Official East Coast Gathering Thread

Ok I have been reading constant mentioning in the other threads about this east coast ride.  So I'm putting up this thread where we can really get down to buisness with planning the trip.

I have been looking into the Hatfield McCoy trails and agree that it would be totally cool location for the ride.  The only problem with it is the system is really spread out.  I'll be calling the trail people tommorrow and ask thier advice on which of the trails are best set up for bikes.  I have seen lots of videos of these trails and a few are total rock gardens that may be fun on a quad but will be totally challengiing to the most experienced riders on 2 wheels.  The other issue we need to get settled is when would be the best time for us to gather.  We need to pick a weekend when everyone can make the trip, but we probably don't want to pick a busy weekend when the trails would be crowded.  I will be hard enough keep a large riding group together without having to deal with crowds too.  By planning far enough ahead I think most of us will be able to get the time off or moeny saved up for the trip.

If I am overstepping my bounds on this and someone else want to take the lead in getting this ride planned.  Feel free to take the initiative, and I would happily step down.  If you guys are comforitable with me taking charge and seeing what I can do to make the arrangements.  I will do the best I can.
**********************************************************************************
Update 3/24/09
http://www.trailsheaven.com/
I just got off the phone with H&M service line.  She was most helpful with all of my questions.  

Buffalo Mountain Trail: This was recommended to me as the most 2 wheel friendly trail system.  As an added bonus they have recently added a bunch of new trails to the system this year.
This is the websites descrription.

The Buffalo Mountain Trail System located between Williamson, Delbarton, and Matewan, West Virginia consists of 70 total miles of trail. The Buffalo Mountain Trail System has two trailhead/ranger stations, the first is located just south of Williamson on Route 52, and the second is located located in historic Matewan. The Buffalo Mountain Trail is commonly known as being the most historic trail of all the Hatfield-McCoy systems and NOW HAS THE MOST SINGLE TRACK MILEAGE  of any Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.  This trail system has three community connectors in the towns of Williamson, Delbarton, and Matewan. The breakdown in trail mileage on the Buffalo Trail System is as follows: 38.5 miles or 56% are green trails (easiest), 9 miles or 13% are blue trails (more difficult), 7.6 miles or 11% are black trails (most difficult), 1.5 miles or 2% are red/black (extreme difficult),and 12.5 miles or 18% are orange trails (single track only). This trail system has direct access to the cities of Matewan, Delbarton, and Williamson, WV. Each of these towns offer fuel, full service food, and lodging services.

Camping Options are available and I'm currently looking further into it along with other lodging options.  

The local towns Williamson, Delbarton, and Matewan all allow the use of ORVs on the roads so riding to the trail head and to the local gas stations is allowed, but you must have a valid Drivers License.

Bike requirements are spark arrestor, and 96db sound limit.  

Helmet, goggles, and closed shoes (no open toes) are the safety requirements.  I trust everyone on this ride will have full ride gear anyway.

State ORV permits are not required, but an H&M Trails sticker is.  The cost is $50 each and they are good through to Dec.

The best possible weekends for me are 6/20-21, 7/11-12, 8/1-2. Please let me know which of these weekends will work best for you when you PM your intentions of attending.  If none of these dates are good please let me know which dates would be good for you.

***********************************************************************************

Update 3/25/09 (92's B-Day)

First I would like to thank Chud for all of the exciting vids posted.  However, I'm afraid you might scare off some of the lesser skilled riders.  By looking at the trail maps most of what is available will be easy going 2 track trails.  The vids posted seem to cover the few extreme trail loops that veer off the main paths.  

So far my plan is to have a big group ride on Saturday.  This will be easy going and stopping at points of interest for photo ops, and hopefully we can find some open play ride areas where we could horse around a bit.  On the second day I was thinking of splitting into 2 or three groups based on skill level and having planned meeting times and locations.  Thats when we could play ride together a bit more, swap stories and switch to other groups if you have found yourself in the wrong group because you are better or worse than you originally thought.  

This is just a preplan and if it ends up not working out well we can be flexible and change things on the fly.  

So far I have commitments from
Chud, Todd, Pin, Elk, JChristie.  Hair is on the fence.

The July weekend of 11-12 seems to be what is working for everyone.  Lets mark that on our calanders and I will see about getting us a campground with plumbing.  I found a couple that offer both lodges and campground.  Now lets all start praying for good weather.

***********************************************************************************

Update 3/29/09

I've called a couple of places about camping.  The one I was most interested in called me back while I was out yesterday.  I will try them again later. Those who will be camping need to let me know if they will be in a tent or bringing a camper/RV what not.  Some places have areas for RVs some don't.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

Man the west coast was too far now the east coast is too far. I'm just stuck in the middle! O'well. I hope you all can get together and have some fun, you east coasters have been talking about this since last year! Don't let the west coast so you up. I think everyone should just come to COLORADO (west coasters too) and I'll so you all around!  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"These are the things that condition the man, seldom shown the ways to understand"

After watching a few of your vids I want to come out there!  Some of those riding areas look like a lot of fun.  Still you are a lot closer to the west coast.  hahaha  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

if it is worth anyhting i'll have my license next year? hahaa. in august of this summer actually. but i dunno if i could ever go. would like to. where are these trails?  
*******************
the bodies just a vehicle, transporting the soul, it is whats inside of people is beauty to behold

SOUTHERN MAINE

why trails????? At my local track they have 2 tracks (intermediate and expert) and then have a whole lot of trails. Let me get a link.  
--------------------------------
Brand new yammi 450 =  $7399
To see a honda burry it at the track=PRICLESS!!

bhorrigan:
After watching a few of your vids I want to come out there!  Some of those riding areas look like a lot of fun.  Still you are a lot closer to the west coast.  hahaha

I'm 1500 to 2000 miles from either coast! You haven't seen nothing yet in my vids! Wait till the snow melt from the mountains then I'll show you what riding a single track next to a 300ft cliff looks like!  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"These are the things that condition the man, seldom shown the ways to understand"

Here's a link. NCMP Here is a video of one of the trails.  
--------------------------------
Brand new yammi 450 =  $7399
To see a honda burry it at the track=PRICLESS!!

Thanks for the link Kid.  But that is twice the distance for me and it will be longer for others as well.  If I was going to travel that far I would prefer to ride at a place like Carolina Adventure World.  I am not against a track day and I would be excited if we could have a mix of both.  If that was the only case I would have suggested a place like Crow Canyon in central Ohio where they have several tracks and trails as well.  But I am looking for a location more central for all who plan on attending.  And so far from the posts I have been reading a lot of these guys are coming from the North.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

I could make the NCMP. That place is only 3.5-4 hrs for me.  
(05 yz250)
(06 crf50)

just 2hrs away for me    
--------------------
Ben
2007 Yamaha ttr-125le

Hey Bill- thanks for stepping up to plan the ride.  I rode the HM trails in 2004 and had a great time, but it was over 12 hours door to door and I had a pickup back then.  Now I have a Hyundai Elantra so it's no go on the long drives.

What about a place like Highland Park Resort in Georgia?  Plenty of trails and they have an MX track as well.  Durhamtown Plantation is another place that has trails and tracks.  HP is an hour west of Atlanta and DP is two hours east.  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hudson Valley NY
KTM XC-W 250

"If you don't have a dream, how can it come true?"

I'll let you guys figure out where to have it and see if its doable for me.  


2 strokin till I die. Which I hope aint soon.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

1994 CR80

Georgia is 15 to 20 hour drive for me and thats going non stop.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

I'm in.  Somebody needs to take charge and just set everything cause this has been talked about since last September I think.  
2007 300XC
2005 PW50(son's bike)

I thought that is what I'm doing here. LOL  OK how about this everyone who wants to attend, thinks they can attend or don't know yet but want to try.  PM me and I'll start making up a list and see where we can start basing everything.

I still think the H&M trails are best because they are well known as fun and well cared for trails.  Have good accomodations available and still appear to be central to all of us on the east coast.  They are still about a 10 hour drive for me and I'm right at the Michigan/Ohio border.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125