Stream Hike and Geologic Wonders

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing on January 3, 2009 was fabulous little two-mile hike along a stream in Ruffin, North Carolina. The hike along Tanyard Creek reveled many of the hidden treasures of this area including a chance to see some very unusual geoligic formations including exposed conglomerate rock from the Triassic period, petrified wood and a picturesque cascading waterfall.

At 10 am on a beautiful "blue bird sky" morning our group gathered at The Happy Home Congregational Christian Church to listen to Will Trunslow and Milton Hundley explain the area we would be hiking too and the wonders we would get to see. A short carpool ride down to the site and we gathered up to hit the trail. The hike was along Tanyard creek with permission form the property owners. The area is on private land and not open to the public except through special arrangement.

Milton Describes the upcoming hike

Tanyard Creek is a real geologic surprise and the weather was perfect for an adventure.
Named for the tannery owned by the family of nineteenth-century governor John Motley Morehead (1796 - 1866), Tanyard Creek creates a gorge as it cuts through Triassic rock on its way to the nearby Dan River.

The group spreads out along the trail. As with all DRBA outings we had quite a large group of hikers and everyone ends up in smaller groups hiking along at their own pace and enjoying the pristine natural surroundings and quiet serenity to be found in another hidden corner of incredible Dan River Basin.

The "puddingstone" conglomerate formation and petrified wood in the stream bed have earned the area's listing as a North Carolina Natural Heritage site.

In the Triassic Era, some 200 million years ago, this section of northern North Carolina and southern Virginia was a deep lake. As rivers flowed into the lake, the slowing water dropped its load of sediment-first the large rocks, then smaller pebbles, then sand and silt. Over the eons, geologic pressures fused the surrounding clay particles, enclosing the rounded rocks and pebbles in a concrete-like mass.

These same geologic forces caused some buried logs to become petrified as minerals replaced the organic matter while retaining the original structure of the wood. Small chunks of petrified wood can be found along Tanyard Creek.

Katherine Mull stops to photograph one of the large examples of petrified wood along the way.

Lines of dark gray rounded boulders, known as igneous dikes, stretch through the woodland along the path to the creek. These dikes were formed when molten rock was forced through underground fissures where it cooled slowly into dense, fine-grained stone that was exposed when the surrounding material eroded away.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.

Bike Ride & Volunteer Workday Planned at Fieldale Trail

The public is invited to join the Henry County Bike Club (HCBC) and the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) for a joint event to be held at the Fieldale Trail on Saturday, February 28th.

Starting at noon, everyone is encouraged to bring their bicycles and join HCBC for a bike ride. Beginner lessons on the Fieldale Trail will be offered as well as longer road rides that will begin and end at the trailhead. All skill levels are welcome to participate and everyone must wear a helmet.

Following the ride at 1 p.m., DRBA will facilitate a volunteer workday on the trail. Tasks will include litter pick-up, hanging trail marker signs, clearing around the trails benches, and removing fallen limbs & debris from the trail. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Suggested items to bring are work gloves, hammers, rakes, and loppers. Paddlers are also invited to bring their canoes and kayaks so that litter can be picked up along the banks from the river (life jackets must be worn while on the river). DRBA will provide refreshments for all volunteers.

For more information on the event please contact Jennifer Doss, DRBA Rivers & Trails Project Manager at 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.
Please pre-register at the following site: http://www.doodle.com/q3k757dsvk69464i

The Fieldale Trail is located in Fieldale, Virginia on South River Road past the water treatment facility. One mile of linear trail is open to the public and an additional 1.5 miles will open later this spring. Ample parking, restroom, river access, and picnic tables are available for your convenience. The Fieldale Trail is funded in part by the Dominion Foundation and operated by Henry County Parks & Recreation.