An inch of snow in Richmond is enough to shut everything down. It got unusually cold one winter weekend in 2013. The James River tried to freeze over, but not quite ready for skating.
Snow Day – Richmond, Virginia
Tag: Virginia
Grayson Highlands – Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Jefferson National Forest lies in the Southwest corner of Virginia and home to the Grayson Highlands State Park and Mount Rogers Recreational Area. It is also home to the highest mountain in Virginia. It is one of the five locations in the United States where you can find the spruce-fir forests. One of the few remaining habitats of the Fraser Fir, found only at high elevations (above 5000 ft).
South River Falls – Shenandoah National Park, VA
Selfie with the snowman
November 30, 2014, we hit Skyline Drive to take on the South River Falls trail. During the winter season, Skyline Drive frequently closes off large sections due to the weather conditions. We got lucky with South River Falls as it was one of the first hikes off Skyline.
Apple Picking – Carter Mountain, Virginia
In the early fall, Carter Mountain is usually packed with visitors. We decided to go right after rain to beat the crowds.
Lake Moomaw – George Washington National Forest, Virginia
Nestled deep in the George Washington National Forest, Lake Moomaw is a gem very few paddlers know about. The lake is formed by the Gathright Dam on the Jackson River. With many areas of the lake reaching depths of over 100ft, it provides a cooler habitat for trout to thrive….an angler’s paradise. On a rainy friday, we made our way to the VCU Outdoor Adventure Program on the Monroe Park Campus. Canoes can be rented on Friday and kept over the weekend for only $20. We picked up two of them and set out on a Saturday morning in April of 2014 to paddle the turquoise waters. It was a particularly windy day and we battled the current. The scenery was not one we expected in Virginia, it was actually more similar to the northern states and Canada. Simply a beautiful place. We will definitely be returning.
Graves Mill Trail – Shenandoah National Park, VA
Rapidan River
fall foliage
preparing a brew
brews
In late October of 2013, Sarah and I set out with our friend Ronan to the woods of Shenandoah. We found this hike through Hiking Upward, probably the best resource for hikers in Virginia. It’s a website that features detailed descriptions of almost every hike in Virginia. From the Jefferson National Forest to Pisgah National Forest, it covers dozens of trails and reviews them in many different aspects. Each trail is reviewed in several different aspects such as difficulty, isolation, scenery, and degree of camp friendliness. Anyways, we decided upon the Graves Mill Trail which eventually meets up with the Bear Church Rock trail. The beautiful Rapidan River flows alongside for the majority of the trail. Native brook trout can also be seen in the clear, and cold mountain waters. We took a short break next to the river to brew some tea on this awesome fall day.
Old Rag Mountain – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Old Rag is one of my favorite hikes in Virginia. I have made the hike six times previously but never before on such a clear day. Isoprene in all of its glory.
Eagle Rock – Buchanan, Virginia
In June of 2013, my brothers and I set out to canoe camp along the James River. We launched from the beginning of the river near Buchanan, Virginia and camped for just one night. There was plenty of wildlife to be seen including herons, turtles and deer. This section of the river is known for its excellent bass fishing. In typical Le brother fashion, we arrived at noon and without our DSLRs. Nevertheless, an awesome time.
Big Meadows – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
We rallied west on a beautiful November weekend in 2011 to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The local deer made a great showing.
WAY NORTH 