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Construction of Rocky Knob Bike Park Underway

Story by Eric Crews

The Rocky Knob Bike Park is currently under construction with the final grading of the road and parking lot scheduled for completion this week. The park, Watauga County's latest outdoor recreation facility, has been hailed by the outdoor adventure sports community in Boone for bringing a much needed mountain biking area to the county. Thus far, more than 2,000 feet of trail has been cleared, but the rocky terrain of the mountain has slowed progress. However, according to Eric Woolridge, senior planner of the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (WCTDA), completion of the first phase of the trail, a 2.6-mile loop, is still on track to be finished and ready for riding by October. The first loop was originally intended to be a beginner level loop, but the rocky nature of the terrain has made it difficult to totally groom all of the sections of the trail to a beginner's level.

“In terms of the property and the natural environment out there at Rocky Knob, the trail system is remarkable. It's going to be a very beautiful trail,” Woolridge said. “Our original intention was to create a beginner's trail, and in some ways we're achieving that and in other ways the land just isn't lending itself completely to that. Throughout the initial 2.6-mile trail we've maintained the 5 percent grade, but there are some areas that are a little rocky and might be challenging for a beginner trail. So we're trying to explore our options on ways to make the trail easier through those sections to make it easily accessible for all levels.”

Currently, Trail Dynamics, LLC, the trail design group responsible for designing and building the first phase of the trail system, is working with volunteer members of the Boone Area Cyclists to come up with ways to improve the rocky sections of the trail to make for a more beginner-friendly trail. Some of these options include bringing in additional stones to fill in the rocky sections or possibly building a raised wooden boardwalk over the area.

“It's possible that we'll import some type of stone just over those really rocky areas,” Woolridge said. “When the trail machine went over those areas it had to hammer all of the rocks it couldn't move, so it just created a whole crushed-rock trail bed. So it would be pretty rough for a beginner bike rider to maneuver over those rocks, but otherwise we're looking for it to be a completely natural trail.”

Despite the difficulties that have been encountered at the mountain, the volunteers are still optimistic and a large group has been showing up every Thursday to help out. Additionally, groups have been working on the mountain throughout the week when they can.

“This past Thursday, 20 or so volunteers came out to clear the corridor, finish the entrance trail and build stone crib walls,” Kristian Jackson, trail boss for the Boone Area Cyclists, wrote on the Rocky Knob blog. “We meet at 6:00 p.m. each Thursday—unless there is lightning, we will work in a light rain—and work for a couple hours. Tools are provided. If you are a seasoned trail builder, come on out and lead a crew. New to getting dirty? We’ll get you started. Come on out to put your mark on what will be a great bike park.”

Prior to the development of the 142-acre park, Watauga County had no public, legal mountain biking areas. According to Woolridge, the park should have nearly 10 miles of mountain biking trails when completed.

“Just show up out there on ‘Dirty Thursdays,’ that's the best way to lend a hand,” Woolridge said. “Or you can get in touch with Boone Area Cyclist's Trail Boss Kristian Jackson and get involved with the Boone Area Cyclists.”

To follow the progress of the development of Rocky Knob Bike Park, click to Kristian Jackson's ongoing blog about the trail building process at www.rockyknob.wordpress.com. To see a regularly updated photographic presentation of the ongoing action on the mountain, visit Lynn Willis' photography site by clicking to www.lynnwillis.com. For more information, email booneareacyclists@gmail.com.