Joe wanted to do something different than usual on Sunday. So, instead of walking around here, we drove and hour and a half to walk around somewhere else. I had seen something about The Channels in Saltville and thought it sounded interesting.
It was purchased by the Virginia Department of Forestry in 2008, so it is a relatively new attraction. There are only 10 parking spots, violators will be ticketed and towed. There were 12 parked cars and another waiting when we arrived and another pulled in right after us. Joe was pretty put out. He thought that no one would bother to drive 30 minutes up a very winding road in the middle of no where to go on a hike. I had already read that you needed to get there early to get a spot so I was not surprised by the number of cars there. And since we were already there, I didn't mind waiting to see if a spot opened up. It turned out we only had to wait about 30 minutes. Then off we went. The trail was 3 1/2 miles up hill the whole way.
I enjoyed spotting wildflowers like these fire pinks,
Mountain laurel,
rhododendron,
galax,
goat's beard,
blue eyed grass,
And wild azalea.
Finally, at the top there was a lookout tower. Unfortunately, it was closed to the public.
But there was a rock outcropping that had a beautiful view.
I had eaten my lunch in the parking lot while we waited, but Joe packed his up the mountain and ate here.
Then it was just a few hundred yards to The Channels.
It doesn't look like much from the top.
But it is amazing from the bottom.
Joe said it would be a good spot for a Gunsmoke episode. He said he could just hear Chester getting lost and calling out, "Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillion."
I, on the other hand, thought about True Grit when Joe said he would take my picture. I took off my hat and my sunglasses immediately flew off and down into a hole. I just thought about the snake pit. Luckily, there was a stick near by that I was able to use to fish my glasses closer so I could reach them. And there was no snake.
We explored all of the nooks and crannies for about half an hour. It was fascinating.
Then it was 3 1/2 miles back down the mountain.
It was a very enjoyable 4 hour hike. We had no idea this was nearly in our backyard.
