Issaqueena Forest in pictures and captions.

Rode for 5:45 today and did a lot of climbing. Amazing what even small mountain 10-15 minute climbs feel like compared to the 2 minute climbs of KC. Lots of granny gear today, but lots of big ring too :) I'm betting I rode close to 60 miles total, probably 70% single track, 15% forest/logging roads, 7.5% gravel, and 7.5% pavement. I had to have 2500+ foot of climbing too just looking at a topo map of the trails and what I rode. Today is one of those days I wish I would have had a garmin, and I hardly ever want one, but the mileage and elevation data would have been nice for this one. Absolutely amazing trail system. The last map I posted was from 2007 and they have added quite a bit out there, or didn't do a very good job getting everything marked :) I bet there's 50+ miles of single track out there, I was lost as hell. Well enough of this, I have 33 pictures to commentate on.


Stated out in Clemson, riding toward on Lawrence Bridge Road. This was on Lawrence Bridge right before you cross into the forest.


As you enter the forest. These share the road signs are everywhere. Bike lanes on some state highways.


entering into the forest...


I went straight to the downhill course today, and this was the last drop of the run. Gnarly!


Different shot of the same drop. There's some pretty good rock and root gnar right before you cook into it.


Start of a climb called THE GRINDER...330 foot elevation gain in a 2 mile climb. Wraps around to the downhill trail, dual slalom course, dirt jumps, etc.


Halfway up the grinder climb...rehabed Pine forest.


This picture is definitely worth 1000 words. It was badass hitting this at 75% speed (I'm on a rental hardtail 29r and the next pic explains more.)


Road gap kicker coming out of the huge wall ride.


Berms galore...the first half of the run is just huge berms pretty much :)


Table tops boarded out then dropping into berms...3 of them at the top of the run.


Table into S-curve burm into wall ride into road gap...I needed a full suspension :)


A look at the table top construction...pretty cool.


Only took one photo of the dirt jumps...the main line, cause it was sick. Didn;t take any of the dual slalom course, I just ripped it once and granny geared back up it for another downhill run.


Creek crossing getting ready for a fire road climb.


forest gravel...pine trees and red dirt :)


Ripping ridge line single track.


Pretty gnarly line by the lake.


Riding through some areas was like a tunnel...more on this...


Getting tighter...


going up...


needle cover...


opening up along a ridge...


single track by a creek...


Cool little constructed drainage crossing...


Trail side waterfall...quite a few of them throughout the system.


Crib wall reclaimed by nature :)


Logging road.


Logging destruction.


Triple waterfall trailside.


Sink hole right next to trail...


Getting thick, dark and chilly...


At 8 pm, 5 hours in...Time to light up and get out of the forest :)

peace and riding!!!

not a bad trail system...

Issaqueena State Park trails in Clemson Experimental Forest.

48+ miles of singletrack, logging roads, downhill course w/300 ft total elevation drop, dual slalom course, 2 sets of dirt jumps, pump track, in progress free ride course, a big wall ride, lots o' berms, creek gap, waterfalls, etc.



I rode there yesterday, wasn't sure how far I had gone since I didn't know mileage out there...of course it's been raining here all day :/ I still put on some rain gear and rode into town to talk to the shop guys about how the trails hold up since they are mostly sand from what it seems to me. They said that you could go ride about half the trails out in Issaqueena RIGHT NOW. It's been raining since before I woke up around 8 am and just stopped here at 5 local time. They said by tomorrow everything would be good to go...sweeeeet. I also showed them everything I rode and we came up with about 28-29 miles, and I did that in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Gears are kind of fun :) My legs were on the verge of cramping the last 20 min or so though, I was in the big ring quite a bit. I think my 34-20 SS would be perfect here. I'm on a rental bike that's gotta be at least 10 lbs heaver than my Jamis Dakota D29 Team Carbon beauty. It's not too bad of a bike tho, Giant Talon 1 29r. I can really feel the weight difference, and its in a more typical mtb position instead of the more aggressive position on my bike. Kind of crappy components, but Sunshine Cycles of Greenville hooked me up with a $50 rental for Friday afternoon-Monday morning...can't beat that.

Thinking about a night ride...I do have both my lights and had to pop them out the last 20 min or so of yesterdays ride (same 20 min I was on the cramp verge). I'll probably just go on an epic day tomorrow after some drying occurs. There's a general store within range, I have my 100 oz camelback and a 3 pocket jersey...I'm thinking 8+ hours...get in a good Dirty Kanza training day....shit, that's getting close.

Taking the camera with me tomorrow...expect lots of pics. It's mixed hardwood and pine forest, with trail ranging from 2 ft to 8 ft wide, and dirt/gravel roads, lots of waterfalls too and lake views. I think I mentioned this already.........

peace and riding!!!

ps: rock chalk bitches.

pps: If you haven't seem Cam Chambers rip this video do it:

spring break...kind of

WARNING...THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST PICTURE HEAVY POST I HAVE EVER DONE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I decided to go on spring break a weekish early...why not?

Went home finally last weekend. It was good. Amazing how much food there was...loved it!!! Did this gravel ride out to Perry and back with Sam, Dylan and Chad last Sunday too. We watched someroadie action, gave some colavita lovin', then rode back home into a 30+ mph wind. Good times.




I did go to work and classes on Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday I got on a jetplane and came to Clemson, South Carolina to see my sister. We chilled the rest of the day to go on a long hike the next day.

Full hiking album here! (click me!)

7 miles, 2000+ feet of climbing. 4 hours. good stuff! Words can't rally do it justice...look at the album, or these selected photos: