The Chessie Trail (Lexington, VA to Buena Vista, VA) – In the heart of the Blue Ridge

Old Dominion

You think you'll find some mountains in western Colorado
Fifty weeks of snowy peaks is where you're gonna be
But babe the Rocky Mountains are gradually eroding
The hills of Coors are nothing more than Blue Ridge wannabes

(refrain)
When you're talking home, you mean the Old Dominion
Just southeast of Heaven to the surf and the hills
She's the best of 13 sisters and 37 more
Sweet, sweet Virginia always keeps an open door
...
They're fiddlin' down in Galax, pickin' up in Floyd
And in the land of Patsy Cline, there're songs you can't avoid
When you're walkin' after midnight, I'll fall to pieces, too
I'm crazy back in baby's arms with sweet dreams of you

…. From Old Dominion, by Eddie From Ohio

There’s more…give it a listen.

OVERVIEW: Next to the carriage roads on MDI this is probably my favorite place to run. I think it may also be the prettiest run in America that actually passes under an Interstate (I-81). While technically not part of the Rails to Trials system, this trail runs on the bed of the old Chessie rail line. From Lexington, the trail drops gently for 7 miles as it traces the winding course of the Maury River to Buena Vista.

CROWORDINATES: Any Lexington VA exit off of I-81. Take Route 11 to the river. Head east along the river until you see a small parking area on the right. (Alternatively, ask someone how to get to the Chessie Trail) It would be a few hours drive for Raleigh area CROWS. It is also not too far off the App. Trail or the Blue Ridge Parkway.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
http://outingclub.wlu.edu/guidebook/hiking/chessie/chessie.htm

MAP: http://outingclub.wlu.edu/guidebook/hiking/chessie/chessietopo.jpg

SATELLITE MAP: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.782938,-79.445198&spn=0.11,0.18&t=k

LANDSCAPE: Incredible, and varied. Steep cliffs, river valleys, open pastures and farm land, the blue ridge mountains surround you, a blue/green river parallels your course and helps keep the pace.

DISTANCE: About 7 miles one way. A great place for a long run out and back – especially with a few miles thrown in on the hills that slope down to the river.

SURFACE: Soft and mostly friendly. Dirt, grass, some packed gravel, a few thousand cow pies. Every few miles there is a cow gate you will have to negotiate. Usually you can slip through pretty easily. One of them you actually have to climb over.

COMPANY: Not half bad, mostly cows. A handful of runners and people walking their dogs are also a fairly common sight. Sometimes the teams from the local colleges are out for some pace work. Try and hang on. This area also is used by different ROTC groups for military exercises. Right, that bush is crawling and carrying a weapon… They filmed some scenes from War of the Worlds in this area last year.

EDGINESS: Moderate. Depends on your definition I guess. This is still moonshine country. A few NASCAR drivers also call this area home... and an interesting place if you are a Civil War buff. I would have given it a “High” rating a few years ago. The trail at that time started on one side of a 100 yard “single track” wooden bridge that crossed the Maury River. Every now and then someone would be coming from the other side of the bridge as they finished up their run. (Perhaps you will recall the scene in Robin Hood where Little John and Robin meet on a log.) There was basically no way that two people could pass on this bridge without physical contact. About four strides from impact point each runner would turn sideways and attempt to slip by the other without reducing pace, and with the offer of a slight apology. I don’t remember that the protocol differed much if the bridge happened to be shared by runners of different genders. Nobody ever really slowed down, or gave way. Unfortunately, this wooden bridge was claimed by a flood a few years ago and never rebuilt.

THINGS TO KNOW – The distance from the starting point is marked by small wooden posts every half mile. The old rail line markers are also still visible. Look for them. Frozen cow pies are lethal and appear to have an attraction of some sort to ankles. That being said, it’s still a great place to run after a snowfall.

OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10 CAWS