March 20, 2010: Crabtree Falls

For the first weekend of Spring, the weather decided to cooperate (temps in the 70s) so the club set out for Crabtree Falls as the first hike of the year. Preethi, June, Fritz, Franz, and Jody didn't get away from Lynchburg until after 2 PM and grilling was already planned for afterwards, so a winery tour was not considered for this trip. :(

Crabtree Falls is a series of photogenic waterfalls in Nelson County on Route 56. We began at the bottom of the falls and hiked to the top (about 2 miles each way).

Click through to see photos from the hike.

At the bottom, there's an ominous warning that 23 people have died on the trail from stepping out too far onto slippery moss-covered rocks.

Franz and June. At the beginning of the hike (to the first switchback), the trail is paved and has a gentle slope.

A cascade near the bottom of the trail.

There's quite a few stairs on the hike (some wooden, some stone), but it's not really that stenuous.

Jody, Fritz, June, and Preethi at a switchback next to the falls. The trail is a sequence of switchbacks on the right side of the falls, so there's lots of these landings along the way to rest or just to take a goofy picture.

Preethi and Fritz at a switchback.

Fritz, Preethi, and June emerge from a little cave on the side of the trail.

Hiking up the trail. Lots of people were out while we were hiking up, though noticeably fewer when we were coming down.

Yet another switchback, yet another spectacular waterfall.

About 2/3 of the way up.

Close to the top.

June posing in front of a portion of the falls.

Fritz's turn to pose for a picture.

Franz is King of the World!!! Or at least standing on a boulder.

Looking out over the North Fork (Tye River) Valley from the top of the falls.

Franz at the top of the falls.

While we were sitting at the top of the falls, an eagle alighted on a branch close to us.

Fritz was quite tired after the hike up. After resting in the shade for about 30 minutes (and having some water and ham), he was eager to start hiking down.

Fritz, Preethi, June, and Jody on a platform at the top of the falls.

Snow. Even though it was in the 70s, this was a little reminder that it was also the last day of Winter.

Hiking back down towards one of the cascades.

Back to parking lot and off to the grill out.

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May 24, 2009: Falling Water Cascades and White Rocks Winery

For Memorial Day weekend, club members Jody, Vineet, Van, and Fritz der Hund took a hike at Falling Water Cascades (mile marker 83.1 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) and visited the White Rock Winery in Goodview VA on the way back.
Originally, we were going to hike the Devil's Marbleyard and visit the Fincastle winery, but it was drizzling when we met and thought it would be a bad idea to go scrambling across wet boulders.

Falling Water is about a 1.5 mile canyon-style hike (down and then up) and is moderately steep but not very long. We comfortably hiked the loop in about 45 minutes. There's not much in the way of views outside of the valley the Falling Water creek but the main cascade is nice (though not much space to just hang out around the base with a German Shepherd).

Because we finished so quickly we drove down to Bobblett's Gap and hiked along a fire ranger access road for about 40 minutes where we met a ranger and his wife (?) who asked if we had seen a Black Chou. There wasn't anything particular to see on the access road, but it was nice and shady and Fritz seemed to enjoy being able to walk off leash.After the hike, we drove on down the Parkway to VA 24 and drove East to the White Rock Winery which we knew for its Moon Glow white Merlot.

Vineet and Van at the base of the cascades. There were a few other picture opportunities on the way, but nowhere near as many as at Crabtree Falls.

Jody, Van, and Fritz at the base of the cascades.

Jody and Fritz cross a bridge on the way back up.


At this point, we had effectively finished regaining elevation and just had a brief (1700 ft) mostly level hike back to the parking lot. For perspective, the trailhead to Flat Top is also pretty close. It's on the list of potential future wine-hikes, but was too long to add on today.

Vineet and Fritz on the way back to the parking lot.

Van styles it, like a Nike commercial over a fallen tree.

Van and Vineet back at the original trailhead at the parking lot.

Van and Vineet follow Fritz underneath an overpass on the access road we followed from Bobblet's Gap.

Fritz hiking up the access road.

Fritz ponders what's for dinner.

Fritz hiking down the access road.

Vineet and Van inspect a flowering bush at the end of our hike down the access road - which was determined by a 15-minute timer on Van's phone.

Vineet sniffs the white Merlot at White Rocks Winery.

Jody tastes (again) the white Merlot (Moonglow). It's real nice on a hot summer day.

A view of the White Rock vineyard. It's not a real big winery - having four wines on hand for tasting - a red Merlot, a white Merlot, a Cab Franc, and a Chardonnay - and just 6 acres of grapes - a number that immediately made Jody think of what he could do with his 6 acres...

Van, Jody, and Vineet pose in front of the vineyard.

We went on a brief winery tour which is self-contained inside of about a good size home basement. They do everything from grape crushing to labeling in that space.

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