The Weather was perfect, a Sunny 14 degrees F, at 10:00 hrs.
The 1st trail was the best, it is actually a County road (CR 713) that hasn't seen a maintenance crew in 10-15 yrs.
It looks like a BLM 2 track trail.
You have to cross the Wheeling Creek (Small River) several times. At one point we had to drive up the Creek/River for a
couple of a hundred yards, as the main road had a large fallen tree blocking it.
The river/creek, Same with all the iced over mud holes, had a solid rocky bottom, and the entrance & exit banks were a little icy, but with a short running start, and we were able to jump the banks to get on trail again.
The 2nd trail, Irish Ridge rd, looked promising with a "No Winter Maintenance" sign, but after the nice rocky climb out of the river bottom, it turned into a Suburban Looking paved road. (BUMMER)
The 3rd road, Ashton Ridge, started out real mild, then it was a ICY 2 MAN SAMMY BOBSLED run to the bottom,
BUT NOT TO FEAR, it could have been a soft water landing in Grave Creek, but with Mark praying, or was it swearing?
Oh, Mother Mary of Jesus SAVE US, you ~~~ ~~~~ your gonna kill us!!! But I wasn't really listening as my attention was to make the switch back and slide across the river bridge and keep us from a dead on stop with the bridge rail,.... We came to a peaceful STOP at the Main road to Moundsville, pulled up out of the intersection, both got out, and immediately "Marked Our Territory". Then stopped at the First Drinking Establishment to "Rehydrate".
No Trail Rash/Damage, only a broken throttle return spring. $2.89 + tax at Advance AutoParts.
CAPT