriverwv.com/Recreation_Hiking_Grandview_Rim_Trail.php" target="_blank">Grandview Rim Trail</a> which was a good opportunity to stretch the vehicle cramped legs after a long drive. The Grandview Rim Trail offers some great views of the New River and the valley below. This trail is highly recommended for anyone that is visiting the area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpGa2Jx_a8j_Rpg76EjE5mc9PzSK-HlqVw5xA-nTlB7d-L98XPvGuVMWmRXevNgjoy5l3cNmxO-uT9gdosF5JSH7hyX3KJ9dR7nVWBV2Hse9EK3R6F9huFxVxOBcKDV4TbUuF5EgKzE8/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpGa2Jx_a8j_Rpg76EjE5mc9PzSK-HlqVw5xA-nTlB7d-L98XPvGuVMWmRXevNgjoy5l3cNmxO-uT9gdosF5JSH7hyX3KJ9dR7nVWBV2Hse9EK3R6F9huFxVxOBcKDV4TbUuF5EgKzE8/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(A view of the New River valley from the Grandview Rim Trail)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After leaving the New River Gorge of West Virginia the three travelers headed for Black Mountain, North Carolina. In Black Mountain, they explored the local establishments and The Dripolator Coffee shop, the <a href="http://thetrailheadrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Trailhead Restaurant</a>, and the <a href="http://www.blackmountainrunning.com/" target="_blank">Black Mountain Running Company</a> were among the favorites. Just beyond town there are many trails that visitors can explore. They decided to explore the Lookout Mountain Trail. Again, this is a short 3.8 mile round-trip day hike to the summit of Lookout Mountain, which provides fantastic views. The trail actually proved to be a little more challenging than was initially expected. In addition to the step elevation gain, there was one slightly technical section of trail, near the top, where hikers had to scramble up some rocks. It wasn't anything that the CSO group hadn't tackled before, but a few other hikers on the trail were a little less experienced and had some difficulty with this section of the trail. The views from the top of Lookout Mountain proved to be well worth the effort to get to the top. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0z04fR3bCAxDmh2K1mBXOfm92_8lk6BzUuG3xTglth1ulWp473LeE6kqE4zA6crttmEhnfIrrcp8qlUF9W6dsoY6Ox4c7Os8MyhZIwoWzO6vibjP1ErI5sPcpFX_7pM9L3lsRruo3IXg/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0z04fR3bCAxDmh2K1mBXOfm92_8lk6BzUuG3xTglth1ulWp473LeE6kqE4zA6crttmEhnfIrrcp8qlUF9W6dsoY6Ox4c7Os8MyhZIwoWzO6vibjP1ErI5sPcpFX_7pM9L3lsRruo3IXg/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(A view from the summit of Lookout Mountain)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
After spending some time in and around the town of Black Mountain, the group headed to the Black Mountain Campground, which would be the basecamp for the hike to the summit of Mount Mitchell. Mount Michell stands at 6,684 feet, which makes it the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. There are a few different ways to reach the summit and most choose the easiest route, which is to simply drive your car to the summit. Yes, there is a paved roadway that goes all the way to the summit of this mountain. But what fun and what kind of challenge would driving be? Of course the CSO crew took the less traveled and more challenging route to the top, which is hiking the 11.2 mile (round-trip) Mount Mitchell Trail. Aside from the 4,000+ feet of elevation gain in the 5 mile trek, the trail is not real technical. The challenge isn't a technical one, but it does take persistence and determination. Scout, the Springer Spaniel, would make this his first official "bagged peak" and it was also his birthday. The trip to the summit took about 3.5 hours and the trip back down took about 2.5 hours. It's a nice hike that doesn't require a lot of technical mountaineering or climbing expertise. It's certainly a much better way to experience Mount Mitchell than driving your car to the top. A "must do" for any adventurer. <br />
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<i>(The Country Squirrel Outfitters trio on the Mount Michell Trail) </i></div>
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<i>(Miranda and Scout a the summit of Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet)</i></div>
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<i>(A view from the Summit of Mount Mitchell)</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-33394632097061916342014-09-29T17:33:00.001-07:002014-11-04T05:12:33.442-08:00The Keystone Edge: Choosing the Commonwealth over Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The link below is a great article written by Ta Enos, which was published in the Keystone Edge. The article covers the story of Country Squirrel Outfitters and what brought us to the PA Wilds region. <a href="http://www.keystoneedge.com/features/%20CountrySquirrelOutfitterspawilds092514.aspx" target="_blank">The Keystone Edge Article</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-12673870978837860532014-09-26T07:36:00.002-07:002014-09-26T07:36:55.473-07:00Smethport, PA Bicycle Race<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On September 13, 2014 members of the
CSO cycling team took on the Wheel Around the Hub race in Smethport, PA. This year the team was composed of Steve and
Miranda Putt, owners of CSO, and CSO summer staff member, Matt Frank. Bill Gerber, a regular on the CSO weekly group
rides and a regular CSO customer, also participated in the event and was part
of the team. The four all participated
in the 15 mile event (a 53 mile event is also offered). Steve, Matt and Bill had all participated in
the event in the past, but this was Miranda’s first time. Steve was coming off of a back injury and was
questionable for the event. However, he
decided to participate despite the recent injuries. The morning of the event was “sketchy” at
best. It had rained, heavily, during the
entire trip from Ridgway to Smethport.
The rain stopped just before the start of the race, but overhead clouds
would periodically spit out some rain drops through the event. The course was a little troublesome as it was
still wet in places and road repairs and construction in the area made things
challenging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The event is a fund raiser for the
Smethport volunteer fire department. It
is a race that is held annually and it gets its heritage from the bicycle races
that were held in Smethport in the late 1800’s.
The modern-day bicycle races in
Smethport have been running for the last decade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The CSO team of four ended up
bringing home some hardware from the awards ceremony. Matt, who managed to stick with the lead peloton
throughout the race, was the first in his age group and was 4<sup>th</sup> overall.
Miranda finished 3<sup>rd</sup> overall
in the women’s division. Steve, with his
ailing back, peddled to an 11<sup>th</sup> place overall finish, just behind
the lead peloton. Bill finished a respectable
16<sup>th</sup> overall and only a few minutes behind Steve. Once again, the event was well organized and
was very spectator friendly. The
Smethport Fire Depart also hosted a great after party with music, food, and
awards ceremony. A video of the race,
shot from a GoPro camera mounted to Steve’s bike, can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaTUBFMuskQ" target="_blank">Bike Race Video</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-79071414035396333082014-08-25T06:31:00.001-07:002014-08-25T06:31:47.115-07:00On The Trail “Messing About in Boats” –– Clarion River<span style="color: #0b5394;">Below is an article written by Gary Thornbloom (PA Chapter of the Sierra Club) concerning his recent experience of paddling the Clarion River.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On The Trail</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Messing About
in Boats” –– Clarion River</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mole after a hard morning of spring chores strolls down to
the riverside and thinks this is as good as life gets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then meets Water Rat, who astounded that
Mole has never been in a boat invites him aboard, and off they go on an
adventure down the river “messing about in boats.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the beginning of Kenneth Grahame’s
children’s classic <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Wind in the
Willows</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paddling the Clarion River 9 miles from Portland Mills to
Irwin is 9 miles of paddling with the Allegheny National Forest, river right,
and State Game Land 44, river left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Public Lands in Pennsylvania!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whether hiking or paddling, our common wealth of Public Lands
consistently provides the most rewarding opportunities for exploring and
enjoying our outdoor heritage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">The town of Ridgway was
my starting point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once there I met
Sean Robinson, a New Yorker who fell in love with the Allegheny National Forest
on childhood visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While searching for
locations from this past he discovered Ridgway, and now has a home there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was my guide for the day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Country Squirrel Outfitters <a href="http://www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com/"><span style="color: #000099;">www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com</span></a>
, owned by friends of Sean’s, provided us with a canoe and a shuttle to the put
in at Portland Mills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Country Squirrel
has what you need –– advice, gear, boats,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>shuttle, map –– to get you on the river.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The Clarion River cuts through the Allegheny Plateau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section includes flood plains well above
the normal river level, although debris in branches overhead show how much
water can move down this river at flood stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4 - 5 feet is a comfortable level for paddlers (it was just under 3.7’
when we paddled it) - check the Ridgway USGS Gauge online, or contact the outfitters
to learn the flow level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Large boulders along the river are nice lunch stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small beaches and campsites on the ANF bank
are additional potential stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a fairly isolated stretch of stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
highway that usually parallels so many miles of PA rivers, is missing along
this stretch - Public Lands!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camping is
allowed on the ANF side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ghost town of Arroyo at mile 79 (river right) along with
traces of cribs used to anchor log booms, a mill race, and a dam are echoes of
the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polluted water was a legacy of
industry - coal, timber, tanning, paper - that is part of the exploitation of
PA’s forests and waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Clarion,
once known as the most polluted stream in PA, has improved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooperative efforts that include sportsmen,
industry, and government have cleaned up the river, and now trout and bass are
living in its water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most visible impact of the past is that only a few white
pine tower above the river banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
the pre-industrial forest was solid with hemlock and white pine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That forest is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A forest consisting of mostly hardwoods has
returned, and today we find it a to be beautiful forest,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>particularly where Public Lands, like State
Game Land 44 and the ANF, have protected the land long enough for the forest
and its wildlife to return.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps the most impressive return has been that of our
national symbol, the bald eagle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bald
eagles were nearly extirpated from PA by 1983.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the necessary habitat, banning of some pesticides, and game
management bald eagles have returned in impressive numbers, from 3 nesting
pairs in 1983 to 197 pairs in 2010.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sean hoped we would see bald eagles and we were not
disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mature eagle took off
from a riverside tree top, and spiraled high above the downstream ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its high pitched cry was soon answered by a
second eagle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That eagle landed in a
tree and Sean pointed out that there did not seem to be any white on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once it took off we could see it was an
immature eagle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Geese and goslings swam along the bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They likely have not yet grown their flight
feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kingfishers darted back and
forth across the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally we
drifted and listened to a few songbirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We saw 2 deer, but none of the bear and otters others have
noted while paddling here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One decent
sized snake was sunning itself on a large boulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some small fish, possibly a trout, and a bass
that broke the surface of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sean, an avid fly fisherman, took note of the insects coming off the
water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were no other paddlers on the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The few people we saw were along the bank and
had likely walked in along trails from the Public Access boat launch
sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were fishing, swimming in
the large pools, and enjoying the river.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At modest water flow levels this is a very forgiving stretch
of river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However the last two miles
include the X Y Z Rapids, three distinct short rapids that require avoiding
some rocks and ledges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are short
and allow for reasonable recovery at the end of each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intermediate paddlers will likely enjoy the
challenge of these rapids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rapids
are a legacy of the Clarion River navigation Company, which removed the
waterfall called Old Falls Rock in 1871.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paddling and hiking on Pennsylvania’s Public Lands often
includes both the beauty of the natural world, as well as the legacy of past
industrial activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public Lands often
ended up public once industry had exploited the resources and moved on and the
despoiled land was purchased by our government, both State and Federal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public Lands are lands that are in the public
trust and should be protected for not only us, but also for future
genereations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">Public Lands are among
our best opportunities to enjoy and explore the outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section of the Clarion River, protected
between the Allegheny National Forest and State Game Lands 44, is the perfect
place to enjoy a day on the river and like Water Rat you too may come to
believe that “there is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nothing</i>—absolutely
nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="con3"></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Gary Thornbloom is the
Co-Chair of the Public Lands Committee, PA Chapter Sierra Club; he can be
reached at </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="mailto:bearknob@verizon.net"><span class="Hyperlink1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">bearknob@verizon.net</span></i></span></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-31458194502229447122014-08-19T12:25:00.001-07:002014-08-19T12:31:31.006-07:00Kinzua Country Tango Adventure Race<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wKpEP8IgzMLqDOIBt6ZfHw44vp4gBgSTNxPmUlr8jqR2ON1K4gSuvQYYVnHlSDVCU2sZXYn_XXTeiBS9D26IrAfMKOoRF5SBz3qfnlpRDJaIjf3BXtix7rpsO9nLsf-dpQDePwj-anY/s1600/Tango+Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wKpEP8IgzMLqDOIBt6ZfHw44vp4gBgSTNxPmUlr8jqR2ON1K4gSuvQYYVnHlSDVCU2sZXYn_XXTeiBS9D26IrAfMKOoRF5SBz3qfnlpRDJaIjf3BXtix7rpsO9nLsf-dpQDePwj-anY/s1600/Tango+Team.jpg" height="185" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>CSO Adventure Team</b>: <i>Left to Right</i>: Nick Irwin (20 mile mountain bike & 8 mile canoe), Miranda Putt (6 mile orienteering), Shawnee Mohney (2.2 mile swim), Mike Knarr (4.5 mile run), Steve Putt (half marathon run & 6 mile orienteering) and Matt Frank (8 mile canoe & swimmer safety support in the kayak)</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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On August 2, 2014 the Country
Squirrel Outfitters staff participated in the <a href="http://www.kinzuacountrytango.com/" target="_blank">Kinzua Country Tango Adventure Race</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Tango” as it is usually referred
to, is a series of 6 different stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each stage offers a different challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first stage is a half-marathon(13.1 mile) run, which begins at the
<a href="http://www.warrenymca.org/" target="_blank">Warren YMCA</a>, takes runners across the Kinzua dam and ends at the transition
zone (Kinzua Beach) where the second stage begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second stage is a 20 mile non-technical
mountain bike ride through the local forest roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stage 3 challenges participants with a 2.2
mile open lake swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A team member in a canoe
or kayak follows the swimmer to ensure safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stage 4 is a 6+ mile orienteering course in and around Jakes Rocks
overlook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stage 5 is a 4.5 mile run and
stage 6, the final stage, is an 8 mile canoe paddle on the Allegheny River toward
the YMCA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several different
categories of competition. Our Country Squirrel Outfitters team participated in
the Corporate Relay division, which means that all of the team members worked
for the same “corporation.” I'm not sure CSO really classifies as a "corporation" since we only have 8 people on staff, but that is the race division we competed in. I believe most of the other teams in our division were from much larger companies.<br />
</div>
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This was our first attempt at the
Tango.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make things even more
interesting, we decided to use <a href="http://www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com/rentals.html" target="_blank">CSO rental equipment</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The canoe (Mad River Journey 156), kayak
(Perception Prodigy 10.0) and mountain bike (Cannondale Trail 7) that we used
during the adventure race is the same equipment that we rent on a regular
basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t break any records, but
we sure had a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up
placing 5<sup>th</sup> out of 16 teams in the corporate relay division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A respectable finish for a bunch of Tango
rookies using rental equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
overall time was 9 hours and 2 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We were within 18 minutes of second place in the division.
</span>We look forward to taking on the Tango again in the future.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-90529547563192126022014-07-25T11:08:00.000-07:002014-07-25T11:08:01.477-07:00CSO Canoe & Kayak Launch Gets an Upgrade<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtV5anL5YGOodpFvr7B88IOGFKBjCfSEWciv2dEcVG0xutduelRZXKjLG89EnB1vXl40ft8zKixGjzzxDWfDcUus2YnPYPkyDbc6_D2LfWS7zBSkxUpfHu5iVyH5Z74YCut8Fcni6_qI/s1600/Geoweb+before+stone+fill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtV5anL5YGOodpFvr7B88IOGFKBjCfSEWciv2dEcVG0xutduelRZXKjLG89EnB1vXl40ft8zKixGjzzxDWfDcUus2YnPYPkyDbc6_D2LfWS7zBSkxUpfHu5iVyH5Z74YCut8Fcni6_qI/s1600/Geoweb+before+stone+fill.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
(Geoweb panel before limestone is placed inside)<br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In early summer, the Country Squirrel Outfitters canoe/kayak
lunch received a little love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
existing launch wasn’t much more than an eroded dirt footpath to the Clarion
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been this way for many
years under the previous ownership and it was time for an upgrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first step was to obtain the necessary permits from
the <a href="http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/dep_home/5968" target="_blank">PA Department of Environmental Protection</a> (DEP), which came in the form of
a General Permit #2 for boat ramps and docks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This authorization was obtained in the fall of 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next step was to determine the method
that would be used to stabilize the launch area surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the steepness of the embankment, simply
adding stone to the launch would not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through his work in the conservation field, Steve the CSO owner, had
worked with a product called <a href="http://www.prestogeo.com/geoweb_cellular_confinement" target="_blank">Geoweb</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Geoweb is a cellular confinement system that has many different
uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its primary uses include; slope
stabilization, storm water management controls, and pervious parking areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geoweb was chosen for the new canoe/kayak launch
application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A local Ridgway area
contractor, Bill Kinkead Excavating, was chosen as the contractor to do the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Construction began with grading the old launch
to provide a level surface to install the Geoweb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plan was to establish a walkway that was
approximately 8 feet wide and 30 feet long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once the new walkway was established to grade, a layer of geotextile separation
fabric was installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This material is
used to create a separation barrier between the subsurface soils and the new
materials that will be placed on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Geoweb panel was then installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We chose to use a single panel with a rise of 4 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The panel was stretched to approximately 7.5’x27.5’
in size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The corners and edges of the
Geoweb panel was staked in place until the void spaces could be filled with
stone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in place, the Geoweb panel was
filled with 2A limestone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Limestone was
chose over sandstone because of its durability and the added alkalinity that
limestone adds to the water, which is an added environmental benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the canoe/kayak launch was completed,
the small disturbed areas were seeded and covered with straw mulch to minimize the
potential for erosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The whole project took about a half of a day to complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new launch has been in place for about 2
months now and it is holding up very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a huge improvement over the old launch area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were certainly cheaper and easier ways
to establish a new canoe launch, but we wanted something that would last a long
time and would also provide some added environmental benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the methods and techniques used on our
new launch, we were able to meet several primary goals: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Reduce erosion and sedimentation that was occurring
at the old launch</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Provide a stable and firm surface that would
provide better traction for the users, which results in a safety improvement.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Utilize an innovative technology that isn’t
common in our area, which may serve as an educational tool or demonstration
project.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Utilize limestone to provide much needed
alkalinity to the Clarion River watershed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-46806900293170453922014-07-21T09:08:00.000-07:002014-07-21T09:08:38.318-07:00Pennsylvania Wilds "Small Business of the Year"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaTmSM6dlqR9ZIyHntnj2JgMozd4h-aZByPpTiCyZXbyhp7ZGUo7yzL4NaP6Yh3HPoeP8KHMy0nZyOH1pVr7C2jNE4vvUjUvKhBEs6f4QXRM7NnDeuDmBle5iJU6kNRuSfhZZOULZNC4/s1600/campion+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaTmSM6dlqR9ZIyHntnj2JgMozd4h-aZByPpTiCyZXbyhp7ZGUo7yzL4NaP6Yh3HPoeP8KHMy0nZyOH1pVr7C2jNE4vvUjUvKhBEs6f4QXRM7NnDeuDmBle5iJU6kNRuSfhZZOULZNC4/s1600/campion+award.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">On May 15, 2014 <a href="http://www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Country Squirrel Outfitters</a> was awarded as the 2014 "Small Business of the Year." CSO was awarded this distinction from the many small business that are found throughout the 12 county PA Wilds region in north central Pennsylvania. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The annual dinner and awards banquet, now in its seventh year, is hosted by the PA Wilds Planning Team, a group comprised of planners from the region’s 12 county governments and other local, state and federal stakeholders from the public and private sectors. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-b908c553-06d0-3dce-7e7a-971d817040e0"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="http://www.pawildsresources.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pennsylvania Wilds</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> region includes the counties of Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton, Cameron, Elk, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield and the northern part of Centre county. We are very proud our this distinction and we are happy that we can be a part of the wonderful outdoor opportunities that abound in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.</span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-66640874412747549302014-04-09T11:27:00.000-07:002014-04-10T05:14:37.482-07:00Midway's Tale of Hiking the AT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLuT8KnUM3mv7q85AxY52xIGwO6xwinUJ4L_ZaEu9ykiafjnRGBe7vrr35TOT51TMnmu0-3EinGZqvsm4RCh3l-oiCBrI0GJzcfG_D9DuY5kn4G8T3XS9H1tfiTq-EUDn_3glT4TbbC4/s1600/IMG_0246%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLuT8KnUM3mv7q85AxY52xIGwO6xwinUJ4L_ZaEu9ykiafjnRGBe7vrr35TOT51TMnmu0-3EinGZqvsm4RCh3l-oiCBrI0GJzcfG_D9DuY5kn4G8T3XS9H1tfiTq-EUDn_3glT4TbbC4/s1600/IMG_0246%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
I suppose in a positive sense, one
might say I was infected, inspired in a positive way. What I caught was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a sense of urgency, enthusiasm, a sense of
purpose, motivation and desire, the need to hike, not just to walk, but to
hike, get close to nature, and learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Midway is responsible, in that regard, infectious for all that..
Anybody who missed meeting Midway this past Saturday at The Country Squirrel
Outfitters store in down town Ridgway, missed out on her sharing the experience
on the <a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail" target="_blank">Appalachian Trail </a>(AT). Midway did that, accepted that challenge and
decided to hike the trail, started in northern Georgia and hiked, hiked with a
backpack weighing about thirty-five pounds, hiked across thirteen states, hiked
north to Maine and arrived as a new person or in her words, “a different person
a changed person.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
might think that “Midway”, a tall and lean woman of athletic build, a hiking
machine with dark hair cropped short, a necessity on the trail, that the
name<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>isn't appropriate for a lady, but
it's her badge of honor, a name with which she was christened while on the
2,100 mile trek. It was a name given her by her fellow “white blazers”, people
who followed the trail north, taking no short cuts, “NOBO's” northern bound
hikers who were sharing the path identified by white markers. By now one might
be asking what her real name is. I'm not telling. She likes her name, Midway,
she earned it as she was approaching the halfway mark on the trail, and she
decided it fit since it also matched her age, halfway to a longevity goal she
established for herself. She earned the name, and she prefers it. Ask her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>yourself if you bump into her walking down
town. She's visiting, making new career plans involving hiking and supplying
hikers with nutrition, partnering in planning with Abbi Peters, the director of
Elk County Counsel on the Arts.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
her age, most people start dreaming about retirement, but not Midway. She
decided to challenge herself, leave the comfort of her situation in California,
put her career on hold, and hike the AT. Don't mistake that as a casual
undertaking, a 2,100 mile walk. She was never a serious endurance athlete and
never attempted anything like it, but she did “walk” around her neighborhood,
on exercise “trails” and managed to build up to seven miles a day before she
started her adventure. She took a hike.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
Once she got started and accustomed
to the demands, her daily hikes averaged fifteen to twenty miles a day.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was a lot Midway hadn't considered, but she became a quick learner, and she
learned the skills of coping with the challenges nature and the trail had to
offer, from the simple to the demanding, from setting up her tent and finding
water, to scaling boulders along the way, climbing with that thirty-five pound pack
on her back. She learned about dealing with the weather, the rain and wind, the
thunder and lightening, and she learned about staying warm. Midway learned. She
learned to find her way on a trail that wasn't always marked as often as a city
dweller like me would want, and she learned to deal with a scarcity of water,
food and permanent shelters. Everything she needed, she carried in her pack,
and along the way, the pack was modified. She learned about the essentials, and
in Thoreau's words, she learned to “simplify, simplify, simplify.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Midway
learned she didn't need more than one change of clothing. She learned that a
baggie could be priceless, and she learned how to use garbage bags as
insulation. She learned that make-up wasn't a necessity on the AT, and she
learned that people can be “angels” providing something she could use and just
at the right moment too. She learned that there are “magic” moments on the
trail, finding or seeing sights that one wouldn't expect to find in a rustic or
primitive setting. She learned to live sweaty, that showers and a roof over
ones head could be a blessing, that a Snickers bar was better than money. She
learned that she could be a warrior, stare down a bear, maybe just curious,
maybe hungry, but she learned she could scare it off by herself standing tall,
arms high and wide with her walking sticks and yelling for the bear to leave.
She learned she could do what eighty percent of those who tried could not do,
that is, finish the trail! She set her goal and would not be denied, one step
at a time, her mantra developed, and she hiked the 2,100 miles and realized
that she changed herself along the way.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I've
read Bill Bricen's book, <u>A Walk in the Woods</u> and Cheryl Strayed's true
adventure, <u>Wild</u>, and I was impressed and started thinking about once
again trying out some backpacking for myself. But they were nothing like Midway
for neither of them had completed the entire trail. I'd done quite a bit of
camping and hiking as a scout some forty-five years ago, and about seven years
ago, I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>even went out with a few friends,
sorely prepared as I was, for an overnighter on the Quehanna Trail, not far
from Ridgway. It was an experience that confirmed I'd never sleep on the ground
again. But after my “Midway” encounter, my new found “infection”, I'm more
convinced than ever, that backpacking is something I want to give another
chance, a more serious effort. I already have most of what I need, now all I
have to do is go, and every time I think of Midway's enthusiasm, the sense of
glory in which she lives, I know I'm getting closer to starting that adventure
every day.</div>
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">-<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Submitted by Bill Granche, CSO Staff Member </span></span></span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-41905587627528784072014-03-06T11:16:00.001-08:002014-04-23T08:31:15.753-07:00Aronld Sports Festival 5K Pump & Run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZXFt0ZWQK4lIalvnraT5Gzgs4KLwLtVYXP5NZfz-mggiNFwCNF6cPZxLPs__3VD5lDonGodUILjLx3em8IehGntqZG-bttlRCpwZ41zbqqQdmBeXvv_jBEsK_1N0DbUjn88WEWdp24Q/s1600/Arnold+5K+Pump++Run+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZXFt0ZWQK4lIalvnraT5Gzgs4KLwLtVYXP5NZfz-mggiNFwCNF6cPZxLPs__3VD5lDonGodUILjLx3em8IehGntqZG-bttlRCpwZ41zbqqQdmBeXvv_jBEsK_1N0DbUjn88WEWdp24Q/s1600/Arnold+5K+Pump++Run+(2).jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></div>
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I've come to believe that the arrival of spring is a hoax,
or that it's eminent arrival has been greatly exaggerated. Since those of us
who love to ride, swim and kayak have been put on hold due to the grip of the
"polar vortex" nailed over PA, I've decided to share an alternative
training routine.</div>
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Five years ago my brother invited me to
share a new experience, the Arnold 5K Pump and Run, held as part of the <a href="http://arnoldsportsfestival.com/" target="_blank">Arnold SchwarzeneggerSpring Sports Festival</a> held every March for the past 14 years in Columbus,
Ohio.</div>
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A pump and run involves benching ones
body weight as many times as possible to receive a time reduction on the 5 K
held as a group race after all the participants have benched their weight or a
percentage of it. (Every decade after 40 receives a 10% handicap. A 45 year old
would bench 90% of his weight, and a 55 year old would get a 20% advantage
benching only 80%.) It's a format that levels the running times as well as the
lifts. The reductions I've seen vary between being awarded 15 and 30
seconds deductions for the 5 K time the individual runs. If a person benches
his weight 10 times with a 30 second handicap award, that runner would get a 5
minute deduction so a 25 minute 5K would actually become a 20 minute final
time. It's a sort of biathlon, testing strength and endurance in two events,
lifting and running, and the bonus, if that may be a consideration, is it can
all be done indoors in a weight room and on a tread mill.</div>
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I recently competed in the 14th Annual
5K Pump and Run this the weekend of March 2nd. There were 967 entrants, but
with the "Titan Storm" hitting that day, I'm sure there were some no
shows. Luckily, most of my runs were done outdoors with fellow <a href="http://users.penn.com/~bczappa/" target="_blank">Elk County Striders</a> and CSO
patrons, Ken Huey, Aimee Kemick or Steve Putt. On very cold days, (temps below
15-20 with high wind chills) I ran the "dread mill". After a weigh-in
wearing running attire and shoes, I tipped in at 160, received a 30% deduction
(being 64) and managed to bench my handicapped weight of 110 pounds 28 times.
(Most competitions set 30 as the maximum.) I ran a 24:58 in a blizzard where I
quickly determined that if I could avoid the sliding, tumbling, pirouetting and
or skating runners, it would enable me to finish the race upright. The 28 reps
gave me a 14:00 deduction which resulted in a finish time of 10:58, good enough
to place 83rd in the field, and first (I think) in my age group. </div>
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This kind of training is perfect for all
sport training as it builds strength, bone density and aerobics. Lifting helps
to prevent the sort of bone injuries people experience from simply running,
strengthens the core needed for cycling, paddling, swimming and running while
it breaks the monotony of other simply endurance training. The weight room is
also a good place to meet like-minded friends who appreciate the values of a
healthy life style. If you see an ad for an up-coming pump and run, I'd
strongly encourage participation, not only for the personal satisfaction, but
for strengthening and variety in training for one provides.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>- Submitted by Bill Granche, CSO Staff Member </i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwmpIzLwiu4RkqnPLQkoYxN6P1ck9qu7xfKoHXQHMAVN_S9lwra0AUrn3H4guhd3kkm98btHxNhkH02OZHpc8SqpKvBILVJ3BVUIDTjEsoj87hpq5MsldMwgPzvUNkmZQGAGH2vEU_qk/s1600/T-Rex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwmpIzLwiu4RkqnPLQkoYxN6P1ck9qu7xfKoHXQHMAVN_S9lwra0AUrn3H4guhd3kkm98btHxNhkH02OZHpc8SqpKvBILVJ3BVUIDTjEsoj87hpq5MsldMwgPzvUNkmZQGAGH2vEU_qk/s1600/T-Rex.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The 15<sup>th</sup> Annual <a href="http://www.chainsawrendezvous.org/" target="_blank">Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous</a>
was held February 22 through March 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The event features talented artists from all around the world and they converge
on the small town of Ridgway, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
artists utilize chainsaws and other types of carving/sanding tools to form
amazing art from pieces of wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
unique event has become a featured event of the Pennsylvania Wilds Region and
draws in thousands of people every year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Possibly the highlight of the event was the large T-Rex dinosaur carving
that was on display in the Country Squirrel Outfitters parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event is capped off on the last Saturday with
a public auction where a piece of art from each carver is auctioned off for
sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gives people the opportunity
to bid on artwork and get great deals on one of a kind wooden carvings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t had the chance to see this
event in action, you certainly need to plan to attend next February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-35386580224078548922014-01-31T06:24:00.004-08:002014-01-31T06:24:56.253-08:00Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbZWJt8wWmoymiBJd00cWvGg5TysOz-JFZwYL4H7ZQwXAtymKXos5zzhkcVSIXGH89wD-6FfmKB_4YpJNfgqq2k4YNdYVz6C1OlA8DhRCeW8Y0SFbhunbmRKbgwowenEpxfDESqLur1Y/s1600/sports+show+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbZWJt8wWmoymiBJd00cWvGg5TysOz-JFZwYL4H7ZQwXAtymKXos5zzhkcVSIXGH89wD-6FfmKB_4YpJNfgqq2k4YNdYVz6C1OlA8DhRCeW8Y0SFbhunbmRKbgwowenEpxfDESqLur1Y/s1600/sports+show+logo.png" height="186" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On
January 25th and 26th Country Squirrel Outfitters participated in the Greater
Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show in Olean, New York. This was the fifth year for the event, which
is hosted by the Olean Chamber of Commerce and is held at the Good Times of
Olean Events Center. The show featured
40 vendors and was attended by over 2,200 visitors. Country Squirrel Outfitters offered free
snowshoe demos as well as kayak, snowshoe, cycling, climbing and PA Wilds
visitor information.</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-5337547146886505342014-01-08T11:13:00.003-08:002014-01-08T11:14:29.710-08:00Schwinn vs Schwinn Signature Series <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuju10AjvKxEVuJsoFdh9HHXfOnOEy-4-BnzFYtjqfvvwW12KEeS_9A_wMwUROEw-NWn4sLVoXTROzffnLLOYGrYb38Gxu5HlvrrN4SSu87ZZ3W6uK7bR0RjxHDF3y7Zyw39ceQ4K2SMY/s1600/Stingray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuju10AjvKxEVuJsoFdh9HHXfOnOEy-4-BnzFYtjqfvvwW12KEeS_9A_wMwUROEw-NWn4sLVoXTROzffnLLOYGrYb38Gxu5HlvrrN4SSu87ZZ3W6uK7bR0RjxHDF3y7Zyw39ceQ4K2SMY/s1600/Stingray.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schwinn Stingray advertisement from 1963</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We’ve probably all heard of the bicycle brand name “<a href="http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/bikes/" target="_blank">Schwinn</a>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you didn’t have one when you were a kid,
then you probably knew someone who did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, we’re talking about a company that started manufacturing
bikes in 1895.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Schwinn brand was a
staple and industry leader for much of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Models such as the Stingray, Continental,
Varsity, and World were around for decades and many of us have probably pedaled
one of these in our lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with
many companies, Schwinn fell on hard times and eventually went bankrupt in 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Schwinn brand was eventually purchased by
Dorel Industries and is alive and well again today.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Currently the Schwinn brand is divided into two different
markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schwinn bicycles are sold at
larger retailer stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the
mass produced Schwinn bikes that are sold at stores such as; Walmart, K-mart,
Sears, Toys R Us, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dunhams and other larger chain
stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schwinn bikes typically have a
lower price point (some starting at about $100) and are available for the entry
level or casual rider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second
category available under the Schwinn brand name is the "Schwinn Signature Series."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schwinn Signature bikes are only available at
independent bike dealers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where
Country Squirrel Outfitters comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Schwinn Signature bikes are one of the bike brands that we offer through
CSO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schwinn Signature bikes are suited
more for the experienced rider and have a little higher price point (ranging
from about $300 to $1,500).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walmart (and
other mass retailers) that sell Schwinn bikes are not able to sell the Signature
Series bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, independent bike
dealers that sell Schwinn Signature Series bikes are not able to sell the entry
level Schwinn bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this means is
that you will not be able to purchase a Schwinn Signature Series Voyager bike
at Target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, you will not be able
to purchase a Schwinn Merge bike at Country Squirrel Outfitters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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So what makes a Schwinn Signature Series bike different than
a regular Schwinn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all in the
components and materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lower end
bikes will sometimes be produced using materials such as steel or plastic where
Signature Series bikes utilize aluminum or stainless steel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Signature Series bikes usually have higher
quality (lighter weight and more durable) components (shifters, brakes, wheels,
tires, cranks, etc.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These differences
might not even be noticeable unless you are a gear junkie (like us) and you
know the difference between Shimano Alivio shifters and Shimano XTR shifters
and know that there is about a $220 price difference between those two
shifters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how do you know the
difference between a Signature Series and a regular Schwinn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from the differences in components, Schwinn
Signature Series bikes will be clearly labeled somewhere on the frame.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Schwinn makes some great bikes for every level of
rider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also make many bikes that
are great for riding on the Clarion-Little Toby Rails to Trails (or any other
bike path type of trail).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this type
of riding, we recommend you check out the “<a href="http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/bikes/hybrid" target="_blank">hybrid</a>” or "<a href="http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/bikes/bike-path" target="_blank">bike path</a>” collections
offered by Schwinn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
interested in a Schwinn bike, stop in and talk to us and we can help you
through the process of choosing the right bike for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-61391164246549218762013-12-31T08:43:00.001-08:002013-12-31T08:43:12.405-08:00What is a Fatbike?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYS6GOPyz2GEjPTUwl03h8i64OesbA3lNREvIxInDM4T_jVlDZv4Rq9PP2tirba4WYeB_Xj68kMlTKLWBOXOypTkJNx5C46NSO7cJXOiH1HqtTzAKmkZbA-WG_qvqLlsdjMEwX59TgJxU/s1600/2014+surly+pugsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYS6GOPyz2GEjPTUwl03h8i64OesbA3lNREvIxInDM4T_jVlDZv4Rq9PP2tirba4WYeB_Xj68kMlTKLWBOXOypTkJNx5C46NSO7cJXOiH1HqtTzAKmkZbA-WG_qvqLlsdjMEwX59TgJxU/s320/2014+surly+pugsley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 Surly Pugsley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6uadTs4CklWcU4suriXoyMhDJhV-K8GQIqohyphenhyphenBreFZIWivn_wbCnjnvMIrn7lcvZ1pKZBGsJxrAj4uVwrF_q4_JVazD2yjyaNVgH1tMd0cVl7Xi0-_4aZM_AHZdfIkjTAM4I2PJtpNs/s1600/Camo_bike_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6uadTs4CklWcU4suriXoyMhDJhV-K8GQIqohyphenhyphenBreFZIWivn_wbCnjnvMIrn7lcvZ1pKZBGsJxrAj4uVwrF_q4_JVazD2yjyaNVgH1tMd0cVl7Xi0-_4aZM_AHZdfIkjTAM4I2PJtpNs/s320/Camo_bike_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cogburn CB4 in RealTree camo with archery rack.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have walked into Country Squirrel Outfitters anytime over
the last several months, you probably noticed one of our Surly Pugsley “fatbikes”
among the other mountain bikes available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Usually people ask “what is <i>THIS</i> for?”, while others simply squeeze the
big tires, grin, and continue shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even if you aren’t a bike enthusiast, a fatbike is sure to catch your
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that leads us to the
question of “what is a fatbike?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
fatbike is a mountain bike with oversized wide tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually the tires are 3.7 inches or wider and
are designed for riding on soft, unstable terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously a 4 inch tire won’t fit on just any
mountain bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These bikes have frames
and forks that a specifically designed to accommodate the wider tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why the larger tires?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wider tire allows you to take your bike
in places that you normally wouldn’t be able to take your average mountain bike
– mainly, sand and snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although these
bikes may have originally been designed for places that are covered in sand and
snow, their increase in popularity has caused many riders to venture into other
types of terrain and other types of riding conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been found that fatbikes actually
perform quite well in all types of conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even those rocky, muddy, leaf littered trails we call single track here
on the east coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fatbikes are no
longer just for beach bums and Alaskans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many people are using fatbikes as their everyday go-to mountain bike.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fatbikes go beyond being just a mountain bike with wide
tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most are equipped with mounting
points for racks, bags and other accessories, which allows you to equip your
bike for a long adventure into the backcountry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These bikes have spawned a new subspecies of cyclist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cyclist that is not afraid of any type of
terrain, rides year round, and needs to carry a lot of gear for their extended
trip into the backcountry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many fatbike
races have popped up around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of which are in places like Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps one of the most
demanding is the 1000 mile <a href="http://www.alaskaultrasport.com/alaska_ultra_home_page.html" target="_blank">Iditarod Trail Invitational</a>, which takes place on
the famed Iditarod dog sled route in Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fatbikes are also appealing to the outdoorsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a quiet (compared to an ATV) way to
expand your hunting or fishing range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bikes like the Cogburn CB4 (pictured above) are designed with the
sportsman in mind, come in camouflage colors, and can be accessorized with
racks to carry your fishing rod, rifle, shotgun or archery equipment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although fatbikes are the most popular type of bicycle on
the market today (they are hugely popular in western states and are often sold
out at many western bike shops), fatbikes certainly aren’t for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if you are looking for a different
type of cycling experience and looking to go beyond what you thought were your
cycling limits, then a fatbike might just be the ticket you are looking for. Fatbikes usually start at around $1,700 and go up from there. They are now available in different types of materials (steel, aluminum, and carbon) and are available in both 26" and 29" tires.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fatbikes have been around for a few years now and more and
more manufacturers are offering fatbikes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Country Squirrel Outfitters has a number of fatbikes
available (usually through special order) including the <a href="http://www.cogburnoutdoors.com/" target="_blank">Cogburn CB4</a>, <a href="http://surlybikes.com/bikes/pugsley" target="_blank">Surly Pugsley</a>, <a href="http://surlybikes.com/bikes/pug_ops" target="_blank">Surly Pugsley Ops</a>, <a href="http://surlybikes.com/bikes/moonlander" target="_blank">Surly Moonlander</a>, and the <a href="http://www.chargebikes.com/bicycle-collection/cooker-maxi" target="_blank">Charge Cooker Maxi</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So, if you are looking for a little bit of cycling adventure in your life, stop in CSO and ask about a fatbike. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-53001474431752104052013-11-27T12:05:00.001-08:002013-11-27T12:05:35.530-08:00The Value of Shopping Local<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K2fnVT13GLY_cKLoYIh50835yN5XHvQi4xaROboq2j5MrWPDWco_WHczN4GK1Z-v_x1ob9JHWF2ou_aEn3gMMDVnqkruUljlrE39zZ3j7Q4s1SKOZWw7tql3DNhXl8ZFSIX9BOIfsyk/s1600/Support+Local.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K2fnVT13GLY_cKLoYIh50835yN5XHvQi4xaROboq2j5MrWPDWco_WHczN4GK1Z-v_x1ob9JHWF2ou_aEn3gMMDVnqkruUljlrE39zZ3j7Q4s1SKOZWw7tql3DNhXl8ZFSIX9BOIfsyk/s1600/Support+Local.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Many label “Black Friday” as the
official start of the holiday shopping season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also seems that the recent trend by many of the “big box stores”
(call them what you want; corporate stores, chain stores, department stores,
etc.) have started their Black Friday specials long before Black Friday even
arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have gone as far as offer
special deals on Thanksgiving Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
you head out to do your holiday shopping this season, I want to remind you of
the importance of shopping local.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Local”
doesn’t always mean the store that is closest to your house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Local” in this case means the locally owned
and independent small business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is
this important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recent studies have
shown that 50 to 70% of the money that you spend at a locally owned and independent
small business stays in your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you compare that to local big box stores, that number goes down to around
20 to 30%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local big box stores do
employ local people, but they typically have their corporate headquarters
somewhere else and that is where most of the money goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you compare those numbers to online
shopping, the amount of money that stays in your community is about 0%. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Let’s examine how this all
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, let’s explore the locally
owned and independent small business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This business is probably owned by someone who lives in your community,
possibly even your neighbor or someone you know. They pay local taxes, just
like you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The business employs local
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small businesses are also more likely
to sponsor local events - your son’s little league team, local 5K race, charity
benefit dinner, or daughter’s soccer team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Local small businesses are also more likely to offer products that are
made locally, probably even products that are produced by another locally owned
small business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big box stores aren’t
interested in products unless they can get them really cheap and in large
quantities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small businesses are much more
likely to give another enrapture a chance at selling their products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local business owners also shop locally and
spend their money locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They use
local services; local garages to maintain their vehicles, local contractors,
local lawn services, local barbers and hair stylists and do their banking at
the bank on Main Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The money you
spend at their business is money that will be recycled within your
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Now, let’s compare that to the big
box store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, big box stores employ
local people (assuming you have a big box store in your community), but that is
really where the local process stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Big box stores buy their products from large global companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The products are often shipped in from overseas
where they are made in foreign countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any profit that the big box store makes is sent to corporate
headquarters and out of your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many large companies are given tax incentives (sometimes tax free) to
locate their business in your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are likely not paying the same local taxes as you or the local small
businesses are paying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big box stores rarely
sponsor local community events, local organizations or provide donations to local
civic organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last
time Walmart, Target, K-Mart or Home Depot sponsored your son’s Little League
team? Specialty services (contract work) is usually handled by a specific
company that handles those services for the big box store at a national level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority of the money you spend at
the big box store is not staying in your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is going somewhere else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Lastly, we have online shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This topic is somewhat subjective since most
companies, even small businesses, have websites and an online presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I’m focusing this discussion more
toward the big box stores and larger web-only stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it is convenient to shop at home and
have items shipped to your door - especially if the store happens to offer free
shipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where is that dollar that
you spent really going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The online store
isn’t employing anyone you know or anyone from your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The online store isn’t paying any local taxes
(heck, you don’t even have to pay a sales tax in most cases) so your community
isn’t generating any revenue from your purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The online store isn’t hiring any local
contractors, buying any groceries from the local market or getting their hair
cut at the local barber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most cases,
as soon as you click that “buy” button on your computer, the money you spent is
gone from your community forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
might even be leaving the Country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I do understand that not everything
you need and certainly not everything you want can be obtained locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying that you should only shop at
local small independently owned business and that you can’t shop online or that
you shouldn’t shop at big box stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understand that sometimes those are the only places that you can get the items
or services that you need or want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, what I am asking of you is that you consider your community
when making purchases and that you make smart purchases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saving a dollar by shopping online or at the
big box store might keep an extra dollar in your wallet when you make that
purchase, but what you are doing is taking a dollar away from your friends and
neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no secret that shopping
at big box stores or online shopping is cheaper than shopping local (small
businesses don’t have the luxury of buying huge quantities to receive big wholesale
quantity discounts), but what big box stores and online shopping stores can’t
do is provide the outstanding level of customer service that local small
businesses can provide. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As most of you know, one facet of our business
is a bicycle repair shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often we get
visitors that are about to go on a bike ride and realize that their tire is flat
or their brakes are squeaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come
into our store and ask to use the air pump or ask for assistance adjusting
their brakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are happy to assist,
and in the case of something minor like that, we don’t charge for those
services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re just happy to be able to
assist in getting you back on your bike so you can enjoy the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I ask you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last time Amazon or Walmart
helped you put air in your tires or adjusted your squeaky brakes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the trend of save a buck by shopping big
and shopping online continues, you are going to see small businesses disappear from
your community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sooner or later you are
going to need air in your tires or need your brakes adjusted and there is going
to be no one there to do it for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This holds true for all small businesses, regardless of what services or
items they offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t help
them, sooner or later you are going to need a service or item and they won’t be
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your hard-earned dollars in
your community by shopping local this holiday season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-74151841523243187482013-11-15T07:10:00.001-08:002013-11-15T07:10:21.001-08:00Philly Bike Expo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MDWNgkSzExM_8g7rzq4svmqHK2pjb2RnYaT6qRAUKzr0xHxBnTALoURwtbDmC2_hvzMG5-qW8PC5yptiiwDg-fnr73gIbXX2y8I2hHrmJvpwm96rswt9cdTVao47Uwu-IT0qAx-vKWs/s1600/CSO+Philly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MDWNgkSzExM_8g7rzq4svmqHK2pjb2RnYaT6qRAUKzr0xHxBnTALoURwtbDmC2_hvzMG5-qW8PC5yptiiwDg-fnr73gIbXX2y8I2hHrmJvpwm96rswt9cdTVao47Uwu-IT0qAx-vKWs/s320/CSO+Philly.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(CSO owners, Miranda and Steve, with CSO Bike Mechanic, Jason, at the Philly Bike Expo)</span> </span></div>
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On November 9<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> the CSO crew
attended the Philly Bike Expo in Philadelphia, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Expo, in its 4<sup>th</sup> year, is a
celebration of all things cycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two
day event includes vendor displays, educational seminars, and even a few
organized rides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seminar topics
discussed included gear for bike touring, how to build your own bike, yoga for
cyclists and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vendor display
area was a great showcase of many small custom bike frame builders as well as larger
companies including Surly and Raleigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
vast majority of the custom bike frames were of steel construction (awesome to
see hand-built steel frames making a comeback and gaining in popularity). There
were also many cycling accessories (bags, saddles, clothing, helmets, etc.) on
display and for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Expo also included
a vintage Schwinn bike display, including a bike that participated in the 1952
Summer Olympics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CSO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had an awesome weekend at the Philly Bike
Expo and we greatly enjoyed seeing so many bikes and discussing bikes with man fellow cyclists that are just as passionate about bicycles as we are.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-43724717327228571392013-10-25T07:27:00.001-07:002013-10-25T14:18:59.066-07:00Gear Review: Wrightsock Coolmesh II<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdp462Z4PzujkEAPGJAr5M2-Lf1jE8ppXMncdaxUF-e07lCiYTX1eaMpOEJb9dKbe0SyOtpG0jdf9HwEDynNOZEEt_zUwBgEcBIEPOca64dpN32BdSCgafFFJYbXMqw7RL43tD68kxPc/s1600/WrightSock-804-Lo-Quarter-grp-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdp462Z4PzujkEAPGJAr5M2-Lf1jE8ppXMncdaxUF-e07lCiYTX1eaMpOEJb9dKbe0SyOtpG0jdf9HwEDynNOZEEt_zUwBgEcBIEPOca64dpN32BdSCgafFFJYbXMqw7RL43tD68kxPc/s320/WrightSock-804-Lo-Quarter-grp-L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG3wOFkknrZL6zFa8KIfA2RfQhk49sPrpIdlcZaZ74Spx8HHMb4NsV_Eo6Dzm3IQKMqCOLLIPJGMtR0czu8htF2WPIBGOtTpBTMMdD16FSR4qcTlzW2fZKIj4lU_ldHqKoBdvg4XzSi4/s1600/WrightSock-804-Lo-Quarter-grp-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I’m going to do a review of the Wrightsock Coolmesh II
running sock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sock has been my
go-to running sock for the better part of a decade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a light weight, highly breathable, fast
drying, and moisture wicking sock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any
sock that is labeled as an “anti-blister system” gets an A+ in my book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I have completed at least 6
marathons and a 50-mile ultra race wearing the Coolmesh II socks and have never
had a blister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, that is pretty
impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this isn’t so much a
gear review, but more a testament to my undying love for the Coolmesh II socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply haven’t found a better light weight
running sock on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried
several other socks from Smartwool, Lorpen, Point 6, Wigwam, and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say I dislike those socks or have anything
significantly negative to say about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I always find myself falling back on my trusted friend – the Wrightsock
Coolmesh II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The key to this sock’s success is the <a href="http://wrightsock.myshopify.com/pages/anti-blister-system" target="_blank">anti-blister system</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This system focuses on three key
factors that usually cause blisters: moisture, heat, and friction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As your body heats up while you are running,
you are naturally going to generate sweat and heat in your shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These socks have a moisture management system
that gets the moisture away from your foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are also light weight and highly breathable, which allows your foot
to cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To combat the friction,
Wrightsock developed a double layer system, so the sock is actually constructed
of two thin layers of material instead of a single layer of material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea is that you get friction between the
two layers of sock instead of between your foot and the sock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let this double layer system fool you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is anything but bulky and awkward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t even notice it is there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three technologies combined create the
anti-blister system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wrightsock has added some new neon colors to the lineup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They go perfectly with the neon colors that
many of the running shoes are available in today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also bright and let you be seen
while running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If neon isn’t your thing,
they are also still available in standard, black, gray, and white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Country Squirrel Outfitters recently added
the neon colors to our inventory and they have become quite popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even have them in neon pink to celebrate October
as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If running isn’t your thing, these socks are also great for cycling, hiking,
walking, and fitness classes at the YMCA.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summary: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m going to give the Wrightsock Coolmesh II socks 5 out
of 5 stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply an awesome sock
and I have logged thousands of miles running in these socks and I couldn't have
asked for them to perform any better. The are also <span style="color: red;">MADE</span> <span style="color: blue;">IN</span> <span style="color: red;">THE</span> <span style="color: blue;">USA</span>, which makes them even that much better. The Wrightsock Coolmesh II is certainly a
sock that you should try if you are a runner or anyone who is active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tab, low and quarter lengths retail for
$11 where the crew retails for $12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
anti-blister system will make your feet happy and for only $11, why not give
them a shot. <br />
<br />
<b>Pros:</b> Made in the USA, anti-blister system, light weight, breathable, moisture management system, simply an awesome sock.<br />
<br />
<b>Cons:</b> I can't really think of anything negative to say. I suppose they aren't the best socks for winter running, however, Wrightsock does make some merino wool socks that also have the anti-blister system. The Merino Stride socks would be a little better for winter running (also available at Country Squirrel Outfitters)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-55487103953831832132013-10-21T11:30:00.001-07:002013-10-23T12:41:27.757-07:00Bicycle Tubes & Air Pressure<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Replacing bicycle tubes and checking your air pressure are
two things that are part of the routine maintenance on your bicycle. For novice or recreational cyclist the type
of tube you need can be confusing and proper air pressure is sometimes over
looked (even for experienced cyclists). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K1CXCev67_80FYNjXxiMxSlYXztanJxhJMtz3benY8iArBnwEVbJ_09ymrA3HVMb1AViQwLbPRmPJbBXj1BtyyBWUUAnATbYgd8TQn1P6YdTNu132674BVh5wvAZr32Al-TJKNqLH2I/s1600/valve+info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K1CXCev67_80FYNjXxiMxSlYXztanJxhJMtz3benY8iArBnwEVbJ_09ymrA3HVMb1AViQwLbPRmPJbBXj1BtyyBWUUAnATbYgd8TQn1P6YdTNu132674BVh5wvAZr32Al-TJKNqLH2I/s1600/valve+info.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’ll first discuss the different types of bicycle
tubes. Pictured above are both Schrader
and Presta valve types. The Schrader
valve you will recognize as your standard tube valve. This is the same type of valve that you will
find of your automobile and you will also find this valve type on many
bicycles. This type of valve can be
inflated with any standard bicycle foot pump and most pumps at your average auto
service station. Most recreational and
many mountain bikes have this type of valve.
The second valve pictured above is a Presta valve. This type of valve is also sometimes referred
to as a French valve. The Presta valve
is often found of road bikes and higher-end mountain bikes. Presta valves are more slender than the
Schrader valve and, therefore require a smaller hole in the bike rim. The valve hole in the bike rim is the weakest
point of the rim. Road bike wheels are
usually very narrow and a bigger hole means a weaker rim. The Presta was developed specifically for
bicycles and they require a special type of air pump that is suited for Presta
valves. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once you determine what type of tube valve you need, you
will then need to determine what size tube your bike requires. This is fairly simple as most bicycle tires
have the size of the tire printed on the side.
Simply locate the size of the tire and look for a tube that matches that
size. Tubes are usually made to cover a
range of different sizes. For example: A
bicycle with a tire size of 26x2.1 could use a tube that covers 26x1.75-2.125
or a tube that covers 26x2.1-2.3 As long
as your tire size falls within the range, the tube is acceptable. Standard Presta and Schrader valve tubes
usually cost somewhere in the $5 to $10 range with some specialty tubes costing
a little more.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Proper air pressure is a very important factor
that is often overlooked. Even though it
might seem like a small, minor detail, improper air pressure can be costly and
possibly even dangerous. As with tire
size, the proper air pressure is usually printed on the side of the tire. Again, this is usually a range and not an
exact number. Mountain bikes, for example, usually have a range
somewhere around 45-65 pounds per square inch (psi) whereas road bikes are
usually much higher and range somewhere around 100-120 psi. The manufacturer prints this pressure range
on the side of the tire for a reason.
This is the range where the tire will perform at its best and will be
safe for the rider. An over inflated
tire could lead to poor traction and poor handling (and possibly popping a
tire) and under inflated tires may lead to pinch flats (where the tube gets
pinched between the rim and the tire due to under-inflation) and may cause the
tire bead to come loose. To be safe, a
cyclist should check the air pressure of a tire before every ride. This is especially true for the recreational
rider who may not ride on a regular basis and the bike is in your garage for an
extended period of time between rides.
All tubes will lose air over time.
The longer the amount of time, the more likely it is that you will need
to inflate your tires. We highly
recommend that you get a bike pump with a built in pressure gauge. Most pumps designed specifically for bicycles
not only come with a pressure gauge, but also have the ability to inflate both
Schrader and Presta valves. These pumps
usually cost somewhere in the range of $30 to $60. <a href="http://www.topeak.com/" target="_blank">Topeak</a> and <a href="http://www.parktool.com/" target="_blank">Park Tool</a> are two of the brand
names of bicycle pumps we carry at <a href="http://www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Country Squirrel Outfitters</a>. Park Tool is the pump of choice for our repair
shop and at home. A good bicycle pump can
also be rebuilt when parts begin to wear out.
Manufacturers of these pumps offer rebuild kits and replacement parts so
you don’t have to replace your entire pump.
A good pump will last for many, many years.</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-16812569700522250112013-10-18T08:57:00.000-07:002013-10-25T14:20:58.431-07:00Gear Review: Cannondale Quick<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDzBR-jtCCDIsZg_HGP2BULvX3eu65iVkc1_i_TATmZpLxpgoedrzfkfWKQlzDjBBAT9wdvT3ca1Bo3HbwQPwcdm8-EsMj73Kq8QtG4pFMeRwOpfZTdCNubRM91wbB1cIcystskFZGXw/s1600/Cannondale+quick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDzBR-jtCCDIsZg_HGP2BULvX3eu65iVkc1_i_TATmZpLxpgoedrzfkfWKQlzDjBBAT9wdvT3ca1Bo3HbwQPwcdm8-EsMj73Kq8QtG4pFMeRwOpfZTdCNubRM91wbB1cIcystskFZGXw/s320/Cannondale+quick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <a href="http://www.cannondale.com/" target="_blank">Cannondale</a> Quick series isn’t anything new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been around for several years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is certainly a bike that everyone
in the market for a “hybrid” bike should consider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call it a flat bar road bike, call it a
touring bike or call it a recreational bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the Cannondale
Quick brings to the table is the perfect blend of sport, road, recreation and
comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Quick truly is a “hybrid”
bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cannondale took the technology
and features of a high end road bike and combined it with components from their
mountain bike line and the comfort of their recreational bike line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several models within the Quick
series and they range from the high end Quick Carbon 1 ($2,600) for the serious
road/recreation rider to the entry level Quick 6 ($480) for the recreational
rider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking for a bike that lets you
be even more adventurous? Check out the Quick CX line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Quick CX features a front suspension that
lets you take the Quick from the road to the bike path to the forest road with
ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CX is a little road and a
little cyclo-cross bike all wrapped up into one awesome bike package (price
range on the CX is $1,500 to $540). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Quick series features an upright riding position and 700c tires, which make the
bike both sporty and comfortable.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re not just trying to sell you a bike (yes, Country
Squirrel Outfitters does sell the Cannondale Quick series and we typically have
a few in stock), we speak from experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CSO owners, Steve and Miranda, both have Cannondale Quick models and
have collectively put over 3,000 miles on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Miranda has a 2011 Quick Carbon 2 and Steve has a 2013 Quick 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, if you read our previous blog post
about the Sea Gull Century ride, Steve and Miranda completed this ride on their
Cannondale Quick bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their Quicks
also traveled with them in July when they visited Connecticut, New Hampshire, and
Maine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Quick was the perfect travel
companion as it allowed them to bike on a number of different types of terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re probably not going to win the Tour de
France riding a Quick, but if you are looking for an all-around bike that is a
good blend of road, trail and comfort, then you should definitely check out the
Cannondale Quick series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summary:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ll give the Cannondale Quick series 4.5 out of 5 stars for hybrid bikes. O<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>verall, this is an awesome bike. It's also a way for someone to get into the sport of road cycling without buying a high priced road bike. You are never going to find a bike that can go from the Tour de France to the Leadville 100, but as far as "all purpose" bikes go, the <a href="http://www.cannondale.com/" target="_blank">Cannondale</a> Quick is pretty darn good.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pros:</b> Comfort,
light weight, versatility (can be used for your daily commute, around town, on the bike path, on the Rails-to-Trails, or on your next century ride) and price (many models are under $1,000). <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cons:</b> Not the fastest bike on the market, but what do you expect from a hybrid.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-66331324576634078732013-10-09T11:38:00.000-07:002013-10-23T12:42:12.418-07:00Sea Gull Century Bike Ride<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xDFw8ZdvQHRw-MMW5mOK9M5FeJRR5CvhXCNdeKRt59f4Cw2pcZFtnO7LHP2u7ew1cxS3yjts9SuvIdwJZLKmwNrAawGrAdns0EvmmY6yl9XP8GOwkD1TGfJ6WGN_ju342he3uUMjjxg/s1600/Sea+Gull+Century.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xDFw8ZdvQHRw-MMW5mOK9M5FeJRR5CvhXCNdeKRt59f4Cw2pcZFtnO7LHP2u7ew1cxS3yjts9SuvIdwJZLKmwNrAawGrAdns0EvmmY6yl9XP8GOwkD1TGfJ6WGN_ju342he3uUMjjxg/s200/Sea+Gull+Century.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiannLFJ_rYK8QZ07bo8mkKVUPYedp5bcNJzfc0LaXwKYpgdohWIyBA_i-xoJ9PGkZnEUJOlLcxUHaYtbe-UYrF4IkocyjdeNtQK1NAz87lboCeaa7Wrgc5t-iBsyfNOXgeqUo15VTbqN8/s1600/Sea+Gull+Century+CSO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiannLFJ_rYK8QZ07bo8mkKVUPYedp5bcNJzfc0LaXwKYpgdohWIyBA_i-xoJ9PGkZnEUJOlLcxUHaYtbe-UYrF4IkocyjdeNtQK1NAz87lboCeaa7Wrgc5t-iBsyfNOXgeqUo15VTbqN8/s320/Sea+Gull+Century+CSO.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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On October 5, 2013 the two CSO owners, Steve and Miranda,
embarked on the 101 mile bicycle ride known as the <a href="http://www.seagullcentury.org/" target="_blank">Sea Gull Century</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ride is organized by Salisbury University
in Salisbury, Maryland and 2013 marked the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of this
century ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event kicks off with a
reception and cycling expo Friday evening, followed by the century ride on
Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lawn party with refreshments
and music was available after the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The event offers riders three separate courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two at the century distance (100 miles) and
one at the metric distance (62 miles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
chose the Assateague Century course, which makes a stop on Assateague Island,
which is known for its nature park with wild horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course is primarily flat with a few
rolling hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest challenge of
the day was overcoming the unusually hot weather (90 degrees in October!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, it was a great ride and despite the
heat, we managed to complete the 101 mile course.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208072242482322633.post-45890622053974832552013-09-30T10:16:00.000-07:002013-09-30T10:16:30.400-07:00Bestwick Foundation Charity Bike Ride<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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On Sunday a few Country Squirrel Outfitters folks traveled
to the State College area to participate in the Bestwick Foundation’s “Bikes
& BBQ” charity bicycle ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pictured
above (left to right) are CSO owners, Miranda and Steve, and CSO friend and
regular on our weekly group rides, Aimee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This also gave Miranda and Steve the opportunity to show off the new CSO
cycling jerseys, which were a big hit among the fellow riders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants could choose either the 62 mile
ride or the 36 mile ride. The Bestwick Foundation provides financial support
for individuals and families dealing with cancer within the Centre County (Pa)
Region. Additionally, the Foundation will also provide discretionary support
for needy organizations, families, and individuals in the community, especially
in support of youth and health development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful day for a
bike ride and we were happy to be a participant in this event and be able to
support a good cause.</div>
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