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The following is a brief snippet from The Snallygaster 200 Event promoter:
The Snallygaster Flies Again! The second annual Snallygaster 200 will take off on September 16th, 2023. This is the ONLY ultra-distance bikepacking race/gravel route in western Maryland and Preston County. Registration will be available starting in mid-winter.
And just what is a Snallygaster, you ask? Well, they’re sorta like a modern day pterodactyl, but with nasty big pointy teeth. They’re dinosaur adjacent, you might say. Or maybe the Snallygaster is a folk tale that German immigrants in western Maryland created to keep their kids in bed. Either way, Snallygasters clearly live in remote, beautiful locations around Garrett and Preston Counties where they feast on unsuspecting bikepackers and tasty berries when in season. Word has it that they also love Hammer Gels, though, so maybe just keep a few extras.
In seriousness, this amazing route will go through 4 of the 7 state parks in Garrett County, run the entire length of the Meadow Mtn Trail, scoot around the rim of the Blackwater Canyon, visit countless gorgeous and forgotten dirt/gravel roads in Preston County (Hile Run, Snake Road, Mount Olivet Road, Peddler’s Glory) and incredible roads in the north of Garrett County (Blooming Rose Road, for instance). Best of all, there are a ton of towns and gas stations along the way for resupply and plenty of places to camp. Not to mention, you’ll always be within an hour of Oakland, so if something goes terribly wrong, getting a ride back to the start won’t be a massive pain in the you-know-what.
The stats/fine print:
Snallygaster 200 Route:
Total actual distance: 197.1 miles
Total elevation: Approx. 22,000 ft. of climbing.
Surface type: 65-70% gravel/dirt/rural roads and 30-35% actual pavement.
Snallygaster 100 Route:
Total actual distance: 104 miles
Total elevation gain: Approx. 12,000 ft. of climbing
Please see the Event website or Facebook page for more.
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