Appalachian trail
Deb Williams, CPA (DEBW@VTVM1.BITNET)
Mon, 17 Apr 1995 10:13:11 EDT
From: Deb Williams, CPA
Controller's Office: Financial Reporting Section
Virginia Tech 201 Southgate Center 0312 (703) 231-8556
The Appalachian Trail is great for hiking, but I'd like to leave the comments
on that to some of our more experienced "Trail" hikers and tell the list of
the New River Trail.
We had two troops of boys that biked the trail this past holiday weekend.
It is part of the Rails to Trails program donated by the Railroad. It is
currently (last I heard) the longest-narrowest trail in the USA. It is
about 50 miles from start to finish. It is normally about 30-40 feet wide.
It runs South from Pulaski, VA to Galax, VA through some of Southwest
Virginia's most beautiful country. Since it was made for the Railroad to
haul the minerals mined in this area (lead & coal) it is basically flat.
Galax is its highest point with mostly a very, very gradual downhill grade
to Pulaski.
The national historic landmark, the Shot Tower, is at the center of the Trail.
Folks using the trail go over several trestles and through several tunnels.
Our boys loved it! EVERY boy from both troops finished the ride. Every
Scouter, too :-)
We made some special arrangements to have the Shot Tower opened for the boys
(it is normally open Memorial Day) and we camped at a local school. We did
the ride in two days, 25 miles per day.
We also had a fantastic cooking demonstration put on by Torchie Walrath of
Blacksburg, VA. This man has been with the Boy Scouts for over 45 years and
he loves to cook. Our boys were really impressed, not only with their dinner
but how he taught them to cook it.
We are fortunate to have a Queen Scout in our area. He came and showed his
Scout uniform to the boys. They loved the way, back then, the uniform held all
the badges of rank. They liked the gold braid and the Bushman's Thong.
The boys were also really surprised (at least the guys from Chesapeake) to
find ice on their tents Saturday when they awoke. (Heavy frost outside &
frozen condensation inside) <g>
If you'd like to know more about what the troops from Christiansburg and
Chesapeake did to accomplish the hike, private e-mail me.
I don't have the addresses & phone numbers for the New River Trail head-
quarters here, but if you want them private e-mail me for that, too.
This trail is also a great trail for a 50 miler patch hike because of
the opportunities for community service. Its also great for younger
boys because of the ease of the trail. Our New Scout Patrol did great.
Deb Williams
(I got to be support staff on this one ;-) )
Troop 142
Chrisitansburg VA
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
