Destination: Snowshoe
Almost heaven, West Virginia. Pocahontas County, Birthplace of Rivers.
By Geofrey Branco
My first trip to Snowshoe Mountain, located on Cheat Mountain in Pocahontas County WV, was at the end of 2019, when I went to ski with a friend. I had so much fun that I found myself returning the next winter to volunteer with the resort’s ski patrol and then followed up with a trip the summer of 2021 to volunteer with the bike patrol. That same year was the second time that Snowshoe hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. As a bike patrol volunteer I had a chance to witness the pros riding some of the same trails I was partoling. Since then, I have spent the last two years splitting my off time between riding and helping build and maintain trails in Prince William County, Virginia and biking or skiing in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
My family and I were enjoying the outings to Snowshoe so much that we ended up renting a place close to the resort. Earlier this year we purchased a house near the mountain which we now call our second home.
In the spring and summer I spend most of my time riding in the Snowshoe Mountain and bike park, a certified IMBA ride center. The trails offer plenty of variety to keep myself challenged and provide ample opportunities for working on and improving cornering, navigating rock gardens, and jumping. I often find myself testing my skills against some of the same rock and root lined trails I first saw the pros compete on.
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Backcountry Mountain Biking
I have only scratched the surface of the backcountry trails in the surrounding areas
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Family Affair
My daughter Gwen is applying the skills she’s learning at JMU on the slopes and has joined me on the Ski and MTB Patrol.
In addition to the downhill bike park trails, there are some great backcountry trails on the Snowshoe property and in the neighboring national forest. From the resort village, I can pedal to any of the downhill park trails, or to a trailhead to access a handful of backcountry trails that connect to the old town of Spruce and beyond. About an hour drive north is a newer machine built trail system at the Mower Basin, with access to camping sites. The local IMBA chapter, Pocahontas Trails (PocaTrails), hosts the Slatyfork Enduro at the Tea Creek trail system on the Gauley Mountain.
This summer I started exploring some of the trails outside the bike park on my own, with friends and with other locals. Thus far, I have only scratched the surface of the backcountry trails in the surrounding areas and I’m looking forward to exploring more along the region, including the new Monday Lick trails being built by a group of Pocahontas County stakeholders including, among others, the Forest Service, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Pocahontas Trails, and WV University.
This will be our first full winter in our new home and we’re looking forward to everything that ski season will bring with it. My oldest daughter, currently attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, will also be joining me on ski patrol duties and will be using the skills she has been learning at school to help assist skiers on the mountain. When the snow melt begins, and spring comes around, the ski resort will begin its transformation into a mountain bike downhill destination, one that offers enough variety to satisfy cyclists of all abilities, from beginners to world class downhill racing athletes.
If you are planning a trip to the resort or Pocahontas County you won’t be disappointed. There is a ton to do both in summer and winter. Snowshoe hosts a variety of events including music festivals, regional mountain bike races and other events. This past year Snowshoe hosted a Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race and the UCI World Mountain Bike World Series. UCI athletes competed in what was one of the most difficult courses of the world Cup series.
When you do come to Snowshoe to ski or bike keep a look out for me, chances are you’ll spot me around the mountain enjoying everything the resort and area has to offer.