Four Rampage Riders Take On ‘Impassable’ Route

The crux move in the line: A narrow spine leading to a cliff, cropping out over the edge of a steep canyon with consequential drops on both sides. It required a huge landing be made to even think if was to be attempted.

With all 300 allotted sandbags in place, the landing zone still wasn’t plausible. So all 12 diggers labored to dislodge massive rocks, stacking them atop the bags to create a landing tall enough to match the pitch of the cliff’s natural slope.

After the crux move and the Great Wall, the four riders have selected different lines to reach the base of the mountain, although Bearclaw and T-Mac share the majority of their run together.

Combined, the Claw/T-Mac duo have been able to make the most build progress thus far at Rampage 2016. After day two of four practice days before the final they have already ridden 90 percent of their line. Most riders have ridden merely one or only a handful of their line’s key features — the pair’s experience is shining early in the desert.

“It felt good to open that ridge up,” says McCaul after landing the narrow Great Wall drop for the first time. “We know it’s rideable now.”