Clinch Valley Bioreserve Eco-Tour
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Friday, Day 1: We meet today at 1PM at the headquarters of the Clinch Valley Office of The Nature Conservancy located in the heart of the historical district of old Abingdon. If you arrive early, you’ll have time to tour the facility, take a walk in the historical district and have a quick lunch in one of the many fine area restaurants within walking distance.  

After a brief orientation, we’ll load our luggage and discuss the history of the area as we travel to the Rikemo Lodge at Dunganon, Virginia. The lodge, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy, is located along the Clinch River and will be our base of operations for the next two days and nights. From this remote outpost we’ll be able to explore and learn about some of the preserves that The Nature Conservancy manages in this area.  

We’ll have time this afternoon for a short hike up to Little Stony Falls. This beautiful trail, located within the Clinch Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest, follows the gorge along a former narrow gauge railroad that served the logging industry. During the timbering years of the 1900’s the logs were transported to a sawmill in nearby Dunganon. Because of its scenic quality, geology and history, the Little Stony Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1987. The highlight of the hike will be viewing two waterfalls, one 8 feet and one 24 feet high, along the trail. Some short sections of this hike are rugged and rocky, with a gradual uphill slope along the river. There are no places to pickup mid-way so be prepared to hike the entire three miles. Overall the hike is moderately strenuous and moderately technical.

We’ll return to Rikemo Lodge this evening for social hour and a family-style catered meal. A guest interpreter from The Nature Conservancy will lecture us this evening on the biological significance of the area and tell us about the TNC efforts to help preserve the biodiversity of the Clinch Valley ecosystem.  
Total Mileage Today: 3 miles

Saturday, Day 2: After breakfast, the highlight of this day will be our canoe trip along the Clinch River to learn about and observe many of the rare and endangered fresh water mussel species found in the Clinch River. This stretch of water passes through the Cleveland Island Preserve owned and maintained by TNC. This is a relatively new acquisition by The Nature Conservancy which includes 52 protected acres around one of southwestern Virginia’s most significant freshwater-mussel shoals. Among the globally-rare mollusks inhabiting the surrounding waters are three freshwater mussel species listed federally as endangered. Cleveland Island Preserve consists of three mostly-wooded islands, plus a tract along the river’s north bank. If the water levels allow, we’ll wade in with our spotting scopes and view some of the rare muscles. The birdwing pearlymussel, shiny pigtoe, fine-rayed pigtoe, rough rabbitsfoot, and purple bean are among the rare mussel species living in the river around Cleveland Island. Researchers from The Nature Conservancy and Virginia Tech have documented that Cleveland Island’s mussels are reproducing, meaning that this site provides one of the healthiest mussel habitats in the Clinch River. We’ll learn about the success of the comeback of the muscle population, what TNC has done to help the town of Cleveland improve the water quality and what we need to do to ensure it’s continued recovery.

 Our group will be accompanied by an interpreter from The Nature Conservancy who will explain how TNC is helping to preserve this habitat. We’ll have plenty of time to stop and use special viewing scopes to observe and learn about the aquatic life, especially the fresh water mussels. If you have good eyes and a bit of luck you may spot a shiny pigtoe, rough rabbits foot, purple warty back or a wavy ray lampmussel. After all this exploration we’ll be hungry so we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch on an island in the middle of the Clinch River within the preserve before we finish our canoe adventure.

After the day is over, we’ll shuttle back to Rikemo Lodge for a hot shower, evening refreshments and a sumptuous home-cooked meal.
Total Mileage Today: 9 miles by canoe, mostly flat water, an easy and leisurely 4.5 hour float.

Sunday, Day 3: We’ll arise today and have breakfast in the main dining room. Coffee will be ready for those who want to arise early and do some birding down by the pond or take a walk in the forest before we eat.  

After breakfast we’ll take a shuttle to The Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve. We’ll park the shuttle and cross the swinging bridge over Big Cedar Creek and walk down to the Great Falls of the Pinnacle. This remote 500-acre tract, located at the confluence of Big Cedar Creek and the Clinch River, harbors 12 rare plants including Glade Spurge, Canby's Mountain Lover and Carey’s Saxifrage. This preserve is also home to 11 rare mollusks including one of the last two refuges for the Birdwing Pearlymussel. Upon learning in 1989 of The Pinnacle's ecological significance, Russell County deeded the property to the Nature Conservancy, which in turn transferred it to the Commonwealth of Virginia for designation as a State Natural Area. The Nature Conservancy is cooperating with local legislators and leaders on the Pinnacle Preserve Committee for future management of the site. The Pinnacle is a place where scientific research and public recreation coexist.  

We'll take a short hike into the forest where we'll admire a view of the Pinnacle itself. This is a most impressive 600 foot tower above Big Cedar Creek, composed of Copper Ridge Dolomite and Sandstone that was deposited over 400 million years ago when the area was covered by a shallow inland sea. These rocks decomposed forming the calcium rich soils that support the many unusual wildflowers as well as the impressive stands of White Cedar. There will be an optional short but strenuous hike to the top of the mountain overlook where we can enjoy a panoramic view of the Clinch River as we eat our lunch. Our expert interpreter will point out the patch of Canby’s Mountain Lover at the top of the trail near the overlook. We'll look for other rare wildflowers and admire the White Cedar glades on our way back out to the shuttle van.  

We’ll venture to Damascus this afternoon and take over the Damascus Old Mill & Inn on the Laurel Creek in downtown Damascus. Our lodging and dining are all in one place here tonight, with dining most likely on the outdoor deck overlooking the Mill Dam. The Old Mill is the newest full-service eatery in Damascus and is known for it’s fresh ingredients, extensive wine list, creative entrées and soothing atmosphere. Just what the doctor ordered after a few days of eco-adventures! 

Total Mileage Today: 3 miles moderately strenuous hiking, with a 0.3-mile strenuous optional hike up to the overlook.

Monday, Day 4: After breakfast we will take a 15 mile shuttle to the quaint mountain town of Damascus, Virginia. Damascus (pop. 984) lies at the western gateway of the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area, a 125,000 acre playground set aside by a special act of congress to be used primarily for recreational purposes. Known by hikers as the “Friendliest Town on the Trail”, Damascus is the hub for 5 major trails that all intersect in town. Damascus was voted as an inaugural “Trail Town USA” in 1996 by the American Hiking Society. We’ll have time to stop at Adventure Damascus but we have an action packed half-day do we won’t stay long. 

From Damascus we’ll travel another 15 miles across the Tennessee border, through the Cherokee National Forest to Shady Valley Tennessee where we’ll visit the Orchard Bog Preserve. This preserve, in the eastern -most part of Tennessee, was acquired by TNC in 1996. The sphagnum covered bog on the property is the focus of restoration efforts and home to several plant and animal species including the Swainson's Warbler and significant herpetological colonies. The bog itself is deemed “imperiled on a global scale” and is part of what used to be an extensive network of native cranberry bogs. We’ll visit the cabin that TNC maintains as a visitors center , then walk the trail through the bog and look for birds, mammals and rare plants. We will enjoy some folklore, history and natural interpretation told by one of the local folks who has been active in helping to establish and protect this preserve in “Shady”.  

Next, we’ll go right up the road and visit Quarry Bog Preserve, which is another bog restoration project and has been the focus of avian studies taking place in the valley. We’ll hear all about the rare birds that have appeared here and learn about TNC’s cooperative effort with local bird clubs and ornithologists to enhance the avian habitat and document for research the bird records that have been kept here for several decades. 

We’ll return to Abingdon in time for you to enjoy lunch on your own or get started on your journey home. If you want to spend more time in our area we will be happy to help arrange additional lodging and sightseeing. 

Total Mileage: 1 mile, easy walking.
Note: Itinerary subject to change due to water levels and weather conditions.

Just a few things you may want to bring along…
NOTE: Please try to limit your baggage to one medium-sized bag. Use your day-pack or fanny pack to carry extra items. We place everything in the shuttle van and travel light! You may keep extra bags in your car.

• Fanny Pack or Day Pack for camera, film, snacks, binoculars, sunblock, etc.
• Sunglasses
• Light hiking or walking shoes. Make sure you break them in before you come on the tour!
• Clothing: All dinners will be casual attire. A pair of slacks and a casual shirt with a collar will be fine. Bring shorts or light-weight pants to hike in. 3 pairs of hiking socks, of a good quality. Windbreaker or light rain jacket. One long sleeve shirt or sweater for cool nights. Packable sun hat
• Cosmetics, toiletries, medications and sundry items: glasses or contact lenses, sunblock, lip balm, deodorant, toothpaste, brush, comb, shaving items, insect repellant, allergy medication and/or bee sting kit, aspirin or other pain reliever.
• Miscellaneous: travel alarm, camera and film, small travel binoculars, notebook.

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