Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 11
WHETSTONE RIDGE TRAIL
When You Go
The Hike:
A moderately strenuous 11.8-mile one-way
(or strenuous 23.6-mile out-and-back) hike of
the little-used Whetstone Ridge Trail off
Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway.
Getting There:
The upper trailhead starts from the ranger station parking area at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 29, about 30 miles south of Waynesboro.
The far end of the trail is reached by driving
across the parkway from the parking area
onto Whetstone Ridge Road and, in .1 mile,
turning right on Irish Creek Road (VA 603) and
following it 9.3 miles to the small trailhead
parking area on the right.
Trail Information:
"Hiking and Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway:
The Only Guide You Will Ever Need, Including
GPS, Detailed Maps, and More" provides
information on every one of the trails along
the full length of the parkway and is available
through habitualhiker.com.
AFTER-HIKE EATS...
Early-spring vistas along the lightly used trail reveal layers of mountains with few
signs of civilization.
that you can thank for helping to
secure the Omnibus Public Land
Management Act in 2009, one of
the largest pieces of environmental
legislation to pass the US Congress
in more than 25 years. The law designated more than 2 million acres of
new wilderness in America.
There is another set of people
you should also thank if you decide
to undertake this journey. The farther you get from the trailhead, the
more obvious it becomes that the
Whetstone Ridge Trail is only lightly
used and would become hard to follow in places if not for the maintenance efforts of a group of
mountain bikers from Harrisonburg,
Va. Sometimes aided by riders from
Charlottesville, these volunteers
come out on a regular basis to keep
vegetation at bay and work on keeping erosion in check.
The trail is marked by plastic dia-
Don't go to Gertie's Country Store (540-3779313; about five miles from the parkway milepost 27.2 via VA 56) in Vesuvius looking for
linen tablecloths and napkins. The cinder block
building has peeling paint and kitschy nicknacks on the outside, but inside you'll be served
tasty portions of pulled-pork BBQ, sweet
potato fries, potato salad, good conversation,
and Blue Ridge Mountain hospitality.
monds nailed to tree trunks, so be
sure to be watching for double diamonds at 9.5 miles that mark the
turn to the left off the mountain - or
you'll miss the descending pathway
that returns you to your parked car
at 11.8 miles.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 | 11
http://www.habitualhiker.com
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014
Cover
Table of Contents
From the Editor / Worth a Click
From the Farm
Digital Help Guide
Creature Feature
The Hike
Mountain Report
Great Home Buys in the Mountains
Festivals & Events
Country Roads
Sip the Best: Mountain Wines, Brews and Spirits
Experience North Georgia
Wild Ponies of the Grayson Highlands: The Photoessay
‘Favorite Restaurant in All The World’
Sadie, Ace Baseball Dog
Sleeping in the Museum (No, on Purpose! In a Bed!)
Mountain Garden
Cabin in the Woods: The Expansive Welcome of Primland
Guest Column
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Intro
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Cover1
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Cover2
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Table of Contents
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 4
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - From the Editor / Worth a Click
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - From the Farm
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 7
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Digital Help Guide
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - The Hike
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 11
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Great Home Buys in the Mountains
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 15
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 16
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 17
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 19
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Sip the Best: Mountain Wines, Brews and Spirits
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 21
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 22
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 23
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 24
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 25
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Experience North Georgia
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 27
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 28
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 29
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 30
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 31
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 32
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 33
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Wild Ponies of the Grayson Highlands: The Photoessay
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 35
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 36
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 37
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - ‘Favorite Restaurant in All The World’
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 39
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 40
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 41
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 42
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 43
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Sadie, Ace Baseball Dog
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 45
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Sleeping in the Museum (No, on Purpose! In a Bed!)
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 47
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 48
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 49
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 50
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 51
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 52
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 53
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 54
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 55
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 56
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 57
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 58
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 59
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Mountain Garden
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 61
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Cabin in the Woods: The Expansive Welcome of Primland
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 63
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 64
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 65
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Guest Column
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Cover3
Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - Cover4
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