[rideit]

Hey Monkey-doodles, *probably* buying a truck in Charlotte. Planning on flying there with my bike to drive it home. MUCH thanks to JStuhlman if this happens. Anyone wanna ride? Western NC for a day or two? I have never ridden Pisgah etc. probably coming through in 7-10 days from now?
Then planning on a few rides in Bentonville, and a day in Denver/etc. Would love to rally with some new people!

So…which bike?

 

[6thElement]

Ooo, you'll enjoy Pisgah. I wish it were closer. But it's 24 hours drive with FA worthwhile in between.

 

[rideit]

I’ll try and organize a Colorado ride, maybe the high country?
Monarch?
because then I know which bike.

 

[canadmos]

I'd like to come and ride Pisgah, but alas....work

 

[rideit]

Don’t worry, I’ll swing through Sudbury, it’s on the way.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Sorry, but Pisgah is closed.

 

[jstuhlman]

Sorry, but Pisgah is closed.

not the better pisgah!

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

not the better other pisgah!

Fx'd

Yeah, actually it looks like the dirt road up to Yancey is closed to cars but open to hikers and bikers.

 

[rideit]

As long as it has ROX, I‘ll be happy. Where do you live, Angry one?

 

[jstuhlman]

Fx'd

Yeah, actually it looks like the dirt road up to Yancey is closed to cars but open to hikers and bikers.

hrm. craig creek has been like that for 2 years but as far as i know roseboro is open, as are pineola and edgemont. checking with a buddy who just did some trailwork up there today.

@rideit - my schedule is kind of nuts over the next week but i could maybe show you the backcountry gnurz in the other/better pisgah on the 8th or 9th... and the angry one is in winston salem.

 

[rideit]

Sounds great. And thanks again.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Historic rain fall in Transylvania county, i.e. 17in in 24 hours, or something like that has done some serious damage to Pisgah Ranger District. Lots of roads and bridges washed out. Bridge right before the Daniel Ridge parking lot is gone. A lot of forest roads are going to be closed for some time. The ground is heavily saturated and trees are still falling. The rangers are asking that folks suspend their recreational activities for a while.

From what I can tell there are some options available currently around the Black Mountain and Avery Creek trails. Perhaps more will be open when you roll through, @rideit.

National Forests in North Carolina - Alerts & Closures

National Forests in North Carolina - Alerts & Closures

www.fs.usda.gov

check out the pics posted on mtbr:

scroll down

Pisgah Trail Conditions

I was out in Turkey Pen this morning and it looks like last night's storms put a lot of tree crowns and branches on the ground. Nothing like what we see in the winter but there are still a lot of scattered branches and trees down. I cleared what I could by hand on Squirrel from Cantrell to...

www.mtbr.com

 

[rideit]

So what you are saying is….”Bring The Big Bike?”


A friend of mine owns The Hub, I forgot about that. I’ll give him a shout.

 

[jstuhlman]

Historic rain fall in Transylvania county, i.e. 17in in 24 hours, or something like that has done some serious damage to Pisgah Ranger District. Lots of roads and bridges washed out. Bridge right before the Daniel Ridge parking lot is gone. A lot of forest roads are going to be closed for some time. The ground is heavily saturated and trees are still falling. The rangers are asking that folks suspend their recreational activities for a while.

From what I can tell there are some options available currently around the Black Mountain and Avery Creek trails. Perhaps more will be open when you roll through, @rideit.

National Forests in North Carolina - Alerts & Closures

National Forests in North Carolina - Alerts & Closures

www.fs.usda.gov

check out the pics posted on mtbr:

scroll down

Pisgah Trail Conditions

I was out in Turkey Pen this morning and it looks like last night's storms put a lot of tree crowns and branches on the ground. Nothing like what we see in the winter but there are still a lot of scattered branches and trees down. I cleared what I could by hand on Squirrel from Cantrell to...

www.mtbr.com

yeah, maybe the black mountain/bennet side might be open...but what i'd show you is in the grandfather district/wilson creek area which is near blowing rock and a bit more backcountry....you could hit it for the day on your way out to ashevegas/brevard.

 

[Westy]

hrm. craig creek has been like that for 2 years but as far as i know roseboro is open, as are pineola and edgemont. checking with a buddy who just did some trailwork up there today.

@rideit - my schedule is kind of nuts over the next week but i could maybe show you the backcountry gnurz in the other/better pisgah on the 8th or 9th... and the angry one is in winston salem.

Hurricane Isabel dropped over 20" of rain on Sherando in less than a day in 2003. Several house (small house) size boulders appeared seemingly from nowhwere in the normal trickling stream you have to cross a few times.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

So what you are saying is….”Bring The Big Bike?”


A friend of mine owns The Hub, I forgot about that. I’ll give him a shout.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

The other Pisgah is pretty damn cool. Just make sure you ride with someone like @jstuhlman who knows the way because trails are very poorly marked and on some seriously rugged terrain. You will have no shortage of rawks on any route you choose.

 

[rideit]

The other Pisgah is pretty damn cool. Just make sure you ride with someone like @jstuhlman who knows the way because trails are very poorly marked and on some seriously rugged terrain. You will have no shortage of rawks on any route you choose.

This is music to my ears.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I have been wanting to do another Pisgah epic this year. Would love to do the monster route I did a few years ago starting at the Horse Stables.

Clawhammer rd to Black Mountain
L on BM
Down Avery Creek
R on dirt rd, 477
Pass Bennet Gap to Club Gap trail
Down Buckwheat Knob to 477
Bennet Gap to 477
L back to Horse Stables

This ride starts with an hour long climb on a gated forest service road called Clawhammer. It has some spectacular views and some classic Pisgah single track. It took me just under seven hours to complete solo. Since then Avery Creek and some of BM have been rebuilt. Would like to check them out. Also I wasn't into backpacking then and would cary a full 3L of water. Which is fucking stupid because you are surrounded by water. So this time I'll take my water filter and enough food to play all day in the woods.

 

[Changleen]

Please tell me how you pronounce Pisgah.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Please tell me how you pronounce Pisgah.

Piz Guh

 

[jonKranked]

Piz Guh

Piss Guy

 

[Sandwich]

Don’t worry, I’ll swing through Sudbury, it’s on the way.

yo what

 

[Dirtrider]

@rideit, depending on what day I may be able to show you around some open trails. I do know that Spencer>Trace is running good and usually a fun one for visitors.

 

[SkaredShtles]

This thread is relevant to my interests.

 

[canadmos]

@rideit, depending on what day I may be able to show you around some open trails. I do know that Spencer>Trace is running good and usually a fun one for visitors.

Just watch out for that ONE rock and poop

 

[Dirtrider]

Just watch out for that ONE rock and poop

The ‘rock drop’?

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

@rideit, depending on what day I may be able to show you around some open trails. I do know that Spencer>Trace is running good and usually a fun one for visitors.

Oh Hell yeah, @rideit can most definitely get his rawk fix on Trace Ridge. 15 years ago when I lived up there it was pretty mellow but fast. Now it’s eroded and mega chunky. Also a good loop if you don’t have all day to ride.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Two things about Pisgah, most rides start with a long climb, 45 min to 2 hours and most rides take at least 3 hours or more total. Locals usually knock out 8 hour rides on Sunday.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Ooh, just remember another way to hit Trace. Park at Rice Pinnacle in Bent Creek and ride up to 5 points then on to Greenslick. Then up Sidehill to Bent Creek rd and up to the parkway and down Wash Creek rd to Spencer Gap. Takes around 5 hours.

 

[Dirtrider]

Ooh, just remember another way to hit Trace. Park at Rice Pinnacle in Bent Creek and ride up to 5 points then on to Greenslick. Then up Sidehill to Bent Creek rd and up to the parkway and down Wash Creek rd to Spencer Gap. Takes around 5 hours.

We do a version of this loop a lot.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

We do a version of this loop a lot.

Is that bear still hanging out along Sidehill ?

 

[canadmos]

The ‘rock drop’?

Whichever rock took out Norm and my tire last time.

The rock drop on Butter or Cat Gap was also cool.

 

[jstuhlman]

Whichever rock took out Norm and my tire last time.

The rock drop on Butter or Cat Gap was also cool.

Poor Norm...he got taken out by Lost Cove Cliffs the day we rode too!

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Whichever rock took out Norm and my tire last time.

The rock drop on Butter or Cat Gap was also cool.

Love that drop. If you hit the right line, it's a chest high drop to just enough transition to make it a "soft" landing. And if you booger it, then you can take a few steps to the right and have a moment to refllect on your poor life choices by the waterfall.

 

[canadmos]

Love that drop. If you hit the right line, it's a chest high drop to just enough transition to make it a "soft" landing. And if you booger it, then you can take a few steps to the right and have a moment to refllect on your poor life choices by the waterfall.

@Dirtrider made it easy. Yelled out drop as you round that blind corner into it.

"Okay...guess we're going off it now" haha.

That whole section of trail was a blast. Super fast with just enough stuff to keep you active. I imagine it's no longer possible to ride it like that in the winter, when it's open to bikes, with the influx of mouth breathers out there?

 

[canadmos]

And on the topic, whether @rideit checks out the "regular" Pisgah stuff or the gnarly meth bus stuff @jstuhlman knows, you'll have have a blast.

I don't think I've disliked any trails in the Pisgah area*.


*except for Bradley Creek out of Turkeypen. Holy shit what a nightmare of 40 river crossings, followed by a climb to the top of Laurel. Never again....except maybe one more time.

 

[rideit]

Well, go figger, I ran into Sam who owns The Hub at Targhee today. (He has a house here). He says there is still plenty of great riding, just check in at the shop when we are on our way out, and they will give us the latest.

 

[SkaredShtles]

*except for Bradley Creek out of Turkeypen. Holy shit what a nightmare of 40 river crossings, followed by a climb to the top of Laurel. Never again....except maybe one more time.

You need to ride Agate Creek off Monarch Crest some time.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

@Dirtrider made it easy. Yelled out drop as you round that blind corner into it.

"Okay...guess we're going off it now" haha.

That whole section of trail was a blast. Super fast with just enough stuff to keep you active. I imagine it's no longer possible to ride it like that in the winter, when it's open to bikes, with the influx of mouth breathers out there?

That last bit of Butter, with the drop, is seasonal as is Cat Gap. Open to bikes Oct.15 to April 15. So if you want to ride Butter any other time you have to turn left and climb up Long Branch. But after Oct. 15 you bomb all the way down Butter, hard left to big blind drop, then wide open down Cat Gap. Crazy fast along a Rhododendron lined cliff with the sound of rushing water from all the falls you zip past. One of my favorites for sure.

You're likely to encounter hikers on this section, so keep an eye out. Most of the time you're making so much racket on your bike spitting rawks everywhere and clanking metal bits that they hear you coming. But always give a friendly heads up and yield to uphill hikers. So far I've only had friendly encounters in all of Pisgah. Can't say the same for local FlowEasy trails.