The Appalachians may not be as tall as the Rockies, but they are harder to cross than the big mountains of the West. Cyclists find the gentle inclines of the Rockies are not nearly as tiring as the steep, roller-coaster grades of the Appalachians. Traffic in the backcountry of Appalachia is generally light. Exceptions include popular tourist spots such as Breaks Interstate Park, the Buckhorn Lake area, and the Jefferson National Forest. The route crosses the Appalachian Hiking Trail several times near Damascus, Virginia. Section 11 ends in Christiansburg. Click on enlargement for detail.