http://pcpatriot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/June-25-2010.pdf

See our photos from a hike to Cascades at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=170067&id=1366666157&saved#!/profile.php?id=1366666157&ref=profile

This article has some fascinating information about the early settlers of [...]]]> At Claytor Lake State Park you’ll find a historical marker commemorating Dunkard’s Bottom.  Dunkard’s Bottom was the first white settlement west of the New River.  The community was  enveloped by water when the dam was constructed and now lies at the bottom of Claytor Lake.

This article has some fascinating information about the early settlers of Dunkard’s Bottom.  One of the earliest recorded descriptions notes that:

“In 1749 the Moravian missionaries noted that in the region of Dunkard’s Bottom they found a “kind of white people who wore deer skins, lived by hunting, associated with the Indians and acted like savages.” Once the Dunkard’s got to America they changed their ways to fit the lifestyle of the American Frontier.”

To read the full article follow this link:

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4BYM

The New River Trail journeys alongside the river, meandering through shaded forests, verdant green hillsides, and quaint farmlands.  Although best known as a scenic recreation destination for its enchanting natural charm, the New River Trail is far more than just a walk [...]]]> “In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks.” – John Muir

The New River Trail journeys alongside the river, meandering through shaded forests, verdant green hillsides, and quaint farmlands.  Although best known as a scenic recreation destination for its enchanting natural charm, the New River Trail is far more than just a walk in the woods.  The trail has a vibrant history and has undergone various transformations throughout the centuries.

Native American tribes and early settlers would follow the river in their struggle for survival and prosperity.  One notable local from Draper, Mary Ingles, was captured in a raid by Shawnee Indians in 1755, then taken back to Ohio.  In her heroic journey, she escaped from her captors and followed the New River to find her way back home.  Later, when America became a quickly developing nation, a railroad system was put in place alongside the river to transport raw materials as well as travelers.  In 1987 the Rails to Trails program converted the abandoned railroad tracks into a pristine recreation area.

Today, visitors to the trail can still experience the nostalgia of the old time trains.  Twenty-eight former railroad trestles have been preserved as well as several historic train depots.  In each of the two tunnels carved out of stone, one can hear the resounding echoes and imagine a time when trains thundered through them.  The trail also passes by Shot Tower Historical State Park where ammunition was made for setters in the early 1800’s.   Travelers along the trail can also explore unique geological features such as steep rocky cliff sides, unusual rock formations, and the one hundred foot deep Bertha Cave.  An attentive eye may spot beaver dens tucked among the sycamore roots or patterns of grooves on the cone shaped stumps of trees felled by beavers.  Watch the riverbank for great blue herons fishing for their next meal.  White-tailed deer are commonly spotted crossing the trail, especially in the early morning quiet.

Perhaps equally astounding as the wildlife is the peacefulness that enshrines the trail.  Visitors often find that their pace slows down as their eyes open up to natural wonders and their ears fill with the refreshing music of birdsong and rippling water.  The New River Trail welcomes hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders to follow the river on a journey through history and into the wild.

Mountains have captivated the human spirit since ancient times.  Virginia’s rolling mountains stretch [...]]]> “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”- John Muir

Mountains have captivated the human spirit since ancient times.  Virginia’s rolling mountains stretch across the horizon and nurture diverse wildlife, quiet forests, and flowing rivers.  Their blue-green folds appear deep purple in the evening and glow iridescent in the morning as the rising sun illuminates their shroud of fog.

Part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, some of the world’s oldest mountains, Virginia’s mountains are thought to be over 250 million years old.  The immensity of their size, all the forces required to create them, and their age makes contemplating a mountain staggering to the imagination.  It is no wonder that mountains are often associated with wisdom and strength.

Just as these mountains determine the course of a single raindrop that falls on their slopes, they also played a vital role in determining the course of Virginia’s history.  Native American tribes thrived in areas where the mountains met their needs.  The Blue Ridge region of Virginia was considered a sacred hunting ground for Shawnee, Cherokee and Iroquois tribes.  Native Americans, as well as early settlers, prospered in the valleys and lush deltas that surround the New River.  The mountains themselves influenced where cities were built and had the power to delay westward expansion.

Today, Virginia’s mountains draw people from all walks of life.  They are a prized recreation destination for outdoor adventurers, a place of peace for those who need an escape, they are a favorite gathering place for families, an inspiration to artists, and they are a source of healing for those weary of the city.  The mountains are a home to what is wild and free.

Mountains are solid and fastened to the earth, yet they also reach skywards towards the heavens, the stars, and all the mysteries of the universe.  Perhaps the mountains fascinate us because they bring us closer to the natural forces that are often too great to comprehend.  After all, there’s no better place to view the stars than high on a mountain far away from city lights.

Imagine a lake surrounded by rolling mountains, fed by a pristine river, and bordered by shady forests.  Claytor Lake is a deep mountain lake with cool, clear [...]]]> A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature.  It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.  -Henry David Thoreau

Imagine a lake surrounded by rolling mountains, fed by a pristine river, and bordered by shady forests.  Claytor Lake is a deep mountain lake with cool, clear waters and a fascinating history.

Long before the New River was dammed to form Claytor Lake in 1939, Cherokee, Iroquois and Catawba tribes roamed the area and hunted there.  Settlers traveled on the nearby Wilderness Road, a footpath and wagon trail in the mid-1700’s.  At the bottom of Claytor Lake rests the remains of one of the earliest settlements in the New River Valley, Dunkard’s Bottom. Dunkard’s Bottom was formed by a mystic German sect in 1749, but was swallowed by the lake when the dam was built to generate electric power.  Visit Claytor Lake State Park to see the historical marker for Dunkard’s Bottom as well as the chimney that has been preserved from resident Col. William Christian’s 1771 home.  Virginia is home to many historical sites and Claytor Lake is no exception.  The visitor’s center at Claytor Lake State Park is the restored 1879 log home of Haven Howe, a Civil War cavalryman, craftsman, and early environmentalist who was one of the first advocates for protecting the New River from pollution.  In addition to experiencing a living part of the past, guests can view a variety of exhibits at the park on topics ranging from how early settlers survived to the lake’s water quality.

Today, Claytor Lake is known for its good fishing, outdoor recreation and the natural splendor that surrounds it.  The lake offers excellent habitat for smallmouth bass, some record breaking fish have been caught there.  Visitors can enjoy cruising the waters by boat, a quiet lakeside picnic, or going for a refreshing swim after a scenic hike along one of the nearby trails.  At Claytor Lake, you can feel far away from it all yet still have plenty of exciting opportunities for recreation and adventure.

“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt – it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”-Hal Boyle

There are few natural forces more intriguing than a river, and the New River is truly a rare wonder.  [...]]]>

The New River

“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt – it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”-Hal Boyle

There are few natural forces more intriguing than a river, and the New River is truly a rare wonder.  The New River is one of the few major rivers in the world that flow South to North, and it is the only river to wind through the entire width of the Appalachian Mountains.  Contrary to what its name suggests, the New River is actually ancient at more than 350 million years old.  Native American artifacts found in the New River Valley date as far back as 10,000 years ago and reveal a long history of the bond between humans and this river.  It is no wonder that the New River was honored as one of fourteen American Heritage Rivers.

The New River has long been a sanctuary for wildlife.  Its clear waters nurture a healthy ecosystem where a diverse array of creatures thrive.  Perhaps that is why some of the largest smallmouth bass and walleye ever caught in Virginia came from right here on the New River.  In Southwest Virginia, the river journeys through unspoiled forests, rocky cliff sides, rolling green hills, and picturesque farmlands.

The New River is a unique treasure because its natural integrity has been well preserved.  On a leisurely float down the river, one is sure to encounter surprises around every bend- a graceful great blue heron lifting skywards, a turtle sunning on a broad, smooth rock, a beaver harvesting a tree, or a white tailed deer drinking form the river banks.

Over the years, the New River has become a sanctuary for humans, too.  In Southwest Virginia, the New River is calm and clean which makes it ideal for swimming, fishing, tubing and kayaking.  This ancient river has a way of restoring the spirit and offering relief from the stresses of our modern world for those who seek a greater harmony with nature.