Brown’s Gap Turnpike - January 24, 2015

Reported by Iva Gillet

      We wouldn’t let a terrible weather forecast stop us! So despite the threat of rain and 36 degrees, following a day of heavy rain, our group assembled anyway to travel a short distance north of White Hall to hike the historic Brown’s Gap Turnpike. Our initial group: Anne Colgate, Sunny Choi, Leon Gorman, John Brandt, Lisa Lampe and Max the dog, Brian Muszynski, Susanna Williams, Christine Brennan, Andy Willgruber, Briana Taylor joined into carpools with Bill and Iva and headed west. At the Piedmont Store in White Hall, we added three horse women to our group: Lynne Taylor, Nancy Handley, Stephanie Guerlain and the infamous Michael Seth, who joined us from Harrisonburg. Upon reaching the trailhead, we were joined by Barbara Dudley. A GREAT GROUP!
     We spread out as we began the steady climb up the road, wooded on both sides. It was great to see Briana again, after a semester of intense teaching and Susanna after her recent travels. We talked about holiday trips, recent illnesses, and winter weather. While it was damp on the ascent, the climb was steady, and winding. This roadbed was used by Stonewall Jackson during his Valley campaign in 1862, on his way to the Battle of McDowell. There are several historical buildings still in Brown’s Cove, including the former residence of Brightberry Brown. Brown completed this Turnpike with William Jarman in 1805 connecting the Doyle River area with the Shenandoah Valley and other trails to the west toward Hardy Co, W.Va.  It has been a public road since 1867, and two miles from the parking lot, it ends in the SNP on a fire road that leads to the Doyle River Trail. This is where the 4 mile hikers decided to turn around.
      As we reconvened at the park boundary, we enjoyed homemade brownies and hot chocolate. Since the rain began, our group divided, and the short hikers returned back to their cars with Bill. The “Hardy Hikers”- Leon, Anne, Sunny, Brian, John, Christine, Susanna, and Michael continued on with Iva for another 2 miles until we joined the Doyle River Trail. The weather conditions improved, making the hike lovelier, with ice forming on the trees first, and then snow blanketing the ground by the time we reached the trail intersection. We descended toward the Upper Falls where we enjoyed lunch beside the Doyle River.  After a brief lunch, we returned the same way, making a stop to see an old moonshine mash container big enough that Brian could stand inside it! We were disappointed to see the snow fading away as we descended the turnpike, but we were greeted with a sunny day when we reached the cars at 2 PM, completing the full spectrum of weather for the day.