The World isn't Flat, and neither is Pennsylvania

The World isn't Flat, and neither is Pennsylvania

By Michael Hermann; Lizard Tracks, Centre Daily Times, June 1999

Recently I had the opportunity to lead a group of bicyclists through Rothrock State Forest. These included professional cyclists, industry bigwigs and outdoor journalists. I put together a challenging thirty mile tour that showcased the diversity of Rothrock and the beauty of this unique area. They were amazed.

There is a popular notion that Pennsylvania is flat and the only outdoor activity is hunting and fishing. I don’t have to tell the locals that we do, in fact, have mountains here. I often call them hills because anything that can be climbed in under an hour doesn’t quite get mountain status in my book. But the terrain is definitely not flat. And good hunting and fishing is only one of many benefits that come with living in the mountains.

I first came across the “Pennsylvania is flat” myth when I worked as a cartographer in Denver, Colorado. My co-workers were surprised to hear that people rode mountain bikes in Pennsylvania because, as they put it: “Why? Isn’t it all cornfields?” The misconceptions of those on the left coast are plentiful. I would explain to them that there was a healthy mountain range on the east coast, called the Appalachians, that ran through the center of Pennsylvania. They weren’t convinced. And these were map makers.

I was not surprised when a national bicycling magazine listed Pennsylvania as one of the best states for mountain biking. But when they grouped it in the “flat” state category I cried foul. To be considered “mountainous” the bike rides needed over 4000 feet of elevation gain. I knew that was easily attainable in Rothrock State Forest and I let them know. One thing led to another and we had an international group ride happening.

Some of these riders were political lobbyists for IMBA; the International Mountain Bike Association. IMBA is an organization much like the Sierra Club. They support public land access, secure funding for trail building and educate groups about multiple use trails and responsible, leave-no-trace cycling ethics. Other participants worked for various outdoor companies and traveled here from all over the country to go on this ride. Invitations were made to several local folks who wanted to spend a day in the saddle as well.

The people on this bike ride needed no convincing that Pennsylvania has mountains. We climbed a total of 4600 vertical feet in 30 miles. It was a six hour bike ride through two counties, three natural areas and a dozen roads on one huge tract of public land called Rothrock State Forest. They enjoyed the scenery, the camaraderie and the exercise.

Many of them commented that they had heard good things about bike riding around State College and wanted to see it first hand. These were people who ride bikes all over the world exploring some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain available. Why State College?
State College has produced many professional cyclists in the last twenty years. Some of the people you see riding bikes on the roadsides in Centre County are students pursuing college degrees. Some of them are developing cycling careers at the same time. They’ll go on to race semi-pro or professionally. Others will become bicycle design engineers, corporate managers or marketing guru’s within the outdoor industry. Like others before them, they’ll fondly remember the carefree days of riding bikes in the woods when they were in college.

State College has a strong off-road racing history. In the mid 1980’s The Bicycle Shop promoted a series of races in Bald Eagle State Forest that started in Coburn. They attracted over 400 racers and 500 spectators at a time when mountain bike racing was in its infancy. Another local mountain bike race that achieved legendary status was the Wilderness 101. This was the first 101 mile off-road bike race on the east coast. It took racers from Poe Valley to Whipple Dam and back, never used the same road twice and spanned both Rothrock and Bald Eagle State Forests.

There is a State College connection at almost every major cycling organization in the country today. Most obvious is Cannondale which manufactures bicycles and clothing in Bedford, Pa., while collaborating with Penn State for research and development on the most high tech bikes in the world. I asked a Cannondale representative how they got the idea to make a bicycle frame out of carbon fiber and magnesium, and he coolly replied “Oh, that’s the same technology used in Air Force helicopter rotor blades; we just adapted it to bicycle design.”

The advanced technology found in today’s bicycles allows more people to enjoy the sport of cycling. Living in an area rich with public land means there is a lot of terrain to explore. I’m still amazed how many people live in Centre County and have never been in Rothrock. They travel to the Great Smokies, fly to the Sierra Nevada Range and vacation in Colorado in pursuit of the great outdoors – but they’ve never explored the 90,000 acres practically in their backyard. The mountains of Pennsylvania are right here waiting for you to explore them.
I enjoy listening to well traveled outdoor types when they experience Rothrock for the first time. In some places people commented it looked like the rainforests near Seattle; others saw a parallel to the Aspen groves of Colorado and some likened it to the high plateau country of northern Arizona. Those familiar with wet climates loved the lush ferns while the desert dwellers identified with the exposed rockfields. The diversity of Central Pennsylvania pleased all of them...I just had to refrain from saying “I told you so.”