Petite's Gap to James River Foot Bridge on the AT - April 30, 2016

submitted by Barbara Martin

     On a rainy Saturday morning hike leaders Barbara Martin and Bill Holman were pleased to have a group of 12 come out for our hike from Petite's Gap to the James River on the Appalachian Trail.  Bill and Iva Gillet very kindly met hikers at Albemarle High School and Barbara met hikers at Rockfish Gap.  Our group included Clai Lange, David Crowe, C J Woodburn, Karen Siegrist, Marian Styles, Dan Funkhouser, Rick Rohrback, Susanna Williams and Brian Muszynski.  We arrive at Petite's Gap after a short pit stop in Buena Vista and split into two groups.  Barbara led three other hikers on the Appalachian Trail and Bill led the remaining hikers on an alternative lower trail that was the old AT route, Sulphur Ridge Trail.  Both groups met later on the AT and compared wildflower notes. The AT group were excited about seeing a clump of rare yellow lady slippers as well as pink lady slippers, trilium and many other wildflowers.  The other group saw wild irises as well as many other wild flowers.  We all walked to the junction of the Sulphur Springs Trail which Bill's group (Karen, Marian and Rick) followed to Petite's Gap Road and back up to the trail head at Petite's Gap.   Barbara's group continued north on the AT, stopping for lunch at the Hickory Stand and continuing on over the famous James River Foot Bridge (named after William Foot) to retrieve the two cars that Bill's group had driven back from Petite's Gap.  Thanks Bill for doing the shuttle for us!  We all met at JJ's Meat Shak in Buena Vista for a hearty dinner and comraderie.