Dennis Suler from Long Valley, New Jersey (front) and David Greenbaum riding on the newly opened trails in the Port Jervis watershed as part of Snowball’s Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
PORT JERVIS/DEERPARK—The hoped-for snow never came, but the air was crisp and the sun shining for the 29 fat-tire bikers who participated in the inaugural Snowball’s Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19. The inaugural race marked the opening of the newly-made trails in the Port Jervis watershed, some 2,000 acres that have not been open to the public for decades.
Port Jervis-born biker Dejay Birtch came from Arizona to help make the trails and organize the two-day bike race. He said he plans to make the race an annual event, and thinks it could easily quadruple by next year.
Nestled between the Town of Deerpark and the City of Port Jervis, the Port Jervis watershed has three reservoirs and a network of old logging and current access roads that will eventually become about 25 miles of trails for pedestrians, runners, and non-motorized vehicles.
A sign next to the Erie Hotel in Port Jervis for Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Bikers passing the Erie Hotel in Port Jervis at the beginning of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Dejay Birtch, the organizer of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race in Port Jervis, riding to the start of the race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
A waterfall near Reservoir number 3 in the Port Jervis watershed on March 19, 2016. The watershed was opened to the public with the inaugural Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race that used the trails in the watershed. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Reservoir Number 3 as seen from Box Baum Road in Deerpark on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Eric Donten from Milford riding in the Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race next to Port Jervis Reservoir Number 3 on Box Baum Road in Deerpark on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Kenneth Campbell from Mountain Top, Pennsylvania riding in the Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race next to Port Jervis Reservoir Number 3 on Box Baum Road in Deerpark on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Chris Capollozo riding on the newly opened trails in the Port Jervis watershed as part of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Thomas Scott from Hackettstown, New Jersey riding on the newly opened trails in the Port Jervis watershed as part of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Dennis Suler from Long Valley, New Jersey (front) and David Greenbaum riding on the newly opened trails in the Port Jervis watershed as part of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
The view along the route of Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race in Elks Brox Park in Port Jervis on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Kenneth Campbell from Mountain Top, Pennsylvania riding in the Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race in Elks Brox Park in Port Jervis March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Thomas Scott from Hackettstown, New Jersey riding in the Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race in Elks Brox Park in Port Jervis March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Will Whitehead crossing the finish line near Port Jervis Reservoir Number 1 during Snowball's Chance Fat Bike Race on March 19, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
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