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scubasteven74
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Emerald Outback - Boone
07/20/15 at 5:44pm
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Does anyone have any experience with the "Emerald Outback" area on the backside of Beech Mountain, in Boone?  I am headed up to Boone in a few weeks, with the family, and thought it might be a good place to get a mid-week ride in.  Please let me know your thoughts and if there are other places close to Boone or Banner Elk worth checking out.  I am not a huge fan of technical riding, but love places like Sherman Branch.  Thoughts?
  
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Dirkdee
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Re: Emerald Outback - Boone
Reply #1 - 07/20/15 at 5:54pm
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Take a look at this thread... especially the last page, lots of good info:

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nonillogical
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Re: Emerald Outback - Boone
Reply #2 - 07/20/15 at 6:41pm
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If you say you're not a fan of technical riding I'd steer clear. I like it quite a bit (and of course there's the Beech Mtn gravity trails right there too) but it is a trail practically 80% composed of roots and rocks. A few nice overlooks along the way. 

I'm not familiar with a whole lot of other singletrack in boone but if the 45 minute drive down to Warrior Creek/OVT is feasible, that is probably more to your liking.
  
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TrillWill
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Re: Emerald Outback - Boone
Reply #3 - 07/23/15 at 2:14pm
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The trails have been reworked via grant $ with machines so they aren't all crazy rooty like they used to be.  Only 2 miles or so of the super rooty stuff is still there and about 5 more miles of machine built trail.  Don't get me wrong though, it's still technical!  The machine built sections have rock features incorporated into them to keep them fun.  Lets just say it ain't Sherman, and that's mainly because of the elevation.  

I rode some of the new outback trails this June and here is what I'll report on what I rode.  We rode Oz Forest Run to Southern Ridge to Chamberlin's Loop to West Bowl Connector and pedaled back to the resort.  

Oz Forest Run:  a mild rooty up hill to start out that leads to an awesome smooth machine cut descent with big rocks incorporated that you roll over.

Southern Ridge: Hell of a hard climb to the overlooks!  It's not the most vertical gain ever but I came no where close to cleaning it, and cleaning goat hill at USNWC and the climbs at RRT aren't a problem for me.  The overlooks are worth it though, you can only get those in the mountains!

Chamberlin's Loop:  meh, I can take it or leave it.  this is old school single track, not very rooty but pretty narrow and not ridden much.

West Bowl Connector:  It's a 500' descent with around 20 or so downhill switchbacks.  Nothing overly steep, intermediate rider friendly, all machine cut.  That being said you will have to pedal back to the resort and with take the lift back up or pedal back to your car.  If you end up doing it ask a local bike shop person (Headquarters Bike and Outdoor is in Banner Elk) how to get back to the resort.

I haven't ridden the other trails since they were re done so I can't really speak to their condition but if you rode out Oz Forest Run to Southern Ridge then you would take Northview to Jackalope's to get back to the trailhead.

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Rocky Knob Park in Boone is also a really good time!  

Like nonillogical said OVT and Warrior creek are really fun and flow, like Sherman on steroids.   
« Last Edit: 07/23/15 at 2:22pm by TrillWill »  
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Go-rilla
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Re: Emerald Outback - Boone
Reply #4 - 07/23/15 at 4:17pm
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These are a good - and much needed - addition to the single track in the High Country. With only Rocky Knob in Boone and the limited and 'not worthy' (in my opinion) stuff at Sugar - not much else.
But relatively short.

Other options within @ 1 hour:

-Wilson's Creek 'area' off Hwy 181. There's a BUNCH of riding here. But not something you can just park your car and go ride. You need knowledge of the area, a map, a shuttle (or strong heart and legs), and should ride with a buddy as it can be very rugged and remote.

-Iron Mountain in Damascus. There are a lot of options up there. Some can be ridden in as 'loops' from parking areas (Bear Tree Campground parking - Ride up Lum Trail to Iron Mountain Ridge, then at Shaw Gap, take Beartree back down to the parking area - Or go big and ride IMT all the way back to Damascus, after a couple of cold beers, pay one of the shuttle groups to haul you back to Bear Tree - it's on their way when shuttling people to top of the Creeper.)
There is whole network of trail above IMT (Skulls Gap area) and on the other side of IMT (these are where they hold their CC races)
All less than an hour from Boone.

-Warriors Creek is just over an hour away. But it has it's own 'groove' ("Sherman on steroids" for the most part. But they have added some nice technical options!) And if you combine Warriors, with Over Mountain, and Dark Mountain - you get a big day.


  
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