Mid-Appalachian Backways Adventure Trail 🦇
October 5- 11, 2024
6 day adventure ride exploring the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia during the Fall
INVITATION to Mid-Appalachian Backways Adventure Trail
Calling all adventurous riders, restless souls, and asphalt gypsies! Get ready to trade the humdrum highway for the heart-pounding pulse of the Mid-Appalachian Backways Adventure Trail. This ain't your paved paradise; this is a 700-mile odyssey carved through the wild soul of the Appalachian Mountains, a dirt-laced symphony of wilderness, history and adrenaline.
Think switchbacks that make your knees weak, gravel stretches that whisper promises of freedom and mountain vistas that'll leave you breathless. This ain't just a scenic route; it's a gauntlet thrown down by Mother Nature, a challenge to your skill, your endurance and your spirit.
But fear not, brave riders! The rewards are as vast as the sky above the mountain peaks. This trail is a tapestry woven from threads of forgotten towns, Civil War whispers and Native American legends. You'll rumble through valleys draped in emerald forests, hug cliff edges where hawks cry on the wind and cross rivers that gurgle secrets untold.
Each mile is a portal to a bygone era. Ghost towns, their weathered storefronts standing frozen in time, speak of gold rushes and mountain men. Crumbling stone walls, remnants of homesteads carved from the wilderness, whisper tales of hardship and grit. And beneath the whispering pines, ancient burial mounds guard the secrets of those who walked these lands before.
But the Mid-Appalachian Backways Adventure Trail isn't just about the past. It's a celebration of the present, a canvas splashed with the vibrant hues of local communities. Quaint towns, strung like pearls along the trail, welcome weary riders with open arms and warm smiles. Sample moonshine distilled in hidden hollows, savor smoky barbecue cooked over hickory coals and listen to bluegrass melodies that twang like the strings of your soul.
So, tune up your bike, add new tires and check the chain. The Mid-Appalachian Backways Adventure Trail awaits, a siren song for those who crave the open road, the untamed wilderness and the thrill of two wheels against the world. Come, carve your own legend in the dust, one epic mile at a time.
Remember, this is just the prologue. Stay tuned for the full story, where we'll dive deep into the nitty-gritty of the trail, from must-see stops and hidden gems to tips for conquering the toughest terrain. Introduce yourself to the amazing communities that call these mountains home and share the tales that echo through the valleys. So, buckle up, fellow adventurers and let's lose ourselves in the wild heart of Appalachia!
Ride Description
Ride the winding curves of the paved and dirt backroads of the Appalachian Mountains during the most beautiful time of year. Explore the rolling hills, rugged peaks and lush valleys as they explode into a kaleidoscope of autumn colors of vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. Experience the breathtaking panoramic views, home to black bears, deer and many different species of birds. Then after a long day of riding head into the small towns and experience the charm and hospitality of Appalachian culture.
Damascus Old Mill Inn
Blue Ridge Mountains
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
Signup Info:
The cost to join this 6 day ride is $1,195 This covers your lodging for the 6 nights during the ride. It also includes your ride packets which consist of a custom Garmin GPS map on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions.
$200 Deposit
Contact Us for more info about this ride
After your signup riders will receive an email from me with further ride information and instructions.
Note: Riders must make full payment by August 10, 2024
Riders will receive ride packets in the mail one week before the ride.
Refund Policy
Do not sign up for this ride unless you are serious about coming. I take your signup very seriously and start planning for you the minute you sign up. If you need to cancel up to two months prior to the ride start date I will give you a full refund but I will keep $100 to cover the planning work. Sorry but I make non refundable commitments myself so it gets hard for me. "I hate this world of non refundable deals myself." If you need to cancel within two months of the ride, I cannot give a refund unless I can find a replacement rider. In the case of finding a replacement rider, I will gladly give you the full refund minus the $100 to cover the planning work. In the event of ride cancellation, you will be given a full refund.
Ride Maps
OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.
I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride. At first glance these maps do not look so impressive, but they are way cool. If you start zooming in, you can see the ride in incredible detail. I have spent a ton of hours sorting through the details of the ride for each day, so for those of you that enjoy this sort of thing, well enjoy!
Legend:
The Blue lines are MAIN routes
The Red lines are Harder routes
The Green lines are Easy options
The Black lines are the out and back viewpoints
Yoda Keith
Yoda Keith: Age 55, married w 4 kids and 3 grandsons; been riding since age 10; raced MX, SX (once was enough), enduros, hare scrambles, drag races, dirt drags, hill climbs
Always wanted to try flat track but I get all dizzy 😵
Some rides I’ve been fortunate enough to do: NC to Alaska, TAT, tour of Idaho. NC to Nova Scotia, many Roulettes.
Height 5’7”, Eyes blue, Hair ?, Sign Cancer
Turn ons: shiny happy people,The Rolling Stones, whirled peas, sun rises, fire arms!
Turn offs: war, cancer, global warming, dirty fuckin’ hippies,
Favorite past times: Ccurling up by the fireplace with a good book, meditation, planting daisies along the interstate, waxing the steps at the old folks home.
Favorite quotes: I’ve spent most of my money on dirt bikes, beer and chasing women. The rest I pissed away.
Words to live by: Never sweat the petty stuff, Always pet the sweaty stuff. Happy trails
FAQ's
What are these Adventure Rides like? These rides are designed along the theme of exploring the world. They include a mix of remote dirt routes, back paved roads, sometimes some very seldom ridden paths and pavement. Rides are a mix of all these things and sometimes some surprises due to weather conditions. These rides are for experienced, well seasoned riders that are capable of turning a washed out road experience into just part of the day's fun. Riders should be comfortable with turning around when necessary and finding an alternative route around unexpected obstacles. These rides are not for new riders. As an experienced rider, the tough part of having a great motorcycle adventure is the routing and logistics. What routes do I take? Where do I stay? How do I find the best routes and places?
We have done the homework for you: We have studied and developed and ridden to find the best possible routes and then we have put them into great daily rides. As riding skills and desires for riders can be different, we have developed and include route options. We find that many riders like to ride with their best friends, however their friends may not always have the same riding skills and desires. As the day's ride progresses, riders have choices of easier and harder routes. This allows you to tailor the ride more towards your own riding desires and allows you to make choices that might better suit your friends when necessary. Sometimes riders may just want a break too.
How does the ride navigation work?
This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You will be given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.
(see my ride Navigation Video)
Are you right for this ride?
When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff, come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.
How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?
I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride. They come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.
(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)
What will the weather be like this time of year?
In October the weather is most often nice, but can be colder in the mornings and in the mountains. There is the potential for rain and wet and muddy routes can force us to change our plans. Come prepared with extra gear for cold and wet weather.
Would this be a good ride for new riders?
No, this ride is for intermediate and experienced riders only. The riding has easy route choices and tough route options. Each evening we will study the following day's choices. You will find lots of supportive people at the ride.
What are motel room arrangements?
Rooms are double occupancy, meaning each rider shares a two bed room with another rider.
What bikes are right for this ride?
Bikes including and in between the Adventure Bikes and Dual Sport all can do well by choosing the easy or hard route options.
What do I do if I don't have a Garmin GPS?
Buy one, you need it, we will show you how to use it. You can get a great one for under $200 bucks. ( See gpsKevin's gps recommendations)
Is the riding really on my own?
Yes, but almost everyone hooks up and rides with a friend, or a new friend or me.
Note from me, gpsKevin
My goal for this ride is simple, great riding, so you can count on great routes and places to ride.
But in addition: the ride is about discovering new places, meeting new friends, seeing new parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
Thanks
gpsKevin
Try to remember the riders you met on your last ride.
Invite them to this ride.
Warning:
Any and all riding is on you own
Conditions change and routes may not be navigable
Legal access can change and is not guaranteed. Riders must assess the local conditions.
Weather can make the routes impassable.
Riders must obey all local laws
gpsKevin assumes no liability for these rides or your actions.
Who is going on the ride:
Yoda Keith B
High Point, NC
Ben M
Bluffton, SC
Dan S
Grandville, MI
Jake B
Byron Center, MI