ACP 600km brevet - June 13-14 - Frederick, MD
The 600K will follow the figure-8 route last used in 2006. Starting at the Frederick Motel 6 (formerly a Holiday Inn and then a Quality Inn) at 4AM, the initial Frederick to Frederick loop is a slightly shortened version of the 2006 400K in reverse; the second Frederick to Frederick loop will take in some familiar territory from the 300K and some new territory through York and Carroll counties.
Day one heads north to Thurmont, climbs up MD550 and then picks up the 300K route through Fairfield and Arendtsville. In the Michaux State Forest, we forego the grinding climb over Big Flat for a slightly more mellow route through the woods in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Once across South Mountain, the route heads east along Yellow Breeches Creek to a control in Montsera. Turning south and west to pass through Newville, the riders begin the reverse 400k route. After a control in Mercersburg, riders continue due south through Williamsport and Sharpsburg and then cross the Potomac into West Virginia at Shepherdstown. Continuing south as far as US7, the riders cross the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap, re-cross the Potomac at Point of Rocks and return to the Frederick Quality Inn along Ballenger Creek Road.
Day two follows the flat terrain of the Monacacy flood plain and the MD 300K route - in reverse - to East Berlin, PA. Turning southeast to a control in New Freedom, the riders pass through the most challenging portion of the day’s ride in the Pigeon Hills of York County. From Glen Rock to New Freedom and then on the return to Maryland, the terrain moderates somewhat. The hills return in the quiet rural roads of Carroll County. A stunning 5-mile downhill along Deep Run Road and more rolling terrain bring the riders into Frederick County where they reverse the day’s earlier route back to US15 and take some familiar roads to the final control.
Controls: Frederick, Montsera, Mercersburg, Bluemont, Frederick, East Berlin, New Freedom, Frederick