Clough Story

[Phat Twin]

I snuck out for a mid-week ride at Clough a couple weeks ago, not a sole to be seen in the parking lot. I mean it was really me and me only. Almost like a tumble weed should have rolled through.

First time there this year, dry and dusty to say the least. Basic startup to warmup - Stark Pond to Sugar Hill, to Basset Mill to the River. Certainly more bony than I remember.

I hit the River Loop for some good, snotty technical stuff. Got what I asked for. I was picking my way through the good stuff and started running along the rock walls about 1/3 of the way through, right before the drop into the suspension bridge. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a huge shape start runnning parallel to me in the slash from the tree harvesting. I looked up and right to see a fullgrown Sow Moose making her way in the same direction that I was traveling, maybe 30 feet to my right!!

I grabbed/stomped both binders full bore and she slowed to a trot about 30 feet in front of me and turned to look at me, fully bristling, hair off of her back more like a porcupine than a moose. I slowly dismounted while keeping the bike running, and then saw the other moose directly in front of me about 30 feet away behind an uprooted tree. Not sure if it was a calf or another female, but I made a quick two point pivot turn and grabbed a handful of throttle and bolted back to the slash before the rock wall.

I waited about 10 mins, restarted the bike, honked the horn a bit as I slowly rode back to the clearing, and they were gone, or at the very least watching me from a greater distance.

You can call me a pussy, but a riled up Sow protecting whatever it was surely would have made a really bad day out of an afternoon of riding IMHO. I see what Moose do to cars and their occupants in the hospital I work at regularly. My dinky little WR and my helmet/gear would have been toast if she charged.

Worst part was that my SD card filled up about 5 mins before I ran into the Moose and I missed the encounter with my helmet cam!! That would have been some great footage to share!

Finished with Hanglider Hill and only chased some Turkeys after the River trail encounter.

Same Day Video below. Just the warmup trails before the River Trail Encounter. I am trying a new hosting website that an article had directed me towards. Better quality and up/download resolutions. See what you think.

Ridin' Clough

[ChR1s]

There was a bull moose in our backyard.

The End.

[Currently]

You were lucky it was a sow ... if you would of beeped your horn at a bull moose at this time of the year, he would of charged you.

Moose are stupid and dangerous.

[ZX-12R]

Moose are stupid and dangerous.

And taste good.

[KB]

Nice video. I grew up and still ride there. There is some NASTY NASTY single track to be had in clough!!!

Holla at me next time you head out there.

KB