| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1927.1 | Thinking about attempting the 'hill'... | TOOK::C_PEREZ | The InFAMous Eight | Thu May 02 1991 15:22 | 7 |
| This may seem like at stupid question, but where do you park?
I assume you can park for nothing in the main lot by the lodge
but never having been to Wachusett outside of the ski season I'm
not sure what if any restrictions they have during the summer...
Tx, -Craig
|
| 1927.2 | THEY VALIDATE... | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri May 03 1991 07:05 | 15 |
| There are a number of places (and formal parking areas) available. A
lot of folks who come in cars to ride park right at the beginning of
Mile High Road as you turn off Rte. 140. That way you get the "full
effect" (all of Mile High Road without having to ride down and then
go up.
You can park in the ski lodge parking are as well. Even though the
gate to the mountain road isn't open, the parking lot is next to
the information house. You do have to squeak by the gate, but that's
no problem. It's really just closed to auto traffic right now. On
a good day the place is crawling with pedestrians...
Chip
|
| 1927.3 | Specs. | CTHQ1::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Fri May 03 1991 09:20 | 4 |
| I haven't had the chance to climb M.W. What's the distance and total
climb? ...ned some hill training.
Eric
|
| 1927.4 | | AD::CRANE | I'd rather be on my bicycle | Fri May 03 1991 10:29 | 6 |
|
The distance from the Ski lodge to the summit is 4 miles if you don't
take the shortcut thats about 3/4 of the way up.
John C.
|
| 1927.5 | What's the vertical? | TPWEST::SHROYER | | Fri May 03 1991 11:42 | 9 |
| <<< Note 1927.4 by AD::CRANE "I'd rather be on my bicycle" >>>
>
>
> The distance from the Ski lodge to the summit is 4 miles if you don't
> take the shortcut thats about 3/4 of the way up.
>
> John C.
|
| 1927.6 | what's the bottom? | YNGSTR::BROWN | | Fri May 03 1991 13:04 | 7 |
| Depends on where you define the bottom of the mountain... the Sterling
Gun Club on Beanman Rd. is at 500'. The Ice Cream shop in East Princeton
is real close to 700' ASL. The intersection of (Princeton's) Beaman Rd
and East Beaman Rd. is at 1000'. The "ranger headquarters" is a hair
over 1500'. The top of the mountain is 2006'. I never go *up* the ski
resort way so I'm not sure what its at (estimate about 900')... and am
usually going quite fast by it on the way down! -kratz
|
| 1927.7 | TAKE IT IN A 53X12 (SEATED) | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri May 03 1991 14:51 | 9 |
| The TT Race info billed it as a 3.6 miler starting from the
lodge... So the very base (Westminster/ski resort side) would be
about 4 miles.
BTW, No short cuts allowed after the road opens... Besides, that's
using the ladies tees at the local golf course... Please ladies,
it wasn't meant to be insulting ;-)
Chip
|
| 1927.8 | Road to summit clode till June/July | HANNAH::SMITH | Michael J. Smith: DSG1-2/E6 | Tue May 07 1991 08:56 | 5 |
| According to the "Landmark", a local newspaper, the road (i.e. the gates) will
be closed while they build a parking lot near the summit. This new lot will
replace the old "lot" which was the summit itself. Meantime no cars on the
roads. They may be doing some blasting up there so if you hear some booms
pedal fast(er). Will 51 mph be enough?
|
| 1927.9 | FLAK VEST REQUIRED? | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Tue May 07 1991 14:41 | 4 |
| Sheesh, that's good to know. I'll have to plan on wearing my
Tomasso flak vest when I go up... :-)
Chip
|
| 1927.10 | Mt Wachusett for two?? | CTHQ1::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Fri May 10 1991 09:43 | 12 |
| Well, we made the first tandem attempt up Mt. W. a few evenings ago. We
started at the hotel on Rte 31 and 2 to warm up and got to the gate.
It's .8 of a mile from the Ski lodge to the gate. When we got off the
bike to go around the gate, Nancy noticed an "aneurysm" on the rear tire.
We thought that it would be prudent to discontinue the attack for safety
reasons so we turned around and flew down to Rte 140 in less than 2
minutes hitting 52 mph WITH BRAKES (so much for being safety concious...)
We'll try it again soon. The next time, I'll remember to put my Oakleys
on...
Eric_with_a_permanent_smile_on_his_face
|
| 1927.11 | high speed blow out? | WFOVX8::SISE | WFOOFF::SISE, dtn 242-2447 | Fri May 10 1991 13:15 | 8 |
| Eric,
52 MPH with a tire with an "aneurysm". You got more balls than I do !!
BANG sissssss Crash BUMP Flip SPROING THUMP Flippity clud Thump flop
screech....... Moan.....
John_whos_hands_sweat_just_thinking_about_it!!
|
| 1927.12 | :-) | FILMS::WIDDOWSON | Le soleil au z�nith me surexcite | Fri May 10 1991 13:56 | 1 |
| Can I borrow the tire for not going out interval training with ?
|
| 1927.13 | AND THE HEAVENS OPENED... | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri May 31 1991 12:54 | 15 |
| I wasn't sure "weather" to put this here or in the MERLIN note,
but, both my MERLIN and I were baptised yesterday 3/4's of the
way up Mt. Wachusett. I don't think I wouldn't have minded that
much, but I had just torn the thing down last Saturday and gave
it a thorough bathing...
Oh, it's very pretty at the top when it's pouring cats, dogs, and
various barn yard animals... No wind (big deal) and no lightening
(thank you GOD)...
A first for me on the mountain... BTW, the brakes dry up really
fast at 45mph.....
Chip
|
| 1927.14 | | DELNI::BARWISE | | Fri Jun 07 1991 12:07 | 6 |
| When I went up Mt. Wachusett two weeks ago (temp in 90s) I would
have loved a little rain to cool me down! Where's this MERLIN
note you mention? I've been drooling since I saw the one in
the latest BICYCLING.
rb
|
| 1927.15 | MERLINS | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri Jun 07 1991 12:14 | 5 |
| Try DIRECTORY/TITLE = MERLIN
That'll do it...
Chip
|
| 1927.16 | moral dilemma, what would you do? | YNGSTR::BROWN | | Tue Jun 11 1991 13:57 | 52 |
| I start out late Saturday to climb Mt. Wachusetts, about 17 miles from home,
with just enough time to get back before dark, plus the skies are threatening.
I get to the ranger headquarters at the 1300' level. The gate is closed from
that point up since they're redoing the parking lot at the top of the
mountain. There are only two or three cars in the parking lot at the ranger
headquarters. I ride under the gate and proceed up the remaining two miles to
the 2006' summit. About 1/4 mile after riding under the gate, right where the
hill becomes serious, the unmistakable sound of a large dog running up from
the rear... I turn around and an Irish Setter with collar is following.
Nobody is in sight. I continue up the mountain, not saying anything, thinking
that the dog will eventually get bored and turn around. At my pace (8mph,
@15 minutes to the top from the ranger headq), the dog is lightly trotting,
but has no problem keeping up. And up, and up... all the way to the top!
There is nobody at the top of the mountain, for good reason: thunder and
lightning are quickly approaching from the west and it's getting very dark.
The dog takes off across the parking lot under construction and despite my
calls ("hey dog!") doesn't pay attention and it runs to the far side. I begin
to take off, thinking that it will keep following (let's see just how fast it
can run...) when I go down the mountain. I call and call again. Nothing.
I start down the mountain and quickly get up to the usual 40-45mph. About
three quarters of the way down (circa 1400'), I zip around a corner, and
there off to the side of the road is a man, his wife, a baby in a stroller,
they're calling for a dog, and looking *down* the mountain no less.
You have literally a SPLIT second to react before zipping around the next
corner. What do you do?
A) Keep on going. Don't say anything. The dog is fine at the top (there isn't
traffic in miles), a loose dog is not a very good thing to have on the
mountain for bikers, they should have watched it, and you've already had a
collarbone broken by a dog when riding.
B) Keep on going, but turn around and tell them "Hey, your dog is at the
top!" Similiar reasoning to (A) above, but in addition this will
definitely piss them off towards you. Besides, they'll never make it to the
top before dark to get the dog anyhow, but at least they know where it is.
C) Stop and offer to go back up and get the dog. Fat chance... that means
going back up the the top with an aluminum bike in a lightening storm,
getting wet, getting home after dark, all for a chance that it will listen
to you now to come down.
D) Stop and offer the bike to him to go get it. Even fatter chance... he needs
cleats, is taller and won't fit the bike, hardly likely to be in good
enough shape to get there in any meaningful time.
E) Stop and offer to go back up and try and get the dog, if they'll drive me
and the bike home. Doubtful their car has room for baby, stroller, 3 adults
and a bike. I don't have a lock and won't leave the bike unattended.
More options are also possible, but for every second thinking at 45mph means
minutes at 8mph climbing back up. What did you choose?
I chose A. Hope they found their dog. Betcha their dinnertable was no place
to be that evening.
-k
|
| 1927.17 | | WUMBCK::FOX | | Tue Jun 11 1991 14:25 | 34 |
|
>A) Keep on going. Don't say anything....
Not even an option, in my mind.
>B) Keep on going, but turn around and tell them "Hey, your dog is at the
> top!" Similiar reasoning to (A) above, but in addition this will
> definitely piss them off towards you. Besides, they'll never make it to the
> top before dark to get the dog anyhow, but at least they know where it is.
I don't think it'd piss 'em off. You're doing them a favor, they would
be grateful, not angry! However, when they do find him, and realize you
knew where he was without saying anything (taking option "A"), that
will/did piss them off! :-0
All you had to say was "I saw a Setter at the top, is it yours?".
Dogs can see pretty well in the dark, and a person on foot can climb
almost as quickly as one on a bike. No excuse for for not saying
something.
>C) Stop and offer to go back up and get the dog.
No way, and it shouldn't be expected.
>D) Stop and offer the bike to him to go get it.
Ditto. And it probably wouldn't give him much of an advantage on the
way up, and would be a definite disadvantage on the way down -
especially if the dog needs to be leased!
>E) Stop and offer to go back up and try and get the dog, if they'll drive me
> and the bike home.
Also way out of line.
I would have chose "B". No effort required and it helps them locate
their dog.
John
|
| 1927.18 | Tell them where the dog went | PICKET::WESTER | | Tue Jun 11 1991 14:35 | 11 |
| RE .16
One option you didn't list would have been to stop after you passed the
people and head back up to tell them what happened (I know, it means
climbing back up). Let them figure out what to do next.
That's what I would have done. I've always had a dog and would be
crushed if it got lost. I'd feel pretty guilty about not saying
anything as I passed them. You should have at least told them where
and when you last saw the dog. I hope the dog came back down.
Dave
|
| 1927.19 | East/West | LANDO::OBRIEN | Give it a TRI | Tue Jun 11 1991 18:57 | 19 |
| The earlier notes mentioned a distance of 4 miles from the base.
Today, I was chatting w/ a couple of other people whom did the climb
and found it to be much easier than myself. Dissapointed,.. we started
talking about the climb.
One guy refers to taking the climb on the West side of the MTN. Now I
was getting ALL confused,... WEST SIDE I say??? I go up the EAST side.
To make a long story short, I took the ONE WAY the wrong way. It was
a much shorter distance to the top, hence steeper. Since the gate was
closed, I didn't even bother looking for ONE WAY signs but just took
the route that looked like it was going UP!
So, which way do YOU ride up it? Have you tried both ways? I'll have
to give Road B a try,... maybe this weekend.
-John
p.s. At the first T after going under the gate, I went LEFT instead of
straight.
|
| 1927.20 | Hmmmmm.... | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Wed Jun 12 1991 07:37 | 15 |
| From directional perspective, the approaches are more north and
south facing...
I have been doing the climb every week starting in May for the last
two seasons (religiously) and have never gone up backwards. Taking a
left at the "T" (down road) is defintely a shorter. To "flatly" say
it's steeper is a toughie. There are kinda flat sections and one
downhill section going up the "up" road. Someone with an altimeter
could probably check to see which route has the more feet climbed.
There are a couple of very steep sections on the up road, but they
are short...
No matter how you slice it or dice it, it's a workout!
Chip
|
| 1927.21 | | LANDO::OBRIEN | Give it a TRI | Wed Jun 12 1991 11:23 | 21 |
| > I have been doing the climb every week starting in May for the last
> two seasons (religiously) and have never gone up backwards. Taking a
> left at the "T" (down road) is defintely a shorter. To "flatly" say
> it's steeper is a toughie. There are kinda flat sections and one
You're right, it's hard to tell which is 'steeper',...
> No matter how you slice it or dice it, it's a workout!
Right again,... but which is MORE of a workout? I'll probably be
trying the 'up' road up(maybe this weekend). If the gate is closed, I
don't think it'd be that dangerous going up the down road.... I'm sure
we've all done more dangerous things while riding!
Give it a try.... Maybe we could start a survey if enough people "just
do it"(tm).
-John
|
| 1927.22 | | YNGSTR::BROWN | | Wed Jun 12 1991 16:50 | 19 |
| re: east side access... or, Want to have some real fun...?
Across the street from the ranger headquarters is a backroad that
angles off into the trees. It has some *serious* inclines, since it
basically comes right up the east side of the mountain and pops
out onto the shoulder of the mountain (known as Little Wachusetts).
Thru some finnagling, you can come out behind the East Princeton Ice
Cream bar. That's the way I always go up, and it's quicker
(time-wise) back to the ice cream bar... even faster than descending
by the ski lodge and come back south down 140 (a friend and I have
split up at the ranger hq and I always win going down the east side,
even tho the bike gets shaken silly from potholes).
Specifically, from the ranger headquarters: cross Mile Hill Rd, angle
off on this road (no sign), turn right when it "T"s (steep, huh?), make
your next left, another left when that "T"s, and take this to the back
of the ice cream bar. None of the roads have signs anyhow, so
saying "Beaman Rd" doens't mean much.
|
| 1927.23 | THERE IS TRAFFIC... | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Thu Jun 13 1991 08:55 | 6 |
| Please be careful going up the down road. During my climbs after
work the last two weeks a car was coming down. I only met it before
the command tower on the slope so I couldn't see which way he came
from... Must be a construction guy because he was outa uniform...
Chip
|
| 1927.24 | I know nobody really asked but... | HANNAH::SMITH | Michael J. Smith: DSG1-2/E6 | Thu Jun 13 1991 09:59 | 94 |
| RE: 1927.22 and etc...
Just for the record the names of the roads are:
Mountain Road is the road on which the park entrance/ranger headquarters is
located. Mountain Road starts in Princeton Center and ends at the
Westminster/Princeton town line just above the ski lodge where it changes
its name to Mile Hill Road (there is a sign).
Pine Hill Road is the road that angles off across from the ranger headquarters.
Pine Hill is the name of the hill to the right of Pine Hill Road. Makes sense.
Myrick Road intersects with Pine Hill Road. If you go left you end up on Rte
140. Right will take you towards Princeton Center.
Wilson Road is the left off Myrick Road and it is a short road.
Beaman Road is the road that ends up back at the ice cream place.
Little Wachusett is the hill that is past "big" Mt Wachusett towards
Princeton. It is west of Mountain Road between Westminster Road and
Thomson Road.
Princeton is not big on road signs or road maintenance to say the least.
They are repaving part of Mountain Road!
Other ways to get to the summit (in the park) ...
Past a certain point the summit access is limited to the paved road that we
all seem to know, aka the "up" road and the "down" road.
There are two ways to connect with the paved road that gets you to the summit.
One is dirt and the other is old broken asphalt. You could run the latter
on a road bike but I'd not go for any land speed records.
There are also a number of dirt roads that connect to the two roads mentioned
above.
Paved roads are:
Administration Road
One end is on Mountain Road, starting at the main entrance and the
other ends on Westminster Road. Both ends of Summit Road are off
this road. Part of Administration Road is not maintained.
Summit Road
One end (the end?) is between the ski lifts (the "down" road) and the
other is end is at the apex of the "U" in the "up" road.
Dirt roads are:
North Road
Goes between West Princeton Road and Administration road. Short
(1/2 mile?) and steady, about 250 feet change in elevation.
Balance Rock Road
Connects Mountain Road (near the transformer after the climb starts)
to North Road. Long(ish) - ~1 mile , about 270 feet.
West Road
Connects West Princeton Road and Administration road. About a mile
and 130 feet change but some ups and downs.
Echo Lake Road
Connects Mountain Road and Administration road. About a half mile
long with ~140 change.
If you stop at the headquarters building there is a map that shows the
roads and hiking trails.
And while I am at it...
The summit is 2006 feet
The turn off to the summit ~1925
Summit Road/North Road 1567
Up/Down Intersection 1528
Park Entrance 1386
Ski Area Parking lot 1000
Bolton Road/Mile Hill Road 911
(I have a map in my office)
Sorry to be so insufferable but, I live near all this and ride my mt bike in
the park quite a bit. When the park is closed I (carefully, ranger trucks are
still around) often go up the down road because its a shorter grind and down
the up road cause its a longer ride (glide!). If you are going up the down
road there is a dirt road off to the right just before where Pine Hill Trail
crosses the road that will end up near the summit. I have a ride that gets
all the roads in the park mentioned above and has over 1500 feet of descents.
Its all good clean fun!
|
| 1927.25 | How about some ATB trails? | ASG3::STEWART | I hear and obey the voice of Landru. | Thu Jun 13 1991 12:32 | 8 |
|
Well, since we're talking about a mountain here, are their any trails
suitable for a mountain bike? (There must be some......). Taking my
mountain bike up a paved road sort of takes all the fun out of it. :-)
Thanks,
Andy
|
| 1927.26 | CAPITAL OFFENSE | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Thu Jun 13 1991 12:55 | 3 |
| Sorry, you'll be shot where you stand (if caught that is)
Chip
|
| 1927.27 | Oh, well... | ASG3::STEWART | I hear and obey the voice of Landru. | Thu Jun 13 1991 14:09 | 6 |
|
Hmmmmmmm....so much for that idea.
Later,
Andy_whos_going_back_to_read_only_mode_before_getting_shot_for_capital_offenses
|
| 1927.28 | In every ATBer's life a little asphalt must roll by... | HANNAH::SMITH | Michael J. Smith: DSG1-2/E6 | Fri Jun 14 1991 08:00 | 27 |
| Bicycles are prohibited from the hiking trails in Mt Wachusett State Park.
Bicycles are allowed on any of the roads in the park. The only "good"
roads in the park are those that directly go to and return from the summit
starting from the entrance on Mountain Road. The other roads in the park
are dirt or in pretty bad repair which makes them pretty good for fat-tired
paper-boy type bikes. But they ain't narrow gnarly(sp?) trails. You just
can't get down from the summit on dirt roads alone.
There is a map of Mt Wachusett (and Leominster State Forest) that is very
good. I got one at in Lincoln Guide Service in Lincoln Mass. I have seen
them at other places. From my map it says...
For Information on where to purchase this map send SASE to:
New England Cartographics
P.O. Box 369
Amherst, MA
01004
A lot of Princeton town roads, paved or dirt, are ATB'able without having to
put up with funny looks from skinny wheelers cause they just won't be there.
You will see kids commuting between friends houses and that is about it.
Maybe you will see a "cross" biker but they are really very rare.
Leominster State Forest, a ridge or so east of Mt Wachusett, has some fun
bike trails but no really long descents. There are no paved roads in that
place. Is there a note for Leominister State Forest (yet)?
|
| 1927.29 | REASONS FOR TRAFFIC RULES... | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri Jun 21 1991 07:51 | 17 |
| This is more of a plea (plus a little nudge for folks)...
I went up yesterday (the up road) and happened to meet somebody coming
down the up road. We crossed right after I made the turn passed the
downhill section. It was just chance that we were able to pass and
have visibility to each other on that long straight-away...
I don't have to mention that this could have been a messy affair if
we had come to that corner together instead of the straight-away
(I was doing over 35mph around that corner and the other guy had to
have been doing at least 20mph... OUCH!)
I would ask anyone climbing it to follow the prescribed traffic
pattern. Definitely a recipe for disaster by violating the one way
rule! Besides, if someone scratches my new bike I'm gonna be unhappy...
Chip
|
| 1927.30 | Have you ever seen a grown Chip cry? | CTHQ3::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Fri Jun 21 1991 09:37 | 8 |
| Chip,
What kind of bike do you have that scratches? Personally, you should
look into a TITANIUM bike that doesn't scratch - or can be buffed when
marked. I also hear that if you put on a Campy 8 speed cassette, there
is less chance of this happening and you go faster...
Eric_getting_ready_for_the_Duet_Classic_by_climbing_MtW
|
| 1927.31 | FORCE FIELDS AND EYE OF NEWT? | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Mon Jun 24 1991 07:50 | 12 |
| Thanks for the advice, Eric... I'll defintely look into on them
thar' exotic metal type set-ups...
Campy 8 speed casette hardware will definitely make the Christmas list
(prioritized, naturally) and is the primo target for my tax return
check!
When have you been riding up? A lot - weekly - weekends? I was up last
Thursday... early afternoon... Hot - Hot - Hot!
Chip_who_will_get_with_the_program_and_dump_his_6spd_freewheel
|
| 1927.32 | PARKING LOT? WHAT PARKING LOT? | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Thu Jun 27 1991 08:00 | 9 |
| I went up yesterday to check out the "new" parking lot at the summit.
What a joke! I wanted to see the finish area for the LONGSJO for the
Friday race.
They've paved enough area to park (maybe) 5-6 cars. I laughed when I
pulled up on the summit road. I don't know what the construction cost
was, but I hope it wasn't a lot.
Chip
|
| 1927.33 | Summit road to open this weekend -- 6/29/91 | HANNAH::SMITH | Michael J. Smith: DSG1-2/E6 | Fri Jun 28 1991 08:06 | 15 |
| as well as the parking lot.
Re: up the up, up the down, down the down and down the up roads ....
When the gates are open and when cars are on the road, up or down against the
flow is clear no-no. A car/bike interaction might even bend or break most any
old bike and/or biker. I have seen cars going the wrong way on the up road
more than once.
I think the biggest danger is hikers/walkers/strollers. Think about cookin'
around a bend going down the down and there they are, four abreast pushing a
stroller, backs to you pokin' along, they can't hear the wind whistling in
your spokes ... think fast.
Might be better to think ahead.
|
| 1927.34 | DAMN THE PEDESTRIANS! | WMOIS::C_GIROUARD | | Fri Jun 28 1991 09:01 | 4 |
| I'd just as soon rig a "cow catcher" on the MERLIN and try not
to lose any cadence... :-)
Chip
|