by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
COAL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — On a recent beautiful, crisp fall morning, a gathering of local dignitaries, Pennsylvania government representatives, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area staff, industry professionals and ten or so of the most experienced off-roaders around came together to officially open the new park’s Mammoth Trail.
The west coast may have its famed Rubicon Trail to push the limits of man and machine, but there seemed like a need for something just as huge and important on the East Coast.
Enter the Mammoth Trail
This 6,600-foot trail, located at AOAA about 90 minutes northwest of Reading, gets its name for the mammoth vein of anthracite coal that spans a large portion of the region.
It is a $9,625,287 million world-class extreme rock obstacle course project, which filled in the abandoned mine pit and water hazards known locally as “The Caves,” located beyond Bear Valley Road in Coal Township’s Third Patch. The location of the new trail is near the Whaleback, a seven-acre geological formation on property adjacent to the AOAA Western Reserve.
Although construction has been taking place over the last three years, plans for the enormous trail started roughly five years ago. Project funding came from the 2018 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Economic Revitalization Pilot Program Grant and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund.
Planning began a few years ago. Construction teams were selected and hired. Earth was moved. And the result is a trail of almost epic worthiness.
Under a larger catering tent recently, the ceremony began with Jim Backes, Chairman of the AOAA, welcoming everyone and acting as the event’s Master of Ceremony.
Backes introduced speakers from two Pennsylvania State agencies. Brian Bradley, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Director, and Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Both agencies were invaluable for getting the project to completion.
At a completed cost of just under $10 million dollars, this new trail project took nearly three years to complete. A total of about 2.47 million cubic yards of earth was moved to create the now 6,600 linear feet of trail. That’s a mile and a quarter of some of the toughest obstacles you could imagine. Morgan Excavating LLC, moved all of the dirt and rocks and painstakingly placed each boulder along the trail.
“The spirit and can-do attitude of the AOAA and the transformation of this region due to the energy and commitment of the staff and board in support of AOAA is pretty phenomenal,” said Sec. Dunn. “People underestimate the economic value of recreation.”
Local politicians were also instrumental in the process from the inception. Former County Commissioner and current State Representative Kurt Masser, and current County Commissioner Sam Scicchitano, both said how important this new trail would be to local impact and the AOAA.
“It’s not just for the riders that come. We get riders from all over,” said Scicchitano said. “It brings business into us. It brings people that go into those businesses to help the community and help the county.”
Dave Porzi, Director of Operations AOAA, rounded out the speakers. He praised his staff and the “First Ten” riders who came out and gave the huge trail a thorough run-through. Porzi then recognized the only rider who has completed the entire length of trail, unassisted and without winching, since the unofficial opening back in the early summer — Charlie Melchner.
A plaque was presented to Melchner stating he “slayed the mighty Mammoth and no one has even come close.”
Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting, featuring the speakers and AOAA board members, everyone in attendance enjoyed a catered lunch.
While most of the attendees were enjoying their barbecue sandwiches and mingling, the extreme rock crawlers prepared their rigs and moved to the middle portion of The Mammoth Trail. The AOAA staff had several ATVs to shuttle individuals from the parking lot to the overlook for the trail. This overlook provides a perfect vantage point to watch and cheer on the riders.
The riders mounted their massive rigs, most based on a Jeep Wrangler chassis, and prepared to ride — their extreme vehicles appearing matchbox-car small amongst the house-sized boulders.
These vehicles need to literally crawl at an extremely slow pace to gain success. It takes a very long time to carefully navigate each obstacle and place huge 40-inch, or larger, tires precariously on these enormous rocks.
Led by Melchner, the drivers slowly completed each obstacle, sometimes with “ooohs” and “ahhhs”, and sometimes with a little apprehension from the audience safely observing from up on the overlook. With some precision and persistence, each rider successfully completed the trail section to cheers.
The Mammoth Trail at AOAA is open by pre-arrangement only. There is a minimum of three vehicles required per group and the AOAA staff will assess each vehicle to ensure it meets the requirements necessary to attempt The Mammoth. All the requirements, rules and official contact information can be found at aaoatrails.com.
AOAA is open 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
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