I did a bad thing...

[TN2Wheeler]

At the VA/KY border on state route 160 (between Appalachia, VA and Lynch, KY) is Black Mountain, the highest point in KY. There's a dirt road that crosses over 160 at that point and I have ridden Black Mountain Ridge road to the west several times. Good ride - about 20 miles or so of intermediate level dual-sport riding. It comes out on pavement on KY38 around Louellen.

Until today I had never ridden the road to the east. It starts out innocent enough with the same gas pipeline running alongside the road as in the other direction. Then all of a sudden you come upon the "moonscape". The entire mountain has been strip mined and is not yet "recovered". There were no signs there telling me I couldn't continue so I did. The entire mountain top is now gone and there are haul roads criss-crossing in every direction. None of those were on my GPS map of course so about all it was good for at that point was letting me know if I was traveling in the general direction of where the county roads used to be. There were some very steep rocky sections and there was some dried mud that the haulers had chewed up into ruts. The riding was not difficult but one had to stay alert and it was just a little disconcerting that the new "roads" didn't match my GPS. I was thinking I could wander around up here for hours before finding the right road out! At one point I encountered a sign that said "Exit to 635" - probably should have taken that but I had just passed a turn to the left that pointed in the general direction of the old country road so, yeah, I backtracked and rode that way... and rode... and rode... and rode. There were MANY cross over roads and some of those might have been actual county roads. And, by now I was passing signs, all pointing back to where I was coming from, stating things like:

• active mining/blasting area
• charged holes marked with orange flags
• no entry to non-authorized vehicles
• no ATVs/Motorcycles allowed
• beware of large off-road haulers
• steep inclines ahead

Uh-huh, you get the picture. I wasn't supposed to be there. Ironically, there was not a soul in sight. Lots of equipment, yes; but NO people. At this point I was already into this maze about 10 miles worth and I didn't particularly want to back track. EVENTUALLY, I connected with the original country road according to the GPS. I thought at this point, OK, now I'm on my way out. Well, that didn't last very long as the haul road soon deviated again but at least instead of the previous moonscape it was just a mountain road with trees on both sides. About this time I encountered a wide, well graded, but VERY steep, haul road with declining mile marker signs. The signs told me I was 4.5 miles out from somewhere. I assumed that if the mile markers were going down, I'd arrive at something significant when they hit zero.

I was right. I arrived at the Cumberland River Coal Company's Parsons deep portal mine. Unfortunately I was INSIDE the fence rather than outside. Again, and fortunately I suppose, the mine was shut down and there was no one around except the guard in the little white guard shack. So, I rode up to the gate, got off and strolled over to the guard shack. The guard, who was even older than me, was probably nodding and certainly not expecting a vehicle from inside the gate. I think I kind of startled him.

Me: Hey, can you let me out?
Guard: Huh! How did you get in?
Me: I rode in from highway 160 over near Lynch
Guard: This is private property
Me: Yes, I know that now but there were no signs the way I came in. I'm sorry I intruded on company property. It was not intentional. The only way out is to go back the way I came. Can you let me out here?

About here I can see the wheels are turning. I am trespassing for sure but he doesn't want trouble this afternoon and neither do I.

Guard: I guess so. Come on in here (the guard shack) for a minute.

After I get inside, he presents me with full visitor documentation. A release to sign. Time in, Time out sheets... the whole thing and after I've executed all that stuff he hands me a punched pass that indicates I've had "Hazard Training". Obviously I haven't and just as obviously he's making this easy on both of us.

Me: Once again I'm sorry I intruded on your land. There really aren't any signs the way I came in. Thanks for letting me out.
Guard: Where are you from anyhow?
Me: Kingsport, Tennessee
Guard: You mean you rode that "thing" all the way from Kingsport (it was about 80 miles by then, 17 of which were on gravel after I left SR160).
Me: Yep, just exploring. Thanks again. See 'ya.

OBTW, I saw a cute bear cub. I'd guess about 75lbs. It came out of the woods and ran down the road about 50 feet before going back in and then turning around and peeking through the bushes to check me out. I thought about trying to get a picture but also thought that mama might be around and decided to just thump on.

[stlthmsta]

Well, I wouldn'ta seen that from the seat of my ST1100!! TM

[BlueRidgeGal]

You might want to keep that "Hazard Training" punch-pass on the bike...just in case you need it again later.
Sounds like an interesting adventure. Glad it turned out well for you!

[Woof]

You fall down and break your leg back in there all by your lonesome and it's gonna be a really bad day for you.

ATGATT & DDA (Don't Dirt Alone)

[TN2Wheeler]

You fall down and break your leg back in there all by your lonesome and it's gonna be a really bad day for you.

ATGATT & DDA (Don't Dirt Alone)

There's definitely more risk riding off main roads alone but IMO statistically less than riding across town dodging the idiots in their SUVs. It's also a matter of how one rides. I know people who think they have to ride WFO whenever they're on dirt That's not me. I ride a lot of the time alone (both on and off pavement) and I tend to be pretty cautious. For instance there were a number of steep and rugged side roads today that I chose not to ride because I was alone. FWIW, if I always waited on someone to ride with me, I wouldn't ride nearly as much ... as in nearly every day. Also, keep in mind that this isn't the desert. These are public roads (well, most of the time anyhow - today was an exception) and it might be awhile but someone will come along eventuality. Like riding a motorcycle in general, it's a risk I choose to accept.

Jim Randall

[BlueRidgeGal]

I tend to be pretty cautious...it might be awhile but someone will come along eventuality. Like riding a motorcycle in general, it's a risk I choose to accept.

Jim Randall

I agree whole-heartedly.

[BlueRidgeKat]

You fall down and break your leg back in there all by your lonesome and it's gonna be a really bad day for you.

ATGATT & DDA (Don't Dirt Alone)

I'm not so sure..........

I found that the really bad day starts once you get to the hospital and they start moving you form bed to bed to bed to bed with each move causing more intense pain before they actually do anything. THEN, they say theres nothing they can do for you there and you need to be transferred to another hospital that is better equipped. Upon arriving at the better equipped hospital, once again, you are moved from bed to bed to bed (ambulance, emergency room, x-ray, cat scan, etc...).

...... by the time all this transpires you are wishing you were still lying in the ditch beside the road all alone listening to the coyote's howling.

[stevegrab]

Another great adventure Jim, I would have probably shit my pants several times during this encounter. Do you carry bolt/fence cutters with you know?

[TN2Wheeler]

Another great adventure Jim, I would have probably shit my pants several times during this encounter. Do you carry bolt/fence cutters with you know?

Actually I respect private property and I try really hard not to trespass. Some people, particularly some of our mountain folk, get pretty upset with that kind of thing and although no one has ever pointed a gun at me on several occasions I've encountered property owners with one in their hand or pocket. I really try to avoid that kind of confrontation.

In this situation on Cumberland River Coal's property (actually I'm pretty sure it's actually state or federal property just leased to Cumberland River Coal) there were no gates or signs on the road I entered from. It was obvious later but by then I was several miles in.

And, I would never cut or even cross a fence unless there was no alternative.

Jim Randall