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Post by Catalyst on Nov 18, 2012 22:22:17 GMT -5
I imagine the falls are amazing at night! So I'm here until around lunch time on Wednesday. Today I hit up Dupont again and left out of the Fawn Lake parking area this time. Followed Angela's route above. Mine Mountain had a few cool alternate lines, Airstrip had a few bermed switchbacks that were awesome, Corn Mill Shoals was just pretty, and Reasonover Creek had several logs that were fun to ride. I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun CCW too. Mine Mountain - had to back up and try this one. Fun. Practice logs at the bottom of Airstrip. Corn Mill Shoals Bridal Veil Falls. I was just in a t-shirt, but there was still a thin layer of ice in those divots in the rock. Bridge across Reasonover Creek. Reasonover Creek Shelter --> Lean-To Yep, I was going uphill and fell the first time across. Could have laid down and made leaf-angels there were so many leaves on the ground. Great spot on Reasonover Creek Trail. I still need to try Cedar Rock at DuPont; I may ride it Wednesday on my way out of town. Tomorrow I'm thinking of doing South Mills / Cantrell Creek / Horse Cove / Squirrel Gap / Mullinax and then taking in a matinee at the one screen cinema. SkyFall is playing!
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Post by seenvic on Nov 18, 2012 22:40:27 GMT -5
Tomorrow's route is good. Cantrell is tough. There will be some stuff there that you won't believe you just rode. You will never forget this one.
Pisgah is a just a whole different level.
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 18, 2012 22:45:06 GMT -5
Agreed. Pisgah is the stuff. Rode Laurel Mtn/Pilot Rock yesterday. Was thinking of doing Farlow Tuesday, but there's so much road to get there. May just do North Slope or Sycamore instead, then call it a day and go hike Looking Glass Rock.
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Post by ted on Nov 19, 2012 6:59:43 GMT -5
It was good to see you on the trail Saturday. We saw you as well as one other person from the CSRA. Also rode with those guys from Indiana who I had actually met a few years back while riding the same trails. Too bad we didn't see you in Dupont yesterday, but I know you had plenty of fun. Good to see some pix and stories from a newer perspective than usual.
-Todd
PS Make sure you have that bike serviced soon cause if you rode what we rode then it'll need it.
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 19, 2012 9:16:35 GMT -5
Hey! Good meeting y'all too. I've definitely got a keener appreciation for the stamina of the guys who come up here and put in the long miles. The group from Indiana were all cool too.
Drinking coffee, waiting for the wet fog to lift and noticing the Pisgah map has trail descriptions in the back. After looking at the elevation gain and mileage, Farlow Gap ain't happening as a loop.
I pretty much knew that, but does anyone know if I can park up FSR 229C by where Farlow Gap trail proper actually begins? I figure I could make it into an out and back.
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 19, 2012 23:31:21 GMT -5
South Mills / Cantrell Creek / Horse Cove / Squirrel Gap / Mullinax was the order of the day. South Mills was flat and pretty boring, but you cross at least four swinging bridges that feel pretty crazy when you ride across them. Near the intersection of S. Mills River Trail and Cantrell Creek, I came across a horse camp with the biggest tent I'd ever seen. Cantrell had a lot of little creek crossings and the vegetation was really tight. I can't imagine riding it in summer. Horse Cove was a hike, but I really liked the section of Squirrel Gap it brought me to - more wide open stands of hardwood. Squirrel Gap heading to Mullinax was pure fun. And the top of Mullinax was awesome too - there was a short section that must have been reworked and had 2-3 great jumps. Plans are up in the air for Tuesday. Talked to a hiker at the visitor center about Farlow Gap and I don't think it's happening this trip. Too much climbing for me to enjoy it. Will figure out my ride over breakfast.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 20, 2012 9:10:13 GMT -5
Looks like you're having an awesome time Trent! About how many miles have you ridden so far, do you think?
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 20, 2012 20:07:05 GMT -5
"Ridden"? Well, I think I've gone about 63 miles or so, but this being in the mountains and all gravity has been against me about half that time so I've probably only "ridden" half that distance. ;D
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 20, 2012 21:01:26 GMT -5
Took the morning off today and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not a bad place for some lunch... Taking it easy was order of the day, so I had two short loops in mind: North Slope and Bracken Mountain/Brushy Creek. North Slope's trailhead is inside the campground at Davidson River. The lower portion was pretty mundane, but the section up on the hillside was actually pretty good. Just took a few pics. Waiting for pictures of Bracken Mtn to upload...
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 20, 2012 21:19:06 GMT -5
I read the Bracken Mountain trail opened officially in July. It's worn in pretty well, but you can still tell it's new. The trail basically connects Brevard to Pisgah. I was just riding a section of it - up Bracken Mountain and back on Brushy Creek: a little over 5 miles I think. I'd been warned there was a lot of climbing. They weren't kidding. It sank in quickly. I had been thinking of how fun it'd be coming back to the parking area, but first had to endure the climb up. The city has a nice map of the trail, but it doesn't have an elevation chart. It'd be interesting to see. Cool trail. Several turns like this - Somebody set up a game camera at the intersection of Bracken/Brushy Creek. I went up and waved. Great downhills on Brushy Creek. You can see three different levels of the trail in this one view. Nice area LCT carved into the stump. Good job on the trail guys! I think it'll only get better as time goes by. Today was my last full day. I'm taking off early tomorrow so I can take care of errands in Augusta tomorrow afternoon. I've sketched out a little loop around Cedar Rock in DuPont, so hopefully I'll have time to ride it before I hit the road.
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Post by yetichick on Nov 21, 2012 6:51:05 GMT -5
I have been enjoying your post and pictures. Hope you get to ride Cedar Rock--Dupont isn't Dupont until you have been on that trail.
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 21, 2012 15:11:21 GMT -5
Thanks! Well great, I guess I have an excuse to go back now! No riding this morning, but I did sleep in a while.
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Post by seenvic on Nov 21, 2012 20:07:47 GMT -5
I have always done the loop with Squirrel the other direction. You come down Horse Cove. Up Mullinax.
I bet it was a bear the way you went.
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Post by Catalyst on Nov 21, 2012 21:52:24 GMT -5
True. Horse Cove literally was a hike, but I liked it that way. There wasn't any sustained climbing after that, just a great ride back down.
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