The first six miles of the course travels through historic Woodstock.
Here, the fighting minister, Peter Muhlenberg preached his sermon then removed
his robe to reveal the Revoluntionary uniform and led his fellow townmen out to win
liberty, saying “there is a time to pray and a time to fight.” Reaching the Shenandoah
River at Burnshire Dam, the course crosses by bridge, approaches its first major ascent
to Woodstock Gap on a steep GRAVEL switchback and enters the George Washington National
Forest. Descending into Fort Valley’s natural fortress, created by the encircling
Massanutten Mountains, is more gradual until approx. 10 mi. upon reaching the fairly
RUGGED 2.5 mi. Lavender TRAIL up and along the West ridgeline, then down to a GRAVEL
Forest Service road winding into the Foley Loop on country roads.