Skiventure Weekly

As frustrating as it can be to not touch your bike for a few weeks, it's good to rest your brain and body from pedaling sometimes and play new games. 

It all began with a town ski Monday night...

KateMo is the gnarliest first-time XC skier.

Then a 10 mile Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive/AT tour Tuesday with Erik and Dave...

Decent views.

Rhododendron tunnels on the AT!

Skyline Drive wasn't plowed after the first mile...

Climbing up the Appalachian Trail.

Stokesville Campground recovery ski Wednesday...

Erik at the campground.

Crazy climb out of the lodge!

Then full force Whitegrass weekend. My boyfriend Erik and I started scheming a weekend getaway to Whitegrass XC Ski Resort in Davis, West Virginia as soon as we heard about the potential for more snow. We took DT's mini van through some crazy conditions Saturday morning, and slid into Whitegrass in time for a three hour exploratory ski.

Made it to WV!

Six foot tall drifts!

Winter wonderland.

Seeds at every shack to feed the birds!

Snow tunnels through the pines. 

We stayed at Sue Haywood's house that night, then started early the next morning with Zach Adams to guide us out of the resort and into the wilderness. 

Esca - glade - er

Sun setting during our last ski.

Climbing away from the lodge.

Hungry chickadees!

Major climbs! Steeps and skis make hard work.

Sue and Zach led a H'burg group tour!

Trying to find the Dolly Sods wilderness.

Major post-winter wonderland depression setting in now, but for the first time I've been at peace with the temperatures staying on the low side - I'm okay with this snow sticking around a little longer!

Sedona! Locals rule!

Tim is spending the month in warm and sunny Sedona Arizona! Looks like he got out of the Burg just in time to miss the big freeze. Enjoy a few picture updates from Tim and Sedona

Locals Rule

Hangover Saddle with Scotty

The belly grows!

Sunday morning services

Last Sunday a bunch of us went east and did some bicycle riding around Sherando Lake area. Mid 60s was the temp and no snow to speak of on the trails. The jeep road from the parkway to the drop in was ice on the first run but had quickly melted to patches by the second run. Father Fun himself, Scott Wooten, organized a shuttle system that included his dad. Had so much fun that I only took one picture. But I did add some of Scott's photos and short video. You can put a lot of bikes on a station wagon!

Sherando Shuttle Sunday from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

Snowy Springtime Teaser

Perfect weather makes up for not so perfect conditions. Kelly and I rode our hardest ride yet this year: Leading Ridge road, up Camp Todd, down Chestnut ridge, up Hanky Mountain, and down Lookout Mountain trail to the car. It was only 28 miles, but almost 6,000 feet of climbing! The trails were either soft or covered in slippery slush, and the roads looked and felt like peanut butter. But who cared? We were outside, it was sixty degrees, and our slum only reminded us of the bigger, harder, better rides to come this year. Tour de Burg prep maybe? Short sleeve jerseys and shorts spoiled us - it will be hard to transition back to the cold weather. It's rides like these that up the motivation to stay active through the winter, reminding us that  spring time isn't too far off!

Almost to Little Bald intersection from the Camp Todd climb.

Camp Todd overlook!

Coming down Chestnut - slushy slippery sketchy sleigh ride.

Rhododendron tunnels on Chestnut Ridge, from snow to pine needles depending on elevation.

Soaking up rays at the Lookout Mountain overlook at the end of the day.

Another world, less than 100 miles away.

Being a valley based snowboarder can leave something to be desired.  You get really good at riding a variety of conditions and generally you get to be free of having expectations when you strap in.  We're super lucky to have Massanutten Resort in our back yard, they are dedicated to quality snowmaking when weather permits.  Less than a 30 minute drive from town, the "Nutt" is a great resource for honing skills and getting your form down.  There are two snowboard parks and an awesome staff of AASI certified instructors, stoked to teach beginners and experts alike.   

Continental Divide right there. 

That something to be desired is deep, fresh, bottomless POW.  Powder days are few and far between for us here in Harrisonburg, so if powder is a priority in your lifestyle, you have to be tuned into the weather and willing to travel.  Lucky for us, just 2 hours from town, at 3100' Davis is the highest town in West Virginia.  Weather patterns in Canaan resemble those further north, lake effect snow can happen and more arctic temperatures are common there.  The best resource for determining current snow conditions in Canaan Valley is the Whitegrass website daily report tab.   Canaan has 3 resorts, Timberline, Canaan and Whitegrass XC Touring Center in addition to a few peaks that are not often ridden.  

Riding up the lift at Timberline Resort

Timberline and Canaan have great a network of slopes, snowboard parks and a variety of glades to explore while Whitegrass has one wide slope and a vast supply of awesome tree skiing for those interested in earning their turns.  Generally speaking, most snowboarders tend to stick to the lift accessible terrain.  Some snowboarders are weird though, they will hike all day for just a couple runs if the runs include untouched perfect snow.  

Double Vision at Germany Valley

Untouched slopes do require lots of work and a fair share of exposure. 

An ounce of knowledge is worth a gallon of sweat. We scoped out a bowl that has lots of snow, plenty of steepness and almost heaven tree riding. 

Cleanup Heartbreak, Down Big Hollow

Atop Big Hollow with a dog and a saw

Cleared wood and got cold, icy cycles

Bold track selection with boulder lines

Remember pads to super-burl Shenduro. 

"Ride what you can 

walk what you have to

I am aerobically fit." Craig

Super Bowl Sunday Up to Flagpole

Football flying through the air on top of Flagpole for the Super Bowl Ride

How many years has the Harrisonburg cycling community ridden up to Flagpole Knob on the day of the big game? 30 plus years? The ride has been a Harrisonburg tradition since before there was a bike club in the area, before mountain bikes were ridden regularly on the trails of Shenandoah Mountain and certainly before there were Fat Bikes designed specifically to gobble up the snowy roads and trails.

Lindsey Carpenter rolling from Meadow Knob over to Pond Knob before riding out to Oak Knob and down Mud Pond

Since 2003 I don't think I have missed a single Super Bowl Sunday ride. A classic winter event, the weather is always variable and conditions never consistent. I've ridden in super cold light fluffy snow where you couldn't stand on Flagpole for more than a few minutes without freezing. I've also ridden in rivers of running water streaming down the Forest Service roads as the snow melts and temperatures push upwards of fifty degrees. Often, the road conditions are something in between with plenty of snow but also treacherous ice as the surface is caught in a freeze thaw cycle. Riders often end up on the ground unknowingly as their wheels lose traction.

The Salsa Mukluk Fat Bike was eating up the snow especially on the Mud Pond downhill

Many of those years I have ridden from town, up the mountain and then back to town. One of those years there was far too much snow to ride up the mountain so we brought a group of 20 folks and skiied up to the top. Well we sort of skiied, we were fortunate enough to have a group of large trucks pull us from the Reddish Knob damn up to the saddle. Skiing down the Pond Knob trail was a treat.

Pushing the Fat Bike up the STEEP climb to Oak Knob with Flagpole looming in the distance

This year, we couldn't be more excited to see several members of the Rocktown Composite team (middle and high school local mountain bike team) pedal all the way to the top of Flagpole. They are well on their way towards many many Super Bowl rides to come. In a classic Harrisonburg tradition, the Super Bowl ride isn't really a group ride but it embodies all that is right and welcoming about the Harrisonburg bike community.

Thomas Jenkins brought a football all the way up the mountain!

Get your shock or fork pushed!

Recently I sent my rear shock to Suspension Experts in Asheville North Carolina for service. Can't say enough good things about it. Turn around time is to borrow a Bad Brains album title....with the Quickness! You too can have this feeling. We are a dealer here at SBC now. Suspension Experts is a Push dealer as well as specializing in custom tunes. For those Trek owners married to the DRCV shock looking for more adjustability this is the answer! Come on by the shop and talk to Jason and soon Collin who is waiting on his rear shock to return. See ya's on the trail!