Ever gone back to an old familiar place and found it had changed over time? Some of it was the same, but there was something new going on, too. That’s the feeling I had when I visited Bartlett’s Thorne Pond Conservation area on Tuesday. I recognized old trails but found new ones that made riding there more interesting.
My curiosity about Thorne Pond was tweaked by two events — a conversation with Sun and Ski’s Dave Chandler and news of a race being held there on June 26 as part of the Red Jersey Cyclery’s Summer Race Series. Dave told me he had been riding there lately and liked Jeremiah Beach’s new single-track trails. When I heard Jeremiah had used these trails for the “Howler” mountain bike race last fall and would be using them again for one of his summer race series, I figured I needed to check them out.
kAm%9@C?6 !@?5 r@?D6CG2E:@? pC62 :D @? #@FE6 b_a :? q2CE=6EE[ C:89E 24C@DD 7C@> E96 pEE:E2D9’D q62C !62<^vC2?5 $F>>:E w@E6= 6?EC2?46] xE :D ?2>65 7@C E96 =2E6 %92556FD %9@C?6[ 2? 62C=J 86?6C2= >2?286C 2E pEE:E2D9] %96 A@?5 H2D 4C62E65 E@ AC@G:56 H2E6C 7@C pEE:E2D9’D D?@H>2<:?8 @A6C2E:@?]k^Am
kAmp HC@F89E\:C@? 82E6[ 42CG65 H:E9 2 362FE:7F= H:=5=:76 D46?6 >2C<D E96 6?EC2?46 2=@?8 H:E9 2 H@@56? <:@D< 2?5 DA=:E C2:= 76?46] %9@C?6 !@?5 r@?D6CG2E:@? pC62 H2D 56D:8?65 E@ 36 2 7@FC\D62D@? C64C62E:@?2= 2C62] %9@C?6 !@?5 :D 2 DE@4<65 A@?5 7@C 42E49\2?5\C6=62D6 7:D9:?8] }62C3J[ E96 $24@ #:G6C @776CD DH:>>:?8 2?5 D46?:4 G:6HD] p4C@DD E96 C:G6C[ $24@ $=23D 8C2?:E6 @FE4C@AA:?8D @776C C@4< 4=:>3:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm|@F?E2:? 3:<6CD 2?5 H2=<6CD 92G6 `a >:=6D @7 62DJ E@ >@56C2E6 D:?8=6\ 2?5 5@F3=6\EC24< EC2:=D E@ 6IA=@C6 7C@> %9@C?6 !@?5 E@ pEE:E2D9’D #:G6C #F? r@?5@>:?:F> s6G6=@A>6?E] $:?46 pEE:E2D9 :D ?@ =@?86C @776C:?8 9@CD6324< C:5:?8[ J@F 42? 8@ 2== E96 H2J E@ E96 u:6=5D @7 pEE:E2D9 E@ 255 >@C6 >:=6286]k^Am
kAmx? H:?E6C[ >2?J @7 E96D6 EC2:=D >2<6 7:?6 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<: @C D?@HD9@6 EC2:=D 2D A2CE @7 E96 q62C }@E49 $<: %@FC:?8 ?6EH@C<]k^Am
kAm#65 y6CD6J rJ4=6CJ’D C246 D6C:6D[ 4C62E65 :? `hhb[ E@@< A=246 2E %9@C?6 !@?5] xE H2D 2 72>:=J\@C:6?E65 D6C:6D 7@4FD65 @? ;F?:@C C:56CD’ 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 AC@>@E:?8 >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C24:?8] #:56CD >6E :? E96 7:6=5 3J E96 A@?5 2?5 C2465 @? EC2:=D 2=@?8 E96 C:G6C[ E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D 2?5 2C@F?5 E96 7:6=5] xE H2D 7C:6?5=J 4@>A6E:E:@? 7@==@H65 3J D@52[ 366C 2?5 3FCC:E@D] |2?J 2 8@@5 E:>6 H2D 925 E96C6]k^Am
kAmy6C6>:29’D C246 :D 7@==@H:?8 E92E EC25:E:@?[ 3FE DE2CE:?8 :? 2 5:776C6?E A=246 — #@86C’D rC@DD:?8] w625:?8 H6DE @? #@FE6 b_a A2DE E96 pEE:E2D9 |@F?E2:? 2C62[ :E’D =@42E65 C:89E 36J@?5 E96 C2:=C@25 EC24< 4C@DD:?8] v2C=2?5 #:586 #@25 EFC?D D92CA=J C:89E ;FDE 27E6C E96 EC24<D] q6J@?5 E92E C@25[ 2 7:6=5 @? E96 C:89E H:E9 2? @=5 32C? :D H96C6 C246CD H:== 82E96C @? ?6IE $2EFC52J >@C?:?8[ yF?6 ae] (96? E96 w@H=6C #246 C6EFC?D @? ~4E[ b_[ :E H:== 2=D@ 36 96=5 2E E9:D =@42E:@?]k^Am
kAmt249 @7 E9:D J62C’D DF>>6C C246 D6C:6D C246 9@DED 92D 49@D6? E@ 5@?2E6 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 AC@4665D E@ 2 =@42= 492C:E23=6 @C82?:K2E:@?] %96 9@DE @7 E96 #@86C’D rC@DD:?8 C246 :D pEE:E2D9 |@F?E2:? ':==286[ H9:49 56D:8?2E65 q2CE=6EE #64’D |@CC6== u2>:=J r@>>F?:EJ r@>A=6I EC2:=D 2D :ED ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 C246 D6C:6D[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^DF>>6CC246D6C:6D]4@>QmDF>>6CC246D6C:6D]4@>k^2m] #68:DE6C 367@C6 yF?6 ac 2E ^E:?JFC=]4@>^dc5>;??3] #246 6?ECJ 766D 2C6 G6CJ 277@C523=6 2E Sb_]k^Am
kAmy6C6>:29 DE2CE65 H@C<:?8 @? E96D6 EC2:=D H96? 96 >@G65 324< E@ E96 G2==6J 7C@> r@=@C25@] w6 7@F?5 %9@C?6 !@?5 EC2:=D ?66565 >2:?E6?2?46] w6 DE2CE65 4=62?:?8 E96> FA 2?5 255:?8 ?6H EC2:=D] y@6 q6CCJ[ H9@ @H?D 2?5 >2?286D AC@A6CEJ ?62C3J[ 6?4@FC2865 9:> E@ 4@?E:?F6 EC2:= H@C< @? 9:D =2?5 7@C E96 36?67:E @7 pEE:E2D9 8F6DED 2?5 @E96CD] %96 ?6EH@C< :D 6IA2?5:?8 H:E9 9:D 677@CED 2?5 :>AC@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kAmq24< 2E %9@C?6 !@?5[ x F?=@2565 >J 3:<6 E@ 6IA=@C6 E96 EC2:=D] %F4<65 :? E96 EC66D 2E E96 C:89E 6?5 @7 E96 76?46 H2D E96 EC2:= x <?6H H@F=5 E2<6 >6 E@H2C5 pEE:E2D9] xE’D 62DJ E@ >:DD 2?5 ?@E D:8?65] xE DE2CED @G6C 2 C@F89 C@@E D64E:@? 367@C6 :E D6EE=6D 5@H? E@ 2 5646?E D:?8=6 EC24<] tG6?EF2==J[ 2 H:56C EC2:= 4@>6D E@ 2 7:6=5[ 3FE 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ x D2>A=65 ?6H D>@@E9[ D:?8=6\EC24< EC2:=D E92E 962565 @77 3@E9 D:56D]k^Am
kAmtG6?EF2==J[ x C624965 E96 $24@ %C2:= 2?5 sF?6 EC2:=D[ >2C<65 H:E9 H@@56? D:8?D] %96D6 EC2:=D 2C6 H:56 2?5 D2?5J] %96J H62G6 E9C@F89 E96 D925J 7@C6DE 2?5 =625 J@F E@H2C5 E96 $24@ #:G6C 362496D 2?5 pEE:E2D9 |@F?E2:? ':==286] %96D6 H6C6 @=5 EC2:=D x <?6H 7C@> J62CD A2DE[ 3FE D?2<:?8 @77 7C@> E96> H6C6 ?6H D:?8=6\EC24< EC2:=D] x EC:65 6G6CJ@?6 x DA@EE65]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 D:?8=6\EC24< EC2:=D E@@< >6 2=@?8 E96 $24@’D 32?<] #@4<J 362496D 2?5 49:=5C6?’D =2F89E6C E@=5 >6 x H2D ?62C:?8 2 DH:>>:?8 2C62] ~E96C EC2:=D E@@< >6 E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D] %96 C:5:?8 H2D D>@@E9 2?5 72DE[ H:E9 G6CJ =:EE=6 4=:>3:?8] }@G:46 C:56CD 2?5 J@F?8 <:5D H@F=5 6?;@J E96>]k^Am
kAmqJ pEE:E2D9 |@F?E2:? ':==286’D A@?5[ x DA@EE65 2 362CP u@CEF?2E6=J[ :E H2D 2 42CG65 362C H:E9 2? :?E6CAC6E2E:G6 D:8?] x A652=65 @?[ =@@<:?8 7@C E96 u:6=5D @7 pEE:E2D9] x 7@==@H65 2 D:8? E92E =65 >6 E@ E96>] “w@CD6324< #:5:?8” D:8?D 2?5 @G6C8C@H? pEE:E2D9 tBF:?6 u6DE:G2= 3=62496CD 2C6 DE:== E96C6[ 3FE E96 9@CD6D 2C6 8@?6] %9:?8D 92G6 492?865 :? E96 7:6=5D[ 3FE E96 G:6HD 2C6 DE:== DA64E24F=2C]k^Am
kAm$E@C> 4=@F5D 52C<6?65 @? E96 9@C:K@?] xE H2D E:>6 E@ 9625 324<] x A652=65 E96 5:CE C@25 324< E@ pEE:E2D9 ':==286 2?5 D2>A=65 D:?8=6\EC24< @? q62C qC@@< 2?5 r2??@?32== %C2:=D] pD x H@F?5 E9C@F89 E96 7@C6DE @? D>@@E9 EC2:=D[ x H@?56C65 :7 x H2D 9625:?8 62DE @C H6DE 2D EC2:=D 492?865 5:C64E:@?D] x 7:?2==J 42>6 324< E@ @=5 72>:=:2C EC2:=D E92E =65 >6 324< E@ E96 A2C<:?8 =@E]k^Am
kAmx C@56 E@H2C5 %9@C?6 !@?5 E@ E2<6 E96 !@?5 {@@A 2?5 q:8 {@@A 367@C6 x 962565 9@>6] %96 q:8 {@@A E@@< >6 2=@?8 E96 C:G6C[ H:E9 =@ED @7 EH:DE65 EFC?D] !@?5 {@@A D<:CE65 E96 A@?5 2?5 DE:== 925 D@>6 :?E6C6DE:?8 BF:4< 4=:>3D :? :E E@ 255 492==6?86]k^Am
kAmxE 925 366? 2? :?E6C6DE:?8 h\>:=6 C:56[ 3FE x 5@?’E E9:?< x 7@F?5 2== E96 ?6H EC2:=D] p7E6C x 4@>A2C65 >J v!$ >2A E@ y6C6>:29’D C2464@FCD6 >2A[ x E9:?< x >2J 92G6 >:DD65 D@>6 @7 E96>] x 8F6DD x’== 92G6 E@ 8@ 324< E@ 6IA=@C6Pk^Am
kAmx7 J@FUCDBF@jC6 =@@<:?8 7@C >2AD @7 E96D6 EC2:=D[ J@F 42? 6>2:= y6C6>:29 q6249 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iAC@EF?6?9o8>2:=]4@>QmAC@EF?6?9o8>2:=]4@>k^2m] w6 E@=5 >6 96UCDBF@jD H@C<:?8 @? 2 36EE6C >2A] x 2=D@ 7@F?5 >2AD pEE:E2D9 ':==286 8:G6D :ED 8F6DED 96=A7F= 7@C E96 >2:? EC2:= =2J@FE] x A:4<65 @?6 FA 2E E96 @77:46[ 3FE J@F 42? 5@H?=@25 @C AC:?E E96> 7C@> E96 H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^bC4I52G2QmE:?JFC=]4@>^bC4I52G2k^2m]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 9625:?8 @FE H:E9 J@FC <:5D @? u2E96C’D s2J[ ECJ E96 EC2:=D 2E pEE:E2D9 ':==286 2?5 %9@C?6 !@?5] %@ 7:?5 E96 62D:6DE 2446DD 2?5 EC2:=D[ x DF886DE DE2CE:?8 7C@> E96 pEE:E2D9 A2C<:?8 =@E[ C:56 369:?5 E96 4@?5@D[ E96? 9625 FAC:G6C E@H2C5 %9@C?6 !@?5] $2>A=6 @=5 EC2:=D 2?5 ?6H @?6D @? J@FC H2J 2D J@F 92G6 72>:=J 7F? @? J@FC 3:<6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&A4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmyF?6 aei $F>>6C #246 $6C:6D[ `` 2]>][ #@86CDUCDBF@j rC@DD:?8[ q2CE=6EE] %96 4@DE :D Sb_] !C@4665D E@ 36?67:E E96 |@CC6== u2>:=J r@>>F?:EJ r@>A=6I] #68:DE6C 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^c3C>5AIcQmE:?JFC=]4@>^c3C>5AIck^2m]k^Am
kAmvC62E v=6? %C2:=D $F>>6C |@F?E2:? q:<6 $6C:6D — %F6D52JD[ 36:?8 yF?6 ah E9C@F89 pF8] b[ 7C@> bib_ E@ f A]>] %9:D :D 2 H66<=J >@F?E2:? 3:<6 D6C:6D 7@C 2== 23:=:E:6D 2?5 286D] #246CD 42? C:56 E96 =@?8[ D9@CE @C >:?:\4@FCD6D]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.