Post by Bob T on Jun 26, 2011 16:58:03 GMT -5
On Saturday David, Kevin, Theresa and myself decided to ride the trails east of Windmill Gap Rd. Rode Flipping Creek and came out on Bramwell road behind Hillbilly Hideaway. Tried to get to the South Elkhorn Tunnel but the gate was locked. Since we were 1/2 way there we decided to go to the Pocahontas Mine. It was about a 5 minute ride into VA to the Mine. We then found out that VA frowns on riding ATV's on the road and it is a $280 fine, at least that's what the guy at the mine told us. We paid the $8.50 and took the mine tour. It was well worth it and very informative. They had a short movie at the end.
At the mine we met the guy who is trying to put in the Northern VA trail system called "Pocahontas Spearhead System". He took our pictures on our ATV's in front of the mine entrance. He was going to use it at a selling point to various officials on how it will bring ATVers and money to that area. He wants his system to tie into the HM Pocahontas Trails. He said he was hoping for next year but I think it was wishful thinking, he said he still had a lot of obstacles much less grooming trails.
The same gentleman showed us a trail about 200 yds from the mine that went into the mountains and allowed us to get back to WV without riding on VA roads. We went to the S Elkhorn tunnel from another direction and got to it. After trying several dead ends out we had to go to the locked gate. Two of us went around and we could lift it just enough to get the other two under it. We then went into Bramwell and had a terrific lunch, I'm talking 12 on a 10. We found no one in Bramwell who new where the new trail head was going to be.
We came back pretty much the same way but went on some of the trails west of WMG Rd and south of HMIR. Some of them had been groomed and may be part of the new Pocahontas system. We connected with the HMIR-80 to HMIR-13 to WMG Rd and made our way back to Hilltop.
I highly recommend the Pocahontas Mine tour and the historic part of Pocahontas. The man we met is trying to get the town to allow ATV's.
My next map will have the safe route to the mine on it. I am also adding the WV/VA border.
At the mine we met the guy who is trying to put in the Northern VA trail system called "Pocahontas Spearhead System". He took our pictures on our ATV's in front of the mine entrance. He was going to use it at a selling point to various officials on how it will bring ATVers and money to that area. He wants his system to tie into the HM Pocahontas Trails. He said he was hoping for next year but I think it was wishful thinking, he said he still had a lot of obstacles much less grooming trails.
The same gentleman showed us a trail about 200 yds from the mine that went into the mountains and allowed us to get back to WV without riding on VA roads. We went to the S Elkhorn tunnel from another direction and got to it. After trying several dead ends out we had to go to the locked gate. Two of us went around and we could lift it just enough to get the other two under it. We then went into Bramwell and had a terrific lunch, I'm talking 12 on a 10. We found no one in Bramwell who new where the new trail head was going to be.
We came back pretty much the same way but went on some of the trails west of WMG Rd and south of HMIR. Some of them had been groomed and may be part of the new Pocahontas system. We connected with the HMIR-80 to HMIR-13 to WMG Rd and made our way back to Hilltop.
I highly recommend the Pocahontas Mine tour and the historic part of Pocahontas. The man we met is trying to get the town to allow ATV's.
My next map will have the safe route to the mine on it. I am also adding the WV/VA border.