TRAIL

Mine Ride

We ride under Pennsylvania!

The ceiling is low in some areas where the rock has collapsed. It's a surreal experience.

JOHN ARENS

Years of riding, racing, and testing ATVs and Side x Sides have taken us riding in many areas we never dreamed of going off-road. We've taken helicopters up to Glaciers in the Canadian Rockies to test track kits, we've ridden prototype ATVs in Taiwan on a "test track" that was once a neighborhood complete with curb and gutter streets, but any habitation had long since been reclaimed by the dense jungle like growth. We've crossed vast stretches of the Mexican desert and turned countless laps on the race track, but all of those adventures had one thing in common; they were all above ground. Recently, the Kawasaki crew invited us to explore a riding area like no other in the hills of Pennsylvania, and it was riding we'll never forget.

THE DARK SIDE

Kawasaki chose the aptly named Mines and Meadows ride area as the location for a test of the Brute Force lineup because of the many challenges presented by the natural terrain, and we found just about every type of obstacle common to every riding area in the country. There are 500 acres of steep hills, tight trees, mud, rocky hill climbs, fast open sections, and of course even a small meadow at the top of the highest hill. It's got a little bit of everything for the entire family and riders of every skill level, and we had a blast picking our way through the rocks, but by far the most unique experience is riding into the absolute darkness of the damp, expansive underground caverns. It even gave us a chance to test the headlights!

There are huge caverns and small passages to pass through underground.

It takes a daring, determined hombre to venture deep underground into a wet, dark world where a little too much excavation in the wrong location or just a shift in the mountain above can bring the ceiling down on your head, and no helmet in the world can protect you. Early settlers discovered two great natural resources in the hills of Pennsylvania, coal and oil, but today coal is still king, and mines riddle the hillsides as veins are worked and the carbon remains of forests see the light of day once again for the first time in a million odd years or so. As the mines are worked first for their coal veins, and often times later for the limestone that is usually found with it, vast underground cavities are left, sometimes to be used as underground storage or even as mushroom farms, but in at least one case as one of the most unique riding experiences you will ever encounter.
Even on the darkest night there is light to navigate by, but not until you drive past the warning signs and into the belly of the beast do you know complete darkness. As quickly as the engine and headlights are turned off the deep black lurking in every shadow envelops all that you know and it's not hard to imagine the inner terror miners must always feel biting at their backsides, and that the very unfortunate few have come face to face with, no pun intended. After a few tense moments and nervous jokes our group fumbles for the start button and each Kawasaki Brute Force becomes not only a vehicle of exploration and adventure, but the single lifeline to the only world we have ever known. Being lost in space is not just a phenomenon to be experienced outside of earth's orbit.

As with riding above ground, it's even more important to ride with a buddy underground.

Riding inside the mine is a unique experience to say the least, and you will find many of the same obstacles as above ground including small hills to climb over, and in a couple areas where the ceiling has caved in you actually need to tuck down to avoid scraping your helmet. There's even an underground lake complete with a boat, and we never could see the opposite side, but be aware that the pools can be deceptively deep as we found out the hard way. Splashing through the water appeared to be fun as usual, but as front tires dipped into the glassy pool, over the side we went into waist deep water. You may be able to see the bottom, but it can be a lot deeper than it looks. Afterwards we were told that some of the pools are 20' deep, and it's best to ride with your guide. Point taken! It's a cool, dark and wet world underground, but definitely worth exploring, although we would not recommend doing so without your guide unless you're trying to get on CNN.

HARD ROCK LIFE

Steering towards the narrow, glowing opening we felt like a new pup out for a run, and as we emerged into the beaming Pennsylvania sunlight we stabbed at the throttle and shot up a hill on the other side of the trail, free from the dark catacombs behind. Once on the trails, everything felt normal and suddenly wide open again, and it was time to explore the rest of the ride area.

The trails at Mines & Meadows offer plenty of challenges other than mines. Such as tight woods, rocks, hills, and lots of mud.

The tight, tree lined trails provided a familiar feeling and it was exhilarating to wind up and down the hills, exploring each trail and fully appreciating a view that stretched far beyond our headlights. We did find a few creeks swollen from several days of rain, and our Brute Force had no trouble wading across them even when up to the seat, but it was in the rocks that we had the most fun. As with most of Pennsylvania there are plenty of rocky sections to pick you way through, and it was here that the independent rear suspension of the Brute Force was most at home. The IRS made navigating the rocky climbs no problem, and it was fun to watch other riders challenge themselves and the trails, often times becoming hopelessly stuck but not at the fault of the Kawasaki. Rock climbing takes a steady throttle hand and a knack for picking lines that others often won't try, and it's a challenge we're always up for. One obstacle we did not try was the mud pits however as the chocolate brown pools often disguise holes that were no doubt deeper from a week's rain, and we had enough swimming underground already. There are several long mud pit sections that we found, and if that is your thing you should have no problem wallowing away at Mines and Meadows.

MAPQUEST

The Mines and Meadows ride area is located about a half hour northwest of Pittsburgh near Wampum, PA. There are facilities for RVs and camping, or you can stay in a nearby hotel. Next door is BeaveRun Motor Sports Complex where you can test your super bike or rent a fast kart, and there is even a nearby golf course. Mines & Meadows is open year round, and $25 gets you riding for the day but there are weekend, seasonal and year-long passes as well. You can even store your ATV on site if needed, and for $5.00 they'll even clean it up for you and have it ready to go on your next ride. Mines and Meadows is easily reached from several nearby highways, and if you're up for a challenge or for an underground ride check out a riding area like no other. For more information, visit www.MinesandMeadows.com or call 724-535-6026.