Two Trips On The Trails Of Persimmon Ridge Park

On Wednesday I hiked the trails of  Persimmon Ridge Park, for the second time. So I figure it is time to do a blog on this collection of trails. Most people know Persimmon Ridge Park for Wetlands Water Park, but there are hiking trails. The loop, that I read about in the Five-Star Trails of Tri-Cites & Southwest Virginia, varies in mileage, but my GPS said around three miles. Both times (here & here) I hiked this I started at the upper trailhead on Luke's Trail.

All of the trails are named for the Boys Scouts that helped construct them. This path heads past the 16th hole of the disc golf course heading up Persimmon Ridge. It is a nice uphill that gets the blood moving before moving out of to a cut line which offers views of the mountains one way and the park plus Dosser Ridge. After here the trail enters the woods and head down finally coming to a footbridge.

Here Walter's Trail goes left at gravel road and then goes right at the dead end into the woods. Here begins the steepest uphill of the hike. After it tops out it heads back downhill and back to the same gravel road.

Head left here on the John's Trail, the longest of the three. It heads up Dosser Ridge, but not too steeply before coming to the cutline on the other side with a view back to Persimmon Ridge and part of the Wetlands Waterpark. It hits another intersection and comes back across the cut line heading up a gravel road.

This trail/road heads up past a gate that says Restricted Area. About two-tenths-of-a-mile up there is a hiking trail to the right. You have to look for it as there is no signage here. Now if you miss the trail or you choose to the road continues up to a water tower...now back to the path.

It heads up across the top of Dosser Ridge and you come to the cutline one more time. To the left, the view is of 11E and right view of the mountains and a good view of Wetlands Water Park.The trail heads downhill and finally meets up with the road again.

After taking a left on the gravel road it is not long before 11E comes into view. This is a junction as left takes you to an old tunnel under 11E and heads into a subdivision. The trail we want curves right and becomes paved.

This is the homestretch has it goes by some ballfields and past the other trailhead. Go left at the sign and then right uphill on the road to the parking area. I have to say if you don't have a lot of time, this is an excellent hike.

Second Half Of Fourth of July On The Fourth

Well, today is the Fourth of July and it was a day of grilling in the rain. It was a soggy fourth as I started the day cleaning gutters and was chased off by rain. For our Fourth of July dinner, we had potato salad, baked beans and so grilled pineapple, lettuce and a course streak. While grilling the steak it started to rain and did so until I was done. Oh, also some hot dogs. My cousin Kelly and her husband Keith are in from Indiana, so they joined us for dinner and it turned out good. I then spent the evening watching fireworks on TV.

Finishing An AT Section Highlight This Trip Down The Rabbit Hole

Well, Pete here again and this week was a light week of hiking for this machine.  Last Monday the Big Lummox and I headed up to Round Knob again to finally finish a section of the AT (Appalachian Trail) by hiking out to Shelton Graves and back. 

Back in March the Lummox was a big pansy and tapped out just a half-mile from the AT! I didn't think we would make it on this day because 50 yards up the trail he sees a pile of bear scat and about wets himself. I had to drag him up the trail. I have to say, I had to carry him most of the way up the Round Bald Trail, but he was a little better on the AT...execpt whining about his knee. I had to keep him focused because we had to get to Shelton Graves and we did. On the way back we detoured up to Gravel Knob were some yahoo's were trying to sound like a bird, but more like an ass! Anyway, the Big Lummox was petrified by fear and I had to drag him up the trail...this rabbit doesn't squeal! Like I said the Lummox was fine on the AT but once we started down to Round Knob it was all about his knee...what a wuss.

On Wednesday, the Big Lummox had to go to the dentist (I will go easy there), but we did a little hike on the trails of Persimmon Ridge Park. For a hiker of my status, this is a beginner trail, but I still had to hear complaints from the Lummox. This time he ate too much at Sahib. Well, any day on the trail is better than one when your not.

First Half Of Fourth of July Weekend In Roan Mountain

Well, it is Fourth of July time and that means my friend Glen's annual family get together in Roan Mountain on Saturday. In the past, it had been a barbecue and fireworks, but this year just fireworks. One of the funniest parts is picking out what we will shoot off. I got to select some, so I went with the mortars we always get the Max Caliber. Two more of note was the Spanish Fly for Pyros and the No Shit, Sherlock. However, there was one that chose me. It was sitting on top of some fireworks and it was the only one I saw and it was called the Mark of the Beast: 666...awesome! 

When we got to Roan Mountain it was raining, so shooting off the fireworks was a question mark. But, the rain stopped and we got a window and systems were ago. I actually shot all of the mortars and if you want to know the power of these look at the picture of the cinder block that anchored the launch tube. We let the kids shoot some, but it was finally time for the big boy fireworks. The Mark of the Beast was cool and so was No Shit Sherlock, but Spanish Fly for Pyros was the best of the three. However, the top firework was one Glen picked...Autumn Rain. The finale was a big one (don't remember its name) one of the shots sent a piece of flaming green meteor right past me. While a close call it missed and we finished the evening pretty unscathed.