Allegheny Mountains Loop, Day 8

 

Day 8: 10/22; 43.8 miles, back to Blacksburg; 4,253 feet of climbing; TM: 360.6; TC: 22,182.

The climb from White Rocks up to Mountain Lake Lodge was on steep and sustained gravel.

The first thing we noticed as we arrived at Mountain Lake was that there was, uh, almost no water in there. It’s basically a big crater. What little water remains looks more like a large mud puddle than a lake. 

Apparently, the water drains from holes in the lake’s bottom. When the amount of water draining out exceeds the amount flowing in, the lake’s water level goes down.

Thus the lodge has shifted its focus over the years from promoting itself as a vacation spot for swimming and boating to a location for such activities as zip-lining, hiking, archery and bubble ball.

The lodge also heavily promotes the fact that some of the scenes from the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” were shot here and holds some events that are tied to the movie.

The lodge’s restaurant is first-rate, however, and not too pricy. Well worth a visit.

Hoping to cut off a few miles from today’s route, Dave suggested that we consider a shortcut via U.S. 460 back to Blacksburg.

But a Virginia Tech alum I met at the lodge said there was little shoulder and lots of truck traffic on the highway.

In its official Allegheny Mountains Loop route map, ACA warns riders to avoid the “busy divided highway with no shoulders.“

“Due to heavy traffic don’t ride more of U.S. 460 as a shortcut unless absolutely necessary,” the association map adds.

I wanted to complete the official route anyway. So I’m glad we agreed to avoid the highway.

Turned out that the official route from Mountain Lake to Blacksburg was the loop’s most scenic for me, and the route went downhill most of the way from lodge back to the New River.

When we got back to Ed’s house, he and his wife Jerri had pizza and a cake awaiting us.

What a great way to end another terrific adventure in the saddle.

Mountain Lake Lodge dining room

Back in Blacksburg