Biking and Boulders (MTB Part 12)

... pedaled the 'Cow Rock Loop' (a.k.a.: 'Elk Rock Loop') last weekend... been a few years since we were up there... a little over six mile "round about"... around 960ft elevation gain in the first three miles...

... a bit steep, rocky and technical in a few spots - GoPro photo - doesn't do the terrain justice...

... rolling and fast up along the ridge top...

...  a few 'Elk Rock' boulders...

... "George Washington slept here" - he carves a pretty nice 'marijuana leaf' as well...

... 'Daddy Long Legs'...

... boulder giant with a few very steep (Tim Anderson and Co.) face climbs...

... nice view overlooking the 'Laurel Highlands' a bit further down the trail...

... immediately after which the real fun begins... Howie approaching a long, steep downhill...

... around 240ft drop in about 0.3 mile - washed out a lot worse than remembered - very loose with a few steep, technical ruts and boulder drops... again, photos do no justice...

... great rolling single track afterward overlooking the west flank of the 'Youghiogheny River Gorge'...

... "ditto"...

... a few decent "one off" boulders scattered there and about...

... final steep hill climb...

... before the fast "home stretch" - some very nice large boulders just beforehand - included the bike for scale...

... pretty nice boulder field - some large blocks pictured with a few others slightly smaller scattered about...

... been admiring this area for many years while passing thru...

... we talked about it a bit..

... but never made the short hike up to check out the considerable hard bouldering potential...

... too "old and decrepit" for that now'days - but here's a location map for anyone willing... park at the "frog pond" and hike up washed road - park further up the road at the 'Game Commission' gate if ya' got some decent ground clearance - follow the obvious four-wheeler trail to the left just near the top of the hill - mapped location is approximate, but take the upper trail to the left when ya' reach the trail intersection - if ya' start heading steeply downhill you're off route...

... back at the "frog pond"... loaded with "peepers" in the spring... people have really loaded up the area with dumped trash, though, since we been here last... too bad...