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Snowshoe question...

manimal

Ociffer Tackleberry
Feb 27, 2002
7,212
17
Blindly running into cactus
I'm debating on taking the man-child to snowshoe for opening weekend after his racing at massanutten proved that he's ready. however....i'm a little worried about it being too wet for a small grom and i don't want to ruin the confidence he gained at massanutten. he's super stoked to be going and really wants to try out ninja bob>missing link>power line but i've never ridden there in the wet (i know..lucky right!) and i want to know how the "fun" trails hold up after a thunderstorm.
i'm in the middle of a possible career move so money is tight right now and i have enough saved up for one trip to SS but it'll be late July before we have a chance to go again after opening weekend.

so..to all you SS regulars, is it too nasty this early in the season to bring up a young ripper?

for those of you that don't know lil manimal...a vid from massanutten last month:
 

Mulestar

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2007
1,061
0
in the dirt
Those trails could get really soupy this early in the season before they've dried and been packed down. Those are probably the last trails on the mountain I'd want to ride in the wet. That said, he could probably make it down chainsmoke, ruff n tumble, and I think there are a few wide/easy trails on the basin side too. I also heard ball and jack has had machine work and is much tamer now, so you could probably ride the old sport course route to sweet dreams or powerline. I'd say avoid if its gonna be a total washout but pad the little guy up and go for it if the weather looks decent.
 

Konabumm

Konaboner
Jun 13, 2003
4,383
87
Hollywood, Maryland, United States
forecast is showing rain all weekend. Opening weekend the trails are always a little tricky because that haven't had wheels on them all winter. BUT if you stick with NB-ML-PL I'm sure he will still have fun even in the mud!

Look forward to seeing you
 

OffCamber

Monkey
May 27, 2005
405
6
Loxahatchee, Fl
With the limited amount of trails that would be fun for him and the condition of those trails, I wouldn't do it. The machine built trails get wet and slick and stay that way for longer. I'd save your money and look for a dryer weekend.
 

VT Mtbkr

Monkey
Oct 3, 2003
403
0
Richmond, Virginia
If you can plan it for July or August I think you'd have a better chance at a dryer weekend. You kind of take a gamble with the weather there but the odds are usually better during the middle of the summer. And if it's his first and maybe his only trip I'd wait for everything to get burned in up there. I know I pretty much hate riding up there in the wet so now with limited weekends available we try to aim for a dry one. We'll be up there for the 4th hopefully.

You're right, you want him to have a great time!

Great Video!
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
Lil Manimal has ridden soufy his whole life and never not ridden mud. I think NC mud sucsk compared to Snowshoe. That place drains well. Doing Sport to Ninja Bob to Powerline is silly fun wet or dry.

Maybe I'm just a major believer in that kid, but I would imagine him + lift = a heck of a long weekend of fun riding.
 

denjen

Certified Lift Whore
Sep 16, 2001
1,691
36
Richmond VA
My buddy lives at SS and went for a XC ride just a few miles off the mountain yesterday. He said it was a complete muddy sloppy mess. With rain in the forecast all week, unless something happens its gonna be slick.
 

manimal

Ociffer Tackleberry
Feb 27, 2002
7,212
17
Blindly running into cactus
With the limited amount of trails that would be fun for him and the condition of those trails, I wouldn't do it. The machine built trails get wet and slick and stay that way for longer. I'd save your money and look for a dryer weekend.
thanks for all the input folks....the forecast keeps changing rain chance for the weekend but it's varying between 40-60% each day....so probably going to at least storm once or twice (and we're camping)

normally i'd say heck no right about now but, there's a good chance that i won't even be on the east coast come mid july so i'm kind of feeling the pinch to get him out there.

is anyone going out there on friday the 27th that i could call and check conditions before i make a decision?...or are the bike shop guys pretty dead on with trail conditions if i call? i have to work friday and can make my decision then.
 

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
It will be a mess and rain. Count on it. Don't get me wrong, I love Snowshoe and would never let rain run me off. But that is now and it took me years of Snowshoe races to have a change of heart. You have to ride with a different style and expectation. I think honestly it would not be the best. Plus Snowshoe Bike Park has a tendency to not be the best for trail prep. I went early in the season last year and some of the trails weren't open and others had no maintenance done. I was disappointed with respect to the bike park. Their races on the other hand are top shelf.

Why don't you come to Windrock? There will be a big crew out there. Finding a shuttle won't be a problem.
 

manimal

Ociffer Tackleberry
Feb 27, 2002
7,212
17
Blindly running into cactus
Why don't you come to Windrock? There will be a big crew out there. Finding a shuttle won't be a problem.
that is actually one of the best idea's i've heard all week. roughly the same driving distance, cheaper, and shuttles.....i'll probably pm you on wednesday.

how much does the land use fee and shuttling usually come out to? it's gotta be a lot cheaper than SS ;)
 

d.tate

Judge Dread
May 22, 2007
77
0
It seems like there's at least a 30% chance of rain everydayat snowshoe in may! I've been there on some wet weekends but it's never been a complete washout. There are some new trails that your boy will really enjoy, both on the western and basin. On the basin alone there is the red bull trail and giant slalom course as well as the new machine cut trail north of the lift. Machine cut trails dominate the western side now w poweline, ninjabob, missing link, chainsmoke and the new ball and jack. If you haven't been for awhile you will be pleasantly suprised. I don't know how old your boy is but Phillip Steele from chainsmoke, who is 9, will be there tearing it up. It may be soggy but that's a risk anywhere, plus it's tough to beat lift access.
 

jekyll991

Monkey
Nov 30, 2009
478
1
Belfry, KY
Anyone want to sell me some spikes before next weekend's GES race?
Grab a set of these. For $30 a set you can't beat them with two sticks. Others have said they even do well in the rocks but I don't have much time with them on anything too rocky, just either deep loam or chocolaty mud.

EDIT: manimal, if I remember right a daily pass at WR is $17, two day only saves you a buck or two so I normally only get a one day pass in case something happens and I can't ride the next day, though I decided to go ahead and get a year this season :D.
 
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profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
$17 Daily Permit (under 12) $8
$33 Two Day (under 12)$16
$44 Three Day (under 12)$22
$55 Four Day (under 12)$28
$88 Annual (under 12)$44

Shuttling is usually just a couple bucks, just something to help the drivers out with fuel.
 

whale

Monkey
Apr 23, 2004
750
0
Silver Spring, MD
any locals or people who know people that work at snowshoe have any intel on what trails they plan to have open this weekend? i don't mind riding in the mud, but i don't want to make the long drive out there if a good number of trails are going to be closed and would rather postpone the trip for later in the season.
 

d.tate

Judge Dread
May 22, 2007
77
0
I will be in contact with one of the trail crew tomorrow and hopefully he can post an update. I know they have been busting their butts the last couple weeks to get the trails in shape. The forecast is changing daily for the better. Sunday and Monday are now supposed to be sunny and 10% chance for rain. Only scattered thunder showers on Saturday. The only caveat is that the forecast is typically out of Elkins and predicting weather at Snowshoe is usually a crapshoot at best but it is better than seeing rain across the board.
 

whale

Monkey
Apr 23, 2004
750
0
Silver Spring, MD
I will be in contact with one of the trail crew tomorrow and hopefully he can post an update. I know they have been busting their butts the last couple weeks to get the trails in shape. The forecast is changing daily for the better. Sunday and Monday are now supposed to be sunny and 10% chance for rain. Only scattered thunder showers on Saturday. The only caveat is that the forecast is typically out of Elkins and predicting weather at Snowshoe is usually a crapshoot at best but it is better than seeing rain across the board.
thanks! i know snowshoe can tend to "create" it's own weather at times... i've been there under a few "red alert" storms that shut the whole mountain down which seems to come out of nowhere sometimes!

i would just rather wait until later in the season if a good number of trails aren't ready to be ridden yet... haven't been to snowshoe in 2 years and REALLY want to get back!
 

waterdogs

Monkey
Jul 30, 2010
817
0
Upstate SC
any locals or people who know people that work at snowshoe have any intel on what trails they plan to have open this weekend? i don't mind riding in the mud, but i don't want to make the long drive out there if a good number of trails are going to be closed and would rather postpone the trip for later in the season.
I talked to Trevyn yesterday and he said they would all be open. They might (not sure... I didnt ask) be working on the course for the GE Race the following weekend on the Western side.

He posted some pics of some rework on Lucid and they also did some work on the drop landing at the top of the Basin side.