Matts Creek Trail and Old A.T. Loop - December 27, 2014

submitted by Jeff Monroe

The Charlottesville Chapter’s post-Christmas Saturday hike was short on participants but long on variety.  Four hikers met up in Charlottesville: Karen Ramsey, Marian Styles, Emily Berry, first timer Shawn Schubert, and hike leader Jeff Monroe.  The group then met up at the trailhead with Michael Seth, who somehow managed to shoehorn the event in between trips to Nicaragua and New York – as he apparently works his way across the globe alphabetically.

The last chapter hike of the year took the Appalachian Trail south over the James River Foot Bridge and into the James River Face Wilderness.  The crew took a break and group photo at the Matts Creek Shelter before retracing their steps as far as the Matt’s Creek Trail – also known as the high water trail for the A.T., an alternate route when the James River floods.  Lunch was at a semi-overlook high on a bluff over the James River, where the group watched trains, kayaks, hikers and automobiles from above.  Everyone was amazed that they could lunch in tee shirts during late December.

The group then descended to U.S. 501 where they crossed the James River on the original A.T. route, dating from its inception to the completion of the Foot Bridge.  There wasn’t a lot of extra room on that bridge, so everyone waited until a couple of large trucks cleared the bridge before making their way across.  On the north side of the James River, the group cut back into the woods at Cashaw Creek and found the pre-2000 Appalachian Trail alignment, which followed a beautiful stream bed.  This came out at a dirt forest road that the group hiked, though they later determined that the old A.T. must have continued past that road – it was not visible at the time.

The road took them past a fire ring, complete with old couch, and then to the present A.T.  The group was amazed at how pretty the trail was on the new A.T., traveling through a small canyon along a scenic stream and crossing twice on Lincoln Log style wooden bridges while taking everyone back to their original parking area.  In all, the loop was 7.5 miles long, with elevation ranging between 650 and 1350 feet.