Post 900 Hike #78; Grapeyard Ridge (~4 mi. in/4 mi. out)

The hike that I sent out for today was one that had been recommended and one that I thought would sell. However, the hike that I sent out for Otis's group (Charlies Bunyon) was the one that most selected. I rode to Food Lion with Jim Harb; only Lowell Reid and Tom Silas wanted to do this hike and all the others there wanted to do Charlies Bunyon. We proceeded to SVC and although there were a number of hikers there, they all wanted to do Charlies Bunyon too. (In retrospect I perhaps could have predicted this because this past sprig I did this hike--my 2nd time--with a relatively large group.)

Because we had only one vehicle, we obviously could not do a key swap as originally planned. I volunteered to drop the others off at Baskins Creek and and hike into meet them on Grapeyard Ridge; however, Lowell, who also is not working on a second map, volunteered to go with me. The four of us proceeded to Cherokee Orchard Rd. and the beginning of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail; although it was originally our intent for Jim and Tom to walk to the hike’s trail head ~0.2 mi., since neither had been there I suggested that I just drop them off at the trail head (this of course obligated Lowell and I to drive an extra 3 miles for we would be on a one-way road). I had traveled on that road one time previously with a Ranger, when I was a volunteer at SVC in Spring 05 prior to my ever starting hiking. This rather slow but scenic route helped delay our arrival at the Grapeyard Ridge trailhead in Greenbrier; we did not get started until 1020. (Because of my pectoralis pull I again chose not to use my sticks; however, I did carry them on my pack. I also want to get used to hiking without them, for I plan to take our Vicar and his wife on a more difficult hike and let the two of them use my and my wife's sticks.)

Lowell and I had a good discussion as we hiked. Although I did not have my pedometer (still missing from my Colorado trip), I had a pretty good feel when we would have covered 2.8 mi. and arrive at Injun Creek; it was here that a steam engine fell down the embankment in the late 1920’s. The engine had been used further West to power a saw used in constructing a school; however, on its return it tumbled on a sharp switchback. As we descended on this switchback the engine sort of jumped out at me as we approached it from above; the picture was taken after we had completed the switchback and had a better view. When I hiked Grapeyard Ridge in the spring I totally missed seeing the steam engine; however, I think that I saw it on my first hike on this trail in 2006, but I had not taken a picture of it. Lowell took this picture of me standing on a drive-gear by the wreckage. To my right you can see one of its big steel propelling wheels; obviously this steam engine did not ride on tracks. (If you click the picture twice you can get an enlarged view; I assume that the reader can now appreciate why the area is called "Injun" Creek.)



After a few pictures I decided to speed it up a little and go ahead for Jim and Tom may have expected to see us sooner. After meeting them I reversed my trek and we met Lowell shortly; at this point we figured that we were 4 miles from our terminus (i.e., where Lowell and I started, making it only an 8-mi. hike for for the two of us). We ate lunch a short time later and then went on, stopping briefly so Jim and Tom could view the steam engine.

In the Easterly direction that we were now going, most of the hike is downhill; Lowell and I had done the harder part on our trek West. Tom and I became engrossed in a good discussion and time truly flew. I had figured if the rain came it would be light and would occur towards the very end of our hike; we arrived at Tom's vehicle at 1400 and then it began to rain slightly. Grapeyard Ridge is a very nice trail and hiking with Lowell, Jim, and Tom made it most enjoyable.