>>>>Having come from the East Coast and knowing well the Appalachian Mountains (as we spent every vacation there), there is also a BIG difference between "steep" back East and "steep" here out West.
I don't know. I've been in the Rockies and in the Cascades, and sure, we don't have 10,000+ foot peaks here...but I don't consider the altitude so much as the angle/steepness of the trail. The steepest hills I've ridden on are about 15 miles from where I live, in the area where the Uwharrie Mountains meet the Rocky River, and they are on a friend's private property. The altitude is not very high - not over 1200 max. feet probably, but some of the angles are VERY steep, almost sheer drops in places. Those particular local trails are much worse (slope-wise) than any I've seen in the NC mountains. Ironically, the highest elevation trails in NC that I've ridden on in NC are at Moses Cone, near Blowing Rock, and those trails are downright easy. They were put in to be carriage trails, so they are long, slow inclines. It's a WONDERFUL place to ride in NC in the summer, because the elevation keeps the temps low, but frankly, the trails are almost boring. There are some fairly long climbs, but the angle of the climbs and descends are not as bad as some private trails we have here in the little rolling hills of the Piedmont. Anneliese lives in what is called the "Knobs" of KY - west of the Appalachians. The highest elevations in that area are about 1400-1500 feet. Her trails are on private property - hers and her neighbors. Frankly, her trails - not even in "real" mountains - are nothing to sneeze at! Sure, the climbs and drops don't go on for thousands of feet, but she's got some steep spots, believe me - lovely, lovely riding! (I'm still sort of sorry we didn't buy that farm next to her...) Karen Thomas, NC
