10 Best Places to ride in the Lower 48 [Archive]

frznnomad

12-13-2006, 12:05 AM

sugar,nc: local and the place has a lot of potential to be a great dh and slalom venue
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/frznnomad/powerlinesection.jpg
snowshoe,wv: you just cant get enough of the mud
diablo,nc: never been but heard its everything between tech-smooth.
pisgah,nc: to local to even talk about.
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/frznnomad/oldschoolpisgah.jpg
kitzuma,nc: undesclosed location
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/frznnomad/landing.jpg
greenlicks,nc:id tell you but theres way to many people on it now so no
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/frznnomad/stylebitches.jpg
trace ridge,nc: parkway trail
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/frznnomad/traceridge.jpg
boone,nc: yet again way to local to even talk about.

thats two out of state and the rest are all my favs in state. so if your around look um up trust me it will be worth the digging.

BKnight

12-13-2006, 12:09 AM

wow, like all of you guys are from washington, tahts crazy. Tahoes pretty sweet, we have th flume, not really down hill, but we do have downieville, which is badass. theres also North Star, which has some sweet trails

vtminuteman

12-13-2006, 12:22 AM

Whiteface NY: lots of vert(7+ minute runs), fast gondola, great terrain, 2006 5k dh race was top notch, three more races in 2007, more trails in 2007.

Highlands NH: Short runs jam packed with ladders, drops, jumps, berms, ledge, rock gardens and tetters. Lift has great bike carriers, nice lodge, they organized a great race in 06, new jump line and more races in 2007.

Diablo NJ: US Open, fast lift, great trails mix of natural and man made, jump lines.

hungryleprican

12-13-2006, 12:27 AM

Us PNW guys are pretty much naming places in the PNW cause we havn't really been across the country or even CA for that matter.

atleast I havn't

blue

12-13-2006, 12:33 AM

Laguna Seca.

A.P

12-13-2006, 02:15 AM

Highlands NH: Short runs jam packed with ladders, drops, jumps, berms, ledge, rock gardens and tetters. Lift has great bike carriers, nice lodge, they organized a great race in 06, new jump line and more races in 2007.

.

Hahahahahhahaahaha.....thats funny...

Sandwich

12-13-2006, 08:33 AM

stgil888

12-13-2006, 08:38 AM

Awesome responses guys. Keep it up.

Seems like everyone has a lot of local pride. That's great.

What's disappointing is the realization that there are so few decent places to ride!

frznnomad

12-13-2006, 08:41 AM

i think if we got most of the riders on here to post you would find that there is quite a bit of ridding to be had. the problem in nc is that most of them are local trails and everyone wants to keep them a secret, but it makes since cause well the less damn turists on those trails the better.

profro

12-13-2006, 08:46 AM

You guys up North are so lucky. The amount of racing is insane.

My personal favs are:

Telluride Pirate Trails (RIP) for super steep and tech
Diablo for rough, quick, and numeruous trails
Snowshoe for tech mud
Bootleg Canyon for long, high exposure runs. Plus the atmosphere is great
Winrock for super long, unforgiving, steepness
Mammoth for history

FCLinder

12-13-2006, 08:47 AM

"Wind Rock in TN". Have not made it up there in a few years but it rocked then and I know the Mad Scientist “DHBuilder” is up there 24/7 building some of the sweetest DH runs in the South East. Plan on going when they reopen.

Other favs: Snow Shoe WV “even in the mud”, Sugar Mt. NC, Massunutten VA, Mt. Snow VT, and all shuttle runs we have here in the SC and NC Mountains "To many to talk about".

SinatorJ

12-13-2006, 09:22 AM

I know a secret...

profro

12-13-2006, 09:28 AM

I know a secret...

Its no secret you are ghey... :banana:

SinatorJ

12-13-2006, 09:29 AM

only with u

JRogers

12-13-2006, 09:57 AM

yeah, highland was the worst place I rode in 2006.

Plattekill is up there, for steepness and techness and because it's plattekill, and that's that.

Diablo was fun, I look forward to honing more of my skills there in the upcoming months. Lots of drops and man made stuff but it's nice, fast, and flowy, not like highland.

I look forward to good things from whiteface in the future, they have some nasty long DH runs with changing terrain that never gets boring. The lifts weren't that fast though, and the wood chips were kind of dumb. I wish there was more connectivity between woods sections.

Jiminy was fun too. There was a trail to the right side (facing the hill) that had some sick lines on it. It was too muddy to ride them well, but I look forward to being there next year.

Not to try and hijack the thread, but what was bad about Highland? I have not ridden there yet, but was considering going at some point. Not worth the drive, I guess?

Some of you guys need to get out more or, you know, read the title of the thread. We are looking to list some of the best places in the country, not within 10 miles of your house.

Anyway....Diablo might make it in a best of list. Good terrain, good management and trails that are built for fun riding. I've ridden a bunch of mountains in the NE and Diablo is probably my favorite. Trails are a bit short, but they are all fun.

Whiteface could be in the top 10 with some more development. I try to get up there once a year or so. The mountain is huge, lift is fast and the area is great, but a few more trails and some more options would put it over the top. (I admit, though, I have not been there this year).

If it counts for anything, my two favorite places to ride in the country period are probably Crested Butte and the Kingdom Trails. Butte has tons of riding, a great layout, a great little town and simply amazing scenery. Kingdom (Burke, VT) has miles and miles of riding. Like many traills in CB, it's not too tech, but the trails are great fun. Scenery is awesome (Heaven's Bench, anyone?) and the town is small, but has some cool spots. It is set up perfectly for riding- trails right from town, pub across the street from the shop and a swimable river in the center of town. Each of these areas has some DH/FR, but that's not their primary focus. Both are worth long visit for anyone who likes riding.

Stiff

12-13-2006, 10:04 AM

Bootleg for DH
Moab and Tucson for trail riding
A secret DH track in Maryland
Diablo DH -- trail quality high and gondolas superfast, but burned out on it a little

Over-rated: Downieville

Next on riding lists: SoCal + Colorado...and central Mexico which looks like loads of big mtn riding.

Exception: not in lower 48 but Quebec's Bromont has very high trail quality, fast lift, and great vibe.

SinatorJ

12-13-2006, 10:40 AM

Its no secret you are ghey... :banana:

Weall know that you are a member of the IC king submarine racing team.

pinkshirtphotos

12-13-2006, 10:45 AM

diablo (across the valley from my house)
platekill because thats the only other place ive been and they have some sweet trails.

Sandwich

12-13-2006, 10:58 AM

Not to try and hijack the thread, but what was bad about Highland?

Well, the compactness of it was one thing. I'll compare it to diablo to make it more apparent; Where diablo is open, IE: jump, jump, jump, berm berm berm berm jump jump jump, trail trail drop, trail berm berm trail drop, etc.,

Highland is, drop, drop, drop, drop, ladder, drop, jump, drop. I felt like there was 0 trail in between. I like to ride DH and hit drops and jumps and berms while I'm at it, not hit drops and have to ride DH in between.

I hope that makes some sense. The stuff at Diablo also has some progression, ie, it's easy to hit when you're a noob. Highland is hit it or quit it. The owner is a little bit of a jerk from what I've seen. The lift is slow, but the bike racks are Bromont style. The parking lot is bare gravel with no shade for cooling off. The stunts are well built but they feel "forced," as though they were an afterthought rather than a part of the trail. There's 4 trails, it costs $35....

I might go back when they build more trails and I become a better stunt rider, but I'd rather learn to ride fast than ride roller coasters. It's only an hour and a half from boston, but I just wasn't feeling it like I do at Pkill or others.

Also, WRT distance, I ride close to where I live. I think PKill is awesome, there's a lot of variation and the experience is something else (camping). Diablo is a great mountain, and whiteface has potential. I would say that those three might have to be in the top 10.

MinorThreat

12-13-2006, 10:59 AM

Us PNW guys are pretty much naming places in the PNW cause we havn't really been across the country or even CA for that matter.

atleast I havn'tI have been other places, but you name PNW places for good reason, Hungry. There's little need to look too far when you've got it all in your back yard.

Especially here on the dry side of the state (yeah, Beacon!!) We have the climate and the terrain with NONE of the user-conflict or access issues. Downhill is not a dirty word around here.

My only fear is that some fool (like me :D) is going to get an article published about it some day, the cat'll be out of the bag and we'll be up to our armpits in more Californians than we already are.

jbogner

12-13-2006, 11:18 AM

Highland is great. We took ten guys on a road trip through Whiteface, Bolton Valley (another great spot) and Highland, and every one voted Highland the best. If you're not into woodwork and stunts, you'll hate it. But the trails are immaculately constructed and tons of fun to ride (even for the guys in our group who weren't big stunts riders). Yes, you have to be "on" from top to bottom- the vert is short (around 700 feet), so the trailbuilders have packed each trail full of stuff. After days at Whiteface and Bolton, we all loved the shorter runs- more chance to recover. The only issue was the lack of trails- only 5-6 this year. But the ones they have are so much more developed than any trails anywhere else in the NE. Shade in the parking lot? More than offset by the cleanest bathrooms of any DH spot we've ever seen. ;) Great vibe there- music pouring out of speakers on the beautifully renovated base lodge deck, easy to watch big stunts/jumps down the liftline, well-landscaped and replanted ski slopes, an amazing aesthetic attention to the way things look as well as the way things ride... they definitely did it right, and as they expand, that place is going to get better and better.

Diablo is always great. It's our local spot, so we take it for granted. Never have a bad time there, and every year they step it up a little more. Platty is a classic.

One place that should be on the list is Santos in Florida. No vert, but BIG drops, great DJ's and tons of fun. More terrain than *should* be there in the middle of flat Florida... ;)

nh dude

12-13-2006, 11:19 AM

I think that if you live smack dab in the middle of new england you have more than enough places to choose from for lift accessed riding that are within a resonable drive four hours or less
In defense of highland yeah they only have four trails or five now but it was also their first season- some people like stunts others dont I'm not really big into stunts myself but if they add some natural trails over the next few years then it will be a great spot. They did put on a great race, and what parking lot has shade?thats what ez ups are for
if you want to see a slow lift you should ride at bolton valley up in vt its 20 min the top at least.
plattekill is still number one for me just because its so rugged and you really have to look before you leap whiteface is up there also
the NEK trails are good too but without a lift

Jim Mac

12-13-2006, 11:35 AM

My Right Coast bias...Lift served trails, in no apparent order:
*Plattekill - raw dh, where else does the owner allow you to build trails?
*Jiminy Peak - good flow, open 7 days a week (until 8pm although it's the small lift) and only 45 min's from my house and 30 min's from work.
*Mt. Snow - race courses only, however.
*Diablo - a lot of stuff for so little elevation.
*Whiteface - so much potential! Longest runs in the east.
*Snowshoe - haven't been there since '04, long runs, great terrain.

With the exception of Diablo and Snowshoe, they're all withing 2 hours of my house, how could you beat that?

EDIT: I want to check out Bolton, Highland, Bromont, etc. Just need to find the time when so much is so close!

Total Heckler

12-13-2006, 11:45 AM

Downieville is totally near the top for great riding. you really cant beat 15+ miles of DH.

JRogers

12-13-2006, 11:50 AM

Well, the compactness of it was one thing. I'll compare it to diablo to make it more apparent; Where diablo is open, IE: jump, jump, jump, berm berm berm berm jump jump jump, trail trail drop, trail berm berm trail drop, etc.,

Highland is, drop, drop, drop, drop, ladder, drop, jump, drop. I felt like there was 0 trail in between. I like to ride DH and hit drops and jumps and berms while I'm at it, not hit drops and have to ride DH in between.

I hope that makes some sense. The stuff at Diablo also has some progression, ie, it's easy to hit when you're a noob. Highland is hit it or quit it. The owner is a little bit of a jerk from what I've seen. The lift is slow, but the bike racks are Bromont style. The parking lot is bare gravel with no shade for cooling off. The stunts are well built but they feel "forced," as though they were an afterthought rather than a part of the trail. There's 4 trails, it costs $35....

I might go back when they build more trails and I become a better stunt rider, but I'd rather learn to ride fast than ride roller coasters. It's only an hour and a half from boston, but I just wasn't feeling it like I do at Pkill or others.

Also, WRT distance, I ride close to where I live. I think PKill is awesome, there's a lot of variation and the experience is something else (camping). Diablo is a great mountain, and whiteface has potential. I would say that those three might have to be in the top 10.

Thanks for the thoughts. Doesn't really sound like my kind of place. I'm not a big fan of drops (I've done all the drops at Diablo, but I'm not a huge fan) or do-or-die features. That's one reason I like Diablo. Most of the jumps are tables and even the bigger drops there are hard to mess up. You can roll of the Road to Nowhere at walking speed or at full race pace and, unless you do something dumb, you are going to be fine.

I like Platty, but the steepness and shale are not totally my style. Plus (although some might say it adds character), the ghettoness of the facilities is an issue for it being really a top destination.

Bolton Valley is cool, but not really a top destination. It's not open enough days, the facilities are a bit ghetto and the lift is crazy slow. The trails aren't totally my style, but there are some really good ones. The two races I did there were good times. Oh, and as a side note, hiking up Bolton SUCKS. The Long Trail goes over it. No real view at the top, trail seems to go up forever...it was a rough day for me...

Sandwich

12-13-2006, 12:00 PM

That's fine if you disagree with me on highland. I thought the lodge was nice and the hill does have potential, I'd just like to see more regular trails and less XXXXTREMEEEEE garbage.

BOT, Bromont was killer, nice area, nice ammenities, and the trails are SWEET with fast and tight and steep and tech all in one. I highly recommend that place. Even the stunts were well thought out. The lift is the nicest and fastest I was on all year.

sriracha

12-13-2006, 12:11 PM

big sky, montana
jackson, wyoming

nmjb

12-13-2006, 12:54 PM

Big Sky is fun.

I'm surpried nobody has mentioned Angel Fire yet.

Durango has some awesome trail riding.

stgil888

12-13-2006, 01:11 PM

DHRFX Joe

12-13-2006, 01:30 PM

Hahahahahhahaahaha.....thats funny...

:rolleyes:

for those of you more open to different styles of riding, highland will have alot more to offer for 07, as 06 was just its first year running. there will be alot more DH specific, fast and flowly trails being cut in for next year, so there's something for everyone. we plan on catering to a larger crowd by adding more beginner trails as well.

anyone who cannot appreciate the things highland has done in its first season, by a handful of guys, paying out of their own pockets, you are in the sport for the wrong reason. just because it isnt your style doesnt mean its ****.

that being said, i like (in no particular order):

bromont
jiminy
diablo
highland

Lex

12-13-2006, 01:37 PM

:rolleyes:

for those of you more open to different styles of riding, highland will have alot more to offer for 07, as 06 was just its first year running. there will be alot more DH specific, fast and flowly trails being cut in for next year, so there's something for everyone. we plan on catering to a larger crowd by adding more beginner trails as well.

anyone who cannot appreciate the things highland has done in its first season, by a handful of guys, paying out of their own pockets, you are in the sport for the wrong reason. just because it isnt your style doesnt mean its ****.

Maybe I haven't read this thread carefully enough but I didn't see anyone saying it was ****. Just that it isn't their style. I was totally pumped for Highland to open but ended up not going at all this year because it isn't my style. Once they add some normal downhill trails I'll probably be there regularly. Different strokes for different folks.

DHRFX Joe

12-13-2006, 01:39 PM

In response to supporting highland:
Hahahahahhahaahaha.....thats funny...

and

yeah, highland was the worst place I rode in 2006.

i was refering to those.

Lex

12-13-2006, 01:47 PM

In response to supporting highland:

and

i was refering to those.

Well to be honest I just saw those comments as people expressing their opinions about the mountain. After reading their reasons for not liking it, I was glad I didn't get there this year. It seems to me that this site is a tool people use to get information and I find that sort of thing useful as long as they explain why.

I think it's great that Highland is another choice for riding in New England and my hat is off those who have put in all of that time, effort and money. I also thing people need to have a thicker skin when it comes to criticism of their favorite local places. Years ago Plattekill could do no wrong and then it was Diablo. Every place has it's positives and negatives.

Niq1

12-13-2006, 01:51 PM

Back to topic-
here's a few in no particular order
1. Santa Barbara
2. Sedona/Flagstaff Az for sweet freeride possibilities and undiscovered (by the masses) DH runs, provided you don't mind pedaling a bit.
3. Angel Fire
4. Moab
5. Bootleg for the sharp, sharp rocks and sweet DH runs.

jbogner

12-13-2006, 01:53 PM

Luckily the ridemonkey DH purist Highland-haters are in the vast minority. On our 5 1/2 hour drive back to NYC, all our crew could do was scheme on how to get back before the end of the season. We'll be taking a few trips up next season.

If I want big rock garden natural trails and some smooth drops/jumps, I'll hit Diablo. If I want loose shale and steep pucker action, Platty. If I want superbly built Whistler- and North-Shore-style tech trails that I'm non-stop stoked to ride, Highland.

Add in Jiminy Peak, Whiteface, Bolton Valley, Mt. Snow, Killington, Attitash, plus all the shuttle spots, and, well, it's good to live in the Northeast...

DHRFX Joe

12-13-2006, 01:55 PM

I also thing people need to have a thicker skin when it comes to criticism of their favorite local places.

i agree, its just hard to hold back when you spent 2 years helping build it;)

i agree highland isnt for everyone, but its a blast so i will continue to go. when i'm feeling huckerish, i'll go to highland or diablo; when i feel pinnerish, i'll go to bolton or jiminy.:monkeydance:

OGRipper

12-13-2006, 02:00 PM

Riding the Downieville Classic DH race course on a DH bike is over-rated. Riding in the Downieville area on a 5 or 6 inch-travel beefy trail bike can not be over-rated, the good stuff is that good.

A.P

12-13-2006, 04:02 PM

In response to supporting highland:

and

i was refering to those.

Not so much hating on highland, but to claim that highland is "one of the best places to ride in America" is a perposterous claim. Their race they had was awesome, and I do agree they have the potential to be a great mountain (in the right hands, that is).

Yes, riding skinnies isnt my style, but my comment wasnt about my opinion of the mountain, it was about claiming that a hill with three ~2 minute trails on it is one of the best riding destinations in America is laughable when you consider the vastness of this country. Ive ridden downhill and XC from colorado, utah, west virginia, canada and many other places, so maybe I am a bit bias, but I think the whole local pride thing may have gone too far in that claim.

DHRFX Joe

12-13-2006, 04:06 PM

agreed adam, but unfortunately not all of us have had the opportunity to ride all over the country, so we voice what we feel are the best places to ride in our area, aka NE, and i certainly see highland on that list. definately not top 10 in the country, i agree with you 100%. in fact, my favorite mtn isnt even in the US (bromont).:bonk:

A.P

12-13-2006, 04:30 PM

my favorite mtn isnt even in the US (bromont).:bonk:

I agree with you on that. Yay for 90 dollar season passes, no drinking age and only an hour from school:clapping:

blue

12-13-2006, 04:52 PM

Not too much mention about what's going on up there. I know there's riding in CO, NM and some in Utah, but the northern rockies seem relatively unexplored bike-wise.

Southern Utah has a bit of DH/FR stuff, but northern is pretty bare for the potential it has. 6/8 of the SLC/PC area resorts run bikes up, but only two have riding I'd call "DH" (Deer Valley and Sundance...Deer Valley has a few trails, Sundance has a single DH run). I'd attribute the lack of DH to the long ski season and lack of revenue potential.

There's a few other local shuttle spots (Empire, B, Moose, Squaw), but nothing mind-blowing.

If you're into XC/trailriding, no. Utah is heaven...

Bearmntpicnic

12-13-2006, 05:03 PM

-Massanutten Va has one of the best dowhill tracks around.... to bad they only have it open for one race a year that track is amazing.
-Snowshoe because they have an awesome race series great people and a great mountain.

nmjb

12-13-2006, 05:20 PM

What's the riding scene like in Montana and Wyoming. Not too much mention about what's going on up there. I know there's riding in CO, NM and some in Utah, but the northern rockies seem relatively unexplored bike-wise.

I don't know about Wyoming, but there is some decent riding in Montana, like most places everyone has their secret Dh trail/spot. Big Sky Resort is the only lift accessed riding(that I know of), and it's good. Silver Resort (in Idaho) and Fernie are both close to Montana.

After moving to Montana from NM, I'd say the DH scene/riding is better in NM/CO.

Kornphlake

12-13-2006, 05:27 PM

Southern Utah has a bit of DH/FR stuff, but northern is pretty bare for the potential it has. 6/8 of the SLC/PC area resorts run bikes up, but only two have riding I'd call "DH" (Deer Valley and Sundance...Deer Valley has a few trails, Sundance has a single DH run). I'd attribute the lack of DH to the long ski season and lack of revenue potential.

There's a few other local shuttle spots (Empire, B, Moose, Squaw), but nothing mind-blowing.

If you're into XC/trailriding, no. Utah is heaven...

That's about what I was going to say about Utah, I thought Moab was overrated and Gooseberry Mesa is underrated, I rode Moab on a FR bike and Gooseberry on an XC bike though, it could have had a lot to do with the bike. I really liked the abundance and easy access to smooth endless singletrack in Utah, getting at a good downhill is near impossible without a shuttle vehicle.

For super technical singletrack SD county is nice, Noble Canyon is a great ride, it can be a little boring on a DH bike but overall it's technical enough to keep you on your toes. Anderson is a tough trail to ride because it's so loose but when you get to one of the fun sections you can't wipe the goofy smile off your face until well after you get past the not so fun sections.

AlmostHeaven

12-13-2006, 05:55 PM

-Massanutten Va has one of the best dowhill tracks around.... to bad they only have it open for one race a year that track is amazing.

huh? hahaha, it is fun, entertaining and fast but by no means one of the best around. maybe the best around a 5-mile radius of Massanutten.

have to agree with you on Snowshoe WV, though; THE best riding in the southeast.

if you are into XC riding, i'd recommend checking into Douthat State Park outside of Clifton Forge, VA. 40+ miles of pristine singletrack.

also, not sure if it occured to anyone else, but is there much of a point to name places that aren't open to the public or at "undisclosed locations"? seems like a waste of breath to me...have you ever been appoved for a loan and then not allowed to know how much you're getting?

ChrisKring

12-13-2006, 07:58 PM

Here is my top 10 places that I have ridden:

1) Whistler
2) Windrock
3) Diablo
4) Jackson, WY (The trail off the pass and the trail that starts at the base of Snow King and drops off the back side.)
5) Sun Peaks (this place has crasy number of trails. Just stay away from the master's course)
6) Plattekill (need a faster lift)
7) Bootleg
8) Bromont
9) Snowshoe
10) Moab (any trail that can be shuttled is good)

Beast

12-13-2006, 09:20 PM

exit 38 (local spot)

I had sooo much fun there last summer. :shocked:

bcd

12-13-2006, 09:41 PM

sante fe New mexico

paved shuttle 2800' aspen to cactus DH

then
http://www.joshmcguckin.com/issue1/images/lisa2_big.jpg

http://www.joshmcguckin.com/issue1/lisamyklak.html

Bearmntpicnic

12-13-2006, 10:00 PM

Balllin

Jim Mac

12-14-2006, 07:25 AM

Add in Jiminy Peak, Whiteface, Bolton Valley, Mt. Snow, Killington, Attitash, plus all the shuttle spots, and, well, it's good to live in the Northeast...

Couldn't agree more! I do want to check out Killington now that they've stepped up their trail building.

Frorider1

12-14-2006, 07:36 AM

HIGHLANSDS BOLTON ATTITAASH KILLINGTON BURK!!! there are so many here in the North East..

bizutch

12-14-2006, 09:19 AM

My Top 10:
Mount Snow - Just can't beat high speed boulders and the "Ledges". 1998 Course...best evuh
SNOWSHOE - Bring back the Wild Zone..so many lines
DIABLO - Dominion to Alpine and the gondola I love so....
WINDOCK - Everyone who's ridden it....blown away. And they come back for more!!
WOLF LAUREL - Nothing like riding a 700ft vertical Mtn on a 60 degreepitch w/ not 1 single rock and the fastest quad lift...20 plus runs no prob!!!
Deer Valley DH - Us East Coasters giggle at all that dust and dry rock...
Northstar - even though I've never set foot on it....
SKYLINE TRAIL-Maui, Hawaii I'm comin' baby....
Plattekill - "The rocks are gainin' on me dude..."
Every DH I've never ridden in Colorado - It's not fair I tell ya!!!

stgil888

12-14-2006, 09:23 AM

Seems to me like there's a higher concentration of mountains open to riding in the N.E. They also seem to be more developed. But, as is the case with skiing/snowboarding, can they really compete with the bigger mountains of the west?

Jim Mac

12-14-2006, 11:30 AM

My Top 10:
Plattekill - "The rocks are gainin' on me dude..."

I laughed at loud at work on that one! So true!

Zark

12-14-2006, 11:47 AM

-Santa Barbara, CA. I love my local trails, total blast. Rocks, piled on rocks, next to a cliff, for 20 arm-pumping minutes
-Downieville, CA. Break out the trailbike and do a 15 mile DH topping out around 40 MPH....you could say its fun ;)
-Moab, UT. Porcupine was the only trail I got to ride there and it ruled.
-Northstar, CA. Rocks, dust and speed. So great.

Sandwich

12-14-2006, 12:00 PM

Whiteface is the only hill I've been on where I got forearm pump, upper arm pump, and thigh pump on the same run.

I just wanted to mention that, cause I think it's pretty rad.

blue

12-14-2006, 05:42 PM

Can they really compete with the bigger mountains of the west?

Yes. Ski season in the East is much shorter than the West, not to mention a host of other variables not entirely dependent on mountain location.

stgil888

12-14-2006, 05:48 PM

Ski season in the East is much shorter than the West

That's true, but Eastern 'mountains' are much gentler and have less vertical drop, for the most part. As well, riding on the East coast in the summer is brutally hot/humid.

blue

12-14-2006, 06:18 PM

True, but you'd have to convince many resorts here that making a concentrated effort on DH riding for 3-4 months out of the year would make financial sense. On the East Coast and in places like Whistler it makes much more sense because you can stay open for six or more months, even though revenue is down.

The LC/BC resorts here have snow from November to mid-July. Tack on 2-3 weeks to each end for preparation and it's difficult to convince anyone that doing DH is a good idea, especially when much of their construction is going on in that limited amount of snowless time. The only reason many resorts here open up for bikes is because the XC trails were already there, and require little maintenance.

intensified

12-14-2006, 06:21 PM

Cool thread,,aside from smacktalking towards Hland (tough crowd,,give time, they just opened and are owned by a MTNBiker that is gung ho and very cool in my book..)
Anyways
- Best chairlift - Silverton- I made it there when they had one trail years back and was fun but the lift was epic...
-(Best gondola ,free) & a Trail @ Telluride,,wow,, it took me all day to find one pirate trail and it was killer,,to bad they clamped down on bikes
-best views- for me Mammoth- nothing like the east coast..long runs!!
-best race trail- Durango- very cool..
-best shuttle- something near Mammoth- long cruz-could have done it with a trail bike,ez but fun..
-on the east- If you are here to ride,,PLATTY, it is the spot.. I am don't get to Mtn. Creek much,,if it is platty or MC,Platty always wins.
-Hland is a short trip for me,,it is nice to not be gone all weekend and just get a great day of ridin in and get home
-mt snow is great for racing..

homepiece

12-15-2006, 08:31 AM

Snowshoe, Diablo, Keystone, Windrock, Ray's

John M

12-15-2006, 10:45 AM

Snowshoe
Windrock
Bromount
Plattikill
Keystone
Durango
Diablo
Vail

Stiff

12-15-2006, 03:44 PM

Exactly why long runs with medicore trail quality are just as good as short runs with top trail quality.

Why are there no megavalanche type events in the US??? Except perhaps the Downieville thing. The US West has loads of 45+ minute descents.

Whiteface has loads of potential.

Whiteface is the only hill I've been on where I got forearm pump, upper arm pump, and thigh pump on the same run.

I just wanted to mention that, cause I think it's pretty rad.

MOSH1DH

12-15-2006, 07:37 PM

only can say where I have been
bootleg canyon
moab
zion in Utah private property.

Inclag

12-15-2006, 08:08 PM

Whiteface is the only hill I've been on where I got forearm pump, upper arm pump, and thigh pump on the same run.

I just wanted to mention that, cause I think it's pretty rad.

Agreed. My hands hurt so much that I couldn't retract my fingers off of my brakes. So fast. I've got to make it up there more than once next year.

ito

12-15-2006, 08:17 PM

I have yet to ride any DH further east than CO, but the XC riding on the East Coast kicks ass...different, but amazing all the same.

My top spots:
Santa Barbara, CA
Durango, CO
Mammoth Mt, CA (didn't ride DH there, but the XC course gave a pretty good intro to what they had there)
CO along I-80 through Fruita and Boulder. Only spent 6 days there or so, wish it could have been more. The trails amazed me. I'll be back.

East Coast this spring though for sure.

The Ito

ZHendo

12-16-2006, 03:06 PM

i really need to find some new spots to ride. i live in the bay area of california, so i've got the trails of the oakland hills like 20 minutes from my house, but other than that, the only spots really worth going are up in the sierras. i ride downieville a lot, which is so much fun, but n* is pretty nice too. i have yet to hit mammoth or santa barbara, but they are on my list. one of the great spots to ride that i still have to hit is pacifica, the trails look fantastic. if you're up for a 2 hour-ish drive from the bay area, there are tons of trail in santa cruz that are just amazing. that is also one of my favorite spots, the only problem is how hidden most of the stuff is. the demonstration forest in nisene marks park has some great legal trails, but almost all of the other decent riding is illegal. there had been some great ladder networks in the sc mountains back a couple years, but they have since been almost entirely destroyed. there is one really great spot, the back of the ucsc campus, but most of that stuff is very hidden and the local shops are really protective of the locations, so you should definately try and ride with someone that knows the area your first time down there. there are some road gaps, sick doubles and lush singletrack down in the ucsc area that are just amazing, definately worth trying to find.

dhbuilder

12-17-2006, 06:22 PM

Snowshoe
Windrock
Bromount
Plattikill
Keystone
Durango
Diablo
Vail

you put the shoe first because that's the only place you have even half a chance of beating me down the mt. :)

you young guys crack me up.

SinatorJ

12-17-2006, 07:32 PM

you put the shoe first because that's the only place you have even half a chance of beating me down the mt. :)

you young guys crack me up.
I dono old man, come off the rock and you couldget served. We got somthin new for ya out in AZ. Give me a call, got some news for ya...

dhbuilder

12-18-2006, 11:30 AM

I dono old man, come off the rock and you couldget served. We got somthin new for ya out in AZ. Give me a call, got some news for ya...

i'll be more than happy to come down off the rock.
when i'm ready for easier trails.:)

problem is.
i've got too much of a good thing going as far as access to new terrain is concerned.
and i want to get the majority of it developed here in the next few years before i get to old and decrepit to enjoy it to it's fullest.
you're always welcome to come back home and check out the goods.
it's so much different from when you were here last.

good to hear from you.
p.m. me your ph.#.
i destroyed a cell phone a few months ago and lost all the numbers in it.
yours was one of them.