NRGE Sunday MTB – Slaty Fork/Tea Creek

OVERVIEW

The New River Gorge Extravaganza is a storied annual pilgrimage to our nations newest national park. While I missed it last year (first year flu took me out), I went to the Gauley fest and can attest the New is a super cool place. The Tea Creek/Slaty Fork area look like they’ve got super cool, classic West Virginia mountain biking: the route we have planned covers 47 miles and just over 5000’ of climbing. Check it out here: https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7049166 (mandatory reading)

This trail will cover challenging terrain and we’ll be doing a lot of miles and vert so this is an advanced trip. That said, there’s no need to be a pro rider; if you’re comfortable on most ohill trails and think you’re able to get the distance and climbing done, you should love it.

This trip is part of the NRGE megatrip. We will not be starting in cville. Rather, we will pack up camp at Rays and hit these trails on the way back to cville. If you are added to this trip, please join the main NRGE carpool (https://outdoorsatuva.org/adventure/nrge-2022-main-carpool/) and include in the questionnaire that you are getting back to cville with this trip, rather than with the main carpool. There is no fee for this specific trip, but NRGE fee is $10. You might also want to bring money for dinner on the way back.

**We’ll Bring**
– Bikes/helmets
– Bike rack(s)
– Pumps, tools, etc
– Bike lights (not planning to be out after dark, but you never know)

**You bring**
– Phone with MTBProject or Trailforks downloaded, with the West Virginia region downloaded within the app (absolutely required, if for any reason you can’t do this let us know)
– Water: at least 3L
– Food: lunch and snacks; dinner or money for dinner
– Appropriate clothing and footwear: it can be cold this time of year, dress in layers suitable for riding — you should at absolute minimum have a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt or jacket with you in case we’re out past sunset
– wool socks, if you have them (good chance your feet get wet and that’s no fun in the cold)
– gloves are recommended for keeping the fingers working in chilly temps and protecting your hands from scrapes if you fall – $10 Mechanix work gloves are great
– sunscreen?
– a bag to carry your water and food: the club has some daypacks and hip packs if you need one (let me know in the questionnaire)

*** DRIVERS NEEDED: Want to earn $20? Drivers are reimbursed for gas + 50% tip up to $20 (basically guaranteed unless you get insane mileage) – please arrive with a full tank of gas! ***