Allegheny National Forest Adventure Rally - Loleta, PA - 9/21-9/23

Post Event AAR:
The first annual Allegheny National Forest Adventure Rally was a HUGE success! I could not have asked for a better inaugural event. BIG thanks to all who came out and made this possible. I hope you all enjoyed hitting the trails and exploring the forest as much as I have in the past.

I had an absolute blast leading a group of 11 through the bike and ATV trails on Saturday. We racked up right around 110 miles of very diverse terrain. Everything from slow technical riding over rocky and rooted terrain to fast sweeping, wet and muddy two track. It doesn't get much better, gentlemen, and it was my pleasure to be your host. I just hope you all had as much fun as I did. Thank you all and I hope to see you again next year!

PLEASE share your photos from the ANF ADV Rally here:
https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...-adventure-rally-2018-picture-thread.1341442/

If you have any photos from the event that you'd like to share, please email them to me at anfadvrally@gmail.com. This way I can compile them and share them with the group as an album.



WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW MUCH

• Who: YOU! Well, up to 50 of you, anyway. Registration limited to 50 people due to campground capacity.

• What: Full weekend of camping and riding in the beautiful Allegheny National Forest

• When: Check in after 2:00 PM (come any time, I'm here now!) on Friday, September 21st, Check out any time on Sunday, September 23rd

• Where: Millstone Group Campground in Loleta Recreation Area, Allegheny National Forest, PA, Coordinates 41.402598, -79.080548 (campground entrance)

• Cost: NO COST FOR ENTRY, donations accepted for dinner Saturday evening (catered BBQ)

THE RIDING

• Tons of forest roads for exploration.

• In addition to the hundreds of miles of forest roads available for exploration, there are over 100 miles of ATV and dirt bike trails in the area. The use of these trails requires a permit (daily $10, annual/weekend $35) which can be purchased from the Ranger’s Station or a few local businesses (click HERE for list of local businesses).

• If you wish to bring a non-street legal bike or ATV to ride the trail system only, please note you will have to trailer to one of the trailheads for access. The campground does not have direct access to the ATV or bike trails for non-street legal vehicles.

• For those of you who enjoy the twisties, PA-666 is a must ride.

• DISCLAIMER: The ATV and bike trails are regularly patrolled by the Park Rangers. DO NOT get caught on the trails without a permit! And DO NOT deviate from the marked trail system! Please respect the forest and the rules established by the Forest Service. Spend your hard-earned dollars on gas, food, and beer, NOT fines.
• GPX tracks available below. Please note there are tons of gated roads in the ANF, some may be open, some may be closed. It often depends on the time of the year, so plan some flexibility into your rides and expect to encounter and circumnavigate closed gates.
  • Courtesy of Lippy
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956295
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956298
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956301
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956310
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956317
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956324
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956327
      
    • https://advrider.com/f/threads/alle...eta-pa-9-21-9-23.1315026/page-8#post-35956334
  • Courtesy of fatbikeracer
    • https://ridewithgps.com/users/62474/routes
      
    • https://advtracks.online/

THE CAMPGROUND

• Millstone Group Campground is in the Loleta Recreation Area and is located about 7 miles south of Marienville, PA. The campground can accommodate up to 50 people. There is a primitive restroom on-site with shower access nearby. This is a non-electric site.
• If you prefer a little more privacy, peace and quiet, or electric hook-up, there are single-site campsites nearby and dispersed camping is permitted in the forest.
• 

ATV AND BIKE TRAILS - Be sure to pick up a map when you buy your permit

MEALS

• Saturday evening dinner will be provided. BBQ dinner consisting of smoked pulled pork, coleslaw, and baked beans is booked for Saturday evening at 6:00 PM. As mentioned above, no cost for this meal, but DONATIONS APPRECIATED!
• All other meals will be your responsibility.
• Full list of local-ish establishments for food to be provided soon

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, sightseeing, etc.

LASTLY...

• At the request of the USDA FS, Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.

IN LIST (28):

• fatbikeracer
• MATT0404 + family
• Honda Scoot
• eddie bolted - OUT
• Dr. Pinetree (tentative)
• Lippy
• Hubb255 + 3
• 625SXC
• Mooseboots + 1 - OUT
• Ghilly - OUT
• Thorex + 1 (tentative)
• Rotorhead511 + 1
• RoverDover
• Wood1 - OUT
• Racer64
• Roryboy
• Backroadbender
• Lawyer1219 + 1
• rbsride365
  
• Izzo
• ossaboy2867
• collinskj
• Controllerofthestars
• everready - OUT
• BikeRiderOH
• Cycletech
• Ian from FB

Im in.

First on the In List! You should win a prize.

Man this looks like a great time

In!

I would love to do this, but my work at that time of year makes it difficult. Enjoy!

I have no idea if I'll be working or not, but it's on my calendar.

In

I'm in and I may have at least 3 other riders that would love it! All bigger ADV bikes.

It'd be good to see you again, my friend!

Gotcha (+3) on the list! Lots of big bike friendly roads to explore. Heck, you'd be fine on parts of the ATV trail.

Put me on the list! Ridden there on the dirt bikes many times. Looks like a great way to spend the weekend on the 1290SA

On the list, my friend!

I spent a little time on the trails for opening weekend yesterday. Racked up 30 miles before getting a flat.

It was a great 30 miles though. Trails are in great shape. ATV trails are pretty big-bike friendly, you just have to be cautious about ATV's and SXS's. Everyone I encountered yesterday was courteous and polite. No asshats.

Any skill level should be able to ride any sized bike on the Timberline trail... Of course I have a fresh $20 bill for the first guy to ride a GS1200 to the top of the Rock Hill on the bike loop

I'll kick in another $20.

I'm not sure if this is the hill you're referring to, or not, but I've wrestled my 450 up it a few times. There are a couple good hill climbs on the bike trail.

Hard to tell in your picture... But it's the hill on the Marienville bike loop that looks like the Rangers gathered up every loose rock they could find and dumped them all on that hill it's fun on my 200XCW, enjoyable on my 250EXC, tolerable on my 525EXC... Doable on my 625SXC and not going to be attempted on my 1290SA... Even for $40

That just about sums it up. Here's a couple videos I found on Youtube showing this section. I assure you all, these videos suffer greatly from the GoPro terrain flattening effect.

40 seconds in:

2:21 in:

3:18 in:

The Marienville bike loop just doesn't look fun on a big bike. This is why I have sworn to never own a bike over 400 lbs. Then I go to the dealer and sit on African Twins and change my mind again. The label says Rocky Gap but the first half at least is Marienville, and if I'm not certain I think there is the hillclimb in there, its hard to tell because the angle is too low and he goes up the far left side. The muddy ditch at the start of the hill is at the 1 min mark I think.



Timberline looks ok on one.

Great photos, as always. Big fancy camera?

Thank you. I usually carry a Sony A7 mkII along with a 28/2 and 55/1.8 in my tankbag, but the Sony died on Saturday's trip, too. I'm guessing the IBIS failed as the sensor was visibly askew. Turned out to be an expensive trip lol. The above shots were taken with my cell phone.

I'm very interested and its on my calendar. I will try and give a definite as it gets a little closer, based on my work schedule at the time. Looks like it will be an awesome time!