Bicycling the Greenbrier River Trail

Bicycle packing the greenbrier river trail 
​                           west virginia

     I have always found it a special outdoor event riding a bicycle on a multi-day trip.  I love being totally independent and self sufficient along the trail.  Much like the early colonists all of my cooking, sleeping, and riding hinges on how well I have planned my trip.  The Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia gave me the opportunity to exhibit my bike-packing skills.

​Planning a Bicycle-packing Trip

     Planning a bicycle-packing trip is much like planning a hiking-backpacking trip.  I had to provide the necessities to meet every occasion along the way.  The proper bicycle, map, food, shelter, first aid, and clothing had to be considered for a comfortable outdoor experience. I have included such a list on my previous blog. 

Greenbrier River Trail

     The Greenbrier River Trail is part of the West Virginia Park System.  It was originally part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.  It is now part of the Rails-to-Trails system.  Throughout the United States old railroad beds have been converted to hiking and biking trails.  

History

     In the beginning in the 1900's the railroad was built to carry cut timber from logging operations to nearby saw mills. The railroad followed the contour of the Greenbrier River.  Later in 1958, after the area was logged out, the railway  converted into a passenger train operation and again into a freight train system.  It all came to an end in 1978 when operations ceased, and the railway was donated to the state park system.  The railroad bed was kept as is, but the ties and tracks were removed.  The original one to two percent grade remained in tact.  Because it followed the Greenbrier River the trail was given the name the Greenbrier River Trail.  It is believed that a French explorer called the river the Ronce Verte, hence Green River.  Later on, the local residents believed the name changed from Green River to Greenbrier River because of the many green briers found along the river. 

 
Location

     The Greenbrier River Trail is part of the Rails-to-Trails trail system in West Virginia.  It is 77 miles long beginning in the town of Cass and ending near the town of Caldwell. It passes through the Monongahela National Forest, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Seneca State Forest, Watoga State Park, Calvin Price State Forest, and the Greenbrier State Forest.  The Greenbrier River flows along  the trail the whole 77 miles through the valleys of the Allegheny mountains.  The trail passes through Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties.  The Allegheny mountains create valleys that the locals call "hollers."   Cell phone service is minimal because the area is within the National Radio Quiet Zone. 
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Day 1

     Early on day one two friends and I chartered a shuttle from the end of the ride at mile post 3 to the beginning of the ride at mile post 80. The shuttle took the three us, our bicycles, and gear to the beginning of the trail in Cass, West Virginia, at mile post 80. We carried all of our own gear consisting of a shelter, food, clothing, and personal gear for the three day ride.  The average extra weight was about 40 pounds.  Our automobiles were left at the end of the trail for our ride home.  The weather forecast predicted fifty percent rain.  The shuttle driver said for us not to worry because the area residents did not worry about getting wet until the rain forecast was 80 percent.  We were glad to hear that, but the minute we got out of the van it started to rain.  It rained that whole day.  
     We put on our rain gear and began our ride.   Ponchos and raincoats protected us from the pouring rain.  Our objective was to bicycle 24.9 miles to Stillwell Park just past the Town of Marlinton.   Our ride took us past the Towns of Sitlington, Stony Bottom, Clover Lick, Clawson, and Thorny Creek.  All of these towns were very small whistle stop towns.  No fast food restraurants were found there.  The beautiful falling multicolored leaves lifted our drenched spirits. The fall colors were magnificent. The wet leaves occasionally got stuck in our wheels making a clicking, rubbing sound.  When I was a young boy I created that same clicking sound in the wheels of my bike by attaching playing cards to my wheels so they  would rub on my spokes and make the same sound.
We bicycled past the only remaining water tank built in 1923 used to replenish water for the steam engines. We had to put on our bicycle lights to go through the 511 foot Sharps Tunnel built in 1900.  We also crossed over the nearby 229 foot bridge towering 30 feet above the river that is believed to be a great fishing spot for the local population.  The Town of Stillwell allowed us to camp near the river in the town's sports complex and use the bathroom facilities at the park. The camping area was over-shadowed with lots of oak trees with falling acorns.  On one bicycle a tire went flat because it ran over an acorn.  One of our members called the shuttle service owner, who for a price, brought us dry wood for a campfire.  In our group we had the best campfire maker; he even got up early the next morning and had a roaring fire for breakfast.  It was a restful sleep except for the hound dogs howling all night and the highway department working on a road until midnight. 

All geared up

The Town of Cass

Ready to ride in the rain

Riding on the wet trail

Rest stop

Sharps Tunnel

229 Foot bridge over the Greenbrier River

Stillwell Park near the Town of Marlinton

Camping area in Stillwell Park

Heavy fog rolled in the first night

We camped under Oak trees near the river

Day 2
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     It was sunny the next day in October and the beautifully colored leaves were still falling along the trail. They again brightened our spirits and renewed our belief in God's creation.  The trail passed by many small farms with pretty green pastures.  We passed by the towns of Buckeye, Violet, Watoga, Seebert, Horrock, and Rorer for 26.6 miles.  The walnut trees growing along the trail dropped large walnuts that made it hard to bike.  The 402 foot Droop Mountain Tunnel was just north of our next stay. It was again cool and damp in the tunnel.  It was also scary because we could not see the opening for the other side and the ground was slanted and pocked with holes.  We passed by many hikers and bicycle riders along the way.  We met an older gentleman who had built his own four-wheeled electric bicycle out of a lot of two inch PVC pipes.  We stayed at a campsite that had well water,  a shelter, privy, fire ring, and tent pads. The weather that night was again in the 30's.  I boiled some water and poured it in a nalgene bottle and put it in the bottom of my sleeping bag for warmth.  We had a fire that night and a fire again in the morning.  
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Class I rapids along the river

Droop Mountain Tunnel

Wooden trestle over a tributary to the Greenbrier River

Majestic calendar view along the river

Our second night home away from home

Six person shelter at the camp site

All tents ready for the tired bicyclers

Fire ring warm camp fire

Waiting for our dinner to finish cooking

 Day 3

​     The last day of riding brought bright and sunny weather.  We enjoyed passing by each mile marker on the way back to our automobiles for a total of 25.5 miles  Our custom while riding the entire trail was to ring our bicycle bells every time we saw a big white W marker.  The marker was a signal for trains to blow their whistle near an intersection to warn anybody crossing the tracks.  We passed by the towns of Renick, Anthony, Keister, and Hopper.  At the end we changed into an extra set of clean clothes for the ride home. One of the only problems we had was on one of our bikes the pannier (saddle bag) rack was not quite strong enough to hold the heavy weight carried in the panniers without rubbing on the wheel.  The rider used duct tape and wooden rods to make it stronger. 

Video trail ride Renick to Caldwell West Virginia

A view of the river

A view to remember

One of the remaining restored railroad stations along the trail

The Greenbrier is perfect for a lazy float down the river

 Rolling farm land along the trail

A shade tree mechanic fixed his bike with a little duct tape and wood strips and removed a few leaves in  the derailer.

     Most of the pictures in this podcast were taken by my bicycling partners Tim and Terry.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
​Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV