2019 Escarpement Escape RRR

Escarpment Escape 2019 Rough Road Ride
Pisgah National Forest, NC
October 28-29, 2019

es·carp·ment ??skärpm?nt/
noun: a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.

The Rough Road Riders were last here in 2015, and while there have been some changes since then, imagine standing on the eastern edge of North America some 400 million years ago. You’re in the sands of a shallow sea, volcanoes at your back, Africa looming in the distance—welcome to the Appalachians. The impending continental collision will take the ground you’re on and raise it to Rocky Mountain heights in a line stretching from Newfoundland to, technically, Morocco. The impact, however, is seen across the globe.

“Building high mountains through continent-continent collision changes Earth’s climate,” explains Alexa Sedlacek, Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Iowa. “Parts of the Appalachians weathered so quickly a million-year glacial period ensued” as their erosion removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and cooled the climate. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/national-parks/ancient-history-time-geologic-trip

Spend 2 days exploring the Linville Gorge and the forty-nine thousand acre Wilson's Creek Wilderness areas in the Pisgah National Forest (http://www.ncnatural.com/NCUSFS/Pisgah/grandfather.html), rising from the valley floor at 2,400 feet to 4,354 feet atop the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many miles of Easy Rider (Big Bike Friendly) and the optional Rough Rider 34 miles of single-track ORV on Brown Mountain ($5/day permit required) are available in the area.

Check out the fun we had at the 2015 Escarpment Escape photo archive https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-stqDD.

Event Manager:
Patrick Simmons

Assistant Event Manager:
Andy Simons

Registration

List of Participants

Lodging

MTF Refund Policy

Ride Disclaimer & Waiver

Registration will open
March 01, 2019

Schedule

Date Event

Sunday
  October 27 Riders arrive at The Inn at Linville Falls

Monday
  October 28 Rough Road Riding Day 1

Tuesday
  October 29 Rough Road Riding Day 2

Wednesday
  October 30 Depart for home....

Eats

The Inn at Linville Falls now serves a hot breakfast for lodgers (included in the room cost) as well as a special meal (for a nominal fee) on Monday night. Non-lodgers can also partake of these meals for a small fee.

Lunches may happen or not, depends on where you are when you get hungry and what's in the saddlebags. Recommend you carry protein bars, GORP, etc. (or, as Uncle Jimmy says, “Vienna Sausages, cheese and sardines”). If in the wilderness, sit a spell on the porch and speak with Bruce Gray (proprietor and story teller) at Betsey's Ole Country Store located at the intersection of Edgemont and Brown Mountain Beach Roads, http://www.betseysolecountrystore.com/. Also the Convenience Store at 4295 Collettsville Road, serves excellent burgers and a great bologna sammich! Nice folks and friendly dawgs too.

Sunday, October 27—Motorcycle Mike The Man, The Legend and Airhead will host a “Welcoming Reception” beginning at 6:00 PM in the lounge at the Inn at Linville Falls. Expect the Legend to serve up some more of those tasty imported hot dawgs and more--but BYOB and knoshing materials. This will be a good opportunity to meet everyone, catch-up with what's new, plan rides, tell lies, kick tires and try out the new rocking chairs.

Monday, October 28—The Inn @ Linville Falls will serve an evening meal for ride participants and others—but you must sign up (so we know for how many to cook) @ the Inn's front desk. Please remember to do so at the gala welcoming reception.

Famous Louise's Rockhouse Restaurant is nearby in downtown Linville Falls, https://www.blueridgetravelers.com/location/famous-louises-rock-house-restaurant/115/, good grub no matter which county you sit in, open 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, (828) 765-2702.

For other restaurant options, visit nearby Linville, Blowing Rock, Newland, Marion or Morganton all of which have a plethora of eats ranging from 'Q to fine dining choices.

The Roads
Changes in elevation means lots of curves. While we will ride some pavement, this ride is focused on avoiding as much of it as possible. Expect a variety of surfaces and lots of unpaved state and national forest service roads. Examine the maps and then fill your Escarpment Escape 2019 rides with Ms, Vs, Ws and maybe some Xs.

The Rides

Notes for Riders

For the old school (and for when you lose satellite connections or when Garmin does not have the road in its database) a paper map of the area will be provided @ the welcoming reception. Because we will essentially be riding inside a box, if you should get lost and all else fails, just continue riding whatever road you are on and you will eventually reach civilization somewhere.

Words for the Wise: No fuel is available inside the Wilson's Creek Wilderness, so fill up before you go inside. Every time. Unless posted by signage, all roads in the Pisgah National Forest are public and have two-way traffic, so do not out-ride your sight distance.

GPS Files

GPS route and track files of the area are attached (2019 Escarpment Escape v2.gpx).

NOTE: To download the files, right click on the link above, and select "Save target As". For the files ending in ".gpx" your web browser may try to rename the file to ".xml". If this happens, rename the file to the ".gpx" name and in the "save as type:" box, select "All files (*.*)" then click on "Save".

Waterfalls: In addition to the 90' tall Linville Falls, there are at least a dozen more more to visit while in the area.

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/wilson_creek1.htm

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/brp1.htm

Perhaps one evening you will be able to view the famous Brown Mountain Lights, see http://www.brownmountainlights.com/.

A great place to view the lights or to take in the wonders of Linville Gorge and Table Rock Mountain is from Wiseman's View. Old NC Highway 105 is on your route map and Wiseman's View is a short walk (much over pavement) from the gravel road.

Area Maps:

National Geographic number 779, Linville Gorge/Mount Mitchell Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina USA. Available at http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/category/maps/travel-and-hiking-maps?categoryLevelId=A106

The Dirty Dozen WNC Dual Sport Ride Map Series: Linville/Wilson Creek Tour, available at http://www.blackdome.com/productdetails.aspx?id=117

Get Yer Ya Yas Out at Brown Mountain Off Highway Vehicle Trails
1610 Brown Mountain Beach Road, Morganton (828) 257-4200 A trail pass is required to ride the 34 miles of single track trails. Fees are $5/day or $30 for a season pass. Contact Grandfather Ranger District at 828-652-2144 for a list of vendors. Passes must be prominently displayed on vehicle at all times while on the trails. http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/north_carolina_09477/ride_3f30.htm

Passes can be purchased from local vendors such as at the Marathon Gas Station across from the post office in Jonas Ridge on NC highway 181, at the Convenience Store at the intersection of NC highway 181 and Brown Mountain Beach Road, or in Collettsville.

Rider Safety and Responsibilities
In addition to requiring the use of a DOT approved helmet on all MTF rides, the MTF RRR Committee strongly encourages the use of Motorcycle specific protective clothing and footwear while participating in any off road event. ATGATT reduces the severity of injuries in an accident and we want every participant in our events to be as safe as possible.
The MTF RRR Committee strongly encourages each participant in our events to self assess their riding style, interests, need for breaks and riding skill level and to keep that assessment in mind when choosing a riding partner or small group (2-4 riders) to ride with at our events. Sharing the road with someone of similar interests and riding style not only makes the ride more enjoyable for you, but safer for everyone.

The third part of safety when riding in remote areas is knowing where you are and how to get out. For this reason each rider should have a GPS device with the routes loaded and be familiar with it's operation and use. Being lost in a maze of endless gravel and dirt roads as darkness descends is a safety issue both for yourself and those who will have to search for you.

Lodging

Riders are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements.

The Inn at Linville Falls
We have reserved all rooms @ The Inn At Linville Falls, linvillefallsmountainclub.com/inn Call Melanie or Judy at 828.756.7001 to make reservations.

Update: Last we heard (8/28/19) the Inn was sold out! Recommend you call anyway as there could be changes in reservations. Now under new ownership the Inn is adding amenities daily and will serve a dinner Monday night and hot breakfasts both for lodgers as well as others who wish to join the group for these meals. Also expect the new outdoor fire pit beside the South Fork of the Catawba River to become the scene for story telling and more.

Nearby Overflow Lodging

Linville Falls Lodge and Cottages

Website: http://www.linvillefallslodge.com/

Telephone: (828) 765-2658

Parkview Lodge and Cabins

Website: http://parkviewlodgeandcabins.com

Telephone:(828) 765-4787

Linville Falls Trailer Lodge and Campground

Website: http://www.linvillefalls.com/

Telephone:(828) 765-2681

RVs and Camping

On the Hill:

Linville Falls Campground, RV Park and Cabins

717 Gurney Franklin Road

Website: http://www.linvillefalls.com/

Telephone: (828) 765-2681

Bear Den Mountain Resort & Campground

600 Bear Den Mountain Road

Website: https://www.beardenmountainresort.com/

Telephone: (828) 765-2888

In the Valley:

Buck Creek RV Park

2576 Toms Creek Road, Marion NC

Website: http://buckcreekrvparknc.com/

Telephone: (828) 725-4888

The MTF reserves the right to limit participation for any reason.

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Pisgah National Forest, NC October 28-29, 2019

Riders are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements.

The Inn at Linville Falls

Nearby Overflow Lodging

RVs and Camping

The MTF reserves the right to limit participation for any reason.

Pisgah National Forest, NC
October 28-29, 2019