Snake 2022 event

Presented By: NWGA SORBA

The Snake Creek Gap 6 Mountain Time Trial Series celebrates its 18th year anniversary  The time trials began in 2005 with less than 50 participants.  The Snake is constantly evolving and continues to grow in popularity.  In 2015, we had over 500 participants. It's now one of the highest attended endurance mountain bike events in the South.  In 2022, the series will consist of two race dates to be held on January 8 and the Grand Finale on February 12.  

In 2022, we'll again offer the grueling 50 mile option.  50 Miles on the Snake in the cold of winter!  It is going to hurt, but you're gonna love the triumph of conquering the 2x50 challenge.  

These are the three distances that you can attempt:

Snake 50 Mile - Money Class, Age Categories, Clydesdale, SingleSpeed

Snake 34 Mile - Age Categories, Clydesdale, SingleSpeed

Snake 17 Mile - Men's Open Class, Women's Open Class

You may ride any of the three routes on both race dates however you are only allowed to qualify for the podium in one category - which you must declare. If you desire to make the podium in two categories you must pay two entry fees.  Remember however to qualify for a belt buckle you must ride the same route on both race event dates.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

If you are registered for the 17Miler and decide to race the 34Miler or 50Miler, you will need to pay additional fee of $30 for non-money class or $80 for upgrading to Money Class.

Completing the 50 Miler on both dates will earn you the 2X50 belt buckle. 

Completing the 34 Miler on both dates will earn you the 2X34 belt buckle. 

You cannot earn both buckles in one year. You cannot ride the 34 one month and the 50 the next month and earn a buckle.  Again, to qualify for a belt buckle you must ride the same route on both race event dates. NO EXCEPTIONS!

 

The Money Class will now be offered only for the 50 mile distance.

Money Class awards include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place fastest time for the entire series. 1st will receive $500, 2nd will receive $350, 3rd Place will receive $200.

 

Your race age will be your age on Dec. 31, 2022.

 

50 Miler Description:

From the horse parking lot at Dry Creek, get a nice 18.5 Mile warm up on the smooth and flowy trails at Dry Creek.  Then begin your ascent to John's Mountain and ride the Pinhoti to Pine Needle Hill, Pocket Road.  Next, you will begin your climb to the top of Horn Mountain.  After a few miles of riding along the ridge of Horn Mountain, you will enjoy a fast winding downhill ride to HWY 136 at Snake Creek Gap.  Be careful crossing the highway and grab some nutrition here at this SAG stop.

From Snake Creek Gap, you will have 17 Miles left to complete the challenge.  You start this final segment with a 1 mile climb to Mill Creek Mountain.  Ride the ridge for 4 more miles before you descend down to Swamp Creek.  Photographers enjoy catching folks endo-ing this creek crossing, so be sure to disappoint them of this photo op!

The crossing at Swamp Creek is the start of the climb to Middle Mountain.  You will ride the forest service road to the top where you take a sharp left into some sweet singletrack.  This is also the last SAG stop.  10 more miles to the finish, so grab some water.

Take a sharp left onto the singletrack and ride the ridgeline of Middle Mountain eventually crossing over a subtle peak followed by another sharp right.  Next comes a technical, rocky descent to the Hurricane Mountain ridgeline.  The Pinhoti continues along the Hurricane Mountain ridgeline another mile over some manageable rock gardens until hitting a steep descent known as “Puke Hill”  into a saddle between Hurricane and Dug Gap Mountain.  This area is known as “The Saddle” near the England Spring’s drop trail.  Just past the junction with the England Springs drop trail (which happens to be the last bail out point before the really hard stuff) you begin your climb of the “Wall” to the Fire Ring.  You are now within 5 miles of reaching the “Snake Pit”.  The only thing standing in your way are the infamous Rock Gardens of Dug Gap Mountain.  Once you conquer the rock gardens you will reach the “Towers” where you’ll descend the gravel forest service road to Dug Gap Mountain Road (pavement!).  Be careful merging into traffic and control your speed as you descend to the finish line at the Snake Pit (Gravel Parking Lot at the NWGA Trade and Convention Center).


 

Here are some links to more information on the Pinhoti Trail sections used for the Snake:

East Armuchee to Snake Creek Gap

Snake Creek Gap to Dug Gap

Snake 2015 Video

Snake 2014 Video

 

IMPORTANT 2022 RACE INFORMATION:

 

There will be NO RACE DAY REGISTRATIONS in 2022!

 

ATTN ALL RACERS:   

Due to Covid restrictions, the First Student buses are allowing only one person per seat on the bus. We are going to split the cost with the passengers. Each bus will cost $500 per race. With 23 seats per bus, it will cost over $21 per passenger. If you would like to use the shuttle, we need you to pay $10 per race to ride the bus. Because the bus company will be out for the Christmas Holiday, YOU WILL NEED TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT ON THE BUS BY DEC. 17, 2021. RESERVE BY PURCHASING BUS TICKET HERE ON BikeReg.  Wristbands will be given at Friday night check-in to those who paid their fee. If you can not check-in Friday night to get your wristband, please contact us for alternate arrangements.

There will be 50 spaces available for the early morning shuttles for bikes and riders from the SNAKE PIT (NW GA Trade & Convention Center) to the start of each race.  We will not be officially shuttling riders back to the starting point after finishing the race.  Please make your own arrangements for picking up your vehicle if self shuttling.  Bus riders will need to pay the bus fee mentioned.

 

FOR THE 34 & 50 MILE RACE:  Loading of trailers and buses at the SNAKE PIT will begin at 6:00am. The last shuttle will leave for Dry Creek no later than 6:45am.  Timing at Dry Creek will start at 8:00am.

 

FOR THE 17 MILE RACE: Loading of trailers and buses at the SNAKE PIT will begin at 7:30am. The last shuttle will leave for the SNAKE CREEK GAP parking lot at 8:00am. Timing for the 17 mile race will begin at 9:00am. 

 

Pre-Registration and check-in is Friday night, January 7th & February 11th, at the SNAKE PIT from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.   Check-in on race day will be at the race starting location.  You cannot check in at the SNAKE PIT on race day.

 

There will be Friday evening registrations and check-in at the Snake Pit, but again - NO RACE DAY REGISTRATIONS.

 

We require that only the registered rider can check-in and pick up their swag gift.  NO PROXY ALLOWED FOR CHECK-IN / SWAG PICKUP. 

 

The registration fee for 34-50 Non-Money Class is $115 if you sign up before midnight November 26.  On November 27, the Non-Money Class registration increases to $125.  On December 31 midnight, the Non-Money Class registration increases to $135.   The registration fee covers both races in the series.  There is no discount for riding just one race.

The Money Class will only be for the 50 Mile distance.  The registration fee for the Money Class is $165.  This fee covers both races in the series.  No discount for riding just one race.

The registration fee for the 17Miler is $85.  If you decide to change 34 or 54 Miler route, you will need to pay the difference $30 for upgrading to non-Money Class or $80 for upgrading to Money Class.  This fee covers both races in the series.  No discount for riding just one race.

 

Refund and Transfers

The registration fee is non-refundable.  Remember this event is for a great cause!  Transfers allowed if you have not raced in any of the events in the series. 

 



 

Starting Line for NWGA SORBA's Snake Time Trial Route, 34 miler & 50 miler

 

Dry Creek Parking Lot Directions:

The Dry Creek area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is located in Northwest Georgia about six miles south of Villanow, off county road 705 (Subligna-Villanow Highway, also called the East Armuchee Road). The East Armuchee Road is a scenic highway that extends southward from Villanow to Subligna and on to Gore at US 27 a few miles east of Summerville. The Dry Creek area straddles the Walker and Chattooga county line.

To reach Villanow from I-75, when traveling north, take the GA 136 exit (Exit 320) and proceed west 14.3 miles on GA 136 until you reach Villanow. Villanow is a small town at the intersection of GA 136, GA 201, and county road 705.  A “Favorite Market” convenience store/gas station is on one corner of this intersection with the old Villanow Country Store on the opposite corner as well as a new veterinarian office.

From Villanow, travel south on the East Armuchee Road for 6.5 miles (about 10 minutes) to arrive at the turnoff to Forest Service (FS) road 226 nearly on the county line. Turn left on FS 226 and follow the signs to the the large horse trailer parking lot at the top of a hill. (About 200 yards before reaching the parking lot there is a road to the right that crosses East Armuchee Creek. There is a primitive camping area located across the creek that is used by equestrians and others.) When exiting the parking lot at the starting line area, take a left turn.  Stay to the right - see map below. This is a different road than the one you came in on but it eventually merges back into FS road 226. PLEASE follow the flow of the signs. These roads are very narrow and there are several blind spots making the roads not suitable for oncoming or two way traffic.  One way in and a different way out.  If everyone follows the signs everything should flow fine. Don’t be the person going the wrong way.  When both entering and exiting the Dry Creek area please watch out for the 50 mile participants.  Their route will cross these roads in a couple places and course marshall may or may not be present to warn you.



Starting Line for NWGA SORBA's Snake Time Trial Route, 17 miler

From Resaca, GA (Junction of Interstate 75 and Georgia Highway 136) to Snake Creek Gap (GA11 & GA12): Proceed west on Highway 136. Go 6.6 miles to the intersection with Georgia Highway 136 Connector. Turn right to continue on Highway 136 and proceed 4.0 miles to Snake Creek Gap (10.6 miles total). The parking area is on the right, just past the crest.

 

NWGA Trade and Convention Center (Snake Finish, Friday Night Registration / Check-in)

I-75 to exit 333 Walnut Avenue, Dalton, GA go west up the mountain approx 1/4 mile turn left into the Trade Center, the gravel parking lot is on your right at the Trade Center.

 

Your support by participating in The Snake is helping fund a major trail development projects as well as support other local charities:

 

Rocky Face Ridge - Buzzard’s Roost :  This trail system is starting to be recognized as the crown jewel of mountain biking in Northwest GA and we are extremely proud to be working to get the county to open this by Spring 2021.  Although the trail is not officially open, we have permission from the county to open on certain days.  Visit our Friends of Buzzard's Roost facebook group for schedule.  Check out this video from Semi-Sendy of his ride on the Roost!  Thank you for donating to add more trail to the Roost at Rocky Face Ridge!



 

We donated over $3000 to these local charities and organizations:

Boy Scouts - Cave Spring, Northwest Georgia, Chattanooga

Girl Scouts

Boys & Girls Club Bike Program

Back Country Horsemen of North Georgia

 

 

 

RACE SCHEDULE

 

Friday Night Registration and Check-In

5:00 PM  Open Registration and Check-In at Snake Pit

8:00 PM  Close of Registration and Check-In at Snake Pit

We require that only the registered rider can check-in and pick up their swag gift.

NO PROXY ALLOWED FOR CHECK-IN / SWAG PICKUP.

 

Saturday Morning - NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION

6:00 AM  34 Milers and 50 Milers. Loading of trailers and buses at SNAKE PIT (Trade Center)    Trailers and buses leave as soon as they are filled and head to Dry Creek.

7:00 AM  Last shuttles leave for Dry Creek (34 + 50 Milers) and Snake Creek Gap (17 Milers)

7:00 AM  34 Miler and 50 Miler Riders Check-in at Dry Creek

7:30 AM  17 Milers Loading of trailers and trolley at SNAKE PIT (Trade Center) and head to Snake Creek Gap  .  Last shuttle will leave 8:00AM.

8:00 AM  17 Miler Riders Check-in at Snake Creek Gap

We will provide a sag service to take hydration/nutrition to Snake Creek Gap and another sag vehicle to take a change of clothing to finish.  Please label your drop bags with your bib# or name.

8:00 AM till 8:30 AM, 50 Miler Start at Dry Creek

8:00 AM till 8:30 AM. 34 Miler Start at Dry Creek

9:00 AM till 9:30 AM, 17 Miler Start at Snake Creek Gap

 

11:00 AM Cutoff time for 50 Milers to complete Dry Creek segment.

11:00 AM Expect 17 Milers to arrive at Snake Pit Finish

 

12:00 PM Food Ready To Serve

 

1:00 PM  Cutoff time for All Riders to Reach Snake Creek Gap

 

3:00 PM  Cutoff time for All Riders to Reach Middle Mountain

Riders wishing to continue will need to sign a letter of acknowledgement.

 

5:00 PM  All Riders Should Be Finished

5:30 PM  Start Breaking Down the Snake Pit