Report from June 8-9, 2024
Views of lush inexperienced forests and deep blue lakes got here increasingly into view as we gained elevation on Silver Mountain’s gondola on Saturday morning.
Idaho’s Panhandle is much more attractive from the air, I believed as we sailed alongside America’s longest gondola.
The day was sunny, heat however not an excessive amount of so, and there was no wind; it was good climate to take a look at Silver’s Mountain Bike Park.
We received to the highest of the gondola, hopped onto our bikes, after which took a blue path known as Jack Ass again all the way down to city.
This was not your common mountain bike path; it was eight miles lengthy with a vertical drop of over 3,000 toes and it took over 45 minutes of steady biking to get down.
I’ve by no means ridden a path like that earlier than.
Silver Mountain is understood for being certainly one of Idaho’s premiere ski areas however what will not be as recognized is that it additionally has the #1 rated mountain bike park within the Pacific Northwest for 4 years operating.
An assortment of inexperienced, blue, and black trails are accessible proper from the highest of the gondola; some are shorter and go straight to Chair 3, the place you possibly can hit a number of laps again to again, whereas others are lengthy and enduring like those that go for eight miles all the way down to the city of Kellogg the place the gondola terminal is situated.
Silver’s Bike Park has just a little little bit of one thing for everybody.
We began with Jack Ass, a blue path, then hit one other blue known as Burro Loco, which was barely extra technical.
That was insanely enjoyable.
The paths underneath the gondola begin in an open area the place some ski runs are then descend into thick forest.
As soon as within the forest, the paths department off and you’ve got dozens of choices for extra trails to hit, from inexperienced to blue to black movement and technical trails.
We needed to take frequent breaks as a result of our fingers received so drained from the epically lengthy downhill trails—a very good downside to have.
The paths simply went on ceaselessly right here…
Wildcat, a blue path, was certainly one of our favorites of the journey.
We needed to cease for lunch at Noah’s canteen to refuel and the meals was wonderful and never too costly (go for the rooster sandwich!)
After principally driving blues on the primary day we felt able to tackle some black path on Sunday.
We began with Snake Pit that led to Chair 3, a steep technical path.
It was precisely that: steep, rocky, technical, and difficult in one of the best methods.
By the underside, I used to be labored however extraordinarily stoked.
Extra black trails, please.
Then we hit a few black movement trails from the gondola all the way down to city known as Hammer and Ghost Pepper.
These have been steep trails that reduce by the woods with playful leap traces all all through the paths.
We caught some good air and landed on some very well-constructed landings all whereas protecting a pleasant movement by the countless twists and turns of the paths.
The berms have been clean and quick; a few them have been enormous and had you accelerating at uncanny speeds.
The vibes have been excessive and everybody on the bike park we encountered had smiles on their faces.
That’s what a pleasant bike park does.
At one level we hit a technical black path known as Snaggletooth and I biked the rockiest, most technical part of path I ever have and flowed it.
I solely did it as a result of I used to be following Tyler who was following a neighborhood who made it look clean.
Then a crew of extra locals adopted us and rode the technical part with ease and all of us exchanged stokey excessive fives on the backside.
Bike tradition is enjoyable.
After miles upon miles of lengthy, tall downhill trails by attractive, thick, moss-covered forests, we have been formally drained.
Drained, however blissful.
We elected for yet another trip down Ghost Pepper and after that determined to name it a day.
Every day we rode final weekend, the climate was lovely, the dust was past lovely, the paths have been utterly uncrowded, and the stoke was excessive.
I used to be totally impressed with Silver Mountain’s bike park and I can see the way it’s the top-rated bike park within the PNW.
I may additionally see myself coming right here each summer time after the snowmelts and getting my ‘mountain bike’ on.
It’s that good.
Thanks, Silver Mountain!
—
To be taught extra about Silver Mountain’s Bike Park, go to the resort’s web site.
Climate
Pictures
You may additionally like:
