| The Coal Cracker Ramble Camping Tour Scamp 'n' Rascal Cycling Adventures |
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It’ll Break Your Stones
Minimum 25 People. Registration closes May 31
When most people think “vacation”, Pennsylvania coal country isn’t usually what
comes to mind. Then again, most people don’t know what we know.
Winding through the mountains and scattered among the small towns here are
some of the best cycling roads in the world. The views are unparalleled, the
countryside undisturbed. The roads are smooth and empty. With only a few
exceptions, you will most likely encounter just 2-3 cars per hour. And that’s just
the appetizer. There’s so much to see and do out here that we’re confident,
(maybe even a little cocky) you’ll consider this one of the best riding experiences
of your life. Especially if you like roller coasters.
The Coal Cracker Ramble ain’t no Tour de Patti-cake. This is the real deal for
experienced cyclists who thrive on physical challenge. The climbs are shorter than
out west, but more frequent and generally steeper. If you’re a tourist this may be
the hardest thing you ever do. Still, we’re confident you’re going to love every
minute of it. Make sure you bring your camera. The fresh, unpolluted air, satin
roads and sock-dropping vistas will make every day unforgettable. You can travel
at your own speed. Our expert SAG vehicles are always nearby.
Because this is coal country, there are no hotels. We’ll be camping. Because this
is Scamp ‘n’ Rascal, you won’t mind that at all. That’s our motto, remember? “Ride
hard. Rest easy.” Bring your tent and sleeping bag. We’ll carry everything. As for
food, delicious catered hot meals will keep you stoked and ready to go. Then
there’s the wine tasting, the catered rest stop, the paddle wheeler, Amish country
and the amusement park.
While you don’t have to be a professional racer to ride the Coal Cracker, this ride
is definitely not family friendly. Tandems are not recommended. Triples are.
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 6:
Minimum 25 People. Registration closes May 31
When most people think “vacation”, Pennsylvania coal country isn’t usually what
comes to mind. Then again, most people don’t know what we know.
Winding through the mountains and scattered among the small towns here are
some of the best cycling roads in the world. The views are unparalleled, the
countryside undisturbed. The roads are smooth and empty. With only a few
exceptions, you will most likely encounter just 2-3 cars per hour. And that’s just
the appetizer. There’s so much to see and do out here that we’re confident,
(maybe even a little cocky) you’ll consider this one of the best riding experiences
of your life. Especially if you like roller coasters.
The Coal Cracker Ramble ain’t no Tour de Patti-cake. This is the real deal for
experienced cyclists who thrive on physical challenge. The climbs are shorter than
out west, but more frequent and generally steeper. If you’re a tourist this may be
the hardest thing you ever do. Still, we’re confident you’re going to love every
minute of it. Make sure you bring your camera. The fresh, unpolluted air, satin
roads and sock-dropping vistas will make every day unforgettable. You can travel
at your own speed. Our expert SAG vehicles are always nearby.
Because this is coal country, there are no hotels. We’ll be camping. Because this
is Scamp ‘n’ Rascal, you won’t mind that at all. That’s our motto, remember? “Ride
hard. Rest easy.” Bring your tent and sleeping bag. We’ll carry everything. As for
food, delicious catered hot meals will keep you stoked and ready to go. Then
there’s the wine tasting, the catered rest stop, the paddle wheeler, Amish country
and the amusement park.
While you don’t have to be a professional racer to ride the Coal Cracker, this ride
is definitely not family friendly. Tandems are not recommended. Triples are.
Day 1:
- We're so excited about this ride! We'll meet you at the host hotel, the
Microtel Inn in Hamburg, PA, after you're registered and have had a chance
to check all your equipment. We have an optional cue sheet ride for you if
you want to knock out the kinks. Look for us in the bar when you get back
from dinner. We're kicking this thing off with a grand party to say hello.
Welcome Party
Optional ride: 25 miles
Day 2:
- Eat what you want for breakfast. You'll burn it off by noon. After a relaxed
warm-up we'll get to our first climb of the day: Hawk Mountain, a part of the
Kittatinny Ridge. You might want to pause at the top to enjoy the Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary, but don't dawdle too long. There are four more big
climbs beyond this one. Thankfully, there are long, incredibly beautiful
valleys between them, simultaneously letting you recover while encouraging
you to pick up the pace. We'll catch up with you at the Galen Glen
Vineyards, with their spectacular views and even more spectacular wines.
We're foregoing our taboo against wine & cheese rest stops. We've
planned a catered lunch here, along with tastings of the delicious GG
wines. (If you find anything you want, our SAG vehicles will bring it along for
you.) After lunch we'll meet you at Locust Lake State Park, home for the
next two nights.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Approximately 70 miles, ridge and valley riding
Day 3:
- By now you're probably already spoiled by the silky roads, beautiful views
and the amazing lack of cars. Although today is technically a layover day,
who wants to rest?! Instead, we're riding up to Eckley Miners' Village, deep
in the heart of eastern Pennsylvania's coal country. This abandoned town
preserves a way of life which dominated the anthracite region for over 140
years. Speaking of dominating, today hills rule. Gone are the long, lovely
valleys. The countryside here is a gnarley tangle of mountains running off
in all directions. Today, if you aren't going up, you're going down. It's as
simple as that.
Breakfast & Dinner
Approximately 65 miles, very hilly terrain
- Up and down. Up and down. It's obvious you like roller coasters so we
thought we'd take you to some real ones. That's why we're leaving Locust
Lake and heading over to Knoebels Grove. The route today is less extreme
than yesterday, but while maps of this area look flat, maps of this area tend
to lie. The rolling countryside is unbelievably beautiful, criss-crossed with
meandering streams and pastures. There are even four covered bridges
along the way. Yet as fun as this is, just wait 'til you get to the end. Our
campground for the night is also home to a terrific free-admission
amusement park!
Breakfast & Dinner
Approximately 65 miles, rolling to hilly terrain
- We might have stayed another night at Knoebels except we found
something even cooler we want to share with you. We're heading west to
get there. The closer we get to our destination, the more spectacular the
scenery becomes. We're back to ridge and valley riding today, with
sweeping panoramas and breathtaking descents all the way down to the
Susquehanna River and the famous Millersburg Ferry. It's thought to be the
last wooden paddle wheel ferry in America. We're camping for the night on
the other side of the mile wide Susquehanna - just because we can!
Breakfast & Dinner
Approximately 70 miles, ridge and valley terrain
Day 6:
- Five ridges, like folds in drapery, lie between us and Swatara Gap, where
we'll spend our last night. We'll travel on roads that don't appear on any
map with views that should be in every album. There are covered bridges,
stone barns, horses pulling their wagons to market and barefoot kids
kicking their scooters uphill. It's a hidden world in these mountains; one at
least a hundred years behind the times. Keep your camera close at hand
today. Tourists don't get to see this stuff. Tourists don't even know it's here.
- Breakfast, Dinner
Approximately 60 miles, steep to hilly terrain
- We're through the hills but there's still plenty of sight seeing to be had.
Perhaps you'll picnic at the Golden Age of Air Museum. Hopefully you'll visit
Road Side America to witness one man's miniature obsession. It's a
different planet on this side of those ridges. The rolling hills of our last day
are going to seem f-l-a-t by comparison to the past week. Stretch the day
as long as you can, but it will still end too soon.
Breakfast
Approximately 50 miles, rolling terrain
