Snowed In: Rockbridge County, VA

Shadow enjoys all-you-can-eat snow on the roadside.

We woke up to over a foot of snow this morning, and it looks like it will be snowing well into this evening.

So, with a foot of snow on the road and flakes still falling, it looks like we're staying put for a while.  
  
This is the most snow this area has seen since 2009, which makes it the most snow Shadow has had the pleasure of frolicking through in her lifetime.

It looks like good snow for sledding and snowmen, and I'm sure a grand time will be had by all since most institutions in this part of the world, educational and otherwise, are closed.


Shadow loves the snow.  She loves running through the snow, rolling in the snow, and eating the snow.  Her enthusiasm for the snow is contagious; she's teaching Molly and the cats to love the snow as well:



Music by The Muppets.

With that, I'm taking my dog and heading back into the snow.

 

House Mountain: Rockbridge County, VA

The view from Big House Mountain looking eastward past Little House Mountain.

The House Mountain trails are a product of local grass-roots conservation efforts initiated by the region's nature lovers.  There is no entrance fee, and limited parking is available off of Saddle Ridge Road near the base of the mountain.

Shadow the Dog and I took on just one of the hike's two peaks during this outing, heading up to the summit of Big House Mountain and enjoying the view during what turned out to be a clear day.  We were delighted to find plenty of snow on the mountain, despite the fact that most of the snow had melted in the valley below.  Near the summit, the snow was about six inches deep and made for tough climbing and tricky descending.

The trail really begins about half a mile from the parking area;  one passes several residences before finally entering the woods.  From there the path is wide an fairly easy up to the area between the peaks, known as the saddle, where there is an informative sign (left) and the trail forks.  Here there are several huge apple trees, remnants of an orchard that once occupied the saddle.  To the right there's Little House Mountain and to the left, Big House Mountain.

Shadow and I went left.  Here the grade quickly increases and a short spur along the rocks takes you to up to the cliffs where the views to the south and west are spectacular.  Coming back from the spur there is more climbing to reach the summit of Big House Mountain.

It's about 2 miles to the saddle and another 1.5 miles to the top of Big House Mountain  To the top of Little House Mountain it's also about 1.5 miles.  That makes about 10 miles to thoroughly explore the area.   I've attached a map below of a trip Shadow the Dog and I took last spring, and there's more information, including a .gpx file here.  Biking is also allowed on the trails, and I'll probably try that out pretty soon, though I have a feeling I'll be pushing the bike once I pass the saddle.

Douthat Bike Trails: Bath County, VA

I had the chance to visit Douthat State Park before the January snow melted and found the park completely empty with the exception of the park rangers and a few folks meandering by the lake.

The lake, along with the surrounding streams, was frozen over with a coating of fresh snow on top. The trails were also covered with a few inches of snow, adding an extra challenge to biking in the park.

The park is best experienced by bike and is, in fact, an IMBA Epic Ride.  The system of trails amounts to over forty miles of terrain to suit any rider or ability.  I traveled on the intermediate trails, which were almost unclimbable for me because of the added resistance of pushing through the snow.

All those steep climbs allow you to gain the tops of ridges pretty often, offering views of the surrounding landscape.

The trails are all blazed with metal strips; in addition there are guide posts placed at regular intervals along the trails.  I'm planning on visiting again and doing some greater distances once the trails are clear and the temperatures are warmer. 

There are several campgrounds along the main road that offer access to the trail heads.  The park is fairly developed, with a restaurant, store, visitor center, etc.  However, once you get away from the campgrounds, the wilderness areas are remarkable.  The snow made animal tracks clearly visible, evidence of the rich and varied wildlife in this isolated part of the state. 

Jump Rock: Rockbridge County, VA

Shadow the Dog and I headed out from the swinging bridge trailhead on a route that took us over Round Knob and up to Jump Rock which offers commanding views to the north and east.  You can see our route here.

The swinging bridge itself is a bit wobbly, as a swinging bridge should be, but it seems sturdy and has fencing
 along the sides to prevent falls.


The route to Jump Rock takes you through wilderness areas where, as you get further from the  trail head, the paths are little used and are not clearly marked.  Look out for improvised trail markings such as stacked stones and bits of flagging tape left to mark the way. Today the trails were even harder to find because of the snow cover, but even on a good day it's easy to get lost, so it's a good idea to check your position regularly.

The route goes through mature forest and over rocky terrain.  There are steep grades throughout the hike, so be ready for some climbing.

The final approach to Jump Rock is a steady grade, but not particularly steep, and if approaching from Round Knob, you'll see the distinctive silhouette of Jump Rock to the east.  The vegetation changes drastically as you approach Jump Rock, as the exposed ridge line creates an environment best suited to shrubs and gnarly trees.  Look carefully and you'll see a few short American chestnut trees as you approach the summit.  Only a few feet high, these trees are somewhat isolated from the blight that devastated the species and even bear fruit in the fall.

It's nice to spend some time at the top of Jump Mountain, taking in the surroundings.  Often you'll see vultures and hawks making their rounds at eye level as you look out from the precipice.

There's also this, about halfway up the mountain.

The way down is fairly quick.  Shadow the Dog and I took the northern path down, which took us along the banks of the Maury River for a muddy slog to reach the swinging bridge.  I hadn't been this way before, but because of the snow, I was able to follow some fellow hikers' tracks back down and easily found the way, which is now captured in this GPS track.

The trail is best in the spring and fall when the leaves are coming in or changing color.  Winter offers its own advantages, though.  The views are clearer in some places because the trees are bare, especially as you look west towards Lake Merriweather.

There's a boy scout camp at Lake Merriweather, and this is  private property, so be sure to stay clear of the lake and the trails surrounding it.  Because of new regulations, you'll need a hunting/fishing licence or a special permit to access these trails.