Post by Larry M on Jun 7, 2019 19:52:10 GMT -5
Ridgeview Trails - Day 1 - Friday, June 7th, 2019
Arrived at the Spearhead Ridgeview Trailhead. The Trailhead is in Haysi, VA (pronounced Hay-Sigh). No automobiles at the trailhead yet. I spent the night at Hilltop. The drive through the mountains was pleasant. 88 miles. Had 4 lane highway and 55 mph until I got to within 10 miles of Haysi. The tiny community has a gas station and a Subway sandwich shop. Got a Spicy Italian and a coke, put it in my cooler, and hit the trails. My destination was the Breaks Interstate Park which my car GPS said was 8.2 miles away. On the trails it was 25 miles. It sprinkled and rained the whole way. Came across a "Trail Ranger" SxS but nobody but two dogs were around. To my consternation, the dogs followed me. I turned back to the Trail Ranger SxS and told the dogs to "STAY". I then took off at a good clip and hoped the dogs wouldn't follow me. I then came up on a bulldozer and had to wait until the dozer driver recognized I was there. And what do you know....the dogs followed me again. No matter what I did, the dogs would not go back up the trail where they came from. I asked the dozer operator if the dogs were his and he said "No". So I went on my way and hoped the dogs would be scared off by the dozer. No such luck. As I got to the entrance to the Breaks Interstate Park, the dogs had followed me. Had to pay $2.00 at the entrance. The park ranger gave me a tag to put on my mirror. I told her the tag wouldn't last very long in the rain and wind. She said to put it in my pocket. Just past the entrance, I came up on an Overlook. There happened to be a Park Ranger at the overlook. He asked if the two dogs where mine. I said "Nope, they followed me off the trails near where a Trail Ranger SxS was parked". There was a SxS, but no humans. Another Park Ranger came up and corralled the two dogs up and took them away. They were going to contact the Ridgeview Trail Ranger office and have them pick up their dogs. Anyway, back to the trails. Ridgeview lived up to its name. Spectacular views. So many, I had to pass a few up. I'll check them out tomorrow. There is a single trail from the Breaks Park. It goes 5 miles before it splits off onto other trails. I rode back to the trailhead, loaded up, and came back to the Park in my truck and trailer. By the way...The Park is called Interstate because it is in two states - Virginia and Kentucky. A bit beyond the Canyon/Gorge is Kentucky. Tomorrow, my plan is to ride to the Coal Canyon connector and beyond.
Below are photos
www.amazon.com/photos/shared/8Voa2IhXSPSuEzP90_ynXQ.-8LMn4ij35c-E7w2_45K0r
Arrived at the Spearhead Ridgeview Trailhead. The Trailhead is in Haysi, VA (pronounced Hay-Sigh). No automobiles at the trailhead yet. I spent the night at Hilltop. The drive through the mountains was pleasant. 88 miles. Had 4 lane highway and 55 mph until I got to within 10 miles of Haysi. The tiny community has a gas station and a Subway sandwich shop. Got a Spicy Italian and a coke, put it in my cooler, and hit the trails. My destination was the Breaks Interstate Park which my car GPS said was 8.2 miles away. On the trails it was 25 miles. It sprinkled and rained the whole way. Came across a "Trail Ranger" SxS but nobody but two dogs were around. To my consternation, the dogs followed me. I turned back to the Trail Ranger SxS and told the dogs to "STAY". I then took off at a good clip and hoped the dogs wouldn't follow me. I then came up on a bulldozer and had to wait until the dozer driver recognized I was there. And what do you know....the dogs followed me again. No matter what I did, the dogs would not go back up the trail where they came from. I asked the dozer operator if the dogs were his and he said "No". So I went on my way and hoped the dogs would be scared off by the dozer. No such luck. As I got to the entrance to the Breaks Interstate Park, the dogs had followed me. Had to pay $2.00 at the entrance. The park ranger gave me a tag to put on my mirror. I told her the tag wouldn't last very long in the rain and wind. She said to put it in my pocket. Just past the entrance, I came up on an Overlook. There happened to be a Park Ranger at the overlook. He asked if the two dogs where mine. I said "Nope, they followed me off the trails near where a Trail Ranger SxS was parked". There was a SxS, but no humans. Another Park Ranger came up and corralled the two dogs up and took them away. They were going to contact the Ridgeview Trail Ranger office and have them pick up their dogs. Anyway, back to the trails. Ridgeview lived up to its name. Spectacular views. So many, I had to pass a few up. I'll check them out tomorrow. There is a single trail from the Breaks Park. It goes 5 miles before it splits off onto other trails. I rode back to the trailhead, loaded up, and came back to the Park in my truck and trailer. By the way...The Park is called Interstate because it is in two states - Virginia and Kentucky. A bit beyond the Canyon/Gorge is Kentucky. Tomorrow, my plan is to ride to the Coal Canyon connector and beyond.
Below are photos
www.amazon.com/photos/shared/8Voa2IhXSPSuEzP90_ynXQ.-8LMn4ij35c-E7w2_45K0r