Backcountry Rides

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Ready for a backcountry adventure? Or have one to share?
Here you go...just be sure you’re prepared.

These are favorite rides from MORE members that will take you into the backcountry and away from the crowds, and they're only a few hours drive off the beltway. Have a ride you want to post? Contact the moderator and we’ll get it on the board.

LIST OF RIDES (and a great pre-ride checklist):

Backcountry Checklist (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?postid=58677#poststo p)
Big Schloss Loop (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?p=58678#post58678)
Liberty Furnace Loop (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?postid=58681#post586 81)


Be Prepared
Keep in mind that these routes are remote. If you have a technical or get hurt, you will probably be a long way from assistance, so plan and ride accordingly. Most of these trails are maintained primarily for hikers, with volunteer crews clearing them of major blow downs a couple of times a year, so a good rule is don’t ride beyond what you can see. Take plenty of water and food, tools and parts for repairs, a first aid kit and a light. See a sample list of gear in one of the posts -- provided by one of our members. Cell phone service cannot be counted on. Pay attention to the local weather forecast, and make sure someone knows where you are going. One idea is to Xerox the map you’ll be using, highlight the route and leave it with someone who cares. Mark the trail head where you’ll be parking and note the make, model and license # of the vehicle. If the ride is in the National Forest, note the ranger station phone number on the sheet.

Be very honest about your fitness level, as many of these rides will have thousands of feet of climbing and no good bailout points. If you are new to back country riding start with Elizabeth’s and Catherine Furnace rides. MORE members lead group rides to these areas several times a year. If the climbs, descents, rocks, hike-a-bikes and stream crossings leave you jonesing for more, then here you go.

A note on mileage. In some cases these are taken from mapping software, in some cyclo computers. Take them as approximate. If you ride a route with a GPS contact the moderator with the results. Long live long rides!

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Big Schloss loop ride information provided by Pat Phillips

Ride Level: Expert
Drive time: 2 Hours
Ride Time: 7-10 Hours

Overview
This ride is a bit of a work in progress. It’s been ridden once and we plan to try some alternates on the next time out, which are highlighted in italics below. At any rate, this is an expert level ride that demands a high level of fitness. There are numerous, mostly short, unridable sections, many rock gardens, steep climbs and descents and a three mile downhill that will leave you smiling for a week. Figure on 7 to 10 hours of riding time. Again, physical fitness is a must. There are no bailout points that do not involve long extremely steep gravel road climbs to return to your car. The trails are shown on PATC Map F and Nat’l Geographic Trails Illustrated Map 792.

Directions to trailhead
Rte. 66 to Rte. 81 South. Get off at Woodstock (Exit 283) and go west on Rte. 42. At Columbia Furnace turn right on SR 675. Cross Stony Creek and immediately turn left to stay on SR 675. Follow this for 4.75 miles to a left on Sam Clark Rd, (State Rd 789), a gravel road. In .33 mi. bear right on Judge Rye Rd (State Rd. 691). At the West Virginia state line this will change into State Rd. 59. Proceed 6.03 miles from Wolf Gap Road and park. There is room for 3 or 4 vehicles on the left side of the road. Note the Trout Pond Trail coming in from right. This is where you will finish the loop.

Ride description
From the parking spot ride back east and then south on State Rd 691 for 4.29 miles. This is mostly a fast down hill run. Turn left (NE) onto the yellow blazed Tibbet Knob Trail. Once off the road the trail will immediatly begin a steep climb to the top, where there is a spectacular lookout. Coming down from the high point there is one short section where you may wish you had a rope. At 5.56 mi. the trail will turn SE and level out somewhat, then turn NE again and cross Wolf Gap Road before entering Wolf Gap Recreation Area. Well water, with a strong mineral taste, is available in the campground. Ride the campsite loop and get onto the Mill Mountain Trail departing from the back of Campsite # 9. This trail, which is blazed orange, climbs steadily for .75 mi. to the ridge, which runs NE. At 8.7 mi. pass the white blazed Big Schloss Trail. Park the bikes and take a short .3 mi. hike. The views are 360 degrees and spectacular. Proceed on, passing Sandstone Spring at 11.16 mi and the ruins of an airway beacon at 12.07 mi. and the high point of the loop at 3297’. At 12.57 mi come to a three way intersection. The blue blazed Tuscarora Trail comes in from the right and proceeds on straight ahead but is mostly unridable to where it connects to the Halfmoon Mt. Trail. We noticed an unnamed double track going left from the Mill Mt./Tuscarora Trail intersection which we suspect leads to the Halfmoon Mt. Trail intersection. We plan to take this the next time out. However you get to the yellow blazed Halfmoon Trail, you are at the top of a three mile, 1693’ vertical drop downhill, leading you down to Trout Run Road at 15.96 mi. About 2/3ds of the way down the pink blazed Bucktail Cutoff Trail comes in from the right. This would be worth trying, as it eliminates the road ride that follows. Turn right on the road and at 17.39 miles look for the yellow blazed Long Mountain Trail on the left. This is a double track that rolls for nearly five miles over Cherry Ridge and Bollinger Knob and through the valley at the foot of Long Mountain. It is mostly ridable, except for a 350 yd. boulder field. Follow the Long Mountain Trail to where it intersects the purple blazed Trout Pond Trail. (If you stay on the yellow blazed trail it will bring you back, after a steady 2.5 mile climb, to State Rd. 691. Turn right to return to your car) Follow this towards Trout Pond Campground. A fast run on grassy double track will lead you to a Forest Service equipment garage, and the gravel road the double track becomes, still blazed purple, will take you to Trout Pond Recreation Area, a large, fully equipped camp ground. Water is available here during the camping season. Turn left when you enter the camp ground and follow the roads uphill until you find Camp Site 27. The Trout Pond Trail continues on from here as a little over a mile of fall line double track steepness, most of it at 14% or more and in spots heavily rutted. There is a great overlook near the top. Just past the overlook cross several meadows and go down a short descent, returning to Judge Rye Rd across from the parking area.

Pack up and go get a burger.

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Liberty Furnace loop ride information provided by Pat Phillips

Rider Level: Advanced
Distance: 20 miles
Elevation Gain: 4044’
Ride Time: 4 1/2 hours
Terrain: Intermediate/Advanced
Drive Time to trailhead: 2 Hours


Overview
This ride is a great introduction to true back country riding in the GWF. If you are comfortable riding Elizabeth’s Furnace, and can finish that ride with energy to spare consider this for your next step. A fit intermediate rider should figure on at least 4 ½ hours, including some short breaks. The trails are shown on PATC Map F and Nat’l Geographic Trails Illustrated Map 792. It was also the Wolf Gap race course in the Virginia Points Series a few years ago.

Directions to trailhead
From Washington, DC take Rte 66 to Rte. 81 South. Proceed to the Woodstock exit and go west on Rte. 42. At Columbia Furnace turn right on Rte. 675, Wolf Gap Road. Cross Stony Creek and immediately turn left to stay on SR 675. Follow this to a point where Wolf Gap Road turns right and Liberty Furnace Rd proceeds straight. Follow Liberty Furnace Rd. to, you guessed it, Liberty Furnace and turn right on State Rd. 691, a gravel road. Laurel Run will be on your right. Park at the intersection with Laurel Run Rd.

Ride Description
From the juncture with Rte 691 use the 2 mile spin up Laurel Run Road to warm up and get the kinks out. At the 2 mile point the road bears left and a rough double track comes in from the right. Look for yellow blazes, parking for two or three cars and a gate. Go around the gate and almost immediately turn left (north) up the yellow blazed Laurel Run Trail. This is the foot of a 2.5 mile climb that finishes in a 1.75 mi. section at 14 %. At the top you come back onto Rte 691. Notice the orange blazed single track on the left going southwest from this spot; you’ll be following it on the return leg. Now though turn right (east) on 691 and proceed a little less then a mile. Look for a back country campsite on the left shortly after 691 begins to lose elevation. You’ll see a hiking trail sign on the road. This is the top of the Long Mountain Trail, which at this point is a yellow blazed double track. The Forest Service keeps the track cleared and planted in grasses for game food, so for half a mile you’re riding down hill on a green carpet. At the bottom the double track breaks right and up a short hill to a meadow. Before the double track goes up a rocky single track goes left and down. Take it and enjoy close to 2 miles of rocky off camber moderate downhill goodness. At the bottom turn left and follow a short section of trail that is essentially a rocky, soggy creek bed. This doesn’t last long, and will bring you to a signed intersection with the purple blazed Trout Pond Trail. Turn left towards Trout Pond, not right towards Trout Pond Grocery Store. A fast run on grassy double track will lead you to a Forest Service equipment garage, and the gravel road the double track becomes, still blazed purple, will take you to Trout Pond Recreation Area, a large, fully equipped West Virginia state camp ground. Water is available here during the camping season. Turn left when you enter the camp ground and follow the roads uphill until you find Camp Site 27. The Trout Pond Trail continues on from here as a little over a mile of fall line double track steepness, most of it at 14% or more and in spots heavily rutted. There is a great overlook near the top. It brings you back up to 691, where you turn left and grind your way up a mile to that orange blazed trail you noticed at the top of the climb from Laurel Rd

The orange blazed North Mountain Trail will lead you down a short stretch of pine needles, and then put you out onto 2 miles of technical ridge riding. Baby heads, ledges and boulders, all firmly set, interspersed with grassy single track and continuous views as far as Massanutten across the Valley are yours to enjoy. At 2 miles the purple blazed Stack Rock Trail comes up from the left. The orange blazes turn right and go up and over a ledge, but the trail you want is the yellow blazed Falls Ridge Trail straight ahead. It’s aptly named and for the next two miles you are on a tight twisty single track that gives back all the elevation you gained. Remember though, a blow down could be around any turn, so don’t ride beyond what you can see. At the bottom it dumps out onto a dirt road. Turn left. This road will become the Laurel Run Road and take you back to the start.

Load up your bikes and head to the 5 Guys back at Rte. 81.

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This is a suggested great gear list provided by Pat Phillips and Jay Pelletier to get you ready for your next backcountry ride.

It is up to you to determine what gear is appropriate for any ride. This is a suggested list and not intended to be a complete gear list for any ride.

Here’s a list of stuff a couple of us put together. For winter riding it weighs in around 15 lbs and fits into a Camelbak HAWG size hydration pack. It will get you through most of the bad scenarios of backcountry travel, including spending an uncomfortable night in the woods.

Bike Stuff

Multi tool w. chain tool – Try it on all the important parts. Be sure it can tighten your crank arms, adjust disc brake calipers and tighten rotors (#2 Torx). , adjust limit screws on derailleur’s, etc. Be sure it can actually get into all those nooks and crannies.
Spoke wrench
Tire lever
Tube’s-bring two ‘cause lightning does strike twice.
Patch Kit- For when you’re having a really bad day.
CO2- At least two.
Pump
Chain lube in a small container (optional)
Quick links for chain repair. Bring more then one.
Cleat screws
Derailleur hanger
Duct tape- Wrap it around a pencil stub. It’ll fix all kinds of stuff.
Zip ties
Rag


Hydration/nutrition

100 oz. bladder
Cliff Bloks/Gue/Cliff Bar/Candy bars/etc.
Electrolyte supplement- Sport Legs and Enduralyte are good. In hot weather figure 2-3 tabs every two hours.
Cytomax/Gatorade powder etc. in zip lock or camera vial
Extra bite valve. Oh yeah, they do fall off.
Water bottle. Mix the Cytomax in it and keep your bladder clean. Also, some water sources aren’t conducive to filling a bladder, and the bottle may help.
Iodine tablets - for making safe water if you run out
Real Food ~ pepperoni, cheese stix, slim jim, PB&J sandwich, bagel- Sometimes your stomach just needs some real food to work on.


Clothing
Warm weather is pretty straight forward. Dress for the high temperature with something to put on top if you stop in a cool shady spot. In cold weather lots of layers. Bib knickers are a good base, with leg warmers and wool socks. On top a sleeveless base, long sleeve base, arm warmers, jersey, wind vest and jacket will give lots of options over a long day that may see big temperature swings. Tights with no chamois can be pulled over everything for an extra layer, but the knickers/leg warmer combo will take most riders down into the low 20’s, as long as the feet, head and hands are warm. Take stuff off when you get hot; even in low temperatures sweating depletes electrolytes. On your head try a skull cap and ear warmers instead of a one piece. When you start to over heat take off the ear warmer to vent. Maybe two weights of gloves. Winter boots or shoe covers. Extra socks, particularly if stream crossings are likely. Again, adjust what you are wearing to stay comfortable, which means neither chilled nor sweaty. Either extreme will weaken you over a long ride.

Misc. (Some of this is seasonal)
TP and baby wipes- Keep that chamois clean!
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Compass- Orienteering type with a map scale
Map/trail guide (duh)
First aid kit with scrape and abrasion type stuff
Space blanket
Matches
Whistle
Bandana
Parachute cord
LED headlight
Chemical hand warmers

[patrickgmiller]

Big Schloss

May flowers are on their way, but right now we have a heaping of wet trails.

Avoiding the road bike, but searching for something fun to ride? Rocks and Ridges are the answer. Gravity, having its usual way with water, saturates our nearby stream valleys and low lying trails, but only stays on ridges briefly before heading downhill. Over time, water running off of these ridges carries dirt downhill, leaving a bumper crop of rocks and rocks, being impermeable, are where to ride when it is muddy elsewhere.

Summer haze is still a ways off and this ride will reward you with a fantastic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Before heading west, purchase a copy of National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map, #792, Massanutten and Great North Mountain. Trails Illustrated maps, launched a few years ago, are easy to read, indestructible and from what I have seen accurate and updated frequently—the newer version even has more color.

Secure a spot at the Wolf Gap campground if you want to spend the night and ride through the campground towards the trailhead. The trail starts as mix of loose, rocky, doubletrack and fire road. The climb is straight uphill, no fun at all, and the lowlight of the ride, unless you enjoy drooling on yourself as you struggle up hill.
Get to the top and you are rewarded with ridge singletrack on Mill Mountain Trail and lots of rocks that don’t move and don’t hold water. The trail transitions back and forth through rock gardens, boulder fields, and the occasional smooth grassy patch so you can look up. Enjoy the views off of North Mountain as you head north towards Big Schloss. The only trail intersection you will cross is the spur trail up to Big Schloss. Make your way up to the top of Big Schloss and find yourself enjoying one of the best views of the valley.

After getting lots of pictures, head back to the ridge and continue north until the next trail intersection and head east on Trail 415, Big Schloss Cut-Off, which is a fun singletrack downhill, yes, it continues the rock theme, putting you back on Fire Road 92/Little Stoney Rd. Make a right and you headed back to your car, make a left and you can tack on Little Schloss or head back to the car, pass the car and hit up Tibet Knob.

Leave the cyclocomputer at home, the slow pace of rock creeping will only depress you. Give yourself a few hours to do the ride. Plan on a couple of hours for this one.

Want the view and want more time on the bike? Ride out the fireroad at the base of the pavement climb to Little Stoney, climb up Little Stoney, which is rocky and wet. Then head South on Mill Mountain Trail. You’ll pass by the Schloss cut off trail on your way to Big Schloss. After checking out the view, head back down the cut-off trail.