A cool summer hike

[chrysanthemum]

One activity that our family enjoys but hasn’t done too much of is hiking. We wanted to start off our time in Virginia with at least one hike, and that happened this past Monday.

We chose to go on a hike that didn’t exist when I was a girl growing up in this area. It opened only at the end of 2020. It’s an old railroad tunnel called sometimes the Blue Ridge Tunnel or the Claudius Crozet [pronounced crow-ZAY] Tunnel. It was built from 1850 -1858 before the invention of dynamite, and it was the longest tunnel in the United States at the time of its completion. It was used until 1944 when it was replaced by a larger tunnel to meet the needs of shipments during World War II. When I was growing up, I knew of the tunnel as something from history, but it was not something anybody could access.

Upon returning home and looking into some semi-local hikes, I learned that the railroad company that owned the tunnel donated it some years ago to Nelson County in Virginia. The county spent years restoring the tunnel and opened it up as a hike. It sounded not too strenuous and was pretty close to home, and it had the added appeal of almost of mile of the hike being deep inside a mountain where temperatures are much cooler than on the outside.

It was a beautiful day yesterday for our hike. We went into the tunnel on the eastern side as there is more parking available at that trailhead. It was about a half mile walk to the tunnel itself. There was a chain link fence running beside the path to keep hikers away from the railroad tracks over there, but through the fence and trees, we caught some glimpses of beautiful mountain scenery. They were just tiny glimpses, though.

The entrance to the tunnel was impressive when we reached it as there was a mini waterfall coming down the rocks to the side and another over the entrance to the tunnel. My kids were immediately excited to go in. There were some drips throughout the tunnel and one place in the inside where there was water rushing from the side. There must be natural springs above it. The center of the tunnel runs under both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, and I believe it is 700 feet underneath Rockfish Gap which is the pass in the mountains where those roads meet.

Flashlights were required inside the tunnel. The ground was rough in places, and there were some puddles and water along the sides. It was fascinating to the lift the light, though, and to look at the hewn rock with its marks of so many hours and years of hard work and the various minerals running through it.

In the middle of the tunnel our family stopped and sang to hear the echoes.

The temperature in the tunnel was cool. We had brought jackets, and I even had a pair of sweatpants to slip on if I felt chilled, but the coolness was refreshing in the summer heat, and no one ever added layers.

The western side of the tunnel must have been viewed as the entrance because it had beautiful stonework around the edges with a keystone at the top. The hike to the other trailhead was longer and quite a bit more rugged as it had a very steep rise. Signs indicated that the maximum grade was nineteen percent at one point. My kids enjoyed walking through the mature forest, and the enjoyed snagging a few wineberries from the side of the path.

I grew up going “over the mountain” as a kid, and I have been in the Shenandoah Valley hundreds of times, but this was the first I had ever been THROUGH the mountain or walked INTO the Valley. That was quite an experience.

When heading back toward the tunnel, at one point the air got noticeably cooler. I just thought it was a cold wind, and I stopped to enjoy it for a moment. When I took a few more steps, the western entrance to the tunnel came into view, and I realized that the change in temperature was from the air blowing out of the tunnel. I could see fog coming from the entrance, and when I got closer, I could actually see the water vapor in the air flowing horizontally straight toward me. That was really an amazing sight.

Walking back through the tunnel, most in our group kept our lights off most of the time. Very close to the end, though, when there was some light from the other entrance, I saw some splashes in the water to the side of the tunnel. I thought it might be a frog and was using my flashlight to see what I could see. I let out a little scream when I illuminated a groundhog as I was so startled to see it there. It just stayed perfectly still. I snapped a photo and moved on.

My kids were really excited about the hike and expressed an interest in going back. Today they’ve been looking through a hiking book I have to discover other places they’re interested in visiting.

I thought I’d share a few pictures.














@rdback , have you ever had an opportunity to visit this place?

[heavyhitterokra]

Chrysanthemum,

Thanks, for sharing that. Your descriptions of that cool hike through the Blue Ridge Tunnel made me want to visit there. I've been over those mountains several times on my way to and from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. That's such beautiful country out there!  In all of my travels, those mountains were the only place I've ever really felt at home, other than right here at my own home. (You're a lucky person).  Your children are blessed to have you and your Mother to weave so many precious memories for them during their childhood.

Thanks, for the photos too. That was just an extra bonus. And the groundhog part was so much fun!  I'm glad you snapped a picture of that to share with us.  What a cool Children's Storybook an adventure like that could make!  Mr. Groundhog, the treasure of light at the end of a mile long train tunnel ... What more could one ask for?

As I was reading the bronze plaque in the photo, I could almost smell the fresh creosote of the 1850s railroad construction. 

Mostly, because about 35 years ago, I was privileged to do the wiring on Pioneer Square Station located underground, beneath Downtown Seattle.  I wired the art clocks located on each end of the station, did the overhead lighting, then wired the walkway and traffic lights out front, above ground.  From there, I got to work on the Amtrak Train and Bus Tunnels leading in both directions under the city, (very aromatic). I still remember the fog-laden breezes that wafted through those tunnels, from nearby Puget Sound.  Thanks, for the memories.

This is just the station.  You have to really zoom in on this photo to see the entrance to the tunnels.  Your train tunnel was much prettier (and quieter) than this one will ever be.  This one was so full of winos, bag ladies, and homeless people looking for a handout, that the Seattle Police Department had to walk out ahead of us each morning, shewing them away like chickens, so we could do our work.  

[woodeye]

That must have been a very interesting trek through the mountain, chrysanthemum. Enjoyed all of the descriptions of the tunnel and surrounding area, Cool! Literally. It is such a pretty world that you live in. 

Outstanding photos too. I'm not currently making and working jigsaw puzzles on my laptop. (I've made & worked hundreds of them) I'll keep these photos in mind because I know that I'll get started back on jigsaw puzzles some day, they will make some fine jigsaw puzzles. 

It's awesome that you got to say hi to Mr. Groundhog during your exploratory expedition...👏

[rdback]

No chrysanthemum, I've not been there. Like you, I've traveled up and down the Valley many times, but I haven't stopped there. Sounds like you all had a great time. A very nice way to spend the afternoon with the family.

[chrysanthemum]

Heavyhitterokra, thanks for sharing your own tunnel experiences and photo. I can hardly imagine the size of the structure you were working in. It looks huge.

Woodeye, I’ve heard of making jigsaw puzzles out of photos. I’ve even had it done once for my mom, but that was a physical puzzle. I didn’t know that it could be done on the computer, but I guess it never occurred to me to look into it.

My mom is a big fan of puzzles. It’s a regular wintertime activity for her. I really appreciated this winter when a lady at her church brought her several puzzles that she had picked up used. She wanted to give them away to those in need along with toiletries and things, but she wanted to make sure that the puzzles weren’t missing pieces or otherwise damaged. She asked my mom to be her “puzzle inspector” and check out the quality by putting each puzzle together. Now she brings my mom a puzzle whenever she finds one and needs it checked out.

Rdback, it was an enjoyable hike. It was neat seeing that little bit of history I had heard about in my childhood but never before seen. I also really enjoyed the chance to enjoy the beautiful Virginia scenery.

I forgot to mention that while we were driving to the eastern trailhead, my son spotted a small black bear out of the window of our minivan. He was sitting under a tree in the middle of a field. When we drove by, he moved closer to the tree line and sat and watched us as we watched him. It’s not the best picture, but he’s in the shot at least.

[woodeye]

chrysanthemum,

I have tried several jigsaw puzzle games, this one is by far the best one I have found. It is very addictive though, so please approach with caution. hehehe It's impossible to lose a piece of the puzzle, that is a definite perk. There is a variety of puzzle piece shapes, which you can define when making the puzzle. The largest one I made and completed was 6,600 pieces. There is also an option to make jigsaw puzzles, then send them to others that have Jigsaw Galore on their computer, so that they can work them. It has been about 4 years since I bought the game, so I looked recently to see if the version I have has been updated, it has not been, it's still version 7. I have exchanged emails with the man that programmed the game, a very nice fellow. If there are other jigsaw puzzle programs out there that are better, I never found them...

www.jigsawsgalore.com/ssmall.htm

Speaking of approaching with caution, the black bear in the picture would be something to approach with caution, but in most cases I would not approach one at all. Good eye by your son...

[rdback]

Wierd how things kinda pop up outta nowhere. chrysanthemum, I was looking around the 'Net for something, and THIS ARTICLE popped up. I believe this is where you and the family went. Even seems like within the same day or two. Small world.

[chrysanthemum]

That is exactly the tunnel we traversed, rdback. I found it interesting that the author refers to the midpoint of the tunnel having no light from either end. That had been my impression from reading I had done before taking the trip, but our family could see light [not enough light to navigate by or anything] the entire way through. Once the light behind us had disappeared, we could see light in front of us, we thought. We were surprised by that as it hadn’t been our impression of what to expect. I wonder if it had to do with the fact the we kept turning off our flashlights to experience the darkness so our night vision might have been a bit better. On the return trip we did most of the way without flashlights, and it was an interesting experience.

[heavyhitterokra]

Chrysanthemum,

What a cool photo! I had to zoom in, but I did see the bear sitting at the tree line. I know we have black bears here because one was treed on the NSU soccer field a few years back, but I've never seen one in the wild.