Fast transitions and high berms help with the turns. Trail is now covered in snow and you can only ride the packed areas from where sledders and shredders have packed out a trail. ou can ride around everything, which will give you a chance to look before you leap. Blast down Ridgeline all the way to Lake Imaging Road.
Shedding just a few hundred grams on new wheelsThis ridge is more rugged than the other two ridges. Freeze-thaw cycle isn't awful, but does make this trail rather slick. A trail & parking area reconstruction project completed in July '17. It is typically maintained at a high level due to its popularity and use. More branches down and seems they are often in bad spots, i.e. landings. A steep, punchy switchback filled climb follows a set of spines from Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC to the parking lot of Old Fort Picnic area.
The lower half features two rock drops including reef drop which is the largest rock drop and Highland and. The area is mostly wooded but there are several places that offer spectacular views. This is a shuttle access downhill trail that is suitable for all ages and multiple different bike styles- although best suited for all mountain, dirtjumper or full on DH bikes. Unfortunately, the lake-side trail has a hike-a-bike section in the middle. The trails are well drained and suitable for riding when wet. You can find everyone out here having fun from people in body armor and downhill bikes to families testing their kids limits to xc racer types riding intervals.
The trails all run parallel to the Fountain Place paved road so they can be shuttled by car. Very windy so drying fast. The trail ends with some nice berms at the bottom. Logs embedded in the trail have been installed to signal technical terrain. All hits are roll-able and built for progressing your jumping skillz. Or with only moderate climbing involved these trails can keep almost anyone interested for hours.
Fast transitions and high berms help with the turns. Trail is now covered in snow and you can only ride the packed areas from where sledders and shredders have packed out a trail.
Be careful of the rock stairs relatively close to the top of this portion; too much speed could doom your descent on these. Plenty of kick ups, jumps, drops, and huge berms.
Ride to the top and then down and link it directly into Ridegeline
Two wheel drifting is likely if you have speed but are not riding the top few inches of the berms. Brief passing showers are keeping it wet but the sun and wind are trying.