Event: BEMBA (Bald Eagle Mountain Biking Association) Jamboree
Place: Bald Eagle State Forest/RB Winter State Park, Mifflinburg, PA
Ridden: October 2014
Click on video to play.
Getting the chance to catch up with old friends and attending the BEMBA Jamboree took a group of us from the Lehigh Valley to Bald Eagle State Forest and RB Winter State Park for this edition of Single Track Sunday.
Bald Eagle State Forest, named for the famous Native American Chief Bald Eagle, includes 193,424 acres in Snyder, Union, Centre, Mifflin, and Clinton counties of PA. It spans across the high, sharp ridges of central PA and features miles of pristine mountain streams and numerous tracts of old growth forest. This area was the last stronghold for the mountain buffalo in the state.
RB Winter State Park, located within Bald Eagle State Forest, covers 695 acres of the Ridge and Valley Province. The park lies in a shallow basin surrounded by rocky ridges covered with oak and pine forest. The focal point of the park isHalfway Lake which is filled by spring-fed mountain streams and contained by a hand-laid, native sandstone dam (built by CCC workers, see last week's Single Track Sunday). Open year round, the park provides diverse opportunities for recreation.
Mountain biking is permitted on designated trails. RB Winter provides access to 25 mountain biking trails that cover 48 miles. Additionally, there are over 100 miles of connecting forestry roads. The Bald Eagle Purple Lizard map shows all the trails in detail and is a must when riding in this area. Trails are challenging, fun, and be ready to climb.
Mentioned above, this weekend was the BEMBA Jamboree. BEMBA is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance, and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers in Bald Eagle State Forest. The Jamboree was a weekend event, with camping, food, and activities for all ages. Group rides, bike polo, a huge fire pit, and a little skills park brought everyone together for the weekend. We made new friends, met those who helped develop the trails for TSE, and the highlight of the weekend was spending time hanging out and riding with an old friend who lives in the area. We were also surprised to see our coffee-making camping companion again.
Another added bonus for me this weekend was that it included the first ride on my new 2015 LIV Lust Advanced. Not much changed from the 2014 version except the colors. The 2015 color scheme is AMAZING. This is one great looking bike!The riding was awesome, seeing old friends was great, and it was nice to make new friends. A visit to the Scarlet D in Mifflinburg for fried pickles and beer made the weekend complete.
- words by Jess
- video by Joël
