Vertical Earth Gravity Park, Blue Mountain, PA

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JORBA: Sourlands
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For those of you that haven't heard, last summer the east coast's newest lift-assisted bike park was opened at Blue Mountain in Palmerton, PA. I was fortunate enough to be part of the group that built the trails and i have to say, i was really impressed with the work we did in a short amount of time. And this season, it will only get better. The 2010 race schedule is out but the park will be open every weekend for freeriding. There are trails for everyone, there will be a rental fleet and it's probably just as close as Diablo for most of NJ. The website hasnt been updated much since last summer but keep checking back because it will be.
www.verticalearthpa.com

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It really depends. I would say some of the black diamond trails at Diablo are alittle more gnarly than Blue but Blue has some steep rocky stuff too and more trails will be built for this season. Diablo definitely has more man-made features but Blue plans to add more this season. So far, there are no bridges at Blue, only natural rock stuff and built-up dirt stuff. Diablo has more trails but Blue has more vertical drop so the trails are longer (the Super D course took pros 8 minutes to get down in a race). Search youtube, there are a bunch of videos on there from last summer. Be careful though, there's also a Blue Mountain in Canada that has riding.
 
I like all the different types of races on the schedule like Super D and 4X. $175 for a pass right now. That's is cheap!

Is there a trail map? How many trials?
 
There was a hand-drawn map on the site last season. I dunno where it went but i'm sure it'll go back up at some point. About 6 full trails. I'll attach my MSPaint version which is decent, along with some trailbuilding pics. You think $175 is cheap, last season they were selling 2010 passes for $100 and it was good for the last couple weekends of '09!
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After:
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Hours of Operation:
Saturday: 9 am - 4 pm

Sunday: 9 am - 4 pm

Open Weekends May 22nd thru October 31st

Kind of weak considering I'm almost always stuck working weekends. :cry:
 
I look forward to checking this place out! And $100 isn't cheap enough 😉 If they do that again this year I may have to get a pass. Going 3 times is easy. See how much I like this place.
 
THATmanMANNY said:
I look forward to checking this place out! And $100 isn't cheap enough 😉 If they do that again this year I may have to get a pass. Going 3 times is easy. See how much I like this place.
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manny I am planning on doing some super d races this year maybe we will ride up together
maybe even do the dh races there to make a name so i can afford a dh bike
 
I went there one time last year it was a lot of fun and I heard they cut a lot more trails,Iam thinking about doing the race series the dates seem to work for me,if anyone else is thinking the same I usally have room in my truck for one or two more leaving from scotch plains,shoot me a pm if interested.
 
The Super D course is my favorite trail on the mountain. Thats what those trailbuilding pics are from. Definitely check it out.
 
brybry57 said:
manny I am planning on doing some super d races this year maybe we will ride up together
maybe even do the dh races there to make a name so i can afford a dh bike
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sure man! I've been wanting to race super d since last year but everything was far. Glad there is this close one.
 
THATmanMANNY said:
sure man! I've been wanting to race super d since last year but everything was far. Glad there is this close one.
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I took the rush there once last season, and it was fun but I over jummped a double and blew 5 spokes off of the front wheel ha I was able to put them back on (they were straight pull that popped out) and rode the rest of the day it was fun stuff nothing there is huge but you can go as fast as you want really
 
I'm a Blue Mountain regular, and I was talking to some folks who are involved in the DH Biking. The are planning to do some trail expansion to add some more beginner and intermediate stuff this season.

The new management at Blue is really working hard to turn the place into a 4 season destination. I actually skied down one of the bike trails this winter and that was a blast. I gotta get out there and try it on a bike!
 
Opening Day is just a week and a half away (on May 22nd)! Who's gonna be there?? I know i will be! There's also a Super D race on opening weekend. The following weekend on 5/29 i will be trailguiding if any mtbnj folks want a personal tour.
 
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