Re: [RC] [RC] Man vs. Horse speeds & Shermans Gap at the OD - Barbara McCrary
I think the eastern slope of the Sierras is
much steeper than the western slope. The western slope starts with
foothills and gets steeper as you go east, but the eastern slope just sort of
drops off................Of course, there's a lot of stuff in the middle that is
pretty wild!!!!!!! Been there on foot with backpack.
Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Man vs. Horse
speeds & Shermans Gap at the OD
As one that has lived in the East and lived in the Rockies, the
mountains are different. The Appalachians are a set of long steep ridges
formed by a major uplift. They tend to be steeper than the western mountains -
except maybe the western slope of the Sierras. The Massanutten range is like
most of the Appalachian range - very steep ridgelines with few gaps. On most
of these decents - on foot is probably the best way to go.
I've
galloped down mountains in the Rockies but I sure don't think I would try it
on the OD.
Truman
Flora Hillman wrote:
Heidi said
..."ButI've found over the
years that unless it is durn near vertical, 4-legdrive beats heck out of 2-leg drive any
day!"
Except for Sherman's Gap in the
OD.
Until you've actually ridden that 3 mile west face
trail up, and 3 mile east face trail down the Massanutten, you have NO idea
of how very difficult, rocky, rough, AND exhaustingly vertical it is on
the upper portion of the trail. My
pony goes downhill like an Olympic slalom skier, and is a powerful hill
climber, but I've ridden Sherman's Gap enough times (and this year
marking and unmarking the west face) to know the final
approach to the top is by tailing up (or leading down on the
descent). The smart people get off and lead that final mile to
the top, trust me, AND they lead down the first 2 miles on the east
face.
And Mary is right -- on the OD's steep rocky slopes
you can move MUCH faster leading your horse, and lower greatly the risk of
loosing horseshoes. I'm a pretty good "downhiller" myself, and leading
my horse in hand on the most difficult sections of the OD I've easily passed
(at a relaxed jog with my pony jogging behind me) other riders still
sitting in the saddle as their horses struggle to pick their way through the
rocks.
The OD is like no other ride -- you
can't "book" down the slopes of the Massanuttens no matter how athletic and
talented your horse, unless you're willing to risk some very serious
injury to either yourself OR your horse. I will guarantee that
if you ever ride the OD, and come face to face Sherman's Gap at the 80
mile point of the OD 100, you'd be singing a different
song.
--
"It is necessary to
be noble, and yet take humility as a basis.
It is necessary to be
exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
