Unbound: Fall 2018

THINK OUTSIDE. FALL/WINTER 2018

ABOVE AND

BEYOND 15 great local hikes for families, couples, out-of-towners, and adventurers

NATURAL EYE

Illustrator Lara Call Gastinger on art and the outdoors

RUN CLUB

Foot races for all levels, from now until spring Consignment for the community-minded

Getting a jump on the spring garden

In the orchard with Chuck Shelton

Wagging tails lead to Autumn Trails

HIKING TIPS FOR YOUR DOG • • • • • • • • • •

Do your research on which trails and parks are dog friendly prior to heading out on the trail.

Keep your dog on a leash at all times.

Make sure your dog has updated identification tags on and is microchipped.

Keep your dog up to date on flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.

Hiking can be high risk for exposure to parasites.

Ask your veterinarian which vaccines they recommend for dogs that will be hiking partners, prior to hitting the trails.

Bring lots of water and a travel bowl. Offer your dog water frequently.

Allow for rest periods, especially when you are beginning to condition your dog for longer hikes.

Bring extra food and treats. Dogs burn a lot of calories when exercising.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion – excessive panting, drooling, weakness, and bright red gums. Bring your dog to a veterinarian immediately if your dog is showing these signs.

Bring waste disposal bags and pick up after pet.

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IN THIS ISSUE COMPASS Competitive horses 13

FEATURE

How about a hike? 35

Kid equestrian gets a jump on the competition.

Suit up 15

Great gear from High Tor.

Look up 16

15 of our favorite ways to get into the woods.

Our lovely local trees.

iNaturalist 19

Take a walk with the wild sights.

Events 20

Workshops, festivals, and more.

Daytrippin’ 23

Learning from experience at a Staunton museum.

Rich spot of earth 25

Getting prepped for winter veggies.

On the right track 27 Find your next big race here.

Closer look 28 A botanical artist’s day-to-day.

OUTSIDER All together 50

ON THE COVER: Sperryville's Old Rag Mountain, a local favorite. Photo: Jack Looney COMMENTS? Email the editor at caite@c-ville.com.

JACK LOONEY

Albemarle CiderWorks’ familiar faces.

7

Charlottesville’s News & Arts Weekly

&

P.O. Box 119 • 308 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 817-2749 Advertising/Editorial Fax: (434) 817-2758 www.c-ville.com Facebook: facebook.com/cville.weekly Instagram: @cvilleweekly

WE ASKED THE STAFF: When you have guests, where do you take them hiking?

Editorial UNBOUND EDITOR

Caitlin White (x45) NEWS EDITOR

Lisa Provence (x14) ARTS EDITOR

Tami Keaveny (x18) ARTS & LIVING REPORTER

gelato. espresso. pastries. delicious.

“We’d stroll along the Rivanna Trail at Riverview Park.

I personally enjoy following the meandering trail that winds alongside the river.

It’s very peaceful.”

Erin O’Hare STAFF REPORTER

Samantha Baars (x40) COPY EDITOR

Susan Sorensen

Design and Production CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bill LeSueur (x17) artdirector@c-ville.com

434.296.8555 | 317 EAST MAIN STREET, CHARLOTTESVILLE VA

“It’s hard to beat the sweaty thrill of scrambling up the final granite staircase to the top of Humpback Rocks. The view of the Shenandoah Valley from the summit is breathtaking. Go early to avoid the crowds and the heat.”

EDITORIAL DESIGNER

Max March (x16) GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Tracy Federico (x19), Lorena Perez

Advertising

“Humpback Rocks.

It’s a tough hike— with the wide stairs and points where you have to really stretch for your next step—but the view at the top is totally worth it in the end.”

advertising@c-ville.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Spencer Dole (x30), Theressa Leak (x15), Kyle Robinson (x36) PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Faith Gibson (x25) MARKETING SERVICES DIVISION classifieds@c-ville.com

Erica Gentile (x43), Alex Patterson (x42), Cindy Simmons (x39), Beth Wood (x56)

Business PUBLISHER

Aimee Atteberry (x12) aimee@c-ville.com CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

“Old Rag Mountain in Madison, if they’re MARKETING MANAGER up for something a little more challenging.

Anna Harrison (x51) Ramsey’s Draft is a DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT little further out in Kyle Robinson Augusta, but also a great hike and worth MEDIA & OUTREACH SPECIALIST “Since we live in the trip. Both are Fluvanna County, we Caitlin Worrell places I’ve hiked love to take our guests A/R SPECIALIST for years with friends to Pleasant Grove Nanci Winter (x33) and family.”

Park. There are a ton of trails through the CIRCULATION MANAGER woods, beach access Billy Dempsey (x32) to the Rivanna River C-VILLE HOLDINGS and a huge dog park.”

Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly Debbie Miller (x28)

UNBOUND, a supplement to C-VILLE Weekly, is distributed regionally. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. ©2018 C-VILLE Weekly.

8

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COMPASS H

PHOTOS: AMY JACKSON

orses and all things equestrian abound here in the Charlottesville area. From stables offering boarding, lessons, and trail rides to venues for foxhunting and polo, this community is a horse-lover’s paradise.

Grace Ayyildiz of Free Union found her passion for horses at a young age. At 7 years old, she tried horseback riding at the invitation of a friend; the friend, like so many little girls, lost interest after a while, but Ayyildiz hasn’t stopped riding horses since.

“I just like being around them,” she says simply.

Ayyildiz rides at the Barracks Farm, a barn in western Albemarle County owned by Claiborne and Tom Bishop that is home to 80 horses.

Primarily a boarding/training facility, Barracks Farm is also host to the UVA riding team, giving lessons to Grace Ayyildiz started horseback-riding at age 7, when a friend asked her to come along to a lesson.

50 to 70 students per week, in addition to year-round locals.

While her friends are busy with sports and clubs, Ayyildiz can be found at the Barracks Farm six days a week for as many hours as possible. She spends her time in a ring or on a trail, astride the back of her beloved Dutch Warmblood, Zambo.

“There’s something so fulfilling about it, just to go out to the barn and get away from everyone and just be with your horse,” she says.

But for Ayyildiz, horseback riding isn’t all about the sweetness of solitude; she is an avid competitor, taking lessons twice a week and showing once or twice a month all over the state and sometimes beyond. She mostly competes in the hunter division, a discipline that focuses on style, form, and evenness. Horses are expected to circle the ring smoothly and meet jumps from the proper distance.

In contrast, the jumper division takes time into account, and the equitation division judges the rider’s form more than that of the horse.

Ayyildiz finds that showing as a hunter matches her personality.

“You want to be perfect,” she says.

“Every time you’re like, ‘How could I have made that better? How could I just have gotten a few more points?’

I’m a total perfectionist. Oftentimes with riding, it’s five steps forward, four steps back. But I like the feeling that I’m always learning something new, I’m always finding out something about myself, about my horse.”

Along for the ride

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

A local equestrian takes the reins By Joanna Breault 13

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Second nature

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

At High Tor, sustainability shifts into high gear By Lisa Martin

E

Erin James and Seth Herman are making it easier for folks to get outside, with their new gearfocused consignment shop, High Tor.

njoying nature is free, but gearing up for a camping trip or extended hike can become an expensive proposition, especially when choosing quality equipment. Erin James and Seth Herman, outdoors enthusiasts who met in Charlottesville in 2010, have addressed that problem (and more) with their new outdoor gear and clothing consignment shop, High Tor Gear Exchange in McIntire Plaza.

Named after a beloved state park near Herman’s childhood home in New York, the shop accepts new or used items—such as clothing and boots, and camping, cycling, and ski equipment—and provides the consignor with a percentage of the proceeds when the item sells.

Transparency is a point of emphasis for Herman. “We have a spreadsheet based on the original MSRP of every item, so it’s crystal clear to our consignors how we price items and when they’ll receive a check,” he says.

Now married with a toddler to boot, James and Herman hope to combine their love of hiking, biking, and paddling with their passion for helping people enjoy the natural world “untangled from the idea of having to buy and own something new.”

“We love giving people access to the things they need to get outside in a more sustainable way,” says James. “And it makes us happy to

know that the stuff being sold is going right back into the community.”

Herman credits Charlottesville’s Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) with giving him the skills to succeed during a 16-week class for small business owners. “The CIC helped us meet other owners and entrepreneurs and get the word out, and the connections we’ve made within the community have been incredible.”

James are Herman are brimming with ideas to strengthen community ties. “We’re about to launch a new program option where, instead of payment in cash or store credit, consignors can choose a local experience that’s worth even more, like a gym membership or a kayaking trip,” says Herman. “That way, people can try new things and do something healthy, and we can support our fellow local businesses.”

Opened just six months ago, High Tor has already reached over 500 consignors and processed almost 5,000 products, due in no small part to its sleek look and welcoming vibe. “We have kombucha and cold brew coffee on draft, and in the spring we had local eggs for sale,” says James. “Our inventory changes daily, so people can just stop by to have some coffee and browse without feeling any pressure to buy.”

And when they do, buyers and sellers both benefit by giving great gear a longer life.

EZE AMOS

Ayyildiz, who started showing in late elementary school, also likes to win. She competes as a Junior (meaning under 18 as of December 1) and has won championships at shows around Virginia. This past summer, she and Zambo placed second in the Junior/Amateur section of the Virginia Hunter Championships as well as winning the Bryan trophy for an equitation class held at Deep Run Horse Show. Winning the Bryan trophy was especially meaningful to Ayyildiz because one of her trainers, Maria Shannon, won it herself as a Junior.

Ayyildiz is deeply connected to her trainers and to many others at Barracks Farm who have helped her progress to the level at which she now competes.

“They really brought me along. I learned how to canter there and now I’m showing competitively. It’s really cool to have that consistency,” Ayyildiz says. “Everyone there has always gone out of their way to help me improve not only as a rider but as a horseman. There’s a really heavy emphasis on horsemanship, which is that you’re not just coming out here to ride the horse, you’re coming to learn how to take care of one, too.”

Shannon, who has known Ayyildiz for over a decade, explains that riding and caring for Zambo is not always smooth sailing.

“Sometimes he can be a bad boy,” Shannon says. “When he’s wonderful, he’s wonderful, but we all have an alter ego. When Zambo is bad, Grace calls him ‘Bill,’ his alter ego name. But she loves him no matter what.”

Ayyildiz, who attends St. Anne’sBelfield School, admits that balancing academics and horseback riding can be tricky, but she has learned a lot about time management. Though she doesn’t plan to pursue a career related to riding, she has never considered laying this interest aside.

“I’ve never thought about quitting,” Ayyildiz says. “A lot of people hit middle school and they quit. ...They discover boys and friends and things get weird and they don’t want to do it anymore. I have never thought about quitting. I don’t know what I would do if this wasn’t a part of my life.

Sometimes I think, ‘How much free time would I have? A lot!’ But I don’t know what I would do without it.”

RETAIL

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COMPASS

TREES

Tree’s company Charlottesville has a reputation as a leafy city. Walk about and see why. By Cathy Clary

Downtown Market Street Park

Dawn Redwood [1] (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is the feathery conical conifer behind the infamous statue. It turns cinnamon and drops its needles in fall, returning as a tender green apparition in spring.

Native to China and cousin to our native Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), its roots rise above ground like buttresses.

Love and marriage

The Weeping Beech [2] (Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ ) to the left is trimmed as a dense umbrella to allow people to sit underneath and enjoy the dark cooling shade. Left unpruned in a home landscape, it could cascade to the ground and make a fort for kids.

On the corner of Market and Second streets stands the still impressive remnants of a large American Linden [3] (Tillia americana), expertly pruned and tended by city Parks and Recreation staff. Its flowers are beloved by bees and form distinctive “keys” similar to maple samaras or “helicopters.” See how many people it takes to hold hands around its trunk.

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A Japanese Zelkova [4] (Z. serrata) exhibits a stately habit and orange-gray scaly bark to the right of the lone park bench. This large specimen forms a grove with willow oaks (Q. phellos) and a European linden (T. cordata—look for the keys) between the old courthouse and the other infamous statue. Sometimes mistakenly used as a street tree because of its toughness, it needs room to spread.

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Market Street

The larger of the oaks in front of the library at the east end, the Black Oak’s [5] (Quercus velutina) giant trunk and heavy canopy dominate the corner of Market and Third streets. Old pruning cuts, well-healed into perfect donut holes, display its strong structure. This tree, found in nature on poor, dry hillsides, has persevered in straitened circumstances, retained its character, and witnessed a lot of history.

STAFF PHOTO

5.

8.

Maplewood Cemetery, Lexington Avenue

At the top of the hill to the left of a large walnut (Juglans nigra), the magnificent Post Oak [6] (Q. stellata) spreads its arms. Stand beneath and look up. Try to put your arms around this one, too. Native to rocky ridges, it is happy here and with the walnut anchors this beautiful old cemetery which predates Oakwood.

Oakwood Cemetery, Elliot Avenue

JOHN ROBINSON

STAFF PHOTO

2.

ROBERT LLEWELLYN

7.

JOHN ROBINSON

4.

ROBERT LLEWELLYN

STAFF PHOTO STAFF PHOTO JOHN ROBINSON

1.

Next time you’re at IX Park, walk over to the cemetery and experience the cathedral-like presence of four magisterial Southern red oaks [7] (Q. falcata) at the upper end. You can tell a Southern from a common red oak (Q. rubra) by the Southern belle hoop-skirt of the leaf when you turn it upside down. These trees were planted long ago and create a peaceful refuge in the midst of new life on all sides.

3.

6.

9.

UVA No city tree tour would be complete without these iconic specimens by the Rotunda. To the right from the front on University Avenue is a Maidenhair tree [8] (Ginkgo biloba), planted in 1860 with an iron horse hitch embedded in its trunk. Native to China, dating to the dinosaurs, it drops golden coins all at once in autumn. There is said to be a Druid cult at the university that worships it.

Across the way on the far left is the Yulan Magnolia [9] (M. denudata). A bench underneath has sheltered generations of lovers, tired tourists, and solitary readers.

Its porcelain pink saucer-like flowers are vulnerable to early frosts but sometimes it escapes the vagaries of fate and blooms its head off, just like Charlottesville.

17

Forging Theater and Community 18

COMPASS

EXPLORE

Eye witness iNaturalist grows a network for nature lovers By Lisa Martin

A

Shrubby St. John's-wort

EZRA STAENGL

lbemarle County’s natural beauty and biodiversity attracts plenty of explorers, and lots of them like to keep track of what they find. iNaturalist.org, an online site (and mobile app) developed by UC Berkeley graduate students in 2008, links scientists and naturalists who want to learn more and share what they know, and plenty of observers from the Charlottesville area are in the mix. “iNaturalist fits into my naturalist experience the same way that eBird [a birdwatcher site] enhances my birding experience,” says 14-year-old local nature enthusiast Ezra Staengl.

“You can see what and where other Six-spotted Tiger Beetle people are observing nature of any kind, help people identify their sightings, and submit your own. It’s a great way to keep track of your sightings.”

The iNaturalist website describes itself as a social network whose primary goal is to connect people with nature. Free registration allows members to record observations of plants, trees, insects, birds, and animals in the wild, whether discovered in remote locations or in their own backyard. Observers can include a photo and as much detail and species information as they wish, and their logged sightings are shared and compared with others in the region and across the globe.

Charlottesville 10th-grader TuckNorthern Cricket Frog er Beamer says the site is inspiring.

“The great thing about making observations for yourself is you have somewhere to put just about anything and everything you see, which really gives me an incentive to photograph, identify, and seek out new species of fauna I never knew existed.”

A bit more scientifically oriented than other social media sites, iNaturalist’s social network platform connects like-minded nature lovers who are there to learn. “I think the social aspect of iNaturalist is one of the things that sets it apart from other biodiversity tracking websites like Odonata Central, Butterflies and Moths of North America, and eBird,” says Staengl. “Using iNaturalist, I was able to discuss camera equipment with another young birder, even though he lived in Illinois.”

What if you don’t know what you’ve found? iNaturalist can help there, too, functioning as a crowdsourced species identification system. A member can post a photo labeled simply “bird” or “plant,” and other users can submit an

Bird's-eye Speedwell

iNaturalist makes it easier for nature enthusiasts like 17-year-old Ezra Staengl to keep track of his finds.

ID for the observation, eventually leveling it up to “research grade.” “It’s really interesting to go in and show people why what they saw is what it is,” says Beamer.

Members can also create specialized lists and projects to organize their findings, and can map their observations.

“When I was studying for my birding trip to Ecuador, I could search observations by place and see what Ecuadorian birds I was able to identify from photos,” says Staengl. “I can even search a random country and try to learn a little bit about their biodiversity.”

On the local level, it’s simply fun. “It’s awesome to have all this community activity about nature, something that I’m passionate about,” says Beamer.

19

COMPASS

CALENDAR

Get up and go!

These can’t-miss fall and winter events leave no excuses for couch potatoes

Fests C’ville Pride Festival Saturday, September 15 11am-7pm For seven years, the C’ville Pride Festival (and Pride Week, which precedes it) has showcased LGBTQ culture at this fun, welcoming, familyfriendly event. Sprint Pavilion, Downtown Mall. cvillepride.org

Heritage Harvest Festival

Tomtoberfest Saturday, September 29 Park of IX Art Park’s Freefall Music and Art Festival, Tom Tom’s seventh annual Tomtoberfest is a day-long celebration of Charlottesville creativity, innovation, and community filled with free concerts, games, craft beer, food trucks, and expos. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. tomtomfest.com

Dog Fest 2018 Sunday, September 30 Noon-5pm This party for dogs—you read that right—features booths from pet-related and pet-friendly businesses, plus a costume contest and opportunities to adopt a rescue dog. Live music by The Pollocks and a specialty craft brew collaboration, Big Dawg Blond Ale, from neighboring Three Notch’d Brewing Company. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. ixartpark.com

Fall Fiber Festival & Sheepdog Trials October 6-7 10am-5pm (Saturday), 10am-4pm (Sunday) Started in 1988, the Fall Fiber Festival illuminates the beauty of a little-known local industry with animal exhibits, shearing demonstrations, and craft workshops. $5. James Madison’s Montpelier, 11395 Constitution Hwy., Montpelier Station. fallfiberfestival.org

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RAMMELKAMP FOTO

Saturday, September 22 10am-5pm The 12th annual festival champions vegetable gardening with workshops, lectures, and a popular seed swap. Held on the West Lawn and in Jefferson’s Lower Grove. $10-26. Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org

Heritage Harvest Festival

Virginia Garlic Festival October 13-14 10am-5pm Let your reek flag fly at this annual celebration of all things garlic, from Mediterranean cuisine to the famous cheddar bacon garlic burger. $20-60.

Rebec Vineyards, 2229 N. Amherst Hwy., Amherst.

Know Good Beer Winter Fest Saturday, January 26 1-6pm Unlimited 2- to 4-ounce pours from the area’s best craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

Word to the wise: Buy tickets early; this event often sells out. $40. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. knowgoodbeer.com

Music Starry Nights Second Saturday (June-September) Gates at 5pm, event 7-11pm This beloved area concert series showcases local artists playing on the winery’s lawn. Bring a picnic to pair with a Veritas wine, or purchase food from

the venue’s buffet. Check website for prices.

Veritas Vineyard & Winery, 151 Veritas Ln. (Afton). veritaswines.com

First Wednesday First Wednesday (April-September) 5-8pm The first Wednesday of every month, visit the Crozet winery for extended hours, food trucks, live music, and a spectacular view of the sun setting behind the Blue Ridge Mountains. King Family Vineyards, 6550 Roseland Farm (Crozet). kingfamilyvineyards.com

Belmont Bash Saturday, September 15 2-6pm Food trucks, live music, and family-friendly fun (like live music from The Pollocks and Front Porch Acoustic Band) have become the signatures of this annual neighborhood event for all.

Belmont Park. belmont-carlton.com

The Festy October 5-7 Greensky Bluegrass, Gillian Welch, Sam Bush Band—these are just a few of the acts you can

ACAC Dance-a-thon

expect to take in during this popular three-day festival. $39-875. Infinity Downs Farm, 1500 Diggs Mountain Rd., Arrington. thefesty.com

Saturday, October 13 10am-noon Bring comfortable shoes to this two-hour dance explosion. All ages welcome; come prepared to dance it out to zumba and fitness routines. $8 suggested donation; proceeds benefit Caring for Creatures. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. acac.com

Nature Historic landscape tour First Saturdays (May-September) 1pm Tour the grounds of James Madison’s Montpelier to see how, over 250 years, they became a trove of champion trees and unique planting thanks to great care and preservation over many generations. Tickets: Free. David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, 11350 Constitution Hwy., Montpelier Station. montpelier.org

Foxfield Fall Family Day Races Sunday, October 17 Gates at 9am; first race at 1pm This popular autumn steeplechase horse race—which also includes a Jack Russell Terrier race and a parade of the Farmington hounds—benefits a local charity each year. Tickets: $40-395; free for children 8 and younger. Foxfield Steeplechase Field, 2215 Foxfield Track. foxfieldraces.com

Trick-or-treating on the Lawn Wednesday, October 31 4-6pm Spend All Hallows’ Eve on Grounds as kids, parents, and even dogs trick-or-treat between students’ rooms to show off their spooky, silly, and downright clever costumes. housing. virginia.edu

Montpelier Hunt Races Saturday, November 3 Enjoy Jack Russell Terrier races, stick horse races, a hat contest, and then some at this annual mustdo event. And don’t miss the tailgate contest: May the best setup win. $20-350. James Madison’s Montpelier, 11407 Constitution Hwy., Montpelier Station. montpelier.org

Learning Vegan Roots Fest Saturday, September 29 Noon-6pm Learn more about what it means to be a vegan while noshing on some delicious—honestly!—snacks and drinking a beer or a glass of wine. If you’re new to veganism, chat with veterans who can recommend menus and shopping lists. Booker T. Washington Park. cvillevegfest.org

Architecture Tours at Montpelier Saturday, October 20 1-2pm A four-part series that began in March continues on the grounds of James Madison’s home.

Participants in the October Ghosthunters tour will learn how architectural historians use ghost marks, explore how buildings are constructed and modified, and discover how the historians use that information to restore buildings. Tickets: $4 for kids 6-14, $10 for adults. Montpelier, 11350 Constitution Hwy. Montpelier Station. montpelier.org

Miscellaneous October 6-7 10am-5:30pm (Saturday), 10am-5pm (Sunday) Expect to see ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, and more at this annual event for all things handmade. Take in craft demonstrations, live performances, and children’s activities and, while browsing, enjoy a meal from The Pie Guy or Cocina del Sol, and sip beer and wine on tap. $6-13. Claudius Crozet Park, 1075 Park Rd., Crozet. crozetfestival.com

RON PARIS

Crozet Arts & Craft Festival

Montpelier Hunt Races

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FEBRUARY 23 22

APRIL 27

COURTESY FRONTIER CULTURE MUSEUM

COMPASS

Living in the past In Staunton, the Frontier Culture Museum brings history home By Erika Howsare

J

ust like America, the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton is big, complicated and beautiful.

It’s one of my favorite places to take my two girls—a museum where almost anything can be touched and very little is written down. Creative writing professors often exhort students to “show, don’t tell,” and this museum nails that concept, presenting history as a living, 3-D phenomenon.

If you’ve never been, here’s a summary: The FCM illustrates the lifeways of the many cultures, including European, African and Native American groups, that collectively formed the melting pot of the Shenandoah Valley, plus early American life as it evolved over time. It does all this through recreated farms and villages—dwellings, livestock, gardens, costumed interpreters—many of which were actually moved from their original locations.

It’s really a staggering concept, when you stop to consider it. Of course, kids may not be quite ready to wrap their minds around all the complexities of the last four centuries, but this is a place that they can certainly enThe Frontier Culture Museum joy—and learn from. I’ve found myself referring back to is located in Staunton, just the FCM in conversation with my daughters, just as we off I-81. Hours through this often do with another touchstone, the Little House books. fall are 9am-5pm daily, and To my way of thinking, there is too much here to see ticket prices are $12 adults, $11 in one day. Spread over the museum grounds are English, students and $7 kids ages 6-12.

Irish and German farms, a West African farm, a Native (Younger children get in free.)

American village and three separate American farms Walking paths connect all exof different eras, plus a church and a schoolhouse. Each hibits, and golf carts circulate deserves much more than a glance, so I’ve taken my to offer rides to the weary. See kids multiple times and tried to concentrate on different frontiermuseum.org. sections each time.

If you go

DAYTRIP

One favorite is the 1700s West African farm. This is a new addition since I first came to the FCM in the early 2000s, and it does a lot to deepen the story the museum tells. I always have to pause to appreciate a pair of beautifully carved wooden doors at the compound entrance; they remind me of how much I don’t know about life and culture in historical Africa.

Meanwhile, my kids run ahead to duck inside one of the dwellings, built of earthen walls and thatched roofs.

One of the things that becomes a commonality across many parts of the museum is that people have built their houses out of whatever their environment provided— bark, mud, tree limbs or stone.

We all love being able to pick up and touch things: brooms, pots and skins that serve as “mattresses” for sleeping. And I’m glad when my kids get an inkling of how few possessions most people through history have owned, a stark contrast to our own stuff-laden culture.

Since animals have been a crucial part of the human story too, it’s more than fitting that the FCM keeps many kinds of livestock to round out the picture of each farm it recreates. And, of course, animal encounters are just plain fun. My daughters were delighted once to be approached by two small, very polite goats on the path from West Africa to England. I assume they were actually supposed to be behind a fence somewhere, but their escape was a happy accident for us.

At the three European farms, the level of detail is rich (partly owing to the fact that the buildings really are old, not just built to look that way). The excellent interpreters have much to share about the work they are doing. We’ve chatted with them about spinning and dyeing yarn, working a forge, cooking on an open hearth and much more. Two interpreters at the Native American village—another newish addition to the museum—once mesmerized me and my kids as they painstakingly scraped a deer hide with stones.

When you arrive, by foot or by golf cart, at the American section of the museum, you’re struck by the evolution of American life over time. The cabin that would have been typical in the 1700s, when the valley was just being settled by Europeans, is unbelievably crude compared with the smart, prosperous farm of the 1850s.

I loved learning that, on the frontier, husband-andwife teams often used crosscut saws to clear the forest where they intended to live and grow crops. And I loved even more seeing my girls try out that very saw.

Yet, of course, the skills they’ll need in their own era are very different. Just beyond the trees, I-81 thunders past (one interpreter jokingly called it “the great trade route”). It’s a reminder of where all this history has led, and the fact that my daughters will be helping to write a new chapter we can’t yet imagine.

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COMPASS

GARDENING

Keep the garden going Stretching the seasons with fall and winter veggies By Erika Howsare

A

FILE PHOTO

s I write this, it’s mid-August, and my vegetable garden has the crazy look it always does this time of year—overflowing its boundaries here, bare and shorn there, roiling with weeds in more places than not. We’re getting food out of it (zucchini, peppers, heyneed-some-basil?) but it’s not that pretty to look at, and it’s definitely beyond our control. Yet one area in my garden is tidy and polite, like the neat rows of spring. It’s the zone where I’ve planted my fall crops.

Planting seeds in late summer always feels counterintuitive to me.

Who wants to take on more gardening work at a time when the garden is already overwhelming? But as surely as the frost will arrive, these blowsy plants of summer will meet their end. And when that time comes, it’ll be good to know that something else is set to take their place.

We hadn’t considered year-round gardening until, some years ago, a friend gave us a copy of Eliot Coleman’s book Four-Season Harvest. We didn’t know from cold frames then, but we soon got on board with Coleman’s recommendations: Plant certain crops and protect them well, and you can harvest fresh food at any time of year. If Coleman can grow salad in Maine in January, we figured, we can do it in Virginia.

We’ve never quite mastered Coleman’s full program—which includes large greenhouses—but we have enacted our own simpler version of it for a number of years now.

The fall and winter garden begins with seeds in July (or early August, if you’re disorganized like me; or with purchased plant starts if you’re even further behind). You can grow many of the brassicas—especially kale and collards, but cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, and cauliflower are all worth a try, too—in the cool months of fall. And try seeding lettuce, tatsoi, chard, scallions, beets, and turnips: anything that doesn’t take terribly long to mature and prefers cooler temps.

As fall moves along, you can plant winter crops. We built some small cold frames—which are essentially wooden boxes with hinged glass lids—and use them to shelter the salad crops that we learned about from Coleman: claytonia, mizuna, and mache (that last one is so hardy it can grow unprotected, surviving even through snowstorms). Arugula does well under cold frames too,

Mache (above) is one of the few salad crops that can grow unprotected in winter months, surviving even in snowstorms. Others, such as claytonia and mizuna, do best in small cold frames, essentially wooden boxes with hinged glass lids that shelter the plants.

and so do carrots, though they present other challenges in this clay-rich region.

Whether or not you tend plants during the cold months, winter is the time for all veggie gardeners to start dreaming of spring’s perennial fresh start. If you’ve ever bought seeds through a catalog or website, your data has been circulating and your mailbox will burgeon with beautifully photographed horticultural temptations just after New Year’s. (My favorite seed companies: Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.) Choose whichever varieties you want— Swiss Giant Zermatt leeks, anyone?—but if you’re a beginner, pick some easy winners. Green beans grow fast. Basil is prolific. And if you have a few years to wait, planting perennial asparagus crowns is a great investment in future spring ecstasy.

You can start seeds in flats, beginning in late winter, or directly in the soil in early spring. Either way, mixing some rich compost into your soil (we’ve long been devotees of Earlysville-produced Panorama Paydirt) will greatly improve your chances of success.

Give it a try, even if you just have a little sunny space.

There’s nothing like a veggie garden to let you know you’re alive.

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COMPASS

EXERCISE

Make a run for it From fun runs to marathons, C’ville offers ample opportunities to get on the right track By Susan Sorensen

A

Saturday, September 15: Gene Arnold Memorial Area 3 Special Olympics Pepsi 10K Run and Two-Mile Walk. 8am, Meriwether Lewis Elementary School. pepsi10krun.com

Saturday, October 27: CATHalf and Pounding Creek Marathon. 8am, Miller School. cvillearea trailrunners.org/wp/events-group-runs/cathalfmarathon

Saturday, September 29: Yards for Yeardley Hoos Heal 5K, 9:30am, Scott Stadium, UVA. runsignup. com/Race/VA/Charlottesville/HoosHeal5K

Saturday, October 6: Clark Elementary Buzz

By Belmont 5K Family Fun Run/Walk. 8am, Clark Elementary School. eventbrite.com/e/clarkelementary-buzz-by-belmont-5k-family-fun-runwalk-tickets- 45494179315?aff=erellivmlt

Saturday, November 17: Kelly Watt Memorial Two-Miler. 9am, Panorama Farms, Earlysville. thewattey.net This annual race honors the life and accomplishments of Kelly Watt, who died in 2005 at age 18 of complications from heat stroke, three days after finishing an eight-mile run and 19 days before he would have started college at William & Mary. Co-captain of Albemarle High’s crosscountry team, Watt was also sports editor of the school’s newspaper. Proceeds from this race go to the Kelly Watt Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to an AHS athlete.

Saturday, October 6: Blue Ridge Burn 5K/10K Trail Race. 9:30am, Infinity Downs Farm, Arrington. burn.blueridgeoutdoors.com

Thursday, November 22: Boar’s Head Turkey Trot. 9am, Boar’s Head Resort. http://turkeytrot. dominiondigital.com/turkey_trot_start.asp

Saturday, October 6: Crozet Trails Crew 5K Trail Run and Kids Fun Run. 8am, Claudius Crozet Park. runsignup.com/Race/VA/Crozet/Crozet TrailsCrew5KTrailRunandKidsFunRun

Thursday, November 22: Earlysville Turkey Trot. 8:30am, 601 Earlysville Green, Earlysville. cms-events.com/event/earlysville-turkey-trot-2018

Saturday, September 29: Keswick Hunt Club Fox Trot 5K Trail Race. 5pm, Castalia Farm, Keswick. runsignup.com/Race/VA/Keswick/KeswickHuntClub FoxTrot5KTrailRace

JACK LOONEY

Saturday, October 20: The Community Bridges 5K Run/Walk. 9am, Chemistry Building, UVA. runsignup.com/communitybridges

Boar's Head Turkey Trot

Saturday, December 1: Monticello Holiday Classic 5K. 8am, David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, Monticello. monticello.org/site/visit/events/ monticello-holiday-classic-5k

JACK LOONEY

runner named Monte Davis once told the author of The Joy of Running that “it’s hard to run and feel sorry for yourself. ...And then there are all those hours of clear-headedness that follow a long run.” Take a gander at the jam-packed calendar of local foot races, and it’s safe to assume that Charlottesville harriers are some of the most cheerful, clear-headed soles, er, souls around. As you’ll see from the list below, nary a weekend goes by without a chance to compete in a 5 or 10K, a two- or 10-miler, or a half- or full marathon. Runners, take your mark!

Charlottesville Ten Miler

Sunday, December 2: Great Charlottesville Santa One-Mile Fun Run and Walk. 9:30am, Sprint Pavilion, Downtown Mall. arcpva.org/event/santafun-run-2018 “Be a Claus for the Cause” is the official slogan of this relative race-scene newbie, which makes up for its youth with an abundance of holiday cheer: Adults are issued Santa suits at check-in, and youngsters are given a pair of elf ears. Proceeds from the morning go to Arc of the Piedmont, which advocates for individuals with disabilities.

Late March: Charlottesville Ten Miler. 7am, John Paul Jones Arena. cvilletenmiler.com Charlottesville’s oldest footrace, the Ten Miler started in 1976 with only 45 runners, who picked their way along a gravel course at Camp Holiday Trails. Today, more than 2,000 participants run on the paved streets of Central Grounds, through downtown Charlottesville, and finish on Copeley Road, between the UVA track and University Hall.

Each year, a different charity is the recipient of money raised from the event (last year, $55,000 was donated to the Building Goodness Foundation).

Early December: The Freedom 5K. 9am, Glenmore Country Club, Keswick. freedom5k.net

Late March: Camp Holiday Trails 5K. 9am, Newcomb Plaza, UVA. campholidaytrails5k.com

Tuesday, January 1: New Year’s Day 5K. 10am, Wesley Chapel Rd., Free Union. cvilletrackclub.org/ new-years-day-5k.html

Late March: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge Free Union Farm 1K/5K/10K Footrace. 8am, Free Union. blueridgebigs.org/freeunion-farm-footrace

Saturday, March 2: The Haven 8K/4K Run/ Walk for Home. 8am, Downtown Mall. runsignup. com/Race/VA/Charlottesville/TheHaven8KRun forHome

Mid-April: Run For Autism 5K. 7:30am, Charlottesville High School. support.viaschool.org/ site/TR/RunWalk/General?pg=entry&fr_id=1060

Early March: Sugar Hollow Bridges 5K/10K. 8am, Sugar Hollow Road, White Hall. runsignup. com/Race/VA/WhiteHall/SugarHollowBridges 5and10KRun

Late April: Montalto Challenge 5K. 7:15am, Saunders-Monticello Trail (meet at David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center at Monticello). monticello.org/ site/visit/events/montalto-challenge

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COMPASS

PROFILE

A LIFE IN

LEAVES

This work, part of Lara Call Gastinger's unfurling ferns collection, is a watercolor on paper.

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W

hen Lara Call Gastinger posts a page from her natural journal on Instagram, it routinely garners a few thousand likes. “Lush life!” comments one follower on a recent post. “How wonderful your talent,” says another. “Gorgeous.”

“Wonderful work.”

In the photo, a drawing pen— the printing worn off its shaft by Gastinger’s hand—lies in the cen-

Charlottesville artist rocks the botanical world

ter of the open journal. “JUL 9-15” is stamped in green ink in the upper left corner. The pages

By Erika Howsare

are filled with her precise botanical drawings, labeled in angular handwriting: coneflower, wild raspberry, hop clover.

ILLUSTRATION BY LARA CALL GASTINGER

This journal, which has a spread designated for every week of the calendar, has been part of Gastinger’s routine for 17 years. In a way it’s one of the humbler things she creates: a single book, not even as large as an encyclopedia volume, which can’t really be sold or shown in a gallery. Yet the journal is central to her art practice.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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COMPASS

PROFILE

LARA CALL GASTINGER

SANJAY SUCHAK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Gastinger is recognized well beyond Instagram; she’s an award- winning botanical artist, and a resource and inspiration to nature lovers far and wide. Charlottesville is lucky to claim her, and Central Virginia is also key to her becoming the artist she is: She’s spent most of her time here since she arrived at the University of Virginia as an undergrad, and the plants of this place are the subjects for most of her paintings and drawings.

If she’s working on her art, she’s probably staring—with rapt, devoted attention—at something that grows near Charlottesville.

A native of Virginia Beach, Gastinger “always wanted to combine science and art,” she says.

Though she began college with a medical career in mind, she already knew she loved to observe and draw plants. As a young teenager, she’d traveled with her family to a National Wildlife Federation camp in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where a sketchbook artist taught her the basics of keeping a field sketchbook. On the same trip, she was shown a plant called dwarf cinquefoil, a rare species that, in another aha moment for Gastinger, spurred her lifelong interest in ecology and native plants.

After earning a master’s degree in those very topics at Virginia Tech, Gastinger was hired as chief illustrator for Flora of Virginia—a massive project, around 1,300 pen-and-ink drawings, which took her a decade to complete. The book is a comprehensive guide to Virginia’s plant life, and it clocked in at 1,554 pages when at last it was published in 2012. Now it’s also an app—and a useful one for plant ID in the field, Gastinger says. “I recommend it. It simplifies things.”

Through all the years she was making those illustrations (and becoming a mother: she and husband Breck have two sons), Gastinger was also working on art—images that not only convey information but glow with the stunning beauty that earns her so many fans online. She surely knows her plants, and can draw them with great accuracy; but, more than that, she has an artist’s gift for composition and color.

Art meant watercolor paintings, more drawings—and her journal. The book began as a commission from a client who lived on a farm in Ivy. “I said, ‘I’ll be your eyes for a whole year,’” she remembers. “I had a journal and I went to their house once a week,” drawing and labeling plants that grew on the property. “I wanted to continue that at home by myself.”

She decided not to restrict her personal journal to a single year, but just to keep adding to it indefinitely. In this way, it becomes a layered document of her life in botany and art. And, she says, a “perpetual journal” is a great way for anyone to engage with nature. “You can do that anywhere with minimal resources,” she says. “You can pick it up and jump back in; you don’t feel like you missed something, or have that guilty feeling.”

As a trained plant ecologist, illustrator Lara Call Gastinger sketches flora in the wild, like the above watercolor, titled "April."

In July, Gastinger traveled to London to participate in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Botanical Art show, where she won a gold medal for her collection of images inspired by the 19thcentury artist Ernst Haeckel. Like Haeckel, Gastinger assembled symmetrical compositions of numerous plants, but each of her pieces included only Virginia plants from a single month. April, for example, features dogwood, trillium, and Dutchman’s breeches, among others.

“One of Haeckel’s goals was to clearly present science in an aesthetically pleasing way,” she says.

“I want people to learn the plants; I’m always trying to educate.” Some of these pieces will appear in a November show at Chroma Projects.

She’s been teaching botanical art classes around town for over 10 years. This fall, she’s offering numerous classes, including a field sketching class in which students can get started on their own perpetual journals. She’ll also teach at Albemarle CiderWorks, where students will draw apples while partaking of cider, and at Vitae Spirits, whose labels feature her illustrations. Part of her mission is to encourage students to look harder at the nature around them: “Anyone can be a citizen scientist along the cracks of a sidewalk.”

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15

GREAT HIKES

INTO

THE

WOODS JACK LOONEY

15 favorite hikes from easy to “ease up!”

By Erika Howsare 35

15

GREAT HIKES

IF YOU THINK that the end of summer means it’s time to put away the hiking boots, think again.

Fall and winter in Virginia are fantastic seasons to walk in the woods—for 15 minutes or a whole day. It’s easier to see the mountains we live among when the trees aren’t fully in leaf, and we promise: Even if it’s chilly outside, once you get to hiking, you’ll feel warm.

Our area is loaded with hiking opportunities. Though the obvious destinations—Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway—offer many wonderful trails, you can get your fix much closer to town. We’ve tried to list something for everyone, from the hardcore to the strollerbound to the hiking-averse. Here are 15 of our favorite hikes in and around Charlottesville. when back in civilization, to have “hiked the AT”).

And best of all, it’s one of the few hikes anywhere that passes an ice cream stand.

As a loop, Loft Mountain avoids the we’vebeen-here-before boredom of out-and-back hikes. Starting at the Loft Mountain Wayside, hike along the Frazier Discovery Trail (which passes under a large rock overhang). The big, southwest-facing view comes about halfway through the hike, and—perhaps even more to

Best low-key, no-travel hike:

Secluded Farm If you’re in Charlottesville and you just need to get outside NOW, you can do no better than to take the quick drive to Kemper Park—that’s just after the turn onto Route 53 toward Monticello—and hike the trails at Secluded Farm. Maintained by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the trails are so easily accessible it’s hard to believe they deliver such a middle-of-nowhere-in-Albemarle feeling. But it’s true. All you have to do is walk to the right from the Kemper Park parking area and you’ll enter a network of beautiful trails through woods and meadows.

You have your choice here: a couple miles of climbing the mountainside, or something more like a mellow stroll. Our favorite, because it’s a little unusual, is to follow the meadow trails to where big, stately oaks stand alone on an open hillside—a really sublime place for a picnic, a sketching session, or a talk with a friend.

Best hike for people who hate hiking:

JACK LOONEY

Loft Mountain Loop

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Length: 2.7 mile loop

Best hike to a swimming hole:

Blue Hole at Sugar Hollow Untrammeled wilderness this is not: Sugar Hollow is one of the most popular destinations for Charlottesville-based hikers, and for good reason. It might not be the place to find solitude—you’ll almost certainly have company on this trail—but if you don’t mind other humans, you’ll be enchanted by Blue Hole. But first you have to get there. Park at the end of Sugar Hollow Road and head to the left, toward the South Fork of the Moormans River. The trail immediately crosses the river (wear water shoes!) and, on the other side, you’ll find the wide, well-traveled path you seek. Don’t take the trail that soon dives down to the left.

Keep following the river as the trail skirts the mountainside; after one more stream crossing, you’ll find yourself gently climbing toward the swimming hole.

Actually, it’s a series of swimming holes; you’ll know you’re there when you see big bare cliffs jutting out above you on the left. Check out the rope swing above the big hole—in years past, there used to be a much more bodacious one— and climb around behind the waterfall to find the smaller, more private swimming spots. The whole landscape is a study in the action of water on rock: lovely and refreshing.

Length: Variable

If you’re in Shenandoah National Park and there’s someone in your group who, ahem, isn’t exactly longing to walk in the woods, the Loft Mountain Loop is a good compromise. It’s easy—part of it’s even paved—yet not so short that you’ll feel disappointed when it’s over. It includes a great view and a stretch on the Appalachian Trail (in case your reluctant trekker might enjoy claiming,

the point—it’s the Loft Mountain camp store where you can grab some sweet treats. Keep on munching as you complete the loop on a trail that parallels the campground road.

Blue Hole at Sugar Hollow

Length: 3 miles out and back

Best hike for strollers:

Saunders-Monticello Trail

ERIC KELLEY

SaundersMonticello Trail New parents who have been used to running and hiking in their lives B.C. (that’s Before Children) will be longing to get the blood moving. But strollers can be awkward at city street corners and hazardous on country roads, so a smooth, well-maintained trail—that’s also very close to town—is a real boon. Park the minivan at Kemper Park, off Route 53, and avail yourself of the Saunders/Monticello Trail.

Part crushed gravel and part elevated wooden boardwalk, this trail is beautifully designed and maintained, and wide enough for several strollers to travel abreast. It climbs the little mountain in two miles of graceful curves that, while not taking you deep into the heart of the wilderness, do offer lovely wooded surroundings and a good workout. If you do the whole trail, you’ll wind up at the Monticello visitors’ center—a nice place to get a snack or even hit the gift shop.

Length: 4 miles out and back

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DOWN IN

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GREAT HIKES

Humpback Rocks

Best hike to show off the area to guests:

Humpback Rocks Yes, if you’re a veteran Charlottesville hiker you may already be sick of this hike. But your visitors aren’t. For newbies, it hardly gets better than this—an easy drive from town; a hike

with a stellar, camera-ready endpoint; and an iconic Parkway experience. And there’s more than one way to skin this cat: If you want the short but steep version, you follow the blue blazes and the madding crowds, and huff and puff your way one mile to the top. If you want the longer, gentler version, take the AT instead and you’ll probably have a mite more solitude on the trail (2.7 miles one way).

The rocks themselves, of course, are a thrill— they offer a big view and the opportunity to

climb about, cautiously or daringly as your temperament allows. Even better, you can combine the Humpback hike with any number of nearby attractions: the recreated mountain farm just across the Parkway; bluegrass concerts on summer and fall Sundays at that same farm; or any of the breweries, distilleries and wineries along Route 151 in Nelson County. It pretty much adds up to the perfect outside-of-Charlottesville day.

Length: 2 or 5.4 miles out and back

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JACK LOONEY

GREAT HIKES

Walnut Creek Park

Best hike for a workout:

Walnut Creek Park

Crabtree Falls

It may not look like much when you’re pulling into the entrance from Old Lynchburg Road, but Walnut Creek Park is not some dinky little patch of land. There’s a 45-acre lake in there! And nearly 500 acres of land to explore! As for hiking, you’ll probably have to visit more than once to experience all 15 miles of trails in this park.

The Walnut Creek trails are well-mapped and maintained, and form a dense network that you could combine in any number of ways. But for an easy-to-navigate hike that samples the best of the park, try leaving your car in the first parking lot and starting off over the little footbridge toward Luke’s Loop. Keep the lake on your left, hook up with Wilkins Way, and just stay on it as it skirts the shore, then climbs the mountain to the park’s highest elevations before looping back to the starting point (5.1 miles altogether). Another, shorter option: the two-mile Blue Wheel trail, which starts from the second parking lot and gives you lots of lake time, too.

You’ll be craving a workout by the time you step out of the car—Crabtree Falls is over an

Length: Variable

JACK LOONEY

Best hike near water:

hour from Charlottesville. (Make a nice loop of it: Drive the Parkway from Rockfish Gap to the trailhead on Route 56, then return on Route 151 through Nelson County.) Stretch your quads in the parking lot and then hit the trail. Right away, you’ll get a great view of a section of Crabtree Falls. Enjoy it, but know this is only the beginning—the trail keeps climbing for nearly two steep miles, up switchbacks, steps, and wooden walkways, and passing several other great waterfall viewing spots on the way to the top.

There’s no way to view Crabtree Falls all at once; it’s just too big. In fact, it’s said to be the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, falling 1,200 feet through five major cascades and many smaller ones.

You hike alongside it, not to it. And, of course, it’s magnificent.

The final viewpoint is actually above the top of the falls, where you gaze out at the Tye River valley. From here, if your legs aren’t jelly, an optional add-on is to continue another 1.2 miles to Crabtree Meadows. Or just start back down toward your car, working a whole other muscle group on the way.

Length: 4 miles out and back

Crabtree Falls

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GREAT HIKES

Best hike for families:

Blackrock Summit If it’s the kids’ first time taking a real, official hike, this is a great choice for an outing with a high chance of success. It’s only a mile long, with an option to add another .6 miles if things are going well. And it doesn’t require a big climb—but it does reward hikers with big views from a summit.

From the Blackrock Summit parking area, near mile 85 on Skyline Drive, follow the Appalachian Trail to the bouldery summit and gaze upon mountains to the north. You can either continue around the boulders for another set of views to the south, or—for a slightly longer hike—turn right to find the Blackrock Spur Trail, which leads through a boulder field and takes a little more muscle, with 445 feet of elevation gain.

Like all hikes in Shenandoah National Park, Blackrock can be found on a small map available at the entrance kiosk to the park, where you can also pick up a Junior Ranger booklet with lots of kids’ activities. This hike is also an official Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, meaning there’s a special brochure for kids available at the trailhead and the opportunity to log the hike online for free prizes.

Length: 1 or 1.6 mile loop

Best evening hike:

TOM DALY

Turk Mountain

Bring your binoculars and join the monthly first Saturday bird walk with the Monticello Bird Club; you’ll learn a lot from the experts in the crowd. Sometimes there are other special bird-related events, like an evening nighthawk migration watch, and even the monthly plant walks are likely to include some information about birds and other wildlife. For solo hiking, 7.1 miles of trails offer lots of options; the red and orange trails linked together will give you an overview of many different environments and likely offer an encounter with at least a few of the more than 150 species that have been spotted here.

The more often you visit, the more you’ll begin to spot and appreciate birds in this beautiful, beloved preserve.

Why is Turk Mountain a great choice for an after-work or sunset hike? One, it’s not too far from Charlottesville—just zip out to the Shenandoah National Park entrance on I-64, and drive about 10 lovely miles on Skyline Drive to the Turk Gap parking spot. Two, it delivers more of a workout than you might expect for its length. Three, it culminates in a spectacular view to the west.

Pick up the Appalachian Trail on the west side of Skyline Drive and follow it south for .2 miles.

The Turk Mountain trail then splits off to the right, moseying downhill to a gentle saddle before beginning to climb. Soon you’ll realize you’re going to earn the “summit” mentioned on the trail marker. The climb gets steeper and steeper until it suddenly veers sharply to the right as you crest the peak. Keep hopping along the pinkish-white chunks of rock until you emerge at the top of a big slope, strewn with talus for many feet below you. From here you’ll be able to see all the way across the Shenandoah Valley to the Alleghenies. Watch your step, have a seat, and break out that dinner you were smart enough to pack.

Length: Variable

Length: 2.2 miles out and back

Turk Mountain

Best hike for birding:

Ivy Creek Natural Area It’s not only that the Ivy Creek Natural Area includes different kinds of habitats in its 215 acres, from meadows to forests to shoreline, each of which attracts particular kinds of birds.

It’s that ICNA is also the best place near Charlottesville to connect with the naturalist community here, by joining a bird walk or other educational event. There are lots of folks around here who know their birds (not to mention their trees, wildflowers, etc.), and Ivy Creek is where they—like warblers, geese, and wild turkey—gather.

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Best day-trip hike:

Old Rag

JACK LOONEY

Old Rag This one’s a classic for its challenging nature—it’s 9.1 miles long, gains 2,417 feet of elevation and requires some rock scrambling near the top—and because Old Rag is an iconic peak. Though it’s located within Shenandoah National Park borders, it’s accessed from Route 231 in Sperryville rather than from Skyline Drive.

You’re gonna be climbing.

Old Rag takes more planning than most hikes, due to its length, popularity (try for a weekday when the parking lot may be less likely to fill up), and difficulty. Be safe.

The hike begins with a couple of miles of climbing on a wooded trail, and once it emerges onto the ridgetop, you’ll be following blue blazes as you scramble and shimmy over a mile and a half of granite boulders. This is fun but, of course, it can be dangerous in the wrong weather or for those who aren’t prepared. After appreciating a 360-degree view from the summit of Old Rag, you’ll travel four miles down the Saddle Trail and a fire road to return to your car. (A tip for the crowdaverse: Other routes to the Old Rag summit exist, and may offer somewhat more solitude—at least until you reach the top.)

The Park Service recommends budgeting about seven to eight hours for the classic loop hike. Finish up by late afternoon and you can celebrate your accomplishment with a nice dinner in Sperryville.

Length: 9.1 mile loop

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GREAT HIKES

Best all-day hike:

Riprap Here’s a Shenandoah hike that’ll let you know you’re alive. It’s less about reaching some amazing destination than enjoying the journey— though there are some highlights sprinkled throughout the route. These include a 50-footwide swimming hole, the viewpoint called Chimney Rock, a 20-foot waterfall, and—to please the technically minded hiker—several stream crossings.

At 9.8 miles and 2,365-foot elevation gain, Riprap is listed by the Park Service as “very strenuous,” and it’s recommended that you allow about eight hours to complete it—though you’ll find plenty of hikers posting up their subfour-hour times. You’ll also see lots of different online opinions on the best direction to hike— you can start with a steep descent down the Wildcat Ridge Trail, then hike up to Chimney Rock and finish on the relatively easy AT; or do it all in reverse, ending with a steep climb. In either direction, this is a great way to spend the better part of a day communing with the incomparable Blue Ridge, and with your own cardiovascular system.

Length: 9.8 mile loop

Best early morning hike:

If you can get yourself out of bed early enough, make the drive out to the Montebello Fish Hatchery off Route 56 in Nelson County, and start up the Spy Rock trail before sunrise, we congratulate you. Then again, you’re not doing this for kudos; you’re doing it for the view.

The Spy Rock hike is not the most engaging trek in the region; it starts with about a mile of unrelenting climbing on a fire road (on which you may actually encounter a vehicle), then continues with another half mile of unrelenting climbing on the AT. As you proceed, though, the surroundings become more inviting, until finally you find yourself at the base of Spy Rock—a rocky dome that takes a little scrambling to summit. Once on the top, you’ll forget about all that huffing and puffing as you drink in one of the only 360-degree views in the Blue Ridge. You’re at 3,980 feet of elevation here: a real treat. And if you’ve actually made it in time to see the sun come up, so much the better. This is one of those days you’ll always remember.

JACK LOONEY

Spy Rock

Spy Rock

A note on fees

All the hikes listed here are free, except for those in Shenandoah National Park, Walnut Creek Park, and at Crabtree Falls.

Shenandoah costs $30 per vehicle, and the $55 annual pass is well worth it if you live nearby.

Walnut Creek Park charges $3 for adults and $2 for kids if you’re a county resident, or $4.50 adults and $3 for kids for non-county residents. These fees only apply between Memorial Day and Labor Day, however.

At Crabtree Falls, you must pay a $3 user fee at the trailhead.

Length: 3.1 miles out and back

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JACK LOONEY

GREAT HIKES

Rivanna Trail

Best romantic hike:

White Rock Falls This hike lets you converse easily with your sweetie (it’s not very strenuous), and it could hardly be more picturesque. You park at the Slacks Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and walk north a very short distance along the road.

The trail dives off to the right into a lovely forest full of mountain laurel and leads down to a couple of creek crossings, where rhododendrons lean over little pools and waterfalls. Then you’ll leave the creek and climb to a rocky overlook, the trail’s one big view, and a good place to rest and canoodle.

A short time later, after some mild switchbacking, you arrive at the waterfall: a tall, enclosed bowl, with water pouring down in two different

places. Enjoy the shallow swimming hole, seek out a cozy niche in the rock faces, and enjoy this spot—a magical private room within the forest.

Length: 2.2 miles out and back

Best urban hike:

Rivanna Trail Is there any contest? The Rivanna Trail, at nearly 20 miles long, is truly an awesome urban resource. It’s not pristine, it promises no elevated breathtaking view, and it brings you closer to the city rather than providing an escape from it—and these are all the reasons why we love it. The Rivanna Trail is an intimate engagement with the city, serving as a reminder that nature is everywhere, not just out in the wilderness.

Read the online, section-by-section description of the trail (see rivannatrails.org) and you’ll realize that as it circumnavigates Charlottesville, the trail offers many different kinds of experiences. You can walk on pavement along the Rivanna River from Riverview Park.

You can creep through a culvert under the 250 Bypass. You can rock-scramble along Moore’s Creek on your way to Woolen Mills. The trail visits some of the lonelier, timeworn parts of the city and puts you face-to-face with its most heavily trafficked arteries.

One favorite section we’ll recommend: the just-shy-of-two-mile stretch between Fontaine Avenue and Ivy Road. This is mostly wooded, a great place to run or hike, and yet true to the urban-fringe spirit of the Rivanna Trail, a major road passes by, just beyond the trees.

Length: Variable

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OUTSIDER

Good apples The Shelton family’s deep roots in Nelson County

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ven as they pursued (indoor) careers elsewhere, the children of Bud and Mary Shelton always knew they’d be back among the apple trees someday. “This was the plan all along,” says Bill, one of three Shelton sons and operations manager of Vintage Virginia Apples and Albemarle CiderWorks: “to come back and help our parents run the farm as they got older.”

The elder Sheltons planted 20 fruit trees at Rural Ridge in 1986, and the younger generation has overseen the steady addition of heirloom and other unusual varieties to the orchard, now topping 200 cultivars. In addition to planting and selling fruit and trees, the farm began offering craft hard cider in 2000. “It’s an interesting process,” says Chuck, whose environmental science background spurred the project, “and there’s always more to learn.” And, he says, the process of keeping up with orchard maintenance and cider-making is a rain-or-shine endeavor.

As they cycle through the seasons, the siblings are hands-on at every stage.

From tree sales and pruning the orchard stock in winter, to cutting scion wood for bench grafting and planting new root stock in the spring, the work then shifts to early fruit-picking and hosting outdoor events and tastings all summer, and apple harvest time in the fall. Pressing, fermenting, and cider-bottling runs year-round. “Most orcharding is really seat-of-the-pants learning,” says Chuck with a smile. “You learn to do what works over generations.”—Lisa Martin

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