Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - 22
T H E G O O D WA L K
Sky Meadows
GREAT VIRGINIA VIEWS
The varied terrain and elevation makes for rich variation in environments and wildlife.
Text by LEONARD ADKINS | Photos by LEONARD M. AND LAURIE M. ADKINS
MORE
THAN JUST
A WALK
Sky Meadows has a
very active interpretive program. You may
find yourself identifying
constellations with an
astronomer, sampling
period foods of the
1800s, identifying
birdcalls, or listening
to tall tales around a
campfire.
Find out more about
Leonard's walking and
hiking adventures at
habitualhiker.com.
22
BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
B
eing less than an hour's drive away, Sky
Meadows State Park became a favorite
destination when Laurie and I were employed by George Mason University's
Outdoor Education Center. That was
a number of years ago, so we recently
made a return visit and were happy to
see that there were some trails we had never walked.
I also learned that I was wrong about the origin
of the park's name. Former owner Robert Hadow
had called it Skye Farm, for an island in Scotland.
I had always thought that it was obvious as to how
the park received its name. For, even from miles
away, it's possible to spot the large, open, richly
green fields that dapple vast areas of the hillside
as the topography sweeps upward from the rolling piedmont to the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge
Mountains.
This contrast of open meadows and deep forests, coupled with an elevation difference of 1,200
feet, ensures a variety of environments and wildflowers. Skunk cabbage could be blooming in
moist areas by mid-February. Cutleaf toothwort
appears about the beginning of April, followed by
violets, spring beauties and star chickweed. Sun-
tolerant plants line the roadways during the hot
summer months, with moth mullein adding bits
of yellow as late as October.
Our outing began next to the 1800s Mount
Bleak House by ascending through alternating
woodlands and meadows along the South Ridge
Trail. A turn onto the North Ridge Trail brought
us to the height of the land and the Appalachian
Trail.
I have experienced something new and wonderful every time I've visited this spot. I've heard
the staccato sounds of a woodpecker to the right of
me answered by another on my left, then by one
behind and again by one in front, creating nature's
version of surround-sound stereo. I've seen turtles
mate, oblivious to my presence. Other times, in
late winter, bloodroot had begun to force its way
TOP: Benches appear just in time on walks at Sky
Meadows.
ABOVE LEFT: The Appalachian Trail passes through
the park.
ABOVE RIGHT: The Federal-style Mount Bleak
mansion dates to 1843.
http://www.habitualhiker.com
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - 3
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