George Washington NF?

[chris1983va]

Hey people just wondering how G.W. National Forest is? Me and a buddy of mine plan on doing Elizabeth Furance on Sunday Morning. Any advice or routes to take? And how do i get there from Rt.66? Also does MORE ever do group rides here. And can you recomend any other rides in the area?

Thanks Chris

[camp]

We used to have a few GW rides every month, but most of the ride leaders have turned into racerheads and/or parents.

Eliz Furnace is most people's intro to the rugged GW. The common advice is to get either the Scott Adams or Joe Surkiewicz guidebooks which have the standard loop described. Even better is the new Trails Illustrated/Natl Geographic map of Massanutten Mountain. Then you'll see the hundreds of miles of singletrack out there. The terrain is rocky and the climbs can be brutal. You spend a bit of time off your bike on any loop out there.

66 to Front Royal 522 south
55 west
left onto Ft Valley Rd.

[Fritz]

Even racerhead-parents should be able to find time to lead an occassional GW ride. So how about it, Larry? I've been dying to go up there.

Joe P
(aka Fritz)


We used to have a few GW rides every month, but most of the ride leaders have turned into racerheads and/or parents.

[mtbmore]

:) When I first started riding with MORE about 8 years ago we had a standing Friday night ride to EF and at least 2 rides a month to the places like Catherine Furnace, Kennedy Peak, Duncan Hollow and two or three versions of EF. As Larry said many of the ride leaders have either gotten into serious training and cannot risk getting someone that shows up for the ride to "mess" up their training or they have had kids and do not have the time to go to the GW. I used to try to lead a ride 3-4 times a year but I just have not been able to ever since I started training for this XTerra. When it is over in July I will try to lead a few especially to Kennedy Peak or Catherine Furnace.

But as Larry said get the map out and go explore. Take plenty of water and some food and you will do just fine.

Scud

[riderx]

Trouble uploading the image to the board, but click this link (http://www.singlespeedoutlaw.com/images/misc/EF_MapSmall.jpg) for a map with my favorite route. You probably want to do a right click/save picture so you can get a readable version downloaded.

- Free primitive camping right at the starting point (across from the Family camp). This is where you want to park.
- Do not take the portion of the Tuscarora Trail shown on the map. Makes a good hike though. There's a portion that is mostly off of the map, known as the Mine Gap Extension that is fun.
- The last pitch to Signal Knob gets pretty steep. Keep the head down and mash the pedals.
- The yellow trail from Signal Knob and the White trail are ROCKY. After you reach the Knob, expect approx. 2 miles of rock gardens. Keep your eyes peeled for the turn onto the white trail, it is easy to miss.
-Do not take the Bear Wallow (blue) trail from the Massanutten Mountain West Trail (orange). It's a .8 mile billy goat trail that's a hike-a-bike.
-Bear left off of the orange trail (fire road) to take a singletrack detour around the reservoir. Hard to see on the map.
- Do not skip any of the Bear Wallow trail once you turn on it from the white trail. If you short cut it back to the car, you will miss some of the best parts of the downhill sections that you worked your ass off to get to.

Bring plenty of water, some energy bars and the skills to pay the bills. It's a fun trail.

[camp]

Actually, it's no one's worry that slower riders will mess up training (since some have no problem dropping folks). It's more a matter of there being a race that weekend. It's not really a place you can ride on Sat. and expect to race on Sun. (see what bike racing does to your mind). Or, there's always the risk of getting hurt in race season. Actually, in the decade+ we've been riding there, we haven't had any serious injuries, which is amazing given the potential for serious carnage on any ride.

Joe P,
e-mail me
lcamp1atcox.net

[bikerRob]

..The yellow trail from Signal Knob and the White trail are ROCKY. After you reach the Knob, expect approx. 2 miles of rock gardens. Keep your eyes peeled for the turn onto the white trail, it is easy to miss.
-Do not take the Bear Wallow (blue) trail from the Massanutten Mountain West Trail (orange). It's a .8 mile billy goat trail that's a hike-a-bike...
05/15/04>> RiderX, Thanks for the info. I rode Eliz. Furnance a couple years ago. I've done this ride a couple of times now and have wondered about the white trail that goes over to Signal Knob. It did look rocky but I'm glad to know that it is rideable. I always rode up the hill from the reservior and yes is quite a steep hill. After about a quarter of the way up you just have to walk.. :eek: (huff..huff) Bear Wallow is just a great down hill. :D and yes, The Signal Knob Trail is a bitch...You believe I tried to climb it one day! Actually it wasn't too bad (although a steep hard climb) untill I came to the spot where it becomes a hike-a-bike/ boulder field. It was at least a mile of nothing but boulder hopping and it ruined my brand spanking new racing shoes :p ...it just toed um' up.

[jay lee]

Anybody have experience riding on the Pedlar district of the GWNF, down around Crabtree Falls? internet searches only turn up 4x4 info.

[camp]

Close to Crabtree,
At Sherando Lake Rec Area.
Get PATC's Map 12 , or maybe Trails Illustrated has that area too now. Also 3 rides there are written up in Joe Surkeiwicz's (anyone remember him?) guidebook. The maps and books are at REI etc.

Torrey Ridge Trail is something else :D
Like Massanutten East, but maybe rockier.

Also, look for stuff on the CAMBA bike club's site.

[joep]

I rode at efurnace yesterday with a few buddies and got terribly beat up. We rode from the signal knob lot to Woodstock, then onto Signal Knob tower... and then things got weird. We were looking for the yellow trail, but instead wound up on an orange blazed trail. Went a couple of miles through some tough but rideable rock gardens, and then things got really ugly. We wound up walking through 1-2 miles of boulder fields. I think this was Buzzard Rocks, but it was supposed to be blazed yellow according to our map. Was our map wrong? All that work, and we miss the awesome Bear Wallow descent... :(

[riderx]

I rode at efurnace yesterday with a few buddies and got terribly beat up. We rode from the signal knob lot to Woodstock, then onto Signal Knob tower... and then things got weird. We were looking for the yellow trail, but instead wound up on an orange blazed trail. Went a couple of miles through some tough but rideable rock gardens, and then things got really ugly. We wound up walking through 1-2 miles of boulder fields. I think this was Buzzard Rocks, but it was supposed to be blazed yellow according to our map. Was our map wrong? All that work, and we miss the awesome Bear Wallow descent... :(From Butch's description it sounded like you took the ridge from the knob (orange I believe). One mile into this rock garden you need to make a right on White (easy to miss) which will lead you to blue (bear wallow).

EDIT: yellow is what you wanted at the top, I'm guessing you took a left instead of a right when you got to the top of the knob. Did you ride past the radio tower at the knob? You should have. Where did you descend back to the car?

[joep]

From Butch's description it sounded like you took the ridge from the knob (orange I believe). One mile into this rock garden you need to make a right on White (easy to miss) which will lead you to blue (bear wallow).

EDIT: yellow is what you wanted at the top, I'm guessing you took a left instead of a right when you got to the top of the knob. Did you ride past the radio tower at the knob? You should have. Where did you descend back to the car?

Yup, looks like we missed the right turn onto the white trail.

We rode past the radio tower and didn't see any yellow trail. But we didn't really look around too much since we saw a sign that said 5 miles to the parking lot and we just went for it.

BTW, on Butch's new map, the yellow trail of which you speak is *orange*. Did someone re-blaze the trails?

[riderx]

BTW, on Butch's new map, the yellow trail of which you speak is *orange*. Did someone re-blaze the trails?Sounds like it. The turn onto White is real easy to miss if you don't know where to look.

[bikerRob]

I rode at efurnace yesterday with a few buddies and got terribly beat up. We rode from the signal knob lot to Woodstock, then onto Signal Knob tower... and then things got weird. We were looking for the yellow trail, but instead wound up on an orange blazed trail. Went a couple of miles through some tough but rideable rock gardens, and then things got really ugly. We wound up walking through 1-2 miles of boulder fields. I think this was Buzzard Rocks, but it was supposed to be blazed yellow according to our map. Was our map wrong? All that work, and we miss the awesome Bear Wallow descent... :(

8/08/05 >> I've got one of the newer maps. Like RiderX said, you missed the right turn onto the white trail (Meneka Peak trail ). It looks like you continued on down on the Signal Knob trail. The map I have shows it blazed orange because it is considered a continuation of the Massanutten trail. It does go by the Buzzard Rocks overlook and continues down to the parking lot. Didn't ya just hate that Boulder field ;) Next time take the white to the Blue (Bear Wallow or Tuscarora trail as the map I have now lists it) (Note* 2002 version Potomac Appalachian Trail Club map)

[camp]

I think BikerRob has it pretty much correct.
There is no yellow trail.
It's now orange and has been for a few years now.
The best map is the Trails Illustrated/Nat'l Geographic one.

Buzzard Rocks is across the street, you didn't ride that, though you could see it from the Buzzard Rocks Overlook that Rob mentioned.

What did you do from Woodstock Tower? orange ridge trail I hope??

FYI, the Orange trail now makes a 71-mile circumnavigation around the Fort Valley on both east and west sides of Massanutten Mountain. The Happy Trails Running Club likes to do it every year. A lot of us old-time MORE members have biked it all, but not on one ride. I consider that Signal Knob piece the least ridable. The biggest problem with doing the 71 mile loop on a bike is that you either have to start by climbing up the Signal Knob Trail, or start by climbing the Buzzard Rocks Trail to do the loop in the opposite direction. I'd much rather descend on Buzzard Rocks, but at the end of 70 miles, I doubt I'd have any gas left to actually enjoy it. But, I guess "joy" should not really be the objective if you're trying to do that loop

[joep]

Dudes, thanks for all the info. I'll be going back to try it again. That 71 mile loop that Camp mentioned sounds tempting. Are there places to fill up on water along the way? I remember a natural spring on the climb up to Signal Knob. When I go back I'll shoot you guys an email in case any of you want to come along.

[joyride1x1]

8/08/05 >> ....you missed the right turn onto the white trail (Meneka Peak trail ). It looks like you continued on down on the Signal Knob trail. The map I have shows it blazed orange because it is considered a continuation of the Massanutten trail. It does go by the Buzzard Rocks overlook and continues down to the parking lot. Didn't ya just hate that Boulder field ;) Next time take the white to the Blue (Bear Wallow or Tuscarora trail as the map I have now lists it) (Note* 2002 version Potomac Appalachian Trail Club map)

I was with JoeP and the ride was great until we hit signal knob tower. We missed the right turn on the white and ended up on the Signal Knob Trail. It was blazed orange but the map we used indicated yellow. I'm taking Camp's advice in getting the Trail's Illustrated map.

So, to clear things up, do we continue past the radio tower through the softball size rock garden for 1 mile before turning right on white? I can't recall seeing any right turn on the white trail. But then again I was probably tunnel visioned.

BTW. The water from the spring at the base of the Signal Knob fire road was the best tasting water I've ever had! Cold and refreshing!

http://www.teambigtime.com/images/EF_TrailMap_crop.jpg

[camp]

So, to clear things up, do we continue past the radio tower through the softball size rock garden for 1 mile before turning right on white? Yes, and like many said, it is very easy to miss, especially cuz it comes along just as you're finally starting to cruise a bit after the long rock garden.

As for Joe's question about water. There are other springs out there too (marked on the map) and you'll pass a couple campgrounds and the Visitor Center on Rt 211. The campgrounds and Visitor Center have water March-Oct.

Did you go out to Woodstock Tower and ride the orange ridge trail back?
Were you all on SS?
edit: got it, read your blog. thank goodness for those springs out there!
Butch is right. It is so easy to get around out there. Every trail is named, blazed, and they're all on the freakin' map. I get lost at places like Wakefield, Schaeffer, Poor Farm, Patapsco, where the trails all run all over the place.

[bikerRob]

... I'm taking Camp's advice in getting the Trail's Illustrated map. ...So, to clear things up, do we continue past the radio tower through the softball size rock garden for 1 mile before turning right on white? I can't recall seeing any right turn on the white trail. But then again I was probably tunnel visioned.

8/09/05 >> Yep, the Nat'l Geo. Trails Illustrated map is the nicer map by far. The T.I. maps also rate the trails, a nice feature. When I bought mine the store had run out of the T.I. maps so I had to buy another version. :( The right onto the Meneka Peak trail is there although I've never taken it myself. RiderX told me once that it does take you over to Bear Wallow...although very rocky, it is rideable. I don't know about you but I'll take "rocky" over "long-hike-a-bike" any time. ;)

[cbuki]

I rode at efurnace yesterday with a few buddies and got terribly beat up. We rode from the signal knob lot to Woodstock, then onto Signal Knob tower... and then things got weird. We were looking for the yellow trail, but instead wound up on an orange blazed trail. Went a couple of miles through some tough but rideable rock gardens, and then things got really ugly. We wound up walking through 1-2 miles of boulder fields. I think this was Buzzard Rocks, but it was supposed to be blazed yellow according to our map. Was our map wrong? All that work, and we miss the awesome Bear Wallow descent... :(



I myself had a similar (trying) experience. Found a pkg lot I thought was for EF. Creek/River was on right as i rode up a monster of a climb that too better patr of 2 hours (I recall large sections no ridable at all). Passed some signs for a 100m footrace along the way. Pink markers that eventually became blue. Came to top of what i believe was signal knob but i had been on wrong side of creek whole time. long story short was 4.5 miserable hours that trashed my bike and beat the snot out of me; though i got a great workout and built some skill - along with busting d hanger and some ribs!. I would love an informed post so i could find the "real" EF!