Blue Ridge Expeditions: August 23rd, Hike on Garden Mountain
On this hike you will see beautiful moss- and fern-covered trees and top of the ridge line views into Burke’s Garden, and hear calling ravens. There is a 3.7 mile stretch of sandstone cliffs that drops off abruptly in some places.
This easy 4.9 mile section of the Appalachian Trail runs across the top of Garden Mountain, from Route #623 to Walker’s Gap (at end of Route #727 in Burke’s Garden).
On this hike you will see beautiful moss- and fern-covered trees and top of the ridgeline views into Burke’s Garden, and hear calling ravens. There is a 3.7 mile stretch of sandstone cliffs that drops off abruptly in some places. Bring water, as none is available on this hike. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Kangaroo Gas Station/Dairy Queen at the Bland I-77 exit and will carpool to the drop off and pick up sites from there. Please contact BRDC trip leader Amy Roberts at 276-688-3793 or aarobert@vt.edu for more information and to sign up for the hike. A limit of 20 participants will help to protect the trail.
Blue Ridge Expeditions: The Channels, Clinch Mountain
One of southwest Virginia’s most spectacular and unusual natural preserves will be explored on this Blue Ridge Expeditions (BRE) hike. The part of Clinch Mountain known as The Channels is an area of huge sandstone rock outcroppings where ancient forces have created a maze of giant fissures, some of which now serve as passageways somewhat similar to slot canyons of the western states.
Leaders: Roald Kirby and Fred Newcomb
One of southwest Virginia’s most spectacular and unusual natural preserves will be explored on this Blue Ridge Expeditions (BRE) hike which is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC). The part of Clinch Mountain known as The Channels is an area of huge sandstone rock outcroppings where ancient forces have created a maze of giant fissures, some of which now serve as passageways somewhat similar to slot canyons of the western states.
The hike will be a 5 mile round trip of moderate difficulty and will take place on Sunday, July 27. Geology expert Fred Newcomb and Roald Kirby will lead the group. Participants should call (276) 579-4011 to register and for more information.
Blue Ridge Expeditions: Fisher Peak
We began a gradual climb on the trail through woodland cove popular-pine forest and soon picked up the Fisher Peak road which we followed the rest of the way. According to Aubrey,it was originally built by the City of Galax in the 1930's so people attending the Rhododendron Festival could drive to the mountain.It is now used to access the WBRF radio towers.
Fisher Peak Hike
November 23, 2013
Text is Roald Kirby's account, and he is pictured above.
"The hike went well, despite cool,brisk conditions. We had a total of 11, counting Aubrey [Arrington] and me. Lana and Don [Call], Susan and Claire [Gleason], Tom and Melissa,Carol [Broderson], Ellie Kirby and Gary Wilson from Galax.
We began a gradual climb on the trail through woodland cove popular-pine forest and soon picked up the Fisher Peak road which we followed the rest of the way. According to Aubrey,it was originally built by the City of Galax in the 1930's so people attending the Rhododendron Festival could drive to the mountain.It is now used to access the WBRF radio towers.
Pileated Woodpecker evidence was observed, as were the evergreen leaves of Rattlesnake Plantain. The flowers of Witch Hazel brought on discussions of function and folklore. As we progressed, the forest became mixed hardwood(oaks predominating) with an understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron(both rosebay and catawba)which continued to the top.We found ourselves on the windy brink of a large gneiss outcrop with a couple of small Table Mountain pines where we looked down on soaring ravens with Pilot Mtn and the Saurtowns in the distance.I had been told that there were magnetite crystals here and
sure enough, we found a bunch(with the aid of magnets, of course!).The whole ones were eight-sided and about 1/16" in size.
After a quick and cool lunch everyone was ready to head back down.The hike(which was supposedly 8 miles but felt more like six to me) took 4.3 hours.Had the temperatures been warmer, we would have spent more time.Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Gary,a boy scout leader,said that he couldn't wait to get out and show people what he had learned!"
A special thanks goes to Aubrey for sharing his expertise on the walk, and Lana Call for all the photos.
Scott Jackson-Ricketts
Wildflower Walk on the New River Trail
Wildflower Walk on New River Trail
Join us on April 16!
See below for details.
Join us on the New River Trail on Saturday, April 16 at 9 A.M., sponsored by Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Carol
Broderson
and Cecelia Mathis will lead the very easy, flat, five-mile walk. Carol is a Mt. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club volunteer, and she also works with the Trails to Every Classroom program. "What one of us doesn't know about wildflowers, the other one does," Carol says. Cecelia's passion is wildflower photography. She is currently working with two others on a project to identify and photograph the flora and fauna of the Matthews Historical Farm, and she is also a volunteer for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 57-mile New River Trail, the state's most narrow park, is a showcase of early spring wildflowers: spring beauty, violets, trillium,
Dutchmen's
breeches, saxifrage and many others.
Email carol@ls.net or call 276 773-3513 before 7 P.M. to join this spring celebration. Bring lunch, water, raincoat.