The bony pile: riding the wasteland

[jhl99]

I'm sure each part of the country has its 'wastelands' were there are riding opportunities that not necessarily in the most environmental friendly areas. In Southwest PA, we have the legacy of about 100 years of coal mining. Associated with abandon coal mines (from the days before the EPA) are piles of unusable coal waste. Around here, the locals call them 'boney piles'.

Attached is a photo from the top of a boney pile...it is evident that that dirtbikes (motorized) and 4-wheelers have made use of the piles... and of course, some mountain bikers do. This particular boney pile is along the Ghosttown Rail trail (In Indaina County, near the town of Vintondale). The rail trail can be seen the top of the picture.

In other parts of the country, do people ride in envirnmental wastelands?

[vladamir]

I like the solitude of nuclear test sites :D

[davkatreb]

gunnery and bombing ranges can be pretty serene when they aren't in use. Although there's nothing like an unexpected live fire exercise to get the old heart pumping.

[phlatlander]

gunnery and bombing ranges can be pretty serene when they aren't in use. Although there's nothing like an unexpected live fire exercise to get the old heart pumping.

Some of the best trails in KC are adjacent to the Lake City Ammunition Plant. They occaisionally test their machine gun bullets @ 6000RPM - and even a mile away, it sounds like your right next to a jake-braking semi with your window down. Not quite the serene sounds of Mom nature.