Steep and Deep: West Virginia
The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest such chain in all of North America. They extend more than 1,500 miles, from the island of Newfoundland along the eastern precipice of Canada, to central Alabama in the southeastern United States. This beautiful range of ridge lines and peaks are mere stumps compared to what they were hundreds of millions of years ago; with wind, water, and time slowly but surely removing "weaker" surface rock, and leaving behind a skeleton of this once imposing swath of vertical relief. While the process of erosion might have left behind a much more modest stack of hills and valleys compared to the Appalachians in their original grandeur, the beauty and allure of the range is still very well intact. It's highest peaks can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the Presidential Range of New Hampshire. Dynamic coastal mountain landscapes prevail in places like Maine, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. Quebec and New England are famous for their beauty during autumnal months. The Appalachians are rich with beauty and history, and can represent many different things to many different people, but perhaps no single corner of this geological nexus epitomizes all of Appalachia more completely than the highlands of West Virginia.
The Mountain State is located entirely within the Appalachian region, and features over 150 peaks 4,000 feet above sea level. It records some of the least severe weather in the United States annually, yet sits near the top of the heap when it comes to fog and clouds compared to the national average. Its forests are dense, wildlife diverse, and the recreational opportunities prolific throughout this nebulously shaped territory. West Virginia, whose state motto is "Wild and Wonderful", is an easy place to get lost in, whether intended or not. In the heart of West Virginia, situated atop the nearly mile high shelf of the Allegheny Mountains, you'll find a horseshoe shaped convergence of ridges, the Cheat and Back Allegheny mountains specifically, forming a beautiful confluence that has resulted in one of the finest collections of mountain bike trails anywhere in America.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is situated at the top of Cheat Mountain, nestled in cozily at 4,848 feet above sea level. It is a place steeped in American mountain biking history, and has recently played host to both collegiate and elite national championships in recent years, and makes no bones about a desire to one day hold a World Cup event on its slopes—it certainly has the terrain to make that happen. It's a place with no shortage of speed and flow, and much more of that is coming still, but its essence can be found on those trails in which the rider can easily forget that they're enjoying lift-served terrain, where the ultra wide corridor trails normally associated with bike parks gives way to a much deeper, more dimly lit, natural style of trail. Its roots are its roots… and moss, and rocks, and deep, deciduous forests. In addition to the lift-served riding, Snowshoe has an abundance of backcountry options that serve to set this place apart from virtually every other riding destination on the east coast. Fall line trails, deep, luxurious pockets of damp soil, and an evergreen glow that more closely resembles what you might expect to find in the Pacific Northwest than in West-by-God-Virginia. Nearby Tea Creek, which as the crow flies is less than eight miles away, offers up what might be perhaps the state's finest backcountry singletrack, with trails that drop more than 1,500 feet and offer almost every conceivable type of mountain biking you could ask for.
The Appalachians aren't what they used to be. This used to be a landscape that reached towards the heavens, with jagged alpine summits clawing their way through thin air, high up into the atmosphere. 480 million years later, they reach just a fraction of their former heights, and their once sharp peaks are now much smoother, rounded by wind, and water, and time. While time has worked to reduce the stature of these ancient hills, it has also provided them with some stunning crevices, and for those who have spent any amount of it here, they're well aware of a radiance seldom found in other parts of this country. There are some steep and deep secrets scattered throughout the peaks and valleys of West Virginia, and the beating heart of this landscape can be found right here in Snowshoe.
A pre-dawn, Appalachian glow offers up enough tranquility in a single morning to last a lifetime.
Greenbank is just a few miles down road from Snowshoe and is located within the National Radio Quiet Zone, which means that radio transmissions are heavily restricted by law. Space technologies keeping WV wild and wonderful.
Erin Taylor with Snowshoe instructor, Joanna Yates, hot on her heels.
Don't call it loam. Call it something better.
Bernadette Merriman leads Megan Hutton through a mossy dreamscape.
A plethora of riding opportunities abound in and around Snowshoe. Shuttle runs at Tea Creek are a must when visiting.
A drive up stunning, winding roads leads to a rip down stunning, winding trails.
There is plenty of speed to be found in the Tea Creek area backcountry, as these trails often make a few quick turns before heading straight down the 1,700+ feet of vertical relief here.
Laps on laps on laps.
Plenty of two and four-legged friends to be made here.
Snowshoe wasn't quite under the full path of totality, but it was pleasant enough to say the least.
You don't need to shuttle for backcountry options; the mountain offers more than enough fun away from the lifts.
Megan leads the trio away from the resort, up a path of mossy singletrack en route to some backcountry glory.
Full speed ahead through the green room.
It's very easy to get very excited riding bikes in the woods in and around Snowshoe, no matter how many miles you have in your legs.
You can be as hard on your body and your bike as you please, but this please will always be easy on the eyes.
Additional Information:
Please visit West Virginia's tourism site for additional travel and lodging information.
For more information on Snowshoe Mountain, and its village and amenities, please visit their official website.
Please visit West Virginia's tourism site for additional travel and lodging information.
For more information on Snowshoe Mountain, and its village and amenities, please visit their official website.
MENTIONS: @briceshirbach
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32 Comments
- 22 2
gravity354
(Sep 1, 2017 at 12:33)
Really great seeing an all-female cast on a spectacular stage - my wife approves!
Bucket list.
- 12 0
RLoganSx
(Sep 1, 2017 at 19:07)
Please don't come its not good at all....
- 8 1
tlupo
(Sep 2, 2017 at 19:38)
As a geoscientist, I have to say this was a wonderfully written article regarding the Appalachian Mts. Nicely done.
- 5 0
CommunityBikesandBoards
(Sep 2, 2017 at 6:13)
Great job PB! Girls RULE! Keep the East Coast stories coming!
- 1 0
hutthutt
(Sep 1, 2017 at 14:45)
This was such an amazing week of riding! I've raced DH at Snowshoe for years but had totally missed all of the amazing trail riding on the mountain and in the nearby Slatyfork area. I can't wait to get back for more!!
- 7 7
b4uwereborn
(Sep 2, 2017 at 3:30)
Great film, but why do people still insist on no elbow protection. Next to your head joints are a major part of your body, serious damage to any joints and your riding days are possibly over. Maybe i'm old or it's a 'cool' look not too sure, as I said great film tho;
- 9 0
morpheous
(Sep 3, 2017 at 21:15)
There is s simple answer, becasue they end up down around your wrists at a mtn like this.
- 1 0
walshywalt
(Sep 16, 2017 at 21:05)
because they are lame as hell and restrict movement. Looking like a fuckin tool is not what I am about, plus whats fun about bubble wrapping yourself, it is not preschool it's an adrenalin sport
- 1 1
b4uwereborn
(Sep 17, 2017 at 10:37)
@walshywalt: Nothing lame about fooked up joints cos' you think it's lame, hope you never have a big off mate.
- 1 0
b4uwereborn
(Sep 17, 2017 at 10:39)
@morpheous: If they end up on your wrists, then you need some that fit properly. Everything is about the fit with clothing and pads. If you don't like em' fair enough;
- 2 0
walshywalt
(Nov 23, 2017 at 1:52)
@b4uwereborn: Had many mates but elbow pads would never have prevented any of them or lessened the damage when I crash there are more important things to worry about than a skinned elbow
- 3 0
jackdichiara2013
(Sep 1, 2017 at 12:15)
Fantastic eastern riding destination, great riding with lots of steep gnar
- 3 0
amjohnsonwv
FL (Sep 1, 2017 at 13:56)
Almost heaven, gnarly as hell
- 2 0
gamblor
(Sep 3, 2017 at 11:30)
You don't get many dry days at Snowshoe...all I'm seeing is too much time wasted snapping pictures. 
- 1 0
morpheous
(Sep 3, 2017 at 21:13)
Just not true, I've been here all summer only about 20 days of rain in 3 months, unfortunately they were during nationals, durig Fall fest Enduro, and opening weekend. Genralazaitons can be misleading...
- 1 0
briceshirbach
(Sep 17, 2017 at 18:23)
Well, if we didn't "waste time" taking pictures, you'd have nothing to do on Pinkbike? I had fun, trust me.
- 2 0
valbwnc
(Sep 3, 2017 at 5:37)
Amazing ladies on some of the finest trails in Appalachia.
- 4 1
ProSpeedRacer
(Sep 1, 2017 at 13:58)
I'd ride that.
- 2 0
konarrider2007
(Sep 1, 2017 at 14:09)
There is no place like snowshoe
- 2 0
preach
(Sep 1, 2017 at 14:10)
Bless it's been dry in Snowshoe this summer all things considered
- 3 0
salsarider12
(Sep 1, 2017 at 22:39)
ballhooter
- 2 0
Mavic101
(Sep 2, 2017 at 13:14)
Country roads
Take me home
- 2 0
trimakas
(Sep 2, 2017 at 17:03)
West Virginia.... Who'd have known? Tech tracks look rad!
- 1 0
sunringlerider
(Sep 8, 2017 at 15:00)
FYI tea creek is total over grown bull shit. Keep driving to snowshoe waiste of time.
- 2 0
ReformedRoadie
(Sep 1, 2017 at 12:13)
Password, please?
- 3 0
AJBarlas
(Sep 1, 2017 at 12:14)
Apologies, we were glued to the images. It's good now.
- 1 0
kiwifamilyman
(Sep 2, 2017 at 2:05)
Sweet video,great riding skills,well done...
- 1 0
sml2727
(Sep 2, 2017 at 14:29)
Do you need a DH bike to ride these trails?
- 1 0
Tappsy
(Sep 3, 2017 at 22:04)
No it's just more fun
- 2 0
pinnityafairy
(Nov 10, 2017 at 11:17)
I took my road bike Down Easy Street. KOM ed it.
- 1 0
Schwaby
(Sep 2, 2017 at 15:22)
Where's the local interpretation?
- 1 0
chickendog
(Sep 2, 2017 at 18:52)
good shit in wv
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