Damascus Trip
Having some time on my hands, I decided to take a trip down to Southwestern Virginia, centered around the town of Damascus. The goal was to take advantage of multiple forms of outdoor activity - hike the Dragon's Tooth (near Blacksburg), bike half of the Virginia Creeper Trail, then hike Mt. Rogers, with camping to be done in the backcountry.
The Dragon's Tooth hike went as scheduled, but the weather didn't want to cooperate. Hiking through the clouds next to this stream was cool, though. Created that very ephereal green and mist sensation, as if you were walking through a forest with some hobbits.
The rock formation that gives the Dragon's Tooth its name. It seems like there could be some good climbing opportunities on the tooth and the surrounding area.
Imagine a luscious view of mountainous green stretching into piedmont in the distance...that's what I did.
By the time I reached the Jefferson National Forest, the night's destination, the weather had cleared considerably. Much of my short hike in to a camp spot was along a creek framed by rhododendrons, perhaps the most awesome evergreen of them all.
There's nothing better than cooking, sleeping, and waking up in the woods.
The weather was looking good as I walked out.
Unfortunately, it didn't hold for too long. The VA Creeper Trail is an old railroad line converted into a bike trail. It stretches from Abingdon to Whitetop Station, about 34 miles, with Damascus as the mid-point. I did an out-and-back from Damascus to Whitetop Station. I didn't see any rain, but had clouds most of the day. This is one of the old trestles on the trail - many of the originals still remain.
The trail winds along Whitetop Laurel Creek for much of the section that I did. The creek abounds in little rapids, brook trout, and sweet swimming holes. I took advantage of this one. The water was...brisk.
The Mt. Rogers hike was canceled due to socked-in conditions all night and the morning. I was, however, treated to this sweet sunset as I drove down out of the clouds. Pretty awesome.
All told, a successful trip. It's too easy to forgot how amazing the outdoor opportunities in Virginia can be, and how lush the forest gets, especially in early spring. Pretty awesome.
The Dragon's Tooth hike went as scheduled, but the weather didn't want to cooperate. Hiking through the clouds next to this stream was cool, though. Created that very ephereal green and mist sensation, as if you were walking through a forest with some hobbits.
The rock formation that gives the Dragon's Tooth its name. It seems like there could be some good climbing opportunities on the tooth and the surrounding area.
Imagine a luscious view of mountainous green stretching into piedmont in the distance...that's what I did.
By the time I reached the Jefferson National Forest, the night's destination, the weather had cleared considerably. Much of my short hike in to a camp spot was along a creek framed by rhododendrons, perhaps the most awesome evergreen of them all.
There's nothing better than cooking, sleeping, and waking up in the woods.
The weather was looking good as I walked out.
Unfortunately, it didn't hold for too long. The VA Creeper Trail is an old railroad line converted into a bike trail. It stretches from Abingdon to Whitetop Station, about 34 miles, with Damascus as the mid-point. I did an out-and-back from Damascus to Whitetop Station. I didn't see any rain, but had clouds most of the day. This is one of the old trestles on the trail - many of the originals still remain.
The trail winds along Whitetop Laurel Creek for much of the section that I did. The creek abounds in little rapids, brook trout, and sweet swimming holes. I took advantage of this one. The water was...brisk.
The Mt. Rogers hike was canceled due to socked-in conditions all night and the morning. I was, however, treated to this sweet sunset as I drove down out of the clouds. Pretty awesome.
All told, a successful trip. It's too easy to forgot how amazing the outdoor opportunities in Virginia can be, and how lush the forest gets, especially in early spring. Pretty awesome.
posted by Slim at
1:32 PM
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