FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Highlands Festival Nature Walks

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

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       Abingdon Farmers' Market (7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, July 26, Aug. =
2 & Aug. 9) Visit Southwest Virginia's finest farmers' market and enjoy =
a wonderful array of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, honey, baked =
goods, eggs, meats, certified organic produce, handcrafted items, cut =
flowers, and potted plants for your own garden. Learn new cooking skills =
during weekly chef demonstrations by the staff of the Culinary Arts =
Department at Virginia Intermont College (delicious samples are =
abundant!). The Abingdon market, open mid-April through mid-November, is =
located in the Latture Field parking area next to the new police station =
on West Main Street. Also visit our sister markets in Lebanon and =
Bristol (same Saturday hours; call 276-623-1121 for more information).=20

      Creeper Trail Bird Walk (7:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26) Noted =
local ornithologist Wallace Coffey leads this leisurely bird =
identification walk on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Coffey has a wealth =
of knowledge about birds and wildlife. This expertise, plus his sense of =
humor, makes this a very popular event! Plan to walk 2-3 miles to see =
lots of birds. Bring binoculars. Meet at the locomotive at the =
trailhead.=20

      Bike Ride & Winery Tour (2 p.m. Saturday, July 26) Meet at Blue =
Blaze Shuttle in Damascus, Virginia, then bicycle to Abingdon Vineyard =
and Winery for a tour and tasting. Blue Blaze will shuttle your return =
at 4 p.m. Limit 30 bikers. Advance registration required: call 276- or =
800-475-5095. Bike rental and shuttle: $15.=20

      Horsing Around on the Farm (1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 27) Not long =
ago, animal power was the driving force of agriculture in America. =
Tractors have replaced most of those animals, but we are fortunate that =
a dedicated few have kept the tradition alive. Meet Larry Moore and his =
friends in the parking lot of St. John's Lutheran Church. Car pool to a =
beautiful farm about 15 minutes from Abingdon. Weather permitting, draft =
horses will demonstrate farm field cultivating and forestry skills. =
There may even be a horse-drawn ride. For more information, call =
Appalachian Sustainable Development: 276-623-1121.=20
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     Exploring the Cave Environment (Slide Show/Lecture: 7 p.m. Monday, =
July 28; Cave Trips take place Tuesday, July 29, and Wednesday, July 30 =
--- two for Beginners begin at 9 a.m.; two for Intermediate/Advanced =
begin at 2 p.m.) Participants must attend a one-hour lecture (open to =
the public) on conservation and caving basics by Chris Harr of Powell =
Mountain Grotto and Mountain Empire Grotto at the Virginia Highlands =
Community College Auditorium (Room 605). Each trip limited to 10 people. =
Advance registration required by July 22: call 276-628-6716. Adult =
guardians required for minors. Signing a release also required.=20
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      Wine Tasting & Tour of Abingdon Vineyards (1-3 p.m. & 2-4 p.m. =
Wednesdays, July 30 & Aug. 6) Shuttle buses will pick up and drop off =
passengers in the Martha Washington Inn driveway. Each tour will be =
limited to 20 participants. Cost is $5. Tickets available on the bus, or =
in advance at the Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau.=20

      Hayride Tour of the Farm Park of Washington County (6-8 p.m. =
Thursday, July 31) A coalition of local people is creating a park that =
offers unique opportunities to residents and traveling visitors. The =
idea of a "farm park" integrates the concepts of agriculture, education, =
recreation and land-use management. The Farm Park of Washington County =
will have a large, diverse, working farm that will provide easy access =
to visitors who would like to experience a multitude of interesting farm =
activities. It will also offer outdoor education and recreation =
opportunities such as an Environmental Education Center, horseback =
riding, hiking, birding, picnicking and camping. During this Festival =
event, Farm Park members will offer a free hayride and tour on the =
530-acre property that is the proposed and hopefully future location of =
the Farm Park.=20

      Roan Mountain Appalachian Trail (8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2) =
Take a hike with Brad Kreps of The Nature Conservancy and learn about =
the history of the Appalachian Trail. Bring water, lunch, a rain jacket =
and hiking shoes. Meet at the Kroger parking lot (near the Wachovia ATM =
machine) in Abingdon. Limit 8 participants. Advance registration =
required by July 25: call 276-676-2209.=20

      High Elevation Forest Decline (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2) =
If you can't make Dr. Bruck's presentation (see lecture on Friday, Aug. =
1), perhaps you can join him on a hike at a high elevation forest =
decline site. Participants can count on an interesting amble and should =
dress accordingly. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Meet at Abingdon =
Cinemall to carpool to the site. Limit 15 participants. Advance =
registration required by Aug. 1: call 276-676-2209.=20

      Mountaintop Stargazing & Starlore (8-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2) =
Join Dr. Mike Duffy of Emory & Henry College and Tom McMullen of =
Virginia Highlands Community College on the summit of Whitetop Mountain =
as they identify summer constellations. The mountain's 5400-foot =
elevation raises viewers above the thick, moist summer air and makes =
stargazing much clearer. Amateur astronomers with telescopes may be =
present, but bring your own binoculars in case you want to take a close =
look yourself. Meet at the Abingdon Cinemall parking lot to assess =
weather conditions, then car pool for the hour-long drive to the summit. =


      Ecology Hike from Massey Gap to Rhododendron Gap (9 a.m.-3 p.m. =
Sunday, Aug. 3) Meet Dr. Philip Shelton of the University of =
Virginia-Wise in the Massey Gap parking lot in Grayson Highlands State =
Park. This strenuous full-day hike will take you to some of the most =
beautiful views in the Highlands. You'll be able to see across the ridge =
and valley to the north and northwest and catch sight of Clinch =
Mountain, Big Walker, and even High Knob, if the weather is clear. To =
the south and southwest, you may spot Grandfather Mountain and Black =
Mountain. Dr. Shelton will discuss the geology of the Mount Rogers area, =
especially the Wilburn Rhyolite (lava flow) and the geological history =
of the Blue Ridge and the Ridge and Valley. You'll look at the High =
Country vegetation, including original distribution of spruce and fir =
and what has happened to it, beginning with logging, fires, grazing, =
prescribed burns, acid deposition, and adelgids. You may also observe =
various native and introduced fauna, including deer, cattle, a small =
herd of feral ponies, and birds that normally occur farther north. =
Hikers must be in good shape and have ankle-protecting footwear. Bring =
plenty of water, a hearty lunch and raingear. Advance registration is =
required by Aug. 2 by calling The Nature Conservancy Office: =
276-676-2209.=20

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      Abingdon Organics Farm Tour (1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3) If you would =
like to garden organically, make beautiful floral arrangements, or just =
like to eat well, you're invited to tour the Flaccavento farm, which =
includes more than 20 different types of vegetables and fruits, a =
stunning array of flowers, and a raspberry patch. See what's involved in =
raising crops organically, using a variety of approaches to ecologically =
sound insect, weed and disease control. Learn about the Appalachian =
Harvest network of organic farmers, a growing group of people who supply =
produce to area supermarkets. The tour will include a "cut your own" =
flower bouquet and a tomato taste test of uncommon varieties. Wear =
comfortable shoes and a hat, and bring your appetite! The farm is =
located at 18157 Wyndale Road, three miles from West Main Street (look =
for streamers at the end of the driveway).=20

      Elevational Birding (9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4) Meet by the =
caboose at the Damascus Town Park. After a brief introduction, =
participants will look for birds in the park before carpooling to =
Whitetop Mountain. Along the way, you will stop at the pond at Bear Tree =
Campground and at Elk Garden, to observe the changes in habitats and =
bird species as you climb in elevation. Bring binoculars, lunch and =
drinks. Appropriate for children.=20

       Beyond the Solar System (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6) Deep space =
viewing will be available at the Creed-Fulton Observatory at Emory & =
Henry College. Dr. James Warden, chair of the Physics Department, will =
guide you on a tour of the vast spaces beyond our atmosphere. A new =
Meade 16-inch telescope provides a sharp view of planets and stars from =
this historic observatory, which a has a new state-of-the-art aluminum =
dome. Limit 15. Advance registration required: 276-944-6201.=20

      Buffalo Mountain Ecology (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7) =
Meet at Abingdon Cinemall to carpool to the Buffalo Mountain Natural =
Area Preserve in Floyd County, Virginia. David Richert of the Virginia =
Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) will lead this =
strenuous hike up the mile-long trail to the summit. This region is a =
biologically significant mountain top preserve owned and managed by the =
VDCR. Home to over a dozen state and globally rare plants, animals and =
ecological communities, the summit also provides a sweeping 360-degree =
view of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Limit 14 participants. =
Advance registration required: call 276-676-2209.=20

      Highlands Rock Hike (10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8) The Mount =
Rogers Complex isn't a hiker's disease. It's the term used for a =
grouping of rock units found in the Highlands area of Virginia. As well =
as the highest elevation in the state, these mountains are one of a very =
few areas in Virginia that is home to ancient volcanoes. Join Dr. Jon =
Tso of Radford University's Geological Sciences Department as he hikes =
the horse trail to Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mountain. Along the way, he =
will discuss the fiery formation of these mountains as you view the =
scenic splendor the Highlands hold for us today. Meet at the trailhead =
parking area on Route 600 at the Elk Garden divide (on the Smyth/Grayson =
County line). From there, travel will be coordinated for the short drive =
to Whitetop. Bring water and lunch. Wear sturdy shoes. Not advised for =
very young or elderly or others unproven in such excursions.=20

      Forests of Clinch Mountain (9 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Aug. 9) Walk the =
old railroad logging trails, hear about the area's history, learn about =
local trees and forestry, and discover "new" forestry programs for the =
Virginia Highlands. Meet at the parking lot by the lake dam in the =
Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area between Abingdon and Lebanon. To =
register, call 276-889-8056.=20

      Moonlight Bike Ride (7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9) Enjoy the =
Virginia Creeper Trail in a whole new light. Not for the faint-of-heart =
or sensory challenged, and dependent on good weather. Required: =
well-maintained bike, bright light for bike, approved helmet, and adult =
guardians for minors. Limit 70 riders. Advance registration by credit =
card required: call 888-595-BIKE or 800-475-5095. A fee of $10 includes =
a "Night Ride" T-shirt and shuttle from the Damascus Town Park to =
Whitetop Station.=20

      High Elevation Salamanders of the Appalachian Highlands (2-5 p.m. =
Sunday, Aug. 10) Meet at the Konnarock Community Center to carpool to =
Whitetop Mountain. Led by Professor Gregory McConnell from the Biology =
Department at Emory & Henry College, participants will spend two to =
three hours searching for the unique terrestrial salamanders of this =
region and learn various aspects of their life histories. Exceptional =
photo opportunities (a close-up lens is a must). Note: Clothing may get =
wet and muddy.=20
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