First Saturday Outing, December 6

DECEMBER 6
DRBA TO HIKE MOORE'S WALL LOOP
AT HANGING ROCK STATE PARK

DRBA's December 6 outing will be a moderately strenuous 5-mile hike on Moore's Wall Loop Trail at Hanging Rock State Park near Danbury, NC. Meeting at 10:00 at the bathhouse parking lot in the park, participants will begin the hike at the 1938 stone bathhouse, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coordinated by Outings Chair Paul Johnson, the hike will approach the summit of Moore's Knob through a series of switchbacks and then return down a steep descent. Along the way, the trail passes along the shore of Hanging Rock Lake, follows the aptly named Cascade Creek, provides a view of Indian Face rock formation, and reaches a spectacular 360-degree view from the observation tower at the top. The summit of the quartzite mountain rises some 1000 feet above the surrounding countryside.

Participants in the outing are asked to supply lunch and water, to wear hiking boots and layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric or wool, to be ready for rain or wind, and to sign a waiver.

DIRECTIONS:
Two miles north of Danbury on NC 8/NC 89, turn south onto Hanging Rock Road (SR 2015). Drive two miles to the park entrance at the end of Hanging Rock Road. After entering the park, drive up the mountain past the Visitor's Center entrance to the end of the road at the bathhouse parking lot.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Paul Johnson, kpauljohnson@yahoo.com or 434-579-7599.

***SPECIAL NOTE***

The 25th Annual Sprig Outing will be held on the Upper Little River on the same day, December 6. For more information about this traditional mistletoe-gathering excursion into a beautiful Carolina swamp, click here.

Article and Photo by: T Butler

Posted by: Vicky Thomas

25th Annual Sprig Outing

25th Annual Sprig Outing
On Upper Little River
Saturday, December 6, 2008

Are you planning to deck the halls? Do you have access to a canoe or kayak? Can you borrow a long-handled tree pruner or a painter’s pole with a grappling hook? Then join the warmly and gaily appareled boaters at Hardee’s in Lillington, North Carolina at 10:00 Saturday, December 6, to caravan to the Upper Little River, tributary of the Cape Fear.

After a briefing, participants will caravan to a private landing place on the river in hopes of capturing some prime specimens of phoradendron flavescens, otherwise known as the familiar holiday parasite mistletoe.

“Don’t worry too much about being cold,” says veteran sprigger Forrest Altman, who initiated the Sprig Outing as chairman of the Headwaters group of the Sierra Club while living in Durham. He’s been going back virtually every year for the last quarter century. “On some sunny December days I’ve found myself putting my jacket back in my dry bag.” Why travel that far? Why not get out the shotgun? “Because shooting damages the trees—and the mistletoe,” Altman explains. And because mistletoe and holly grow profusely—and sometimes down low—in Southern swamps. “And because cooperating in coaxing the mistletoe down out of the trees is great fun. Let’s just hope the grey-white berries will be ripe and fat on time this year,” Altman continues. “They aren’t always.”

Participants should dress warmly in polypropylene and wool and bring boat, life jacket for each person, lunch and water—and a change of clothes in case of an upset. Some paddling skill is advisable. The group will put in, paddle upstream on relatively flat water for about a mile, stopping to cooperate in culling the most gorgeous specimens of mistletoe and holly. Shortly after negotiating one mild rapid they’ll have lunch by some sprightly and musical rapids and then head back downriver, heading home well before dark.

Altman, who has been seeking his successor as Sprig Outing coordinator for some years, may finally have found some takers. Leaders of the Tar Heel Paddlers will be present on this year’s trip to become more familiar with the river and get acquainted with the landowner who has been host of the event for several years. Over the years, the Sprig Outing has drawn participants from several Sierra Club groups, from the Dan River Trail Association, Dan River Basin Association, the Carolina Canoe Club, the Lumber River Canoe Club, Triad River Runners and the Tar Heel Paddlers.

DIRECTIONS:

• To reach Hardee’s in Lillington from Raleigh, take either US 401 or I-40 / NC 55 / US 401 to Lillington. After crossing the Cape Fear River, travel about two blocks to Hardee’s on the right.
• From Durham, take NC 55 to Fuquay-Varina, US 401 to Lillington.
• From Greensboro, take US 421 South through Siler City and Sanford. In Lillington, turn right at the traffic signal on US 401 South.
• From the east or west Lillington is reachable on NC 27.
• From the southeast take NC 210.

For further information or to receive information about mistletoe or past Sprig Outings, call Forrest Altman at 336-234-8556 or e-mail forrestaltman@mebtel.net.

Article contributed by: Forrest Altman

Photos contributed by: Wayne & Betty Kirkpatrick

Edited and Posted by: Vicky Thomas & T Butler

Join Activate and VMNH for a Scavenger Hunt

Join Activate and the Virginia Museum of Natural History
Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th

Gather your friends and family for a fun, active adventure in uptown Martinsville. Bring your digital camera and pickup your clue list at VMNH or the YMCA for the first ever Uptown Snapshot Challenge

(a photo scavenger hunt).
Call 634-4188 for more information.

Article By: Activate MHC
Graphic By: Ryan Barber, VMNH

DRBA Welcomes New Program Partner

DRBA's Martinsville-Henry County Rivers & Trails Group would like to welcome the addition of a new group to our commitee, the Martinsville-Henry County Children & Nature Network.

With support from The Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont, Virginia Museum of Natural History and partners have developed a new nature and outdoor initiative entitled the Martinsville Henry County Children and Nature Network (MHC C&NN). The MHC C&NN will serve as a clearinghouse for environmental information, use nature as a way to stimulate learning, develop opportunities for quality family time in the outdoors, and position VMNH as a leader in environmental education. MHC C&NN will serve as a means to provide hands-on, real-world opportunities for children, educators, and families to increase appreciation for nature and the outdoors and as an effective means to better understand and address community environmental issues.

The program is led by Tamara Poles, VMNH's Nature & Outdoor Education Manager. More information on the program can be found on their website or by contacting Ms. Poles at
(276) 634-4159 or tamara.poles@vmnh.virginia.gov.

November on the Dan

If you haven't been on any DRBA "First Saturday Outings"
...then you just don't know what you are missing!!
In the warmer months, we paddle the rivers while the winter is reserved for hikes, but on all outings you can count on at least 3 constants:
Being outside somewhere in our beautiful river basin, (perhaps a site that is new to you),
Learning more about history, wildlife or hiking and paddling,
Meeting new friends and having a fabulous time.

Paddle outings are some of our most well attended, especially when Lindley and T Butler are the trip coordinators. You can count on experiencing the beauty of the river and sharing in the Butler's passion through their varied stories and thoughtful observations. If you are paying attention, you'll even get an awesome history lesson from one of the foremost authorities on the Dan River Batteaux Navigation System. T and Lindley are just awesome guides and when people hear they are leading a trip...you know there is going to be a crowd.

DRBA's November 1 outing was no exception to the norm, and the 5-mile float through an especially historic and scenic section of the Dan River from Madison, NC, to Jacob's Creek saw 45 boats on the river on this "bluebird sky" afternoon.

The meeting point was at the NC 704 Access off Water Street in Madison. After getting all the boats staged down near the water, we gathered round for introductions and to hear a brief overview of what we could expect to see and learn on today's trip.

Next, it was off to shuttle vehicles to a private take-out at Jacob's Creek, then, back to the launching point.

It takes a while to get 45 boats in the water and heading downstream

but then we were finally underway.

The first site was the 704 bridge and a small chute through the bedrock rapids. As we passed underneath, the traffic overhead signaled our last encounter with civilization for the next two hours.

This float took us through at least 7 structures built in the 19th century to make the river more usable by flat-bottomed batteaux, the long, narrow workhorses of river commerce in the region.

Dr. Butler, an authority on the Dan River navigation system, interpreted the landings, sluices, and wing dams that were built in the 1820s and expanded as late as the 1880s. Designed to direct water into channels through rapids and ledges, the structures today make the river Class 1, suitable for novice paddlers, and floatable even in times of extreme drought. Perhaps the most interesting site is Slink Shoal Sluice and wingdams, the longest sluice and the only surviving log-crib wingdams on the river.

Each sluice and wingdam was especially exciting having learned the history of the navigation system from Lindley. Some sluices on the Dan, Mayo, and Smith Rivers were actully modified native American structures known as fish weirs.

We stopped for lunch on Lone Island, where the river was forded during the American Revolution.

Back in the boats we paddled the rest of the way in quiet leisure enjoying the beautiful blue skies as great blue herons kept pace out in front and the water lapping against our boats and quiet chatter between groups were the only sounds.

At the private take out spot, we loaded up and went our separate ways, refreshed from another fine adventure in the Historic and beautiful Dan River Basin!

Scouts Give Back to Nature

Today area Girl Scouts and guests spent an afternoon giving back to nature by planting trees and bushes at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve in Ridgeway. The Community Tree Planting Day, coordinated by The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), was made possible by generous donations from Anne Carter Gravely of Rocky Mount and Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc. of Ridgeway.

Before planting, the scouts from Troupes 761 and 464 watched Mr. C.D. Prillaman, Vice President of Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc., demonstrate the use of a Toro Dingo machine that digs large holes for trees.

After being given instructions on how to plant the trees, the scouts worked with their parents and volunteers from DRBA and the Martinsville-Henry County Master Gardeners to plant fifteen trees and seven rose bushes in memory of the late Richard P. Gravely, Jr.

Frank Frazier and Aileen Bourne of the Master Gardeners spoke to the scouts about the types of trees and shrubs being planted and what they will look like as the trees mature. Mrs. Bourne enjoyed spending time with the scouts and was “very impressed with their ability to listen and follow directions” as they learned how to properly plant the trees. According to Junior Girl Scout Courtland Hudgins of Axton, “planting trees was lots of fun!”

The trees supplied by Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc. included Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis), and Pink Knockout Rose Bushes (Rosa 'Radcon').

Many hands working together made for light work and after the planting was complete the scouts enjoyed games about the life cycle of trees led by DRBA staff members Jennifer Doss and Brian Williams.

The Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve is located at 2525 Eggleston Falls Road in Ridgeway. The 75-acre preserve, funded in part by the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont, is operated by Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Dan River Basin Association. It contains two miles of walking trails and is open year round for the public to enjoy.

Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc. is located in Ridgeway, Va and can be reached at (276) 956-2113 or pldinc@embarqmail.com.

Article by Jennifer Doss

Photos by Martha Smith