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Buck Mt (from Pilot Knob)
8 reviews
3.63 of 5
This is new dimension multisport extreme - not just mt. biking. Right in your back yard, and it's legal, even though a hiking trail.
Depending on the weather, this can be dry and rocky, with nice, packed dirt, or wet rocks, raging streams, and small ledges turned to small waterfalls in your face. Keep your cleats on loose. And you WILL be falling.
I did this after a week of rain. The bottom third is a satisfying blast: moderately steep dirt gullies and winding rock gardens with an occaisional stream. Then it gets wild. I charged across shin deep streams to be confronted by ledges turned to mini-falls cascading into your face . The going gets steep and rough very fast and becomes a 3 mile relentless challenge to skill, stamina, and nerve . Make sure your cleats don't slip when shouldering your bike over such slippery obstacles. There's a lot of charging aginst water flows, wet,wet rocks and ledges. Your skill level will decide how much you walk.
Then there's the top third: super steep packed dirt and the slab rock peak. I walked this. Younger,more demented types will cycle it. It's a big drop if you miss.
Back at the bottom you can also take the rt. fork to Hogtown. This is an increasingly steep green slime wet rock strewn increasinly high ridge that eventually gave me acrophobia before I quit about 3/4 mi into it. But immensely fun and satisfyingly--as opposesd to its death defying neighbor--technical. I kept rolling down and doing it again. But DON'T fall. It's a long slide into the senic bubbling cascades below.
All in all this is a must for those of you who think Killington et al are good. You'll be talking about this one for years.
Northway to exit 20 rt.149. Turn left at intersection with light and a Stewarts on the left.(9L) Drive all the way to the lake, veer left and continue to Pilot Knob along the shore road. Eventually, on the rt. is a DEC trailhead & parking lot for Buck Mt. trail. Park and enter trail- bikes allowed!
Summary: This trail is alot of fun...this trail was actually my first ever ridden on a serious DH bike and I learned on this trail and the surrounding trails off the Buck Mt. trailhead. The trail up towards the hogtown lot from the trailhead is really fast and wide and great for anyone beginning the sport. Also, off this trailhead there is a loop trail that runs along the top and bottom of a rock cliff that people sport climb on. For downhillers, there are two ridable sections, one being very steep, techinical, and the other very fast and flowy...both are great fun and well worth the drive up to lake george. I can spend all days in between all these trails as long as the bike holds up. I usually ride these during the summer and the conditions are great (also great fun in the pouring rain when the streams are everywhere)
Recommended Route: northway to exit 20, 149 to 9L, to pilot knob rd, follow to buck mt trailhead parking lot
Other recommended trails in the same area: heard the trails up tongue mt are similar to buck mt
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Summary: This is a pretty tough trail. But its one of the most fun Downhill runs i've ever done, super steep, fast, lots of drops, tons of rock gardens and the visibility for hikers and dogs and animals is generally pretty good. Theres only one part near the top where its too steep to have any control if you see somebody, and you kinda just gotta crank it, so that part is a bit sketchy.
As to riding it up, well, if you're going the route of "suspension" especially a DH or freeride rig, plan on doing alot of really intense hiking/pushing/carrying, and make sure its at least 4"+ travel, preferably 8-10. It can be done on a hardtail, but i would suggest using more of a dirt jumper with a very sturdy frame that can take heavy abuse, plus you can still do all the fun hits.
There ARE hikers and plenty of off the leash animals, so beware of that.
Great trail
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Summary: It's a mountain biking trail if you make it so. Definitely there are sections that anyone this side of Superman will not be able to ride up or down, but those sections are maybe 10-20% of the total trail, depending on your attitude, ability and how wet the grounds are. Getting up is certainly a workout, but the ride down is worth it. A major charge!
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Review Date July 3, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Jason
, from Albany,NY
Summary: As the people said, this ain't no MTB trail! But it's big time fun if you've got the skill and toughness.And the reward on top - UNBELIEVABLE! I'de say I actually rode about 40% of the trail. That 40% is a great ride (we're talking UP). Can't understand the gripers below, it's also a great hike, and the bike gives the extra workout. If you're so inclined, this is a definite DO for the biatheletes.
Recommended Route: From Pilot Knob
Other recommended trails in the same area: Garnett hill, Tongue MT hiking -yes, that's hiking - trails.
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Review Date May 23, 2002
Overall Rating 1 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Vince Talavera
, from Boulder, CO
Summary: Lake George is as beautiful as Colorado, but this trail is a hike a bike trail. It will piss you off! Dont do it. It is most certainly a hiking trail. I have good skills and a lot of it wasnt rideable.
Other recommended trails in the same area: I took my roadie off my car and rode up and around Bolton Landing.
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