One of the best and most enjoyable ways to get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors of southwest Virginia is to take a hike.
Several groups of the Appalachian Trail Club (ATC), including ones in Roanoke and Lynchburg, offer weekly hikes on the AT for all fitness and experience levels.
With more than 2000 miles of well-marked and well-traveled trail available from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian offers a huge variety of hikes.
The Punchbowl Mountain section of the AT on the Rockbridge-Amherst County Line, is considered strenuous, due to its length of nearly 11 miles. Hike leader Mike Vaughn of the Roanoke ATC Club says, "Every weekend we usually have two hikes. Every Saturday or Sunday we have a shorter afternoon hike and then on one, like today's, an 11 miler which is typical of an all day hike. Sometimes there's a 20 miler for the die-harders. Haven't been on one of those recently. The 10 or 11 milers, I think, is what most people like."
This trail begins at the AT parking lot off Route 501 southeast of Glasgow along the James River. The river is inviting on a hot day. Instead of setting out on a long hike, you might be tempted to skip the walk and join young people jumping off the longest foot bridge along the Appalachian Trail.
No such luck, with Vaughn leading a group of 8 up Punchbowl Mountain for this in-and-outpoint-to-point hike.
Three miles into the hike during a break Mike tells us, "This is the high point of the hike with the view. Use your imagination out there. On a fall day you can see for miles out here. Further on, in about a mile, the Forge Rocks; that's another good view point. From there it's a steady downhill back to the James River. It's a steep 3 mile drop with about 2000 feet of elevation loss; 21 switchbacks I've been told."
While many frequent AT day and through hikers prefer walking alone, there are some real benefits to group hikes. First you get to meet new like-minded hike enthusiasts, and 11 miles of trudging up and down mountainsides somehow seems easier and faster when you're chatting with new acquaintances. Plus, as Mike Vaughn explains, "There's so many experienced hikers and they're just trying to find new trails, ways to tie trails together, so it's just a great way to hear about trails in the area, via the experienced hikers. You just look at the hiking schedule and figure out what you want to go on and get familiar with different areas. A lot of people just like going on their own but it's a good way to meet other people who just enjoy hiking."
One unusual feature of this particular hike, is a small marker just off the trail. It briefly tells the story of a young boy who got lost and perished at this spot more than a century ago--a stark reminder to always be prepared when out hiking.
Toward the end of the hike as the cool, calm waters of the James River come into view one is teased into thinking this hike is about complete. It's but a tease, but if you decide to do this AT day hike consider bringing along your swim suit, for a jump and dip into the James at the end.
