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Blog
Posts on Hiking in Wintergreen Resort and Nelson
County
Kim Chappell is a
graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an
agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier
Properties, the official real estate office of
Wintergreen Resort. Kim also lists and sells
property in beautiful Nelson County. Contact
Kim Chappell at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or
434-238-2430. The Free Daily Blog is posted on
both
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and
www.ExperienceWintergreen.com
For a free hiking map
of the Wintergreen Resort trails, stop by the
Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties office in
the Mountain Inn. Wintergreen Resort has 30+
miles of hiking trails that are marked and
maintained.
Get Ready to Hike the
Trails
My husband is planning a
Nelson County hike on the Appalachian Trail this
Fall. He will hike from the Shenandoah National
Park to Rt. 56 in Tyro, VA. We enjoy hiking on
the AT. This time it will be to take photos and
write stories about the trail in Nelson County.
We will be adding the log to both web sites. In
the next few months, I will be including
information about preparing for any hike,
especially hiking on the AT.
Future stories will be
about packing for overnight trips, the AT blazes
and side trails and the AT in Nelson County and
Virginia. If you have Nelson County Hiking
reviews that you would like to share, please
send them to
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com
One of the questions that I
receive often is about the contents of the
“hiking day pack” that I have mentioned a few
times in my blog stories. It is important to
take a day pack with you on any hike. One never
knows what may happen, and you will be thankful
that you have supplies. Carry this pack even if
you think you will only be on the trails for a
few hours.
I have a Ridge Runner pack,
purchased as a day pack from LL Bean. It cost
less than $70. Here is a list of supplies that
I carry for a day hike. Even if you are
only planning on being on the trail for a few
hours, plan to be on the trail for an extra 12
hours. In later posts, I will be providing
lists for overnight and longer hikes. Our
Nelson County AT hike will cover a few days so
we can enjoy the scenery.
Map and Compass (even if I
am familiar with the trail)
Water, at least 1 quart
Extra Clothing: Even a
sweatshirt in the Summer and a hat
Food: Enough for an extra
meal of high-energy food
First-aid kit with blister
treatments (I purchased mine at Blue Ridge
Outdoors in Wintergreen)
Extra pair of socks
Whistle (Blue Ridge
Outdoors)
Garbage bag to carry out
trash
Flashlight with extra
batteries (even if you think you will only be
hiking in the daylight)
Emergency Tarp (Blue Ridge
Outdoors)
Sharp knife
Fire Starter (like a candle
with waterproof matches)
Toilet paper and small
trowel to cover
*During the hot summer,
carry 2 or 3 quarts of water
I use an Avon product that
is a combination of sun screen and bug
repellant.
I suggest that you carry
the whistle, even if you are just hiking or
walking on some of the easy Wintergreen or
Stoney Creek trails. Three blasts of the
whistle is the signal for “help needed”.
Wildlife also will usually run from the sound of
the whistle.
Follow the Blazes
Both the Appalachian Trail
and the trails in Wintergreen Resort are marked
with paint “blazes”. Wintergreen Resort has
over 30 miles of marked trails for abilities
from easy to difficult. Trails are marked for
daylight travel in both directions with blazes.
Blazes can be found on trees, posts, and rocks.
The Appalachian Trail
blazes are white. They are six inches high and
two inches wide. Blazes in Wintergreen Resort
vary in color depending on the difficulty of the
trail. Visit Wintergreen Resort Premier
Properties in the Mountain Inn for a free
Wintergreen Hiking Map. The map has trails
marked by ability. Most hikers learn the system
of blazes very quickly.
Appalachian Trail Blaze
Tips:
While hiking on the
Appalachian Trail, side trails are light blue.
Other intersecting trails are other shapes or
colors.
Two white blazes, one above
the other, signal an obscure turn, route change
or incoming side trail. Be especially alert
when you see two stacked blazes.
Rock stacks or cairns are
used above the treeline on the Appalachian
Trail. They are also used in areas where snow
and fog may obscure painted blazes. (usually
not used in Nelson County)
Distance between blazes
varies. In some areas blazes are within sight.
In areas managed as wilderness, you may only see
four or five blazes within a mile. If you have
gone a quarter mile without seeing a blaze,
stop. Retrace your steps and find the blaze.
Often, a look backwards
will reveal blazes mean for hikers traveling in
the opposite direction.
Carry your maps and
understand how to read them before leaving on
your hike.
Geocaching in
Wintergreen & Nelson County:
First, what is it? It is a
fun combination of hiking and searching for
mysteries and treasure. It’s a “sport” for all
ages, it is for individuals or groups and it is
fun and educational. Participants use a
hand-hand GPS receiver unit to guide you to a
destination, where a hidden container (or
“cache”) is stored. Sound interesting? Go to:
www.Geocaching.com
One thing that I want to
mention is please tread lightly on our nature.
Leave nature the way you found it while
Geocaching. Replace the cache in a responsible
fashion. (more on this in later posts)
Getting started:
Create an account on Geocaching.com for a free
membership. The zip code for Wintergreen is
22958. Check it out, there are several caches
in the area of Wintergreen Resort. Friends and
family are already having fun with this sport in
the resort. Decide which cache sounds
interesting to you and print-out the details.
Don’t forget to bring something to go into the
cache once you find the box. Bring something
that reminds you of your hometown and you don’t
mind giving away.
Create a waypoint in your
GPS unit for the cache, using the latitude and
longitude coordinates from the cache’s webpage.
(on the print-out from above)
Use your GPS unit’s
navigate feature (or equivalent) to produce an
arrow on the screen pointing you to the waypoint
you just created.
Using the arrow as a guide,
make you way towards the cache.
Once you find the cache,
take note of how it has been hidden. You will
need to replace it in an identical fashion.
Open the cache and browse
the trinkets within it. You should always trade
something of equal or greater value to keep the
sport fair. You don’t have to remove any items
and you can help re-stock a poorly filled cache
by leaving your item and taking nothing.
Find the logbook within the
cache. Make a new entry in the book noting the
date, time, your caching site username and a
sentence about your journey to this cache.
Then, hide the cache box exactly like you found
it.
Return home and log back
into the caching web site. Log your visit on
the web site.
Thing you will Need
for Geocaching:
1. A GPS Unit: Prices
range from $100-$150.00 but be sure to check out
eBay.
2. A computer with Internet
and a printer
3. Cache items for trading
(Check out the Wintergreen Logo store in the
Mountain Inn if you forgot to bring some items
from home) Favorite cache items include
commemorative pins, patches, crafts, etc.
4. A pen or pencil to
signing the log book
5. Your day pack
(tomorrow’s blog will provide a list of day pack
supplies)
Variations on
Geocaching:
Multi-Caches: Send you to
more than one waypoint prior to you finding the
final chache location.
Microcaches: smaller
containers, uses a small log sheet.
Puzzle Caches: May
require you to solve a puzzle of some kind to
obtain the coordinates for the cache.
Virtual Caches: These have
no container at all, but require you to find
some information at the location or take a
picture to prove you found it.
Locationless Caches: These
are like a Scavenger Hunt and challenge you to
find an object or landmark that could be
anywhere. These are not listed on
geocaching.com.
Moving Caches: These begin
with the original coordinates of a real
location, but when found are moved to another
location.
Nelson County and
Wintergreen Geocaching
Here is just one of the
Wintergreen Cache clues:
Located in
Wintergreen Resort. Access is free. Maps of
Resort and trails are available at
Trillium House. Please be mindful of
possible wildlife encounters in and around cache
areas, especially during warm weather. Bears and
snakes are among Wintergreen's many residents!
Park at the Three Ridges Overlook and wear shoes
with good treads.
Original Contents:
Wintergreen Golf Ball
Tennis Ball
Baseball
Flashing Ball
Rubber Ball
5 Marbles
Monster Duel TB (Found in Howlin' Good Time at
Bark Camp Lake)
Log book, pen, pencil.
Begin your quest at the Three Ridges Access
Trail.
Keep your eyes open and you will prevail.
Fire and Brimestone can be viewed another day,
Your Fortune lies down a gentler way.
Continue your journey to where the crossroads
appear.
Take a moment to rest and the way will be clear.
Walk both sets of planks, the treasure is near.
Once the boards end, take the way of the deer.
The forest's hand points to the sky,
knot to lead you but to catch the eye!
For the full information,
go to
www.geocache.com, sign up and search on zip
come 22958
A Hike in Fortunes Cove and the Mountain
Cove Winery
The Fortunes Cove and Mountain Cover area is
another one of my favorite areas in Nelson
County. My family has roamed this area since
the 1700s. Family members were still farming
apples in this area until the 1980s. When
heading over to Fortunes Cove and Mountain Cove
Winery, be sure to take your time on Mountain
Cove Road and enjoy the scenery of Nelson County
apple trees. I will be blogging about Nelson
County orchards later this year.
The Fortunes Cove Preserve has
hiking and biking trails across 755 acres that
stretches along the crest of Woods Mountain.
The preserve is the home to a wide variety of
flora and wildlife. This preserve is open daily
from dawn until dusk.
There are 5.5 miles of hiking trails that
take hikers through a loop around the preserve.
There is a stream along the base of the trail
that is filled with blooming wildflowers during
the summer months.
The 5.5-mile loop trail climbs steeply from
the parking area, gaining some 1,500 feet in
elevation before reaching its highest
point. Hikers should be in good physical
condition and should allow six hours to complete
the entire loop. A gravel parking area and kiosk
with trail map are at the preserve entrance;
there are no restrooms
The Fortunes Cove Preserve is also home to
many birds. You will probably see pileated
woodpeckers, northern cardinals, Carolina wrens,
warblers, tanagers, American restarts and
scarlet tangers.
Other wildlife that lives in the preserve
includes Black bear, bobcat, white-tailed
deer, red fox, raccoon, and box turtle.
After hiking in The Fortunes Cove Preserve,
head next door to the Mountain Cove Winery.
The Mountain Cove Winery is one of the
oldest continuously operated wineries in
Virginia. Most of the vineyard was re-planted
in 1997 and the winery is in full modern
production. There is a sales and tasting room
that includes a selection of wine gift items.
The vineyard now includes Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Norton, Chambourcin, Villard
Blanc and Traminette.
Be sure to bring a picnic to the Mountain
Cove Winery. There is plenty of outdoor seating
available in their wine garden and beautiful
views. Visiting this winery is like visiting a
traditional Nelson County farm.
The Allen Creek
Nature Preserve.
The Allen Creek Nature
Preserve is located at the corner of Stoney
Creek East and Towhee Court in Stoney Creek at
Wintergreen. (For a map of Stoney Creek, stop
by the Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties
office in the Mountain Inn) From the entrance
of Stoney Creek, turn left onto Monocan Drive
from Rt. 151 North. Turn right on Stoney Creek
East. Turn left on Towhee Ct and there is
parking on the left.
The nature walk is 0.7
miles, over relatively flat terrain that is
suitable for the entire family and many ability
levels. (you may bring your dog, but please keep
them on their leash) The trail is well marked
with blue blazes with well-maintained bridges
and boardwalks. The preserve was designed and
created by the Wintergreen Nature Foundation.
The preserve is open year-round, but makes for a
perfect Spring walk in the Rockfish Valley.
Much wildlife is known to
be in the area, and this also adds to the
experience. The presence of wildlife can be
discovered by their tracks in the mud by the
stream or in the swamp. This quiet area makes a
perfect walk-through for bear, bobcat and
raccoon at night. As a matter of fact, once you
leave the parking lot and begin the hike, it is
hard to believe that this nature preserve is in
the midst of the Stoney Creek community. We
heard many birds during our walk. I suggest
carrying a field guide.
The forest floor has
awakened for Spring. For April, there is a pink
blooms from Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia
virginica) and a white violet. The ferns are
starting to show. By summer this area will be
covered by a full canopy of shade and will
provide a cool retreat for preserve visitors.
There is a picnic table next to Allen Creek that
makes for a nice stop.
As the season progresses
towards Summer, be sure to bring insect
repellant.
Shamokin Springs
Nature Preserve
With Spring, I have
received many requests for information on hiking
either in Wintergreen Resort or near the
resort. Over the coming weeks, I am going to be
posting on many hiking options.
First, go by The
Wintergreen Nature Foundation (www.TWNF.org)
and pick up a map/brochure about the Shamokin
Springs Nature Preserve. TWNF is located in
Wintergreen Resort on Wintergreen Drive.
(Across the street from the WinterGarden Spa and
Fitness Center) It is also a good idea to stop
into the WTG Nature Foundation to learn about
the wildlife that you may encounter on this
walk. You will see many birds, deer and
sometimes a black bear.
The Shamokin Springs Nature
Preserve is a thirteen acre area in the heart of
Wintergreen Resort, on Wintergreen mountain.
The parking area for this preserve is on the
corner of Blue Ridge Drive and Shamokin Springs
Trail. The trail is a loop, and you will finish
back at your car.
This is one of my favorite
parts of the resort because cool air settles
into this low area and it is a wetland habitat.
In the summer, the colors seem richer and the
temperatures are cooler than anyplace else in
the resort. This is also the area where I have
seen the most wildlife in the resort. Be sure
to bring your camera, but also be sure to remain
wise when encountering any of our wildlife.
(there is also a brochure at the WTG Nature
Foundation that is educational about the
wildlife in Wintergreen Resort. In an April
blog, I will be discussing our black bears)
The area near bridge #2 is
my favorite in the walk. There is a water
garden created from the mountain stream. Many
springs flow through the Nature Preserve and
this has created a network of waterways. Near
these waterways, you will see many species of
ferns, especially near bridge #11. It is these
waterways that also bring the wildlife to the
Nature Preserve. I was just in the Nature
Preserve a few days ago, and our wet Spring has
the water flowing. April is a great time to
walk this trail with the whole family.
Here are just a few of the
wildflowers, plants and trees that you can
expect to see in April. Spicebush, toothwort,
common blue violet, bloodroot, marsh violet,
round-leaf yellow violet, common serviceberry,
trillium and early watercress.
Crabtree Falls
Special Note about
Crabtree Falls: You should not visit
Crabtree Falls unless you are committed to
Staying On The Trail. Over the years, we
have had 24 hikers slip and fall to their
deaths, including a hiker last week. All of
these hikers had left the trail and were trying
to climb on the moss-covered rocks of the
waterfall. The rocks are covered with a black
moss/algae that is extremely slick. This is
also not the place to consume alcoholic
beverages. The trails are well maintained and
provide some wonderful views and photo
opportunities of the falls. There is no need to
leave these trails to risk life.
That said, Crabtree Falls
is one of my favorite areas of Nelson County.
It is also one of the most photographed places
in the county. It is beautiful any season. If
you are visiting Central-Virginia, Crabtree
Falls is a must-see.
Crabtree Falls is on Rt. 56
in Nelson County. You can reach Rt. 56W from
either Rt. 151 or the Blue Ridge Parkway. On
the average, twenty-two thousand visitors walk
the Crabtree Falls trail each year. There is
paved parking available ($3). There are no
vendors for snacks, water or any beverages. I
always suggest that you bring a day pack with
snacks and water.
Some consider Crabtree
Falls to be the highest waterfall east of the
Mississippi River. It is the highest waterfall
in Virginia. The falls consist of five
waterfalls (and many smaller ones) on Crabtree
Creek. Within a half mile the creek drops over
1200 feet. The land is part of the George
Washington National Forest. The trail is well
developed with wooden stairs, gravel paths, and
railed overlooks. A few years ago, I was
walking this trail a few times a week, and I am
only a moderate hiker.
The trail is 1.5 miles to
the highest waterfall overlook (3 miles round
trip) or you can go 3 miles to Crabtree
Meadows (6 miles round trip). The first
observation deck is only 700 ft past the parking
lot and is the perfect place for photographs if
you do not want to climb the trial.
There are benches a long
the way if you need to take a break. Take your
time and you will be rewarded with some great
views and mountain scenes.
Past the first overlook,
the trail becomes gravel. There are nine
switch-backs on the way up to the highest fall.
At the top of the highest fall, there is an
observation deck with an amazing view of the
Blue Ridge Mountains.
Along the trail, you will
see old hemlock, yellow birch, striped maple and
American elm.
As a side note, the
Appalachian Trail can be reached from a .5 mile
side trail out of Crabtree Meadows. Crabtree
Meadows is an open area with apple trees. It is
a national forest primitive campsite with water.
When visiting Crabtree
Falls, remember your camera….
Paul’s Creek Trail
and Water Slide
Yesterday was the perfect
afternoon to head to Paul’s Creek for some
cooler temperatures. This hike is a family
favorite for those visiting Nelson County and
Wintergreen Resort.
The Paul’s Creek Trail is
located from Stoney Creek at Wintergreen
Resort. Enter Stoney Creek at Monocan Drive and
go to the end of the road, take a left on Rodes
Valley Drive, left on Crawfords Climb and right
on Paul’s Creek cul-de-sac. Park your car in
the cul-de-sac.
Even though this trail is
only 1 mile round-trip, be sure to go prepared.
This trail is marked blue for moderate so wear
sturdy walking shoes. Also, like with all
hikes, tell someone where you are going and when
to expect your return. I did notice that my
Alltel cell phone did work on this trail.
Some special notes for this
trail include the notice to bring or wear bug
spray. We went on this hike late in the
afternoon, and there were lots of bugs. Also,
we noticed some areas of the trail that have
washed during recent storms. Watch your step.
The sun dips behind the
mountains early in this area and we noticed a
decrease in sunlight by 5:30PM. The
temperatures were considerably cooler along the
hike. Watch for wildlife coming to Paul’s Creek
in the late afternoon and early evening.
Yesterday, we were the only hikers on the trail
and enjoyed the sounds of nature including the
babbling creek.
Be sure to bring your
camera on this hike as the creek and waterfall
scenes are beautiful. About half-way into the
walk to the water slide, you will begin hiking
next to Paul’s Creek. At one point, you will
cross the creek on stones for steps. At the end
of the hike is a series of cascading waterfalls
and even a swimming hole. Bill reports that the
water is still “very cold”—I didn’t get in
yesterday. This is a place to retreat the
Summer heat and even bring a picnic. There are
several large rocks to sit on for lunch.
The surfaces of the rocks
have been smoothed by rushing water over
thousands of years. This has created a natural
“water slide”. Check out the photos. Add the
Paul’s Creek Trail to your list of things to do
in Nelson County and bring your camera.
A Novice Nelson
County Hike
I have been receiving many
questions and requests for information about
novice or beginner hikes in Nelson County. For
information about hiking in Nelson County, also
check out my Blog Archive at
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com In the Blog
Archive is information about creating a day
pack. Everyone should carry a day pack on any
hike—even if you think you will only be on the
trail for a few hours.
One of the best ways to get
started with hiking in Nelson County is to visit
The Wintergreen Nature Foundation. The
foundation is located on Wintergreen Drive on
Wintergreen mountain. Visit on line at
www.TWNF.org. They sponsor Saturday and
Sunday guided hikes for a minimal fee. The
hikes are educational and some feel more
comfortable with a guide along the mountain
trails. The hikes leave from the Nature
Foundation in the morning. I have received many
rave reviews about these guided nature hikes.
It is a great way to introduce your family to
both hiking and the nature of Nelson County.
(You do not need to be a resident of Wintergreen
Resort or even a guest of the resort to attend
the guided hikes)
Wintergreen Resort also has
marked hiking trails for all ability levels.
There are several “easy” hikes on both
Wintergreen mountain and in Stoney Creek. One
of my favorite is in the Shamokin Nature
Preserve on Wintergreen mountain.
New Gear for Hiking
I have received many
questions about hiking from novice hikers about
hiking in the region. One of the popular
requests is for a re-print on the story covering
what to pack in your day pack for hiking. I
will re-post the list shortly, but the first
list published this Spring can be found on my
Blog Archive in the Hiking library. I will be
posting an update to that list in the next few
weeks.
Many questions are about
safety and emergency response.
Last month, we had a
close-call in our family. My Dad had a serious
heart attack that started while he was fishing
back in the mountains of Amherst County. After
this close call, I did some research and found
Spot. Check out Spot’s official web site
at
www.findmespot.com.
Spot is a GPS handheld that
is solely for 9-1-1 situations. Or
long-distance hikers can use Spot to check-in
with family and friends during their trek. It
is not a device to use for usual GPS mapping as
it doesn’t have a screen. The device is
satellite based and works in areas where cell
phone service is not available. (map on their
web site) Once you hit the “panic button” a
message is sent to acquire assistance.
From their web site:
ALERT 9-1-1:
Use this function In the event of a life
threatening or other critical emergency to
notify emergency services of your exact location
and that you need assistance. The GEOS
International Emergency Response Center alerts
the appropriate agencies worldwide – for example
contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and
1-1-2 responders in Europe.
How It
Works:
Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact
coordinates from the GPS network, and send that
location along with a distress message to a GEOS
International Emergency Response Center every
five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency
Response Center notifies the appropriate
emergency responders based on your location and
personal information – which may include local
police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our
country’s embassy or consulate, or other
emergency response or search and rescue teams –
as well as notifying your emergency contact
person(s) about the receipt of a distress
signal.
Spot has benefits beyond emergency response.
The system allows you to send “check-in”
messages to your family and friends during a
long hike. There is even an option for your
friends and family to track your progress on
Google Maps.
Checking In with Family & Friends
CHECK IN:
Also known as SPOTcheckingSM, this
feature allows you to let your SPOTteam – the
friends and family you have chosen as your
contacts – know that all is well, notify them of
your location, or save waypoints so you can
review your route at a later date.
How It
Works:
When you press the OK button, SPOT acquires
your exact location from the GPS network and
routes it through the SPOT satellite network.
Your contacts receive either an SMS text message
on their mobile phone with your message and
coordinates, or an email with your message and a
link to Google Maps™ showing your exact
location.
Important
Note:
Unlimited Check-in usage is included as part of
the low-cost SPOT service plan.
Once you have activated your SPOT account,
you can change your contacts and customize your
SPOTcheckingSM message at any time
Currently, the price is $169.00 plus yearly
activation of $99. They are offering free 2-Day
Shipping. I think that this is new hiking gear
worth checking out.
Humpback Rocks Hike
To continue the series of
posts on hiking in Nelson County, today’s post
is about the Humpback Rocks Trail.
In the past, I have posted
a few stories about the Humpback area on the
Blue Ridge Parkway. Those stories are about the
Humpback Frontier Center (milepost 5.8) and
live bluegrass music. The Humpback Rocks Trail
is in the same area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This is a “destination
hike” with an amazing view from the scenic
overlook. Bring a camera on this hike. Since
this is a Nelson County destination hike, it may
be best to hike on this trail either early in
the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid
any crowds.
The trail is near milepost
6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is a
parking area with ample space. (free parking
here) There is also a posted map of the trails
in the area. Notice that the Appalachian Trail
crosses the Humpback Rocks Trail. Note that the
Humpback Rocks Trail blazes are light blue and
the AT blazes are white.
Bring enough water for this
hike. We ran into a few people yesterday who
were looking for water.
The trail is one mile to
the humpback rocks. The trail is well
maintained, but it is steep. At times,
you do need to walk over rocks in the trail.
(but not scale boulders) At the fork in the
light blue blaze trail, you need to turn left.
By turning left, you will head to a scenic
overlook. If you remain straight, you will hike
to the summit.
The scenic overlook is
worth the hike. On a clear day, hikers can see
for 50+ miles. Add this hike to your “must do”
list during Fall Foliage Season in Nelson
County.
Hike the Plunge in
Wintergreen
“The Plunge” provides
amazing mountain views. On a clear day, you can
see 45 miles towards Lynchburg. This is
certainly a “bring your camera” hike in
Wintergreen Resort. The Plunge trailhead can be
found on Blackrock Circle on Wintergreen
mountain. Follow the yellow trail blazes from
the trailhead to an awe-inspiring overlook.
This is the shortest trail
in the resort at only .2 miles. Be aware that
this trail is considered “moderate”. My
personal notes include that anyone who hikes
this trail needs to wear appropriate shoes.
Even though this is a short trail, you will be
walking over rough terrain with large rocks.
“The Plunge” is a short trail, but you can also
pick up the Brimstone Trail or the BlackRock
Trail from The Plunge. (marked with red blazes)
Here is a quote from the
Wintergreen Nature Foundation:
“The Plunge is an excellent
introduction to the beauty and natural history
of the area. The rock formations were created
millions of years ago and are called pedlar
gneiss. The Plunge provides an incredible
overlook and family picture spot.”
If you are interested in
hiking in Wintergreen Resort, stop by
Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties and pick
up a free resort hiking map. (located in the
Mountain Inn) There are over thirty miles of
hiking trails in the resort.
New
Wintergreen Hiking Trail
Hiking is one of the most visited library
“rooms” on my Blog Archive. We are heading into
some of the best hiking weather in Nelson
County. Many head to the trails in late Summer
and Fall. Wintergreen has over 30 miles of
marked and maintained trails. For information
about the trail system, visit
www.twnf.org
In late Spring, The Wintergreen Nature
Foundation added a new trail to its already
impressive trail system. I have heard many
positive comments about the new trail, Morgan’s
Loop. It sounds like this could be a trail that
was established many years ago in Wintergreen
and now brought back for hikers. There are a
few steep sections on this trail, but all say
that this new “hike” is a winner. Here is
information from The Wintergreen Nature
Foundation’s web site:
Morgan's
Loop
Morgans Loop is a 0.3 mile
trail adjoining the Upper Shamokin Falls Trail
and Loggers Alley trail forming a wonderful 0.9
mile loop hike (We are fully aware Morgans Loop
is itself not a loop. We just liked the name).
Morgan’s Loop was named for its founder, Chip
Morgan. In the process of scouring the
Wintergreen wilderness for unique ferns and
wildflowers, Chip came upon the semblance of an
old trail paralleling the Upper Shamokin Falls
trail. Upon careful examination, old blazes were
found suggesting this trail had previously been
constructed and forgotten within Wintergreen
history. This fascinating trail takes the hiker
through superb rock formations, great wildflower
beds and passes right by the top of the Upper
Shamokin Falls. This vantage point showcases yet
another beautiful spot in the Wintergreen
wilderness. Hikers beware! Morgans Loop is steep
in places and rates as moderate to difficult.
Despite the difficulty, this trail is a must see
for all looking to explore something new at
Wintergreen. |
