Seven Mountains 600K, late summer edition

Re-offering of the Seven Mountains 600K. This is a RUSA brevet, using gravel rules, so extra time is allotted.

The Seven Mountains 600K is a new, ‘adventure style’ mixed surface route, combining 72% pavement, 21% rail trail, and about 7% gravel road.  It starts in Delmont and follows a familiar route to Ebensburg using the Westmoreland Heritage, West Penn, and Ghost Town trails.  From Ebensburg you head mostly south towards Bedford, reaching the highest point on the route as you climb up the Allegheny Front through a wind farm just west of the village of Blue Knob.  You then tackle a swoopy, nicely paved descent of the Front through Blue Knob State Park.  After controlling in Bedford, you follow the PA Bike Route S / Crush the Commonwealth route for 11 lumpy miles to Everett.  At Everett you turn north and eventually make your way into Morrisons Cove, riding through rolling farmland, where you controle in Williamsburg.  After taking the Lower Trail to its northern terminus in Alexandria you will enjoy what should be a quiet ride through Stone Valley before a challenging gravel climb and descent over Barrville Mountain into Big Valley.  The penultimate controle of the 1st day is in Milroy.  Do your best to freshen up for what may be the hardest part of the brevet which includes the 12 gravelly and mountainous miles through the Seven Mountains area of Rothrock State Forest (although you will only climb 3 of them), before stopping for at least a couple hours of sleep in State College.

The second day brings a gentle start through the rolling hills of Half Moon Valley. The climb up over Brush Mountain at the western edge of Sinking Valley is a warm up for the day’s main challenge – the climb back up the Allegheny Front past and under the historic Horseshoe Curve and a section of road locally known as The Wall.  Upon reaching Ebensburg, we reverse our previous day’s path through the Allegheny Highlands, on what is mostly a downward trending profile.

For those keeping track of such things, this is a minimum 2, but optionally as many as 5, Sheetz, ride.

Route notes:

• Drop bags will be available in State College at the Ramada Inn (pending confirmation) .  There are 3 other hotels within a one block distance to choose from, as well.  Plus a 5th option another 3 miles further down the route.
• Most of the non-pavement is pretty benign rail trail, which you can roll pretty fast on, but about 20-25 miles of it is more challenging, chunky gravel that really slows you down.   For these sections, a tire width of at least 35mm is recommended, with 38 or 42mm not a bad idea.  This is especially true since this part will likely be done in darkness.
• Roads are marked in Rothrock on painted wood posts that are not reflective and do not particularly stand out, even in daytime.  Bring a good headlamp to help you find them.  The use of a GPS device (or at least a cell phone with downloaded maps) is highly recommended, as well.
• There is no cell phone coverage in Rothrock SF and parts of Stone Valley and even in some areas between Everett and Williamsburg.  The use of a satellite tracker would not be a bad idea, if you have access to one.
• The controle in Warriors Mark doesn’t open till 6AM, so for those early risers or those riding straight through, note that there are no other places to resupply till you get to Altoona 50 miles away.  Stock up in State College accordingly.
• The 50 miles between Williamsburg and Milroy is also devoid of any re-supply opportunities.

UPDATES 08/12/2024:

The overnight controle in State College has been switched from the Courtyard (Courtyard Hotel 1730 University Dr, State College, PA 16801) to the Super 8 just across the street (1663 South Atherton St, State College, PA 16801).

Registration closes: Thursday August 15th
Inspection and drop bag handoff opens: Saturday August 17th 4:30 AM
Ride start: Sunday August 18th 10:45 PM (42:45 time limit)

Requirements: current RUSA membership, signed waiver

EPoP: Due to abject laziness on the part of your humble RBA, we default to electronic proof of passage (e.g Strava or other GPS track) in the Pittsburgh region brevets. That said, if you prefer olde-schoole printed paperwork such as cue sheets or brevet cards, I’m happy to provide them…just let me know at least three days in advance of the event, so that I have time to prepare and print.

Route:

Cue sheet