Finger Lakes State Park (MISSOURI)????

[fourstroker]

Greetings fellow Thumps!

Just wondering if anyone has ever rode at Finger Lakes State Park in Missouri, just outside of Columbia?

I heard it was similar to St. Joe Park down in Flat River Missouri.

Anybody else know of any good riding areas (trails, acres, etc.) in the St. Louis area?

Thanks in advance!

HAPPY EASTER!

Mark Scheitlin

(HIGHLAND, ILL)

[MOmilkman]

Mark,

Sorry but I think you are pretty much out of luck unless you are willing to drive 3-4 hours SW of St Louis to my stomping grounds down here.

I have some friends that have rode at finger lakes and they swore they would never return.

Your best bet is St Joe or coming down here where I live and riding Chadwick.

They really need something up in the St Louis area as this question has been asked a handfull of times before on this forum.

Good luck!

[Hurricane]

Mark,

I ride down at Finger Lakes alot. It has alot of tight trails and a mx track. I don't know how it compares to Chadwick because I haven't been able to get my buddies to go down there yet but Darin told me he could show us some great hillclimbing down there. I personally think Finger Lakes is way better than Flatriver. DON'T go down there if it has rained within 2 or 3 days though, the mud is horrible everywhere. If it is dry they have some pretty cool stuff.

There is a track at Hawkpoint and in Richwoods but I've never been to either of them, I ride mostly in the woods. Lately we've been riding down in Mark Twain National forest right outside of Potosi. They have miles and miles of trails but it is easy to get lost down there.

[edareus]

I live just outside St. Louis and go to Flat River almost every weekend. Flat River is pretty good just not real big. Been to Finger Lakes quite a lot and if it rains at all during the week don't go there. Mud is horrible there. Also with all of the sudden drop offs at finger lakes you have to be careful until you learn the trails. Used to be an old quarry so lots of very steep hills. As far as the best riding area around St. Louis? Has to be the 3 1/2 hour ride to Chadwick. Lots of trails and fun. Not familiar with the potosi area. Tried riding at a place called palmer lake one time and got shot at! That was enough to keep me away!

Hey Darin, if you ever get Hurricane down there take them UP dairy queen! ?

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: edareus ]

[MOmilkman]

Originally posted by edareus:

Hey Darin, if you ever get Hurricane down there take them UP dairy queen!

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: edareus ]

HA HA

Thats usually the first place I take newbies.

just kidding, I dont want someone to come all the way down here and get all peed off on their first trail.

I have found a MONSTER hillclimb though and if you doit once and make it, you want to do it again and again untill you fail. Its that fun.

Im hoping to go down to White Rock this weekend in ARK. If I dont go down there and meet my cousin, Ill be looking for someone to hook up with at Chadwick. All my buddies are heading up to St Louie for the SX. Im not going ? so look me up if anyone is heading to Chadwick.

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: MOmilkman ]

[MOmilkman]

Sounds good, just give me a yell.

I love riding Chadwick, but I have to admit, White Rock spanks Chadwick.

White Rock is about 3-4 hours southwest of Springfield, MO. The terrain is endless and unless you have a guide (someone that rides there frequently) it is very easy to get lost down there.

[edareus]

Darin, I was just kidding about the dairy queen thing. I did try to climb it once on a kx250 with aluminum clutch plates! I basically barely got back to the truck. My clutch had it! I am going to SX this weekend too. I was down at Chadwick two weeks ago for the weekend. Normally my buddies and I try and get down there once a month or so. Next time we are coming down I will let you know. Never been to White Rock? Is it good riding there too? How far is it from Chadwick?

[edareus]

Darin, I was just kidding about the dairy queen thing. I did try to climb it once on a kx250 with aluminum clutch plates! I basically barely got back to the truck. My clutch had it! I am going to SX this weekend too. I was down at Chadwick two weeks ago for the weekend. Normally my buddies and I try and get down there once a month or so. Next time we are coming down I will let you know. Never been to White Rock? Is it good riding there too? How far is it from Chadwick?

[edareus]

Hey I just found out that if you use the back button it posts your reply twice!

OOOps sorry.

[Bryan 1]

Speaking of finger lakes. I had a very scary experience there.

I went there a few days after riding with Milkman in Chadwick. I drove to Finger Lakes from my dad's house while visiting in Columbia.

I got to the trail head about 8:00 am. It was cloudy but not raining. In Colorado, it usually doesn't rain until after noon. So, being the dumb-ass I am, I figured I was good to go.

I rode for about 40 minutes (not too exciting), when suddenly the sky's opened up and I was stuck in the biggest lightening storm I've EVER seen. It was WAY scary. The bolts were hitting with no time at ALL between the flash and the thunder. And only a minute or less between strikes. Then it started DUMPING BIG TIME! Then it started HAILING! All this with no warning!

On top of this, I had NO idea where the truck was since my GPS crapped out the day before. And, the trails were flowing like rivers. In addition to all this, the holes and low spots were filling with water rapidly by a MAJOR flash flood and I couldn't tell the difference between many of the holes that the trail passed through, and the finger lakes. I fully expected I'd dive into a lake and loose my WR.

After about 30 minutes of misery and panic and crashing in the slick mud, I got stuck in a big hole. The hole was filling up with water since it was at a low spot. It was up to about 2 feet deep at one point. I couldn't get out since the hills and trails were total mud. I finally got near the top of one of the hills, ditched the bike, and pulled it over the top by hand. I decided to go just one direction until I found SOMETHING. Finally I hit a paved road and was able to find my way back to my truck. ALL this while the lightening was hitting trees and it was still pouring like I've never seen before.

I honestly didn't know if I'd ever get out of there without getting fryed by lightening.

Ahhhhhhh. Finger Lakes. NOT!

Bryan in Denver...

[MOmilkman]

LOL!

I still consider that one of the classic stories. ?

Wish I could have been there. NOT!

Glad to see your still around Bryan. Havent seen any posts out of you in awhile.

When are you making it back out this way again?

[Bryan 1]

Hey! Sup?

I might make it to Mo. this summer. My dad moved to the Lake of the Ozarks and I need to check out his new pad. Not sure when though.

I'm also going to attempt an enduro in May. It's the Last Chance enduro in eastern Colorado. I hear it's tons of fun. Are you doing that race?

How about you? Coming to Colorado this summer?

Bryan...

[old_but_slow]

Yo, milkman, why weren't you at White Rock 2 weekends ago for the enduro?? 'Fraid I'll kick your butt?

White Rock was AWESOME, but it was VERY muddy in spots, thanks to all the rain during the week. I was covered head to toe and the bike was covered with about 50lbs of Arkansas clay. Didn't finish - hour'ed out because of one stinkin' hill I couldn't make. ?

You're right about that place, though. I really like Chadwick, but White Rock is just soooo much bigger. Apparently there are some new logging(?) roads. It would be very easy to get lost. I'm ready to go back when it's a bit drier...

P.

[Joel_Gibson]

Darin,

Are there any special permits (daily or otherwise) required to ride at White Rock. I would like to try it out sometime. I heard Chadwick is a little more rugged but White Rock has a better overall trail system. What are your thoughts?

[MOmilkman]

Originally posted by Bryan:

I'm also going to attempt an enduro in May. It's the Last Chance enduro in eastern Colorado. I hear it's tons of fun. Are you doing that race?

How about you? Coming to Colorado this summer?

Bryan...

Im not a racer, Im a lover. ? Sounds like fun coming to Colorado for a race but i dont think I will be out that way antime soon. Im getting married in Sept and I have been buckleing down the last few months with the cash flow.

I am trying to get used to the fact of not having any cash before I get married. (Kind of preparing myself)

Let me know when you come out and we will hit Chadwick again if you want.

Originally posted by old but slow:

Yo, milkman, why weren't you at White Rock 2 weekends ago for the enduro?? 'Fraid I'll kick your butt?

Paul, I've seen you race, and I cant mess with you. You are a tree dodgin' god. We really need to call you Ty Sherman or Destry Sherman. Ooops, sorry, I didnt mean to give out your first and last name someone might put that together and figure out your real name and start stalking you! HA HA

Anyways, sounds like you guys had quite an event just getting to white rock with the RV breaking down on the way. So now 2 things are broken on the RV, the bathroom is unusable since I used it that morning and the most recent breakdown. Sounds like its time for a trade in????

[MOmilkman]

Joel,

I wouldnt say Chadwick is rougher than White Rock. White Rock has some nasty rock hills. Comparing the 2, I like White Rock better only because it has endless trails.

There are no permits for White Rock like Chadwick has. So you can go down there and ride for free all week long. At least there wasnt last time I was there.

I am going to be down there saturday (Cant wait!) so I will update you if anything has changed.

[KTM250rm]

Chadwick has both easy trails and very narly trails. Its up to the rider on which trail he wants to ride on. Don't try to make it a one day trip, spend the entire weekend at Chadwick.

For Finger Lakes, its not for beginner. The last couple of times I have been down there, we counted the ambulance showed up about 10 times to haul people to the hospital either because of the mx track or the trails that lead off to a 100' dropoff into the lake.

I do not care about Finger Lakes as there are too many dangerouse trials that are not marked as dangerous. More people get hurt at Finger Lake than at motocross tracks.