Definitely not as scenic, generally speaking. There are great views, but you have to find or create an opening in the trees to see them. :D

North Mtn/Longdale Furnace is an exception. Under the...

No, they force you to learn how to get your bike into the air real quick-like. Lotta trees over her, blowdowns are a fact of life. You either get annoyed or have fun with them.

Holler if you do!

Early

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Bless your heart

Those trails still exist, and you can still ride bikes on them in a lot of places. No reason we can't have and enjoy a healthy mix from HAB sufferfests to fast, jumpy stuff. Shitty flow trail (not to...

Also, no crowds over here. Last year things got kinda busy, but far from crowded. Seems people are back at work or over it because trails are empty again.

Ride to Elliot Knob in GWNF. The loop requires 15+ miles of road, so I crammed the climbing into an out and back. Great ride, mediocre pics.

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Looking west toward the Shenandoah...

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After years of talk of refurbish and officially opening, then more years of closure while they worked, the Blue Ridge Tunnel finally opened providing a not deadly way to get to the other side of the...

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Little small for my taste, but good to see you getting out. :D

Either the FS has gotten more fun with survey monuments or somebody has too much time on their hands. Thing was mounted on concrete and didn’t budge.

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Gully washer last night = gravel and fog on the mtn this AM.

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Into the soup on my way to the ridge of one of the many North Mountain Trails in the area.
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Spectacular views up there. Looking East off North Mountain.
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Heading South
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...

Love Carvins! Probably my best day last year was at the Cove lapping OG. Unfortunately, Carvins and Mountain Lake are the extent of my riding down there. There’s a ton of stuff I want to check out,...

People avoidance, an unusually long spring/cool weather/slow growth of briars and weeds, a flexible work schedule, and let's be honest, age, have pushed my adventure riding this season. Checked one...

Mornings keep getting earlier. Caught the moon dragging its ass to bed off Sawmill Ridge. Didn’t make it to the other side in time to catch the sunrise.

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“Relationship” eh? More like fling. I give it a year, tops. :D

Big rain two nights ago and snow up in the mtns, yesterday had to grab the gravel bike and check it out.

Starting out

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Near the top

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Started the day at Wintergreen. Pics seemed pointless. It looks like a crap snow year in the Mid Atlantic. They can make it like crazy though so not a terrible morning on skis.

Then a...

Damn, Dan. Take care of yourself, man.

Particle sighting!!

Pretty sure I ran this guy over. Thought “holy shit, Copperhead!” as I did so. Went back to see if it was alright. Several strikes and a quick slink into the woods answered that question.

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Dawn gravel/trail ride.

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Nice. I look forward to the after-ride swim almost as much as the ride itself. The swimming hole by the campground is great (despite the Mem Day trash the hillbillies left behind), but you can find...

It's a black snake, King or Rat I think. Not poisonous, but they can be aggressive. They vibrate their tales against the leaves to simulate a rattle, which is cool once you realize it's not a rattler.

Should be easy. There are dispersed sites all over the area, and a couple primitive campgrounds. NF camping is free unless you're at a campground (North River, Todd Lake). There are dispersed sites...

Had to work near Blacksburg last week. Finished up early, so made a run for GWNF. Had to stop at Carvins Cove on the way.

Trough or OG? The answer is both. With a second lap down OG/Gauntlet...

Just a gravel ride this morning, but it was a gooder. View from the top.
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This guy has been joining us for the climb. He does his own thing on the way back down.
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I saw some recently that looked metallic and decent, at least at a glance. I'd wear one if I wasn't trying to avoid wearing a ring altogether. IMO, all jewelry is at least annoying, if not also tacky...

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Wrong tool for the job
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Cruddy
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Cruddier
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But proper for a new rig break-in
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I definitely miss the routine now. Also, don’t feel too bad for the EC guys. They’ve got some decent skiing to make up for the mountain biking. [emoji16]

I’ve always said I’m a mountain biker that likes to ski. Lot of effort and dedication goes into those epic days on the snow, and the routine can get old as the season stretches on. Probably because...

Managed to peel off for a week of driving and riding. Left VA at 3:00 on Friday afternoon, with a quick stop in WV to pick up my partner in crime. 12:30 the next day.

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Small milestone,...

Headed that way in two weeks. Everything riding besides Burro Pass? Any idea how GJ and Fruita are looking?

Haha, nice!!



This has been a battle with both of my kids. Took forever to get my daughter to do it, and my son still argues that he doesn't do it that way.

It's been raining consistently through late spring and summer which, despite my location, is actually very atypical. Most summers are really dry here. Last summer we were on water restrictions.

Been getting plenty of trail times despite the weather, but some days are almost too wet even for gravel.

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Mmmm, trail snacks.

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Missed the wild raspberries this year. :(

A past and present look at the Forest Service’s budget.
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Reddish Knob
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Now defunct Sugar Grove Naval Station
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Rainy AF, so i hit some gravel. Rainy and steamy.

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Lotta climbing
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Finally cresting
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Whetstone Ridge.

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Love this thread. Here's my crappy contribution.

Been exploring near the house. There are mountains outside my door, but access is tricky. Decided to explore, and ended up putting together a...

You’re brave, Dan. I would have lost a toe by now riding in sandals.

Left the bike outside last night.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180204/ebaf9bc48f32254a5b33d4605cd58047.heic

That’s awesome smmokan.

Been exploring near my house. Found a sustained steep AF ancient trail goes straight up the mountain. I got this far with the bike.
...

What did you ride? Lemme know next time you're in the area. I may be able to join.

I suck at remembering to stop and take scenics. I'm much better at lingering at trail intersections.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170703/62ec6812954e8b6990910bac3d6a7148.jpg

Especially...

Spent the day in Stokesville.

Literally
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170520/e57bfe773ed9ef5bf69db53305c9a688.jpeg

And, figuratively ...