Month: July 2011

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Bring You More Trail to Rocky Knob

The Lower Knob Trail is now OPEN! This horseshoe-shaped loop begins at the start of the downhill of the Rocky Branch Trail. Pass the powerlines twice and then hang a left on Lower Knob for 1.5 miles of intermediate-level fun. You will remember the Boat Cove, the Which Hazel Is It? Berm, the Roman Road, and the Question Mark Berm.  Watch your speed on the DH of this trail before it connects back to Rocky Branch. It gets a little rowdy. Enjoy!

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The Question Mark

Mike, Craig, Shaw, Jason, and Zeb working the Question Mark Berm

The question: when will the new trail be open? Answer: soon. A good crew worked last night to put the final touches on the Question Mark Berm (so named because of its shape and the consternation you will experience when you first ride it). It is not ready yet. Due to the wet soil, this thing needs some time to dry. Until then, try unlocking all the secrets of the Rocky Branch trail. Have you found all the jumps? Step ups? Doubles? We’ll let you know when the Lower Knob is ready to ride.

Another crew of hard workers finished a long stretch of the Upper Knob Trail last night. Don’t forget about our trail day tomorrow (7/9) from 9:00 to 2:00.

Shaw Brown learns the finer points of working the dirt to perfection

See you on the trail.

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44 Days and Rolling: Episode 4 (Featuring Boone and Rocky Knob)

Ethan Anderson and Brandon Watts deep in Pisgah-Tech. Ryan Kirk photo.

Brandon Watts and the Bellingham, WA-based Freehub crew set out this past May to investigate excellent riding and trail building around the country. They have put together a series of videos documenting their findings. Checkout what they thought about Brevard, Asheville, Wilson’s, and Boone here.

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Bikes Belong

Last year, Boulder, CO based Bikes Belong, an organization devoted to putting more people on bikes more often, awarded Rocky Knob Park a $5000 grant. Bikes Belong recognized the importance of legal mountain bike trails in the Boone community and their grant helped leverage additional funds that led to the creation of the park.

This past week, Watauga County’s Outdoor Recreation Planner Eric Woolridge presented Bikes Belong with a plaque of appreciation from Rocky Knob Park. Without organizations like Bikes Belong, fewer bike opportunities would exist around the country. Thank you!

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Summer at Rocky Knob

When we designed the Rocky Branch Trail, we knew we wanted a flowy and fun trail that would provide advanced-beginner and intermediate riders a great experience. We had no idea that the trail would be so fun. The climb is challenging but the reward is sure to put a smile on your face. Riders are finding the flow on the downhill and unlocking jumps, doubles, and small step-ups.

If you like the Rocky Branch Trail, you will love the soon-to-open Lower Knob Trail. It climbs at a moderate pace to the top of the Lower Knob and gives riders a few views of our surrounding mountains. The downhill skirts a lush cove featuring a couple of rock gardens, then picks up speed with several jumps, a fantastic berm and then provides a long, technical section we’re calling the Roman Road. The trail then enters a gigantic question-mark shaped berm that, once you figure out the line, will make you want to do it over and over. Another rocky section delivers you back to the Rocky Branch Trail at the top of the downhill. All of this fun will be open very soon.

The Upper Knob trail system (yes, system: numerous options will be available on the top of the mountain) has been roughed-in. Deno and Shrimper burned the midnight diesel and punched through last week. Deno will construct several wooden structures through memorable rocky sections and around cliff bands.

On Saturday, July 9th we will host another workday. We will be working to finish the climb to the top of Rocky Knob. This is a chance to help complete more trail and to preview the incredible terrain on the top of the mountain. Please come on out. Bring your bikes. We will even provide some refreshments after work and before a ride.

Dirty Thursdays continue. Join us at 5:30 each Thursday for some dirty work.

We are fortunate to have Rocky Knob in our backyard. A big thank you goes out to everyone who volunteers at the park. We could not have this park without you. THANKS!