The VVinter Blackstone '25 - The Scythe & the Cradle badge

Description

The Scythe and the Cradle
Waning Crescent — Peppercorn Hill

The Scythe and the Cradle marks a place defined by repetition and resolve. Peppercorn Hill does not favor haste or display. It asks for steady output, clean judgment, and the discipline to finish what is begun.

The wide arc of the Walleston Loop establishes the labor. It is a sustained, rolling effort that tests pacing and consistency rather than power. The narrower cut of Scarlata Trail follows, requiring attention, balance, and restraint. Together, these trails form a closed cycle. Broad effort, then precise execution. Nothing here is taken. Everything is completed.

Badge Requirement
To earn this badge, riders must complete both required trails in full:

• Walleston Loop Trail
A 2-mile blue-rated doubletrack with approximately 335 feet of climbing. Multi-use and rideable in both directions. Best approached with steady pacing and controlled output.

• Scarlata Trail
A 2,979-foot blue-rated singletrack with approximately 122 feet of climbing. Narrower and more deliberate, rewarding careful line choice and measured control.

Both trails must be ridden entirely. Partial segments or alternate routes do not complete the cycle.

Waning Crescent Arcana
The Scythe and the Cradle is one of three cards in the Waning Crescent, a suit defined by sustained effort, repetition, and endurance without spectacle. The other cards in this arcana are:

• The Seventh Ring — Whitehall State Park
View Badge

• The Long Walk — Wenakeening Woods
View Badge

Together, these rides emphasize completion through persistence rather than momentum.

Seasonal & Stewardship Note
Peppercorn Hill is a shared-use network. Riders should expect hikers and other trail users and ride with care. In wet or muddy conditions, these trails are especially susceptible to damage. Avoid riding when surfaces are soft, respect posted guidance, and yield when appropriate. Preservation of access depends on restraint.

The Scythe and the Cradle is not about speed or reward. It is about closing the loop, accepting the work, and leaving the trail intact for the next passage.

Complete the cycle. Close the circle.

Other Info

• Participants
  4
• Awarded
  2

  • Male: 2
• Points
  1