Back Roads in Winter

One of our favorite drives is to take "Airport Road" over Warm Springs Mountain into Bath County. It has been fully snow-plowed, although there were still slushy and ice patches. "Snowball", John's trustily little Subaru Impreza took the road with no problems.

The road is called Airport Road because there is a small commercial airport on the top of Warm Springs Mountain. The road from the I-64 overpass to the pass at the top of the mountain is one of the more notorious bicycle hill climbs in Virginia. It's a 2100 ft (640 m) climb over about 5 miles (8 km). That's an average grade of 8%, but there are a few spots that exceed 15%. Serious road cyclists boast of their time to the top. (David's best was about 25 minutes.)

After leaving Clifton Forge, the road follows Smith Creek past the town's water treatment plant. Much of the creek is lined with rhododendrons that lend some evergreen color in the winter and plenty of large purple blossoms in June.

Even in dry weather, the rocks along the side of the road glisten with dampness. In the winter, the water forms icicle cascades.

An impressive set of icicles just as the road leaves the creek and starts climbing Warm Springs Mountain.

The road climbs the mountain with a number of switchbacks. When there are leaves on the trees the views are non-existent. Even in the winter it can be difficult to see through the branches.

A view of Clifton Forge, Rainbow Gap, and North Mountain. The white streak is a cleared strip for power lines.

Hay bale "lawn art" seems to be the rage. If I can get photos of the others I've seen, I should put together a whole post on them.

This sycamore tree along the Jackson River is loaded with nests -- probably great blue heron nests. I'll have to continue to check it out through the spring.