One Of The Natural Wonders Of Appalachia...The Great Channels Of VA!

 

If there were a Seven Natural Wonders of the Appalachian Highlands one place that would have to be on this list is the Great Channels of Virginia. This natural wonder is located on Clinch Mountain east of Abingdon, VA. This wasn't my first trip here as I made my first visit with the Clinch Coalition back in November 2015. 

So, it had been a few years since my last time here. Once again this hike was starting from the Hayters Gap Trailhead on VA-80 at the Washington-Russell County lines. However, there had been some changes since my last visit. First, there had been changes to the parking. Five years ago it was a park where you could. But since then numbered parking spots have been installed, limiting parking to 10 spots. Oh, and as some of the new signage says this new rule will be enforced by a ticket or a tow. The signage wasn't all that was new. there was a new information kiosk at the trailhead, including a map. 

The hike itself had changed all that much in five years. It is still a steep hike up, mostly on an old roadbed. On the way, people were working on the Cabin just off the trail (remember the first part of this hike is on an easement).  On the colleges here 2015 photos are first.

The biggest changes were seen at Hayters Knob (or Middle Knob) where the Channels are located. The first was the old Fire wardens Cabin has been removed. It had seen better days back in 2015 as only half of it remained. So, it is gone was not much of a surprise. One good thing about the cabin being gone. It opened up quite a view on some rocks.

However, what was is at the top of the Channels a chain barrier and sign had been put up. What this means is you're not too proceed past this point. This wasn't where five years ago and while disappointing it is understandable (read the sign it will tell you why). While there were changes above, below the Channels were just as amazing as the first time. 

The one disappointing thing is that no work has been done on the old fire tower and it remains closed. Overall, I don't know why I don't do this one more often, it is a wonderful hike. Oh, one more thing, somehow I missed BLANK Falls coming and going...

The Channels Make For A Happy Hiking Machine...

Pete, the Hiking Machine here, and I literally went  Down the Rabbit Hole at the Great Channels of Virginia today. I carried the Lummox here in 2015 and nothing was any different on this Fall Day. You know since I got to enjoy some great views and some underground fun, I am going to cut the Lummox a break today. The Channels is some good shit and with that, I am out...BITCHES!

It's Early October & That Means Pawpaw Hunting Time

It is early October and besides the start of the best month of the year, it is also Pawpaw hunting season. 

I usually go out the weekend of the Clinch Coalition Naturalist Rally, but as I had already relayed it was a virtual event this year. But, I love Paw Paws, so it is worth a special trip. For those who don't know or haven't read my past blogs on the subject, a Paw Paw is the fruit from the tree of the same name. It is native to North America. It is kind of like a cross between a banana and a mango with a custardish flavor. 

Like any fruit some years it is more abundant (2018) than others. This year was what I would classify as good. Most of the fruit would be found down what I call Paw Paw Alley, which is the road/trail to the other barn. 

Before I headed on my Paw Paw hunt, I helped Dad put out a Deer food plot. After that, I went in search of the fruit and I found plenty. Instead of coming back up, I went around the Superloop and back to the Cabin.

Besides Paw Paw hunting and hiking I built fires both Friday and Saturday nights. On the second evening, I even heard Coyotes, so we're so close I thought I might see eyeshine. Best of all on this trip it felt like Fall, unlike this time last year when it was 90 degrees.