Other States

Exploring various other places outside of New York State, including Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Coketon – Railroad Grade

A largely undeveloped gravel bike trail outside of Thomas and Hedricks.

Most of the descend occurs in the 5 1/2 miles from Douglas, roughly 900 feet drop which works out to be an over 3% average grade, with a maximum grade of 3.75%.

It's much steeper then locomotives are engineered to safely climb, which is 2% or less, preferably less then 1.5%. It took at least two locomotives paired together climb, and heavy riding of the brakes down it and at least once in 1910s an out of control train crashed into the gorge below.

While not steep compared to many mountain roads, it's still a fun ride down and a good climb back up. Probably best done on a mountain bike, as the railroad gravel is fairly course on it

Taken on Thursday October 26, 2023 at Monongahela National Forest.

Towards Greenland Gap

To the east from the Mount Storm Scenic Overlook, you can see Greenland Gap of New Creek Mountain and Knobly Mountain.

Greenland Gap gets name from as there is band of rich agricultural land below those ridges, and it is very green with farm fields once you drop out of the mountains.

Taken on Saturday October 28, 2023 at Mount Storm.

Sunrise

Got up early several mornings in National Forest to watch the sun rise. Not such a cold morning this day but still the sun felt good on my face.

Taken on Thursday October 26, 2023 at Monongahela National Forest.

Sunrise

It was a very frosty morning to start out my first day camping up at Canaan Heights. It's been significantly colder there this year a few days compared to Albany, which is why most of the leaves are gone in the high country.

Taken on Monday October 23, 2023 at Monongahela National Forest.

Frosty Morning

The first morning camping at Monongehella National Forest was rather frosty to say the least! I think it got down into the low 20s, much cooler then it's been so far back in Albany

Taken on Monday October 23, 2023 at Monongahela National Forest.