submitted by Iva Gillet
This year’s soup hike had an all-time low number of attendees, likely due to the exaggerated forecast of cold and high winds. With morning temps in the low 20’s, this year’s hike was predominately attended by hike leaders and the hiking regulars, other than one new hiker - Mieke Zylstra. She valiantly hiked an eight mile loop with the hiking veterans, despite having a choice between a four mile out and back hike with Bill Holman, Bev and Pete Fink or an eight mile loop with Iva Gillet, David Crowe, CJ Woodburn, Kelly O’Rourke, Brian Muszynski, Dan Ralston and Jeanne Densmore. It was blustery, but with the layers we all know are necessary for winter hiking, we were all warm, shedding layers in the ascent and retrieving them on the descent. Remi, Iva’s daughter's dog, led the hike, since she knows the trails on Flattop Mountain near Simmons Gap well hiking them many times with Iva. With the entire hike on the gravel roads in the NW corner of Albemarle County, facing mostly south, we encountered little snow or wicked wind. After two miles, Bill, Bev and Pete returned to the farm to heat up the soup and prepare lunch. After a snack and water break the rest of us slowly completed the 1500 foot climb part of the hike in four miles at the entrance to the Flattop subdivision. With nice views along the way, they culminated at the apex of the day, with views west to the Skyline Drive, Bacon Hollow, Bingham Mountain and toward Swift Run Gap. After pausing to enjoy the views of our labor, we descended toward Stone Mountain Vineyard (closed for the season), across Wyatt Mountain and down Brokenback Mountain to Shady Grove. Completing the circuit at about 1 PM, we returned to three homemade soups, which Bill had carefully prepared for our enjoyment. With bread brought by Brian and Mieke, we all feasted. The group was all glad to have gotten some exercise on a sunny, cold day and then been able to share delicious food with fellow hikers.
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