Dan Casey

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Have I got a mountain bike ride for you.

Feel like the New River Trail is too tame? You want to get way out there, where deer crash through the woods, where you may catch a glimpse of a peacock or three, and there's an outside chance you'll see a bear? Do you dig single track trails that are foot wide, badly rutted in spots, and eroded where they're crossed by roots?

The Gauntlet offers all of these plus a speedy, bone-jarring descent down Brushy Mountain near Carvins Cove Reservoir. The trail is already famous among area mountain bikers, who use odd surf terms like "burley" and "gnarly" to describe it.

Be forewarned, this ride is not for the faint of heart or weak of spine. You will climb about three miles on a fire road (a 1,000- foot gain in elevation) before you even begin going down. But the uphill is worth it. You will brag about this downhill ride for months to come, and marvel that you finished without breaking you neck.

I've tested out two mountain bike novices on this ride - one of them was a smoker. Both made it and swear they're going back for more.

Essential information

The distance is roughly 15 miles. On a 10 point scale of difficulty, this ride is a 9.5. Plan on it taking 3-1/2 hours including rest breaks. You absolutely need a mountain bike outfitted with sturdy rims and knobby tires (a hybrid won't work because its rims are too delicate). You'll be more comfortable if your bike has front shock absorbers, but they aren't absolutely necessary.

I would suggest you carry at least two water bottles, because you'll get thirsty riding up that mountain. You must have sunglasses - the Gauntlet is very narrow, and you don't want to get a twig stuck in your eye. You may also want to bring a light snack. There are a number of good picnicking places on Brushy Mountain.

You'll be riding on trails through the Carvins Cove watershed on land owned by the city of Roanoke. There are "No "Trespassing" signs as you enter the fire road. Paradoxically, there is also a sign that says, "Not recommended for bicycles or horses. Ride at your own risk."

Getting there from Roanoke

I usually start this ride at Loch Haven Lake, a private swim club about 10 miles outside Roanoke off Loch Haven Drive in Roanoke County (see map). If you're not a member, $4 per person will let you park your car safely there and swim to your heart's content after the ride.

If it's a hot day, you'll want to do this, so bring your swim suit. You also may want to bring a cooler full of drinks and leave them in the car for after the ride.

If you don't want to park at Loch Haven, take Route 419 to Route 311 west. As soon as you make the turn onto 311, make your first right on Dutch Oven Road and the next right on Timberview. Take this about 3.5 miles where it dead ends at a cul-de-sac. There are signs that say no parking here, but I've never known anyone who has been towed.

The route

The ride is on and off-road. If you're leaving from Loch Haven, go out the back entrance to Timberview and make a left. If you're leaving from the cul-de-sac at the end of Timberview, simply backtrack. Follow Timberview until you see can see the intersection of Route 419 and Route 311, then bear right on Dutch Oven Road. It parallels 311 and eventually leads you on to it.

Follow 311 for about 1.5 miles. Take a right on Carvins Cove Road. Follow it to an intersection where you'll see stone gates at the entrance of the community of Bennett Springs, and take another right. This will lead you to the back entrance of Carvins Cove.

About 100 feet after the road turns to gravel is a fire road that goes up the mountain. There's a wire across the road here, and about 200 feet up it is a large metal gate. Go around both and follow the road up the mountain. There are only a couple really steep stretches on the fire road. Go all the way up to the top, where the road will follow the spine of Brushy Mountain. The fire road will head down for about a half-mile, then you'll climb a short distance up again.

The Gauntlet is on the left after the second rise. Its entrance is between two large trees both of which have large blotches of faded orange paint. A tiny maple right at the trail entrance has also been marked with the paint. Take a left down the trail and get ready to do some serious braking on the way down. At the bottom you'll hit a stream (or if the weather is really dry, like it has been recently, a wide stream bed. Take a right here on Timberview Trail (if you stay on The Gauntlet, it leads you a short distance to Carvins Cove, which will tell you that you've missed the right turn on Timberview Trail). It runs about two miles back to the cul- de-sac on Timberview Road. The back entrance to Loch Haven is about a 1.5 miles down the road.

Dan Casey | The Roanoke Times

Chip Cressman came from his Smith Mountain Lake home to cross this stream.

Related

Map

• Map of the Gauntlet

Notes

This is what serious mountain bikers call a "technical" trail - narrow, rutted, rocky, and full of hazards. For your first time, take it slow. It's best to do this ride with a friend, so there is someone to go for help if somebody gets hurt. There is no water up on the mountain, but there's one place to some just before you enter Carvins Cove. On the left at the end of the paved road is a small catch-and-release trout pound called Roberts' Pay Pond. Around the back of a large shed there is a sink with potable water. I strongly suggest you fill up here before you head up the mountain.