Clearing Trails for the Shenduro

Panorama of Death Star, Snowy Shenandoah To the East with Wild and Wonderful to the West!

Wootten and Watters went West to clear wood from a seldom ridden ridge, Sugar Run Trail, also known as 1025 or "Death Star".  The ridge dives West off Shenandoah Mountain and pokes out towards Sugar Grove.  The secret satellites from the NIOC-Naval base are within plain sight (hence the name death star).  What's the bigger secret is how rad this trail is.  We're blowing the whistle on this one at the next Shenduro on March 15th!  Come on out and enjoy it!  

The first chute on Death Star.  Relatively easy to ride slow.

Few folks get on this ridge because it is so remote, you can tell when you are out riding.  The trail begins with a fast double-track descent into a basin with minimal evidence of an actual trail.  You have to follow the yellow blazes to stay on track, but you eventually pop out on the ridge where the trail is obvious and well marked.

Collin hard at lurk, creepin towards the listening station.  (seen in back)

Collin rides the second complex chute on Sugar Run.

Blowdowns are not only a bummer on a ride, but can be hazardous at speed, so its always a good call to throw that folding saw in your campbell pack and do your friends a favor if you've got the time.

Sawing logs not sleeping on the job.

Notice the blade guard.  An easy to transport trailwork implement.

After some sawing, tree removed.

Evidence of trailwork from years ago.

We're lucky to live in a place where Skiing and Snowboarding go hand in hand with riding bikes.  After Wootten finished riding, he rolled over to Massanutten Resort to do some slope sliding.  The classic Mid-Atlantic packed slush was perfect for retrieving his old tricks in the progression park and forgiving enough to teach some new ones to Dr. Nonnemacher.

Multisporting so hard.  Snowboarding, Trailwork, and Shenduro Prep!