Life Outside Spring 2019 - 6

FROM THE EDITOR

JULIANNE RAINONE

THE VIEW FROM BALLAST POINT
The trails below-around Preston Pond and beyond-make for a pleasant, pre-beer walk.

A MODEST PROPOSAL

THE BALLAST POINT WALK

Wouldn't the causes of both a pretty park and a brewery be
served by a more formal connection between the two?
E FIRST BECAME AWARE of the trails
of Botetourt County's Greenfield
Recreation Park while watching a
grandson's soccer and baseball games on fields
that are part of the complex. We didn't walk
much at Greenfield back then, but there are
some nice memories.
And when you do walk, there are no great vistas,
no strong climbs, and the water features-stream
and pond-are relatively modest.
So if your goal is no more than a good loop
walk, you can structure things to get in at least
five miles of easy terrain and nice surface, with
pretty mountains looming all-'round.
But The Greatest Day Hiker of Them All
and I like to build a destination into our
hikes, whether it's one as challenging as a

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Spring 2019 \\ LifeOutside Magazine

picnic atop McAfee Knob or Apple Orchard
Mountain, or as modest as a walk to a
downtown Roanoke restaurant.
That's where Ballast Point comes in. Yes,
you can do your Greenfield Park loop to build
in a visit: You either climb the hill or walk
the drive up to the big impressive building
full of fine beer and good food. A perfect
lunch stop for a walk.
But would the causes of both park use and
Ballast Point visits both be served with a more
formal connection? A little series of switchbacks
down Ballast Hill to the Cherry Blossom Trail?
With signage at the top and at the bottom as
to the offerings at the other end?
Hey, this is not as radical an idea as was our
last one: To build a trail along Va. 779 from

where the Appalachian Trail crosses, to cover
the half mile walk to Flying Mouse Brewery.
And could that brewery have extended its life
had there been a trail with signage from the
Great Trail to the brewery?
Although in the long term, thru-hikers at
least will find the beer.
But back to Greenfield: Long-term Roanoke
Greenway and Botetourt County plans call
for an eventual link from the Tinker Creek
Greenway, then via other trails, to Greenfield,
which would create the glorious connection all
the way back to Roanoke City, the Roanoke
River Greenway and all manner of lunch spots.
In the meantime, how about a nice little
trail up the hill from the park to the brewery?

-KURT RHEINHEIMER
Life Outside Spring 2019

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