Tuesday Trail Closure Update (Day 3)

Our morning started with our camp routine.   Campers and Coaches packed their lunches and another stellar breakfast fueled us for the day.  The cafeteria was a sea of green as it’s camp jersey day!  

The rest of our day will be flexible and different from usual Day 3.   The weather gods got feisty last night and dumped over 5 inches of rain in an overnight storm.   The rain has caused washouts in the area making it difficult for Kingdom Trails to access, assess and perform any necessary trail maintenance.  As mountain bikers, we know the utmost importance of respecting the trails and are grateful to the professional maintenance staff of Kingdom Trails Association (KTA).  The trails are closed until further notice.  

This bridge used to take the riders to the Town Trails section of the system.

While we eagerly and patiently wait for trails to open, we still ride.   We practice skills today to make us better riders for tomorrow.  When the trails open, these skills will make for bigger smiles and conquering new challenges.   

Ben Tufford, Highland Mountain Bike Park Coach Education & Development Manager, is with us for the next few days.  Ben brought his gear trailer full of skills and bike game fun to campus where sessions will entertain and build camaraderie while developing skills. Ben helped camp director Pat pump up the riders — “PA All Day!”-- and while disappointed, campers and coaches rallied and many went off to ride local gravel while the trails were off limits and Ben got set up on campus instead of the trails.  

Ben Tufford shared his background and passion with the PA riders and coaches. He might be from Jersey, but he loves us Keystone staters.

When passionate about outdoor pursuits, you quickly learn that you can’t control the weather.   It’s how you pivot and your attitude that saves a vacation ... or camp.   This is an excellent opportunity for skills practice  — something strong athletes regularly work into training.  Smiles were plentiful as groups stuck together finding areas to ride in the morning sunshine.