Robinson Gap: Rockbridge & Amherst County, Va.

Up and over the Blue Ridge.  Here's one of the many retaining walls that support the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Appalachian Trail, still covered in snow.

With just a little snow left on the ground at home and the sun shining brightly I headed out on the road bike looking for some gravel climbing.

By far my favorite way to access the Blue Ridge Parkway, Robinson Gap Road offers a scenic climb with almost no traffic.  I encountered exactly two cars today as I traveled there and back on this eight-mile stretch of gravel.

Best of all, the road goes through national forest land with a number of forest service roads that offer more challenging gravel climbs.  I had intended to make a loop today by using the forest service roads, but they were still thoroughly impassable for a road bike.  I was glad to see, however, that the snow hasn't stopped hikers from trudging along on the Appalachian Trail.

Beware of logging trucks heading down the mountain.

Much of the snow from our recent snowpocalypse was still hanging around in the mountains despite warmer weather that melted most of the snow in the valley below

So since the BRP was closed and the forest service roads were snowed over, I decided to head back the way I came. 

The gravel was in good shape coming up the mountain from the west, but once I crossed over over the crest of the ridge, I found lots of big rocks, slush, and red, red mud to sink my wheels into.


With grades of around 15%, coming back up the mountain through that mud was a job.  Even with 28mm tires, I was cutting into the mud pretty deeply.  The mountain bike would probably have been a better and safer choice for the eastern half of Robinson Gap Road, but old Blue made it through unscathed.

Blue the Bike rests in the snow.

There's a nice little stream that runs alongside the road on the eastern side of the mountain called Enchanted Creek (middle photo below).  It's one of many chances to stop and enjoy the national forest property adjacent to the road.

So yes, that's Robinson Gap Road, eight miles of the loveliest gravel in this part of the state.  And Garmin claims that I burned over 3500 Calories; that's one pound of fat!

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.

 

Crabtree Falls: Nelson County, VA

An arching bridge over the River Tye.

No lack of waterfall related infrastructure here.

As one of the east coast's highest waterfalls Crabtree Falls is a popular attraction.  It's a developed trail: stairways, handrails, and fencing make the trail accessible to almost everyone, but they also mar the natural beauty of the falls.

Shadow the Dog loves ascending mountains, and we found plenty of climbing here.   We started from the Route 56 parking area and made our way to the Meadows Lane parking area, where this trail meets up with the Appalachian Trail.  Our route took us up about 1400 feet in three miles.  You can see our route here, and there's an interactive map below.

Crabtree Falls is a series of cascading waterfalls that tumble down the rocks.  The whole extent of the falls is never visible all at once and it's surprising to see how many huge cascades make up the falls.


There are many overlooks alongside the falls.  As we climbed the 1000 feet to the top of the falls we found ourselves rejoining Crabtree Creek no fewer than seven times as it fell.  Basically each switch back is anchored in a viewing platform of some kind.

Nice tree, Shadow.

Because of the cold winter, the falls were covered in ice, with the rushing water cutting a path through the thick icy coating.  That also means there was lots of slippery ice on the trail and the overlooks.  Shadow and I each walked away with souvenir bruises due to the extreme slipperiness.

The terrain is beautiful: rocky and wooded.  It's a great route for trail running; relentless climbing and obstacles characterize the first two miles, giving way to rolling woodland hills for the next two miles and finishing up with two miles of steep descent.

By far my favorite part of the hike was past the top of the falls, where the woods opened up and we left the stairs and fences behind.   Some of my favorite plant life is on display up here.  River birch populate the forest and there's a nice crop of running cedar covering the ground.

The trail goes through this little cave.

Be prepared to pay $3.00 per vehicle to visit the falls.  This is becoming the norm for many of the area's popular trails.

And popular is a good word for this trail.  It was in the mid 30's today with occasional sleet and the trail was pretty crowded.  A large proportion of the hikers also brought their canine companions, so Shadow the Dog enjoyed exchanging sniffs with dogpassersby.

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.

Glenwood Horse Trail: Rockbridge County, Va.

The Elk Creek crossings are challenging after heavy rainfall.

  

The pond at Locher Tract spills over
 into the adjacent fields.

Locher Tract is an excellent starting point for all sorts of trail adventures.  The area is convenient to the northern end of the horse trail system in the area.  The area includes a spring and pond, and several wildlife viewing areas.

Today I set out on a mountain bike ride from the parking area that included Hellgate Horse Trail, Glenwood Horse Trail, and Petites Gap Road.  Both Hellgate and Glenwood Trails are blazed in orange.

Hellgate Horse Trail is a wide, well-kept path with a total length of about two miles. Glenwood Horse Trail picks up where Hellgate ends and continues for over 65 miles.


There are several climbs where sandy surfaces combine with steep grades to provide some truly challenging hills.  There are several shallow streams which cross the trail that are fun to ride through.


GHT crosses Elk Creek, which was about three feet deep today,  I crossed it without trouble, but there is a bridge over the creek on Belfast Trail, which isn't far from the GHT.



The GHT gets progressively narrower and rougher further south.  By the time it intersects the Belfast Trail, it's rocky singletrack, and it remains that way until it intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The view from Petites Gap towards Arnold's Valley.

While it's possible to hike up to the parkway on the GHT, regulations prohibit the use of bicycles in designated wilderness areas.  The trail goes through the Thunder Ridge Wilderness area as it approaches the parkway.  The border is well marked, and Petites Gap Road is close by.  It is also, however, on the other side of Elk Creek, so you'll have a second chance to ford through.

Petites Gap Road is narrow and somewhat rocky.  It's manageable on a road bike, but a mountain bike handles the rocks a little better.

The ride back is quick, almost all downhill, with only a few short climbs approaching Locher Tract.  The well-known Devil's Marbleyard is close by and accessible via Belfast Trail.

The GHT exits the Thunder Ridge Wilderness Area at the Blue Ridge Parkway, so I plan to explore that segment of the trail next.

This article provides some more information on the GHT, its history and planned improvements.