Trestle Repair

Beginning May 19, repair work will begin on trestles 19 and 20, near mile marker 18, just east of Damascus, on the Forest Service property. Repairs include decking and railings as well as to the structure of the trestle below. Trail riders may experience short delays as they cross these two trestles. For more information, contact the USFS office in Marion.

Going Wild for Wildflowers

'Tis the season for viewing wildflowers along the Creeper. I was near Straight Branch parking area the other day and spotted some Fire Pink and others (my own identification skills are sorely lacking). The club has a number of wildflower experts. In fact, at our first meeting of the year, we had a photo presentation that featured flowers that a member had taken throughout the year along the trail. I'm told that a couple of current "hot spots" along the VCT for seeing flowers are the section from Drowning Ford Rd as you walk back toward Abingdon, and from Straight Branch as you go back toward Damascus.

If you're a wildflower watcher along the trail, please share your observations in the comments section.

Creeper Keepers

Teachers and students at the Abingdon Child Development Center took to the trail yesterday to celebrate Earth Day. They picked up trash along the Abingdon section, near their school, which is heavily used. Even just one month after the club had done a cleanup day, they were able to accumulate a grocery bag full. That shows how much use (and misuse) the trail is getting. It's groups and individuals like these who keep the trail looking good for all of us. Earth Day is past but it's not too late for you to be a Creeper Keeper.

Fun and fungus on the VCT

As we all know, there's more than just hiking, biking, and horseback riding to do on the Creeper Trail. Take a look at this enterprising grandma who wrote about her trip on the trail to hunt for tasty morel mushrooms.

http://peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-morel-hunting-time.html

New Year's in March

The first general membership meeting of 2008 was held last night at the library. We had a good turnout and an excellent presentation by George Kelley of his photographs of wildflowers and other images of the Creeper Trail. George has promised to work on another presentation for later in the year or maybe next year called "Reverse Engineering the Creeper Trail." As a VDOT highway planner for his career (he's now retired), he's uniquely qualified to explain why the trail was constructed as we see it today.

Remember, the club meets the last Wednesday of each month, March-October, almost always at the public library in Abingdon (7:00). Both members and the public are invited to attend. Next month (April 30) our speaker will be Joe Tennis, author and columnist for the Bristol Herald-Courier newspaper.

26.2 or bust

The 10th Annual Virginia Creeper Trail Marathon, hosted by the State of Franklin Track Club (Johnson City, TN) will be held this Sunday. Unfortunately, if you're thinking of joining in, you're too late to register as they limit the event to 100 runners. However, you can still turn out as a spectator to cheer on the participants. I know they'd really appreciate it. I enjoy being out there watching almost as much as running. The race begins at the Watauga trailhead at 8:00AM. The first couple of miles are on Watauga Road but then it's completely on the Creeper Trail in two out-and-back sections. You can hang out at the Watauga trailhead and see the runners as they pass by at miles 2, 9, 18, and 25 of the course.

Flickr group started

I've created a group to share photos of the Creeper Trail on Flickr.com. If you're a Flickr user, you can upload your pictures to share with others.

The Travel Trade: Marketing the Mountain Empire

Today's Bristol Herald-Courier newspaper has a special section about tourism in Southwest Virginia. There are several articles about the Virginia Creeper Trail, including one entitled "How do you define tourism success? Virginia Creeper Trail". They rank the top destinations in our area and the VCT is #4 (behind Bristol Motor Speedway, South Holston Lake, and Breaks Interstate Park). This is a real honor and a recognition of the impact, both in toursim dollars and local jobs that the trail has on our collective economic development. There's also an intangible, non-monetary benefit to being able to introduce new friends and visitors to the scenic showcase that the Creeper Trail offers. The Herald-Courier is worthy of praise for shining its spotlight on tourism for our area, and for the contribution made by the Virginia Creeper Trail.

I've listed below the others articles in the special section that mention the VCT:
Virginia Creeper Trail: Thousands Bike, Hike, Walk Where Trains Trod

Creeper Trail Tourism Is Golden Ticket for Damascus

Going Downhill Paid Big Dividends for Damascus

Historic Abingdon Still Drawing Tourists to Town

On the Trail of Tourism: Kilgore, Others Working to Establish Mountain Heritage Trail

On the Horizon: What Will Tourists Want: Tourism Pros Offer Insights Into Future Promotion Strategies

Patchwork of Tourism Marketing Options:Like a Quilt, Region's Promoters Piece Together Ways to Entice Tourists to Visit

Mapping project

I started today on a project to map all the structures (benches, signs, bike racks, etc) along the Creeper Trail. I'm using the Trimble GPS system from the Town of Abingdon's GIS department. They will process the data and produce a layer on the GIS that shows where all of these things are. The GPS is quite advanced, more than the simple Garmin handheld units that I've used in the past. This one is a professional setup with an antenna backpack and data entry unit. Using the bike, I go from one structure to the next, taking notes, and a photo of everything that gets marked.

The impetus to do this is from the Creeper Trail Advisory Board, who makes decisions about new requests for memorial and honorary benches and other structures along the trail. The board is in the process of creating a master plan for new items but before that can happen, we needed a complete inventory of what is already out there. Hence, me with the yellow backpack and antenna getting lots of strange looks by other trail users.

Today I got from the Abingdon trailhead to the crossing at Meade Meadows. It took about an hour and a half. I would have kept going but was running out of daylight. Tomorrow, I hope to make it the rest of the way to Damascus if the weather is nice.

Mark Peacock photo

A recent blog post by photographer Mark Peacock featured the "iron bridge" along the Creeper Trail as its subject. A lovely photo of a Creeper Trail icon, it's worth a look. His other work can be found at his online gallery, www.markwpeacock.com.

Paddlin' the Creeper

We all know that the Creeper Trail is for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Here's a review of yet another activity, paddling the water that runs alongside the trail, Whitetop Laurel Creek.

Doting on Mendota

In 1999, noticing the economic success of the Creeper Trail for Damascus and Washington County, leaders in Bristol, VA decided to get into the act. They formed a plan to purchase and develop another rail bed, this one from Bristol to Mendota, about 12 miles in length. Almost immediately, opposition from nearby landowners brought development to a halt, claiming that when the railroad ceased to operate, the easement reverted to their control. For nearly eight years, their claim has been heard in court and last month the judge ruled against their claim, allowing the trail to go forward. With what can only be described as ironic timing, Bristol now has announced that they have run out of patience and money to develop the trail which they fought for in court for so long. It's not that they don't want the trail and its benefits, they just don't want to pay for them with what it would cost to develop the trail. They're hoping that a nonprofit group will step in to do what they are unwilling to do; put up the money and the effort to finish this project. Tonight's meeting of the city council will feature a discussion and there is popular support being mustered for residents to attend and speak in favor of the trail. Today's Bristol Herald Courier editorialized in favor of keeping the project alive. I agree with their opinion and reasons and will add one more thought. If indeed the people of Bristol support the trail, the city should not shirk its responsibility off onto a small private group like a nonprofit organization. If ever there was a true municipal project, which benefits the common good, this is it. The city started this project and it should be the one to finish it.

Southwest Virginia Gets Another Trail

I was pleased to open the paper this morning and see an article about the Cranesnest Trail in Dickenson County. They broke ground yesterday on what will be a 23 mile multiuse trail, similar to the Creeper Trail. There is real excitement about the proliferation of trails in this area. The Salt Trail from Glade Spring to Saltville is well underway. Damascus, of course, has the Appalachian Trail in addition to the Creeper. The Mendota Trail, from Bristol to Mendota, is still delayed in court. Bristol, Mendota, and those in western Washington County are losing out on tourism revenue while the rest of the region has figured out the benefits of having such trails, both for locals to exercise on and for tourists to ride. Congratulations to Dickenson County on the Cranesnest Trail; to Rep. Boucher for locating much of the funding, and to the late Bill Wallace who worked for years to get the project going. The Creeper Trail Club wishes you much success.

Paid in full

The Creeper Trail Club recently repaid a $21,000 loan from the Town of Abingdon, who had allocated the funds to underwrite work on the trail through a grant program from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Town Manager Greg Kelly noted the unusual nature of the repayment to the Town in this article from the Washington County News. We're proud of our relationship with the Town and hope that this continues to build as we move forward on future projects.

Appalachian Trekker blogs on the VCT

Check out the Appalachian Treks blog for a nice entry and beautiful photograph of the Creeper Trail.

Photo blog

Here's another recent trip made down the VCT with some nice photos of the turning leaves. I especially like the Picassa slideshow and may have to investigate that for the club site.

Martin Hassinger

Martin Hassinger, whose family founded and ran the Hassinger Lumber Company in Konnarock, has died. His obituary appears in today's Bristol Herald-Courier. The Virginia Creeper Trail today lies partially on the rail bed built by the company to haul cut timber. The family has asked that memorial gifts in lieu of flowers be made to the Virginia Creeper Trail Club. We are grateful for their generosity and offer our condolences for their loss.

Martin Hassinger
Martin Asa Hassinger, philanthropist, civic leader and businessman, died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Hassinger enjoyed robust good health and died after a brief illness. His life spanned a period of 100 years, during which he gave of himself and his resources in a never-ending effort to improve his community and the lives of the people around him.
Mr. Hassinger was born on June 3, 1907, in the community of Konnarock, Va., a village which his father carved from the virgin wilderness of Southwest Virginia. There he grew up surrounded by a warm and loving family and the sturdy and resourceful people of that region. The Hassinger Lumber Co. built a community church, a school and a store, provided health care for its employees and built a railroad, which is now part of the Virginia Creeper Trail. The company cut more than 400 million feet of timber and became the chief supplier of lumber for the European shipping industry.
Upon completion of his early education in Konnarock, Mr. Hassinger attended Emory & Henry College. At age 18, while at Syracuse University, he was called home to direct the family logging operation and sawmill. He left Syracuse so quickly, he never returned to his room for his books and coat! He ran the business the rest of his life. Even in later years, retirement was never an option.
In 1927, Mr. Hassinger married Caroline Marshall of Johnson City and they made their home in Konnarock. In 1929, as the Depression loomed, he came with his father, Luther Hassinger, and his brother, Bill Hassinger, to Bristol Virginia, where they purchased Bristol Builder's Supply Co., a retail lumber business. He joined the Kiwanis Club of Bristol and served actively for 78 years. In 2005, Kiwanis honored him as the member with the longest period of continuous service in the United States. These were years of remarkable challenge and growth for Mr. Hassinger, as the business flourished and children, Caroline and Ann, were born.
In 1940, Mr. Hassinger entered public service as a member of the Bristol Virginia School Board. During the next 30 years, under his visionary leadership, the City of Bristol enjoyed remarkable growth. When building materials were difficult to obtain after World War II, he often contributed his company's allotment of lumber, making possible the construction of Stonewall Jackson Elementary School and a high school gymnasium, the first of its kind in Southwest Virginia.
In 1948, Mr. Hassinger became a member of the Bristol Virginia City Council and served for 13 years, both as mayor and as a member of the council. His priorities included flood control dams, improving the city's water system and cleaning up Beaver Creek by creating a new sewer system. He acquired the land for the new high school, for Randolph Field, for VanPelt School, for Washington and Lee School and for Sugar Hollow Park. During the 1960s, as other cities experienced turmoil during the integration of schools and other facilities, Mr. Hassinger led other civic leaders in integrating Bristol peacefully and without tension. He served on the Bristol Virginia Welfare Board for 18 years. Through his leadership, Bristol became the first food stamp distributor in Southwest Virginia.
Soon after World War II, Mr. Hassinger expanded the Hassinger Organization, opening Central Warehouse in Bristol, one of the first wholesale building supply businesses in the nation. This was followed in subsequent years by the opening of Dealers Warehouse in Knoxville, Reserve Warehouse in Chattanooga and Hassinger Wholesale in Greensboro. Mr. Hassinger created one of the first employee profit sharing plans in the South. The development of this plan reveals his philosophy of generosity toward employees. A half century later, the profit sharing plan continues to benefit the employees of the company.
One of Mr. Hassinger's most compelling passions was his commitment to State Street United Methodist Church in Bristol. He was instrumental in the construction of the congregation's current building. He created and personally managed the ministers' pension fund for the Holston Methodist Conference. Mr. Hassinger was especially concerned with the needs of young people who could not afford a college education. He gave jobs to dozens of young people who needed an income for college purposes. He provided funds for scholarships for more than 250 young people.
He enjoyed a quality of life seldom experienced at his age. This was in large part due to his caregiver and friend, Robert Roberts. Mr. Roberts made it possible for him to travel, attend business meetings, visit his companies and to never miss a family event. Recently, he traveled to North Carolina to celebrate his 100th birthday, surrounded by his entire family. The family is deeply grateful to Mr. Roberts and his staff, Charles West and Renee Scott, for their excellent care.
Mr. Hassinger was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Caroline, and his brothers, Glen, William and Robert.
He reserved his warmest and kindest moments for his children and grandchildren, and they devoted themselves to him in return.
Survivors include his two daughters, Caroline Lindsey and her husband Paul of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Ann Smith and her husband Wade of Raleigh, N.C.; six grandchildren, Mari Lindsay, Stephen Lindsay, Timothy Lindsay, Susan Lindsay, Karen Smith Linehan and Robyn Yigit Smith; nine great-grandchildren, Holly Lindsay-Miller, Nicholas Lindsay, Harper Lindsay, Carter Lindsay, Ella Lindsay, Kelsey Linehan, Dylan Linehan, Kenan Yigit and Aslan Yigit; one great-great-granddaughter, Adah Miller; a nephew, William Hassinger of Greensboro; a cousin, Margaret Louise Brown of Gate City; and a brother-in-law, Harrison Marshall of Cary, N.C.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Tuesday evening, Oct. 23, 2007, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The memorial service will be at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2007, at State Street United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Reed Shell officiating. The committal service and burial in Glenwood Cemetery will be private. Employees of the Hassinger Corp. will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Virginia Creeper Trail Club, P.O. Box 2382, Abingdon, VA 24212; or to the Konnarock Community Center, c/o Lucy Huffman, 1028 Laurel Valley Road, Troutdale, VA 34378. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family and viewed by visiting www.oakley-cook.com or faxed to (423) 764-3770.
Mr. Hassinger and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn.; (423) 764-7123.

Published in the Bristol Herald Courier from 10/22/2007 - 10/23/2007.

Return of the sled dogs

Last year's inaugural sled dog run will return in January along the VCT. This year's event will be bigger and better with the addition of the Dryland Challenge and Winterfest in Damascus.

Another successful family outing on the VCT

The Creeper Trail is a wonderful outing for families but don't take just my word for it. Here's a recent report from a family from Tennessee.

A YouTube ride

YouTube Video

Trail report from a runner

Diary of an amateur triathlete

Trail reports

Here are a couple of trail reports, fresh from the trail. If you know of other bloggers who have a new trail report, please let me know and I will post a link.

Tangential Thinking

Appalachian Trail Hike and Bike

Green Cove Celebration

The community of Green Cove, on the Creeper Trail, is adding even more events to the annual O. Winston Link 10K run.

Remembering a founder

This Sunday will be a big event on the trail. Dr. David Brillhart of Abingdon was the one who had the original idea to convert the rail bed to a trail, some 25 years ago. He died in February and his family was kind enough to direct those wishing to make memorial gifts to the Creeper Trail Club. Dr. Brillhart's obituary stated that he considered the Creeper Trail his greatest legacy. That's quite a statement, considering the many, many adults and children he treated in his medical practice through the years and the impact his professional skills had on families and the health of the community. Still, he saw the trail as a great part of our region.

On Sunday, we will honor Dr. Brillhart with the dedication of a trailside pavilion at the "Y" park, just behind Elderspirit, about a 1/4 mile from the Abingdon trailhead. The memorial gifts given by his friends and family funded its construction. Club members provided the labor under the direction of Keith Linkous with the Town of Abingdon. The public is invited to attend the dedication, which begins at 5:00. I hope you can join us.

Grassroutes

Tricities.com is the web outlet for television and the Bristol Herald-Courier. They've done a new series on Abingdon, called Grassroutes. One of the articles features the Creeper Trail. It's short but a nice trip diary of one reporter's ride from Abingdon to Damascus.

Vandalism

I've been informed that one of the new interpretive signs has been vandalized. Needless to say, I'm beyond disappointed. I'm furious.

The sign in question is near trestle #46 and describes the many trestles and bridges that span the old rail bed that now makes up the Creeper Trail. Vandals used a permanent marker to cover it with graffiti. I've not seen it yet nor a photo, but I'm told that one comment the vandal(s) made on the fiberglass was "This is not graffiti, this is art." Please allow me to disagree with this naive and juvenile display of a need for attention. I have a three year old and he knows better than to color on the walls.

These signs were financed with a generous grant by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Each panel and its frame cost several hundred dollars to produce and volunteer labor by club members was used to dig into the ground and mount them in concrete. Now, with one swipe of the pen, a thoughtless and selfish person has defaced one to meet his own need for destruction.

The Forest Service law enforcement has been contacted and will be on the lookout for similar activity. If someone is caught, I will personally go to court to ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. I urge all trail riders to be on the lookout for vandals and to report any suspicious activity.

The newest rider

We put my three and a half year old son on a bike for the first time today. He took to it like a duck to water and pedaled down the trail about half a mile and back (with many stops). The initial going was slow as it took a bit to understand how the brakes were applied by pedaling backwards but he got it very quickly. I'm a proud papa.

There were lots of people out walking and biking today. We saw lots of pet owners with their dogs and couples walking together. It struck me once again what a fantastic resource the trail is for our community. It's a place to exercise, to socialize, to commune with nature, and, in our case this morning, to watch your kids grow up a bit, right before your eyes.

Watauga Crossing Update

The trail crossing at Watauga Road was the site of a terrible accident back in March. As a result, the town has recently erected new signage on the trail to remind bikers to be careful when crossing this intersection.

The Caboose in Damascus is a very visible symbol of the railroad origins of the VCT. It sits astride the trail in Damascus Town Park and is greets trail riders, pedestrians, and motorists on Hwy 58 as they enter town.

Unfortunately, the caboose had become weathered and faded to a cloudy pink color. Club members, along with sixth grade students from Asheville's Evergreen Community Charter School recently repainted the caboose, using a special paint, and restored it to its brilliant red color.

The club had hoped to protect the paint job by constructing a cover, similar to the one over the engine at the Abingdon trailhead. A funding solution was identified and the club would have have provided the volunteer labor. However, the Damascus Town Council declined the offer, citing their concern that a cover would detract from being able to really see the caboose. I was disappointed by their decision to not preserve such an important landmark, particularly when the opportunity to do so with no cost to the town may not come along again.

In other caboose news, Abingdon has announced that it has received a caboose that will be placed at Depot Square, on the Creeper Trail Extension. No word on whether they will cover it.

De-mothballification of the blog

I put the blog on the back burner for a while but I'm happy to announce that I'll be updating it more frequently now. This past month, I moved from being a board member of the Virginia Creeper Trail Club to its president. Consequently, I'm now putting in more hours on club business and will try to post those developments here.
Sorry for those of you who are not interested in the club and only the trail, as I will definitely be seeing the trail through the eyes of the club and blogging about it in those terms. However, I think there will be enough info to keep everyone happy.

The new board and officers will be meeting on June 23rd for the first time. We have a lot to discuss. I've already filled my dry-erase board with ideas for them to consider and I hope there will be much to report in the near future about additional projects and club development.

For now, I'll end with a plea to readers of this blog who also manage websites. Would you mind posting a link to the club (www.vacreepertrail.org) on your site? I'm trying to increase our Google PageRank and increase the visibility of the site. There's a lot of good things happening in the club and the increased visibility could really help them get moving. Thanks!

Temporary gates between Watauga/Alvarado

Two gates across the trail are temporary and I'm told should be removed by the end of this month. The area in question is near trestles 7 and 8, on the section between Watauga and Alvarado. The gates are a temporary solution to allow cattle to cross the trail to their water source. This will continue until the Town of Abingdon completes the improvements underneath the two trestles to allow the cattle to cross without disturbing the trail. The gates will remain but will be closed (opening the trail) when the improvements are done. In the meantime, trail users should please close and latch the gates with the chain as they pass through.

Interpretive signs away

The interpretive signs along the trail will soon be a reality. It's been a longer process than I expected, but the proofs are going in the mail today to Pannier, the manufacturer. In 6-8 weeks, the signs and frames will be delivered and then it's just a matter of finding good weather to put them out.

2/21 Update: I spoke with Pannier today and it's looking more like 3-4 weeks instead of 6-8.

In Memorium: Dr. Dave Brillhart

One of the founders of the Virginia Creeper Trail, Dr. David Brillhart, died yesterday. Below is his obituary as listed in the Bristol Herald-Courier (italics mine).

ABINGDON – Dr. David M. Brillhart died peacefully at his home early Wednesday morning, Feb. 7, 2007.
Dr. Brillhart was born on Nov. 14, 1925, in Troutville, Va., the son of Arlie Raphael and Lelia Dove Brillhart. After high school, he attended VPI until he was drafted into the service during World War II, where he served in the European Theater as an infantry scout. After the war, he attended Bridgewater College, from which he graduated in 1948. He then entered the Medical College of Virginia, where he met his future wife, Charlotte Long, whom he married on Oct. 14, 1949. After being in Abingdon as a medical student, David decided to come to Abingdon to practice medicine as a general practitioner after graduation. Starting in the era of home calls, Dr. Brillhart had a medical career spanning over 35 years, during which time he delivered hundreds of babies and, together with Ed Hill, served as team physician for the Abingdon High School football team. Although Dr. Brillhart was extremely busy with his medical practice, being on call at the emergency room, and making rounds at the hospital and nursing homes, he always found time to spend with his family. He was always a devoted and loving husband and father. After retiring in 1990, Dr. Brillhart continued to pursue his lifelong hobbies of woodworking, photography, painting, music and hiking. In the 1970s, he and fellow planning commission member, Dr. French Moore Jr., developed and pursued the idea of transforming the about-to-be-abandoned Norfolk and Western rail line between Abingdon and Whitetop Station into a recreational trail, which eventually became the Virginia Creeper Trail. Dr. Brillhart believed that the Creeper Trail might be his most lasting legacy. Dr. Brillhart was raised in the Brethren Church, but became a member of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church after coming to Abingdon, where he was a choir member for many years.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Charlotte Brillhart of Abingdon; one daughter, Anne Meinrath of Woodlands, Texas; one son, Mike Brillhart of Abingdon; four grandchildren, Lesley Icenogle, David Meinrath, Maggie Brillhart and Sallie Brillhart; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of the life of Dr. David M. Brillhart will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, at the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. Robert N. Lominack Jr. and the Rev. Robert Tolar Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends in the parlor of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church immediately following the service. Private interment will be conducted on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, in Botetourt County, Va.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Virginia Creeper Trail Club, P.O. Box 2382, Abingdon, VA 24212; or to the Arts Depot, 314 Depot Square, Abingdon, VA 24210 in memory of Dr. David M. Brillhart. Online condolences may be submitted to the family of Dr. Brillhart at www.frostfuneralhome.com.
Frost Funeral Home, 250 E. Main St., Abingdon, (276) 628-2131, is serving the family of Dr. David M. Brillhart.

Sled dogs on the Creeper Trail

Siberian Husky Assist , a local dog rescue group, held a Memorial Serum Run on the Virginia Creeper Trail today, to commemorate the historic 1925 event in Alaska. "Cruiser" who ran the 2006 Iditarod was part of the sled team relay. The event got some media coverage.

New fencing for cattle on Smith farm section

Reported by club member Anne Maio:

Just in case you haven't been on the VCT between Watauga and Trestle 8 this week, the new fencing is almost complete. Two contractors have been installing wooden posts and metal fencing that looks to have about 5x7" rectangles (so it's not just straight wire fencing). There is also a new gate (Actually, it looks like a used gate.) a little way before you get to the sawmill and Trestle 7, coming from Watauga.

When does the rhododendron bloom along the VCT?

I had an opportunity to receive this question this week from an inquiry to the club website. I forwarded it on to our resident flower expert, Eleanor, who offers this reply:

Mothers' Day till the end of May is the time for Rhododendron catawba (lavendar to pink) to bloom in Damascus and not so high areas of the Appalachian Trail. If you want to see catawba in mass go to Grayson Highlands State Park between June 10 and 20, park at Massey Gap and walk up the Rhododendron Trail to the AT -- go south to the Crest Trail (a horse trail) and be impressed all along the walk.
July 4 is usually the peak for Rhododendron maximum (white blossoms) to bloom along the VCT, Straight Branch Road (US58 east of Damascus) and the Appalachian Trail. Some Julys there are more white blossoms than during other Julys.
When you take the shuttle to White Top Station and look up to the open field of White Top Mountain, you can drive up to that open field and find photogenic flowers beside the switchback road and on the AT going north or south from early spring to late fall.

Interpretive trail signs being produced

Right now I'm working on a project for the Creeper Trail Club. We received a grant from DCR to do a number of trail improvements, including the benches/kiosks and the new trail maps. The final element is to design and produce a series of signs along the trail to interpret the natural and historical features for trail users. I inherited the project after much work had already been done by others. The text for the signs has been written by Ed Davis and Ed Morgan, authors of The Virginia Creeper Trail Companion. I'm serving as the project manager, mostly by gathering images to go with the text and working with a local graphic designer, Holly Horton, to make them look spectacular. The signs themselves will be produced by Pannier, who also did the trail maps that look so nice. We should be ready to send them off for manufacturing in the next month. If the weather holds, the trail maintenance crew and I will be installing them sometime after the first of the year.