September 17 R12 Event - Hawk Mountain 200

*** Update #4 - 9/16/2011***

Reminder: Sundown is 7:07PM.  While it certainly is possible to finish before then, unforeseen circumstances may keep you out on course longer than anticipated, so lights and reflective gear are strongly recommended.  If you are out riding past sundown without lights and reflective gear, a DQ will be the least of your problems!

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

*** Update #3 - 9/15/2011***

Cuesheet Updated: Draft 7 dated 9/15/11:
1) Minor corrections to mileage between Controle 3 and 4
2) Minor correction at mile 124.3.

*** Update #2 - 9/14/2011***

Cuesheet Updated: Draft 6 dated 9/14/11

A road crew was repairing the washed out area on Mt. Zion Rd Wednesday, but I identified a better detour which is incorporated into the Draft 6 cue.  Walking across/through/around the Union Rd bridge construction (remaining on the original Hawk Mountain route) is not safe as the bridge is currently a sea of protruding rebar and the creek banks are quite muddy.  If you look at the map you'll notice that taking a right on Beagle would be even shorter, but a big portion of Beagle Rd in that direction is a dirt road that looks like something from a Jeep Jamboree. 

The portion of the route to the east of Rt 61 has not been scouted since the rains of Lee.  The route was ridden twice in August without problem and the rain was not nearly as heavy in that area.  I noted that the area east of Rt 183/west of Rt 61 did not appear to have received nearly as much rain as the Pine Grove/Swatera Creek area.  There shouldn't be any problems other than plenty of gravel on the roadway.

The weather forecast remains promising for this weekend with cooler temperatures and little chance of precipitation.  I am expecting to see the current course record challenged.

-Andrew M.

*** Preliminary Scouting Update #1 - 9/12/2011***

I surveyed a significant portion of the route (essentially everything west of Rt 61) yesterday afternoon to assess the impact of Tropical Storm Lee.  There is much gravel, stone, and debris on the roadways, especially in corners at the bottom of hills.  Extra caution will be the word of the day. 

The area from Pine Grove south took the brunt of the rain, which coincides with the Swatera Creek watershed.  The bridge crossing the Swatera Creek coming into Pine Grove survived as did the Turkey Hill controle.  High water marks in Pine Grove were scary.  The smell was overwhelming, but the community was out in force cleaning up as I passed through.

The Hess controle in Lickdale (the 95 mile controle) is closed as a result of the flooding.  Cleanup was well underway on Sunday; it is unknown whether the store will be open by next weekend.  If not, there are several stores (Wendys, Subway, Dairy Queen, Sbarros, and a Loves Travel Stop) visible from the intersection of Rt. 72 and Lickdale Rd that may be used as alternate controles.  I plan to revisit this area before the weekend to get an update.  Take note of the Swatera Creek on your left as you descend along Rt 72 on the approach to Lickdale and you'll better appreciate the extent of the water rise and the destructive power of floodwaters in this area.

The revised route currently planed follows a posted PennDOT detour on Union Rd (around mile 103) to avoid a bridge that is being replaced.  The detour jogs up Greble Rd and then south on Mt. Zion Rd where it rejoins the course in the village of Mt. Zion.  Unfortunately, approximately 100 ft of the south approach to the Mt. Zion Rd bridge over the Little Swatera Creek was washed out.  The road is currently passible by bicycle, but that could change if a significant reconstruction effort begins this week.  I am working on a revised detour and plan to confirm that it is passible on Thursday. 

On a good note, the weather for this weekend looks promising.

Andrew Mead
- organizer

******************  Original Post   ***********************
Pennsylvania Randonneurs presents The Hawk Mountain 200 for the September R12 series.  Newly created last year, the route has been tweeked slightly this year based on rider feedback.  Gone is the knee-busting climb up Cushion Peak Road at mile 13, replaced now by a slightly gentler route past the Galen Hall golf course.  Riders who have ridden this route as a permanent during the past few months may appreciate that we will be bypassing the missing bridge on Union Rd.  While the bypass increases the route lentgh slightly, recent rains would assure a muddy portage around the bridge construction.  An updated cue sheet will be posted early next week.  The rest of the route is unchanged and features the signature ascent and descent over Hawk Mountain and the always scenic Summer Hill Road in Schuylkill County.  Check out last year's cue sheet to preview the route.

The recent deluge from Tropical Storm Lee submerged several parts of the route this week.  I am planning a pre-ride course checkout early next week to confirm that we have viable roadways for the brevet.  Watch the PA Randonneurs website and this messge board for an updated cue sheet and continue to check in for any last-minute updates.

As always, I plan to begin the day with a hearty breakfast at The Pancake Farm in Ephrata just around the corner from the starting location.  It opens at 5:15am
Those planning to clip in so far include:

*** As of 9/16/11 ***
Dan Aaron
James Aspras
Gavin Biebuyck
Geoff Brunner
John Capriotti
Rick Carpenter
Jon Clamp
Matt Farrell
Joe Fillip
Bill Fischer
Nigel Greene
Doug Haluza
Don Jagel
Houston Joost
Chris Nadovich
Patrick S. O'Donnell
Bill Olsen
Tom Rosenbauer (RBA)
Bill Slabonik
Keith Spangler
Peter Yuskauskas
Len Zawodniak

Drop me or Tom a note if you would like to join the roster.


Andrew Mead
- organizer