Slatyfork area

[scott]

Has anyone ridden down in the Slatyfork, WV area this summer? We have a trip planned for September, but are worried that the trails may be washed out.
Thanks for any info!
Scott

[bikerRob]

Has anyone ridden down in the Slatyfork, WV area this summer? We have a trip planned for September, but are worried that the trails may be washed out.
Thanks for any info!
Scott
8/02/04 >> I feel your worry. Nothing like making that "Big drive" all the way to WVa just to have crappy conditions. I've never been to Slatyfork but have heard from people who have. The consensus is, if it's dry it's okay, if it's wet it's a mess. The good news is if you go and conditions are sloppy, you're a hop-skip and a jump from Snow Shoe, which I understand has some great trails. Also near by ( hour and a half ) is the Seneca St. Forest and Park, which I went to last year. I rode it when it was wet and it wasn't too bad. Enough riding for a couple days and you can access the Greenbriar River Trail from the park. My suggestion, a week or two before your trip, go to this link>> http://www.afws.net/data/wv/pocahontas.htm << everyday and watch how much rain falls at Snow Shoe seeing it's like a half an hour from Slatyfork.

[devo]

...as BikerRob suggests. Yeah, Slatyfork can be great when it's dry, but there's a reason Snowshoe ski resort was built just down the road - it's the wettest spot in the region. Can't say I've ever ridden there when it was truely dry, even during a drought. Don't let that deter you, though, as there can still be some great riding if it's moderately wet, and there are a lot of alternative options within close driving distance.

If you're unsure, just give the folks at Elk River Lodge, or Snowshoe bike shop a call and see what they suggest.

ndevo

[chunk]

i just got back from doing the wild 100 up there. things are dry this year. i should say "dry for up there." there are still mud holes on some trails, but those trails will always have some mud on them.

as a matter of fact, this was thing first time i've ever been there were it DIDN'T rain.

go for it. you'll have a blast. the singletrack is technical.

[DaveG]

I saw one guy there wearing a MORE jersey and I meant to stop by and say "Hi" but... well I was tired :)

I was SHOCKED to find out that the trails were "In good shape".

Personally, I think the riding in Frederick and GWNF absolutely blow away the Slatyfork riding, but I started riding in New Mexico and I have this thing about mud...

Dave

[chunk]

yea, that was me.

the conditions were really good this year, but coming down props run left a little bit to be desired. the last think i wanted to do after riding for 60+ is have to pedal on a downhill. :D

this is the first year i've done it where it didn't rain. slaytfork might as well be a rain forest.

[camp]

Not me,
I was actually happy that we had to pedal some down Props. I didn't realize that it wasn't a bomber downhill, and I wasn't looking forward to squeezing my brake levers so hard for so long at the end of the race. That's only the 2nd time I've ever gone down Props (we usually go up it) and I liked it.

Like others said, or sorta said, rain is irrelevant at Slatyfork. Yes, it can make a huge difference for the 24 Hours of SS course, or the SS NORBA, but it really means nothing on the trails around Elk River.

[bigbadbrad]

Sounds like a few of the respondents may have raced in the 24 Hours of Snowshoe (originally was the ~ of Canaan). I just came back from Canaan, and was talking to a guy who sometimes works for Laird Knight/Granny Gear Productions. He told me the now famous race is moving again; won't be at Snowshoe next year! Couldn't disclose the new location, only hinted that it was going to be awesome.

Anybody else heard any scuttlebutt? :confused:

--Brad R.

[chunk]

friends that did the Timber Crit (or what ever it's called now) said most of the course is still intact. so my guess is a shorter version of the originial 24 hours of canaan course w/lap times somewhere around 1 - 1.5 hours for the average shmoe.

most people seem to forget how nasty and mudding the 24 hours of canaan could be. i remember the first year i was there it snowed on top of salamander. and that was after drizzling all day.

Run me out in the cold rain and snow
Rain and snow
Run me out in the cold rain and snow

[camp]

ah, a new song in my head now...

[bigbadbrad]

Run me out in the cold rain and snow
Rain and snow
Run me out in the cold rain and snow

...who is that? An old Dylan tune or what?

Also, thanks for the reply; however, I don't think it's returning to Canaan; most of the land there has since been acquired by the feds; "the 500th" National Wildlife Preserve. I was there during the Timber Crit, tho didn't race; wished I had at least come out to watch. I saw/rode some of the course a couple days later; the downhill looked pretty brutal/technical, esp. after racing up & down mountains for 12-14 miles (I think overall race was ~15, ran up into the Dolly Sods wilderness or a portion thereof).

Yeah, I hear you about that WV mud! I haven't raced out there, but I recall reading coverage of it when it was an absolute quagmire; really questioned the sense in them running the event when it was that muddy; :eek: seemed to me they were just asking to get kicked out/raise trail damage issues.

And it SNOWED in June?!? Incredible. My sister raced in the 24 hrs. of Moab several years ago, and it snowed on her during her night lap; she was pretty miserable.

Ride on!
--Brad R.

[bigbadbrad]

A-HA! ;)

Thanks to the miracle of Google, I found it; some old Celtic tune, apparently. Didn't sound like Dylan; don't know what I was thinking.

Ride on,
--BR

[va rider]

Never heard Dylan play it... most notably a cover by the Good Ole Grateful Dead.

[camp]

Pay the man!