Blue Ridge Outdoors...

AN ‘EPIC’ WEST VIRGINIA WEEKEND ON WHEELS AND TRAIN TRACKS

West Virginia’s Pocahontas County offers some of the region’s best mountain biking and the addition of the IMBA Epic Trail makes it better than ever. It’s one of only six trails in the nation designated by the IMBA as ‘Epic’ and it makes for yet another reason to throw the bikes on the rack and head to Pocahontas County.

Here at Blue Ridge Outdoors, our ‘romantic’ trip concept is the combination of a great outdoors adventure for two, followed by some sort of ‘luxurious’ reward (like a great meal, an outdoors adventure without exertion, or a stay at a quaint B&B). We’ve found all of this and more over in West, by God, Virginia. For fit couples in search of a BRO-style weekend on wheels (and train tracks), the Epic Trail, combined with a stay at Elk River Touring Center and an evening on the Cass Scenic Railroad dinner train, makes for our kind of getaway for groups of two (and only two).

The flat Greenbrier River Trail this ain’t. The 24-mile IMBA Epic Trail lives up to its name and those who complete it will feel epic. It’s a loop trail out of Slatyfork (making Elk River the perfect base), but it’s no simple circle.

Couples who come to conquer this trail should expect more than 5,000 feet of climbing, super-hard single-track, technical maneuvers, and some inevitable walking. Whether this is a first weekend away or an anniversary to celebrate the fitness of your marriage, this ride may well test your relationship as much as your lungs.

Elk River’s well-known Gil Willis highly recommends talking to him or someone else at Elk River before planning an Epic Trail ride. In addition to qualifying your quads, the folks at Elk River want to make sure there’s room at the inn (they often have a two-night minimum during the busy summer riding season).

Given this, as well as Cass’s Dinner Train schedule, the best bet for planning your weekend of romance on the bikes and rails would be to head over to Elk River Friday night. They offer a variety of rooms (and really cool cabins), as well a popular restaurant offering creative casual cuisine and some ever-so-tasty microbrews.

After a night resting up for the next day’s ride, the Epic Trail awaits. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The ride can range from 3 to 5 hours, depending on your fitness, skill with knobby tires, and the state of your relationship. Either way, you’ll definitely be ready for transportation that’s not self-propelled. That’s where the Cass Scenic Railroad Dinner Train comes into play for your weekend away.

If you’re still speaking at this point, the Dinner Train is quite simply a classic West Virginia mountain experience. What was once a bustling lumber town and train trip is now a huge hit with historic- and outdoors-oriented visitors.

The evening can start as early as 4pm, with a free tour of the Historical Museum and time to roam around the quaint town (once a booming lumber town). There’s a Cass Showcase presentation at 4:30pm, with the actual train departure at 5:30pm (just in case you’re a little late leaving Elk River’s hot tub).

After passing through some incredible mountain scenery and gaining more than 925 feet in elevation (it’s much easier by train), the arrival at Whittaker Station means it’s time for dinner. This barbeque dinner typically includes hickory-smoke barbequed pork, corn on the cob, baked beans, corn bread, and freshly baked desserts. It’s served outdoors to the accompaniment of live bluegrass music.

At 8pm, the train departs for Cass Depot and arrives about 8:30pm. It’s a quick drive back to Elk River for some sleep or a bit more hot tub time. If you’re up to it, they can recommend lots more (and easier) rides for Sunday morning before heading back to civilization. If your relationship can survive it, what could be more romantic than this ‘epic’ weekend, brought to you by BRO.

The cost of the Cass Scenic Railroad Dinner Train is $25 for adults (it’s 15 bucks for those under 12, but leave the kids back home for this weekend). Dates this year are June 24, every Saturday in July and August, and September 2, 3, 16, and 30. Call (304) 456-4300, (800) CALL WVA, or visit www.neumedia.net/~cassrr/. Contact Elk River Touring Center at (304) 572-3771 or visit www.ertc.com (make reservations as soon as possible). If they’re full, Snowshoe Mountain is another perfect place to stay (they actually provide the food and entertainment for the Dinner Train).

To get to Slatyfork, most BRO readers will make their way to Staunton and then take US 250 out of Staunton heading west. Resist the urge to take US 250 all the way to West Virginia’s US 219 (we’re talking seriously winding mountain driving). Instead, take VA 42 just outside of Staunton, which joins VA 39 in Goshen and runs all the way to Marlinton (south of Slatyfork and Elk River). For Saturday night, Cass is about a half-hour from there.