After a sleepless night in George Washington State Forest, I was so happy to get going in the morning. Unfortunately, it seemed like the toilet had jinxed us.
Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route: Day 4
So there I was, lying in the darkness in my tent, my knife ready. I’d been up for hours, listening. Something was creeping around outside. I was hoping it was a deer … or a raccoon … anything but what my imagination was telling me it had to be. This Yankee Mama’s Boy just wanted to get some sleep. It sure wasn’t going to happen tonight.
Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route: Day 3
I was so psyched to start riding on the third day of the trip. Our plan was to ride from Millmont, finish out the MABDR in Pennsylvania, and then follow it into Maryland. It ended up our longest day of the trip—230 miles over 11 hours.
Surf Station: Mid Summer 2019
Heat waves suck! Nevertheless, we’ve been trying to beat the heat. Here’s what we’ve been up to.
Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route: Day 2
For Day 2 of our MABDR ride, we left the campground in Jersey Shore, PA and headed out to Huntingdon, PA. From there we rode through a 180-mile section of trail through Lewis Township Forest and Millmont, PA. Along the route there were so many beautiful lookouts down into the surrounding valleys.
Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route: Day 1
Jim and I had our first day on the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route today (Thursday). It was a huge success.
60 On The Circuit
The last couple weekends Mickey Spades and I have resumed our travels on the Bay Circuit Trail. One Saturday we rode a 40-mile lollipop loop, beginning in Hanson and then looping through Pembroke, Kingston, and Duxbury. The next Saturday we rode “Map 9” through Sherborn and Medfield, which offered 20 miles of almost continuous riding on single and double track—the best riding we’ve found on the BCT yet! Here’s the story of the two rides in eight pictures.
Mickey's Big Dual Sport Adventure
On June 27th, I’m heading to Pennsylvania to ride the Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route on my dual sport. It will be my first long bikepacking trip. I can’t wait.
Surf Station: Spring 2019
Spring is here. Mickey Spades has been out on his dual sport riding the Puppy Dog Trail, Luke’s been snapping some awesome rock climbing photos, and I’ve even been out on my mountain bike, training for an upcoming bikepacking trip. If you missed any of these pieces the first time, be sure to check them out now.
Say It Ain’t So
The skiing is still awesome, but anybody that’s chatted with Tim or Mickey Spades recently knows that their minds have shifted to mountain bike season. Mickey, whose season has already started, is all abuzz about Borderland this and Bay Circuit that. But all that enthusiasm is mild compared to his jonesing about Little River, which he says I “just have to ride.”
Puppy Dog Trail North Dual Sport Gear List
With Spring in the air, it was time to dust off the bike panniers, pack some extra layers, and head out for an adventure on the dual sport. So last weekend, my buddy Jim and I set out to ride the Puppy Dog North Trail. It’s a 95-mile route that heads north from Westerly, Rhode Island for 95 miles to Greenfield, Massachusetts, along with a mix of beautiful country roads and dirt trails. Along the way it passes through some old-school towns, reminding riders of a time when life was simpler.
Granite City Climbing
Climbing season is in full swing in Greater Boston and I’ve been psyched to get out to Quincy Quarries with Luke, Mickey, and the Ski Patrol Guys several times over the last few weeks. Getting back on real rock has been fantastic after a winter in the gym, and Luke’s captured the transition perfectly with the camera. Here's my favorites of his recent climbing pics, along with my description.
2019's Must-Climb Routes
I climbed so many outstanding pitches in 2018. With rock season now upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about routes that I’d like to climb this year. So without further ado, here’s five new-to-me rock routes in the Northeast that are on my “to-do” list for 2019.
Riding High at Vermont's Little River
If you've never biked Little River in Vermont's Waterbury State Park, you're missing out. With 10+ minutes of continuous downhill on amazing machine-built berms and some sick doubles and drops, Little River is on my short list of places to ride in the Northeast. And because every obstacle is marked and usually has a B line, anyone—even Doug—can have a great day on this rider-friendly trail. It's a great place to spread your wings and learn to fly if you so choose.
Book Report: To the Edges of the Earth
In 1909, three expeditions set off to capture the world’s four “poles.” An American team led by Robert Peary left hoping that on this attempt he’d finally be the first person to set foot on the North Pole. Another team meanwhile ventured south, intent on planting the English flag on the South Pole and, via a separate party, the Southern Magnetic Pole. Finally, an Italian expedition headed to the Himalaya, where it planned to reach the Earth’s so-called “Pole of Altitude,” by climbing K2, what was then believed to be the highest mountain in the world. Weaving the stories of these 1909 expeditions together into a cohesive narrative, Edward Larson’s To the Edges of the Earth is a must read for any lover of polar work.
Quincy Quarries Bouldering Project: O Wall
This installment of the Quincy Quarries bouldering project covers the climbs found on O wall.
Surf Station: Almost Spring
Get caught up on everything you’ve missed on The Whites Room with our latest Surf Station.
Finding Freshies: Cross-Country Skiing at Moose Hill
There’s nothing better than making you’re own tracks after a fresh snowfall. But when you live in Greater Boston finding fresh tracks can sometimes seem impossible. I mean, there’s millions of people around here and unless you time things perfectly, somebody usually beats you to the punch. Except, that is, at what feels like my secret stash—Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, Massachusetts, where fresh tracks abound.
Black Diamond Women’s Mercury Mitt
There are a lot of things sexier than a new pair of gloves, but few things can make or break a day in the snow than a warm pair of mitts. When the weather gets cold and we head to the mountains, my “go to” gloves for the past ten years had been a pair of XL men’s mittens from the local outdoor outfitter. I’d throw a thin pair of gloves underneath and hope I’d be able shove my fingers far enough in to grip my ski poles. Perhaps they were warm ten years ago, but I can’t recall, for as far as my memory serves my fingers have been cold.
Snow Kiting
Snow kiting is another of my favorite winter sports. All you need is an open field with no power lines, a little bit of snow (four inches is perfect), and some wind.