The Flickr Montgomerycountyvirginia Image Generatr

Brush Mountain viewed in the distance as a car passes by in the twilight.

"The Brush Mountain Wilderness is an area protected by Act of Congress (Eastern Wilderness Act) to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the wilderness system, it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. The wilderness is adjacent to Brush Mountain East Wilderness.

Although it is located next to the suburbs of Blacksburg, Virginia, Brush Mountain is unexpectedly secluded. The area looks out to the northwest across Craig Creek to the slopes of Sinking Creek Mountain.

The area is part of the Craig Creek Cluster.

The wilderness lies north of and in close proximity to Blacksburg, Virginia. It extends for about 8 miles along the northwest slope of Brush Mountain, bounded to the east by a power line, to the northwest by Craig Creek and private property, and to the southeast by Forest road 188.1 along the crest of the mountain. There are no trails in the area.

Good access is gained from Craig Creek Rd. (Va 621) which follows Craig Creek with several pullouts for parking. Access roads are shown on National Geographic-Trails Illustrated Map #787 (Blacksburg-New River Valley)." (Wikipedia).

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

I wanna live on a country lane
Some place where no one knows your name
and I'll forget you too
I'll forget you, too

I wanna sleep in late
I wanna start from the top
and clean my suede
And I'll forget you, too
And I'll forget you, too

I believe in fate
I believe my brain can conversate
I believe it's true
I believe it's true

Well I can't relate

I just read through my lines
and flip the page
It's something I can't do
It's something I can't do

Well I believed in you
And you believed in me
But I know this is happening

happening
happening
happening

And I believed in you
And you believed in me
And I know this is happening

happening
happening
happening
happening
happening
happening

(Telekinesis - Country Lane,)
Twelve Desperate Straight Lines, 2011.

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

An overcast sunset at Glade Road Growing
Home to Rising Silo Brewery

"Glade Road Growing is a small family farm on leased land across the street from the Heritage Park in Blacksburg. We raise certified naturally grown produce and pasture-raised organic-fed meats and eggs. Yes, we raise it right here in the town limits of Blacksburg.

We believe that healthy food can be grown right here and that engaging in organic farming forms lasting connections within our community, improves the soils directly beneath us and strengthens human health. Our farming methods are based on building and maintaining soil health, biodiversity, and community involvement (read: fun). Come by and introduce yourself- we’d love to meet you."
(www.gladeroadgrowing.com)

"The seed for Rising Silo Brewery was planted in the Autumn of 2014 at the Farm at Glade Road Growing. Brew-creator and friend of the farm, Greg Zielske, is tending to his craft beer garden with diligence and compassion as the conditions for growth and community building flourish.

Rising Silo Brewery is a truly unique movement for Blacksburg, and one of Southwest Virginia's only farm breweries. We boast a tap line up ranging from 10-14 beers with a brew for every palate. All beers are brewed with exclusively organic malts and water from the Farm's well. Produce from Glade Road Growing and other local farms are creatively incorporated in many of our beers and vary seasonally based on availability.

Here you can pick up fresh veggies, dairy and meat raised on-site through Glade Road Growing and other friends of the farm, fill your growler or enjoy a pint on draft, take a walk about the farm to bask in the beauty of the New River Valley, spark conversation or just relax in the company of friends old and new.

The brewery is currently operating with a 3-barrel brewing system on site at the farm. We are starting small, each batch crafted with great care and attentiveness.

Come by and see us!"
www.risingsilobrewery.com

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

Glade Road Growing
Home to Rising Silo Brewery

"Glade Road Growing is a small family farm on leased land across the street from the Heritage Park in Blacksburg. We raise certified naturally grown produce and pasture-raised organic-fed meats and eggs. Yes, we raise it right here in the town limits of Blacksburg.

We believe that healthy food can be grown right here and that engaging in organic farming forms lasting connections within our community, improves the soils directly beneath us and strengthens human health. Our farming methods are based on building and maintaining soil health, biodiversity, and community involvement (read: fun). Come by and introduce yourself- we’d love to meet you."
(www.gladeroadgrowing.com)

"The seed for Rising Silo Brewery was planted in the Autumn of 2014 at the Farm at Glade Road Growing. Brew-creator and friend of the farm, Greg Zielske, is tending to his craft beer garden with diligence and compassion as the conditions for growth and community building flourish.

Rising Silo Brewery is a truly unique movement for Blacksburg, and one of Southwest Virginia's only farm breweries. We boast a tap line up ranging from 10-14 beers with a brew for every palate. All beers are brewed with exclusively organic malts and water from the Farm's well. Produce from Glade Road Growing and other local farms are creatively incorporated in many of our beers and vary seasonally based on availability.

Here you can pick up fresh veggies, dairy and meat raised on-site through Glade Road Growing and other friends of the farm, fill your growler or enjoy a pint on draft, take a walk about the farm to bask in the beauty of the New River Valley, spark conversation or just relax in the company of friends old and new.

The brewery is currently operating with a 3-barrel brewing system on site at the farm. We are starting small, each batch crafted with great care and attentiveness.

Come by and see us!"
www.risingsilobrewery.com

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

To all who have given everything of yourself for your country and and therefore not returned home, you are not forgotten. I thank you for your sacrifice, and hope that the rest of us who you were forced to leave behind in the mortal realm can find the wherewithal to do better for this country, and honor that sacrifice you made.

(This photo was not shot on memorial day, but it was next in line for me to post, and that made sense given the significance of the day.)

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS. They will be deleted.

A detail of moss-covered rocks at the bottom of Stiles Falls.

Alta Mons Summer Camp and Retreat Center,
Shawsville, Virginia.

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Photographed on the hike to Stiles Falls, located on property owned by Alta Mons Methodist camp. From the history on the Alta Mons website, I believe this to be the former Rakes Farm.

"Alta Mons is located on 850 acres and has a heritage of change and tradition like any other family. Its location has been used as hunting grounds for Native Americans, rural farming for European settlers, and starting in the Victorian era as a mountain resort and spa for the wealthy wanting to escape the summer heat of the coast.

A bottling company purchased 350 acres back in the 1890's from the Crockett family, bottled and shipped, under the label of Crockett Springs Bottling Co., half-gallon containers of spring water around the country and over to Europe. A thriving resort built up around the famous healing waters. A hotel, accommodating 300 guests, sprung up as families began spending their summer months in the cool mountains away from disease infested and hot crowded cities. The resort fell on hard times during the depression of the 30's. In the 40's the large hotel was stripped down to one-third of its original size.

The Roanoke District of the Methodist Church was looking for a site to conduct a district camp. The property was purchased for $25,000 in 1957, then the adjoining 400-acre Rakes farm for $13,500. The name Alta Mons was the result of a naming contest and means, loosely interpreted in Latin, "High Mountains." The churches had big visions for the hotel and surrounding property, but found little interest in the 60's for the rundown hotel. The hotel was eventually torn down and an ambitious $100,000 building program was undertaken in 1965.

From those trying early years until the present day, the United Methodist church uses volunteers and committed supporters to create a beautiful outdoor sanctuary for persons to spend the day or overnight with their families, children, congregations and community organizations. Now, the comfortable winterized facilities and seasonal rustic cabins, tent and RV campsites host thousands of visitors and guests each year as well conduct a summer resident camp for children and youth from surrounding communities and towns.

In 2007, as we celebrated our 50th anniversary, Alta Mons finished a three year capital campaign. This campaign, among many other improvements, saw a horseback area constructed, a complete renovation of the old retreat house, the forming of a wetland area, improvements to roads, and acquisition of many beautiful acres of land preserving our ridge lines from development."

www.altamons.org/our-history.html

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

Over the intersection of Prices Fork and Stanger St/Toms Creek Road.

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

Glade Road Growing's farm stand boasts a beautiful wood-fired oven, and plays home to Rising Silo Microbrewery.

"Glade Road Growing is a small family farm on leased land across the street from the Heritage Park in Blacksburg. We raise certified naturally grown produce and pasture-raised organic-fed meats and eggs. Yes, we raise it right here in the town limits of Blacksburg.

We believe that healthy food can be grown right here and that engaging in organic farming forms lasting connections within our community, improves the soils directly beneath us and strengthens human health. Our farming methods are based on building and maintaining soil health, biodiversity, and community involvement (read: fun). Come by and introduce yourself- we’d love to meet you."
(www.gladeroadgrowing.com)

"The seed for Rising Silo Brewery was planted in the Autumn of 2014 at the Farm at Glade Road Growing. Brew-creator and friend of the farm, Greg Zielske, is tending to his craft beer garden with diligence and compassion as the conditions for growth and community building flourish.

Rising Silo Brewery is a truly unique movement for Blacksburg, and one of Southwest Virginia's only farm breweries. We boast a tap line up ranging from 10-14 beers with a brew for every palate. All beers are brewed with exclusively organic malts and water from the Farm's well. Produce from Glade Road Growing and other local farms are creatively incorporated in many of our beers and vary seasonally based on availability.

Here you can pick up fresh veggies, dairy and meat raised on-site through Glade Road Growing and other friends of the farm, fill your growler or enjoy a pint on draft, take a walk about the farm to bask in the beauty of the New River Valley, spark conversation or just relax in the company of friends old and new.

The brewery is currently operating with a 3-barrel brewing system on site at the farm. We are starting small, each batch crafted with great care and attentiveness.

Come by and see us!"
www.risingsilobrewery.com

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

25 years ago when I moved here, Blacksburg didn't get much snow in winter, but enough to have fun several times throughout the season. Now Blacksburg hasn't had winter in fifteen years.

We get a 90°-something degree super-summer, and then a nine-month season that hovers in the 60°s and 70°s.

February - the middle month of Winter - was probably between the mid 20°s to high 30°s, as is reasonable for 2100' altitude in in the Appalachian Mountains. It hasn't been that way for fifteen years. Now, at least two weeks of February are in the 70°s, and the Spring Peepers (frogs) in the brooks wake up up the first week of February - the deepest part of "Winter."

It snows on average twice between January and March, but this is typically all we get - not enough to cover the grass completely. The next day will be 50 degrees, and anything not in a shadow is gone shortly after sunrise.

I grew up in a place (and time) that had four seasons. As a child in the 80's and 90's, we were warned that global warming was happening, and climate change was coming. We all knew to expect the planet to be a different place at some point, but I suspect many of us thought that would be some time before we shuffled off our mortal coils - not within a decade.

Having spent a quarter century around this town and now living in the county just a mile and a half outside of it, I've had a chance to witness the changes to our sweet Earth in a way most US Americans never do, although that may be a post for a later date.

I miss having seasons. I miss these snowy days. Everything is relative. Warmth is warm, relative to cold. Sweet is sweet, relative to sour or bitter. You can't truly know joy if you aren't acquainted with sorrow. Stepping into a warm home is measurably more pleasurable when you're coming in from the cold. I miss these days pictured above. These are the days I feel most alive.

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

25 years ago when I moved here, Blacksburg didn't get much snow in winter, but enough to have fun several times throughout the season. Now Blacksburg hasn't had winter in fifteen years.

We get a 90°-something degree super-summer, and then a nine-month season that hovers in the 60°s and 70°s.

February - the middle month of Winter - was probably between the mid 20°s to high 30°s, as is reasonable for 2100' altitude in in the Appalachian Mountains. It hasn't been that way for fifteen years. Now, at least two weeks of February are in the 70°s, and the Spring Peepers (frogs) in the brooks wake up up the first week of February - the deepest part of "Winter."

It snows on average twice between January and March, but this is typically all we get - not enough to cover the grass completely. The next day will be 50 degrees, and anything not in a shadow is gone shortly after sunrise.

I grew up in a place (and time) that had four seasons. As a child in the 80's and 90's, we were warned that global warming was happening, and climate change was coming. We all knew to expect the planet to be a different place at some point, but I suspect many of us thought that would be some time before we shuffled off our mortal coils - not within a decade.

Having spent a quarter century around this town and now living in the county just a mile and a half outside of it, I've had a chance to witness the changes to our sweet Earth in a way most US Americans never do, although that may be a post for a later date.

I miss having seasons. I miss these snowy days. Everything is relative. Warmth is warm, relative to cold. Sweet is sweet, relative to sour or bitter. You can't truly know joy if you aren't acquainted with sorrow. Stepping into a warm home is measurably more pleasurable when you're coming in from the cold. I miss these days pictured above. These are the days I feel most alive.

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

"Cambria Freight Station, also known as Christiansburg Depot, is a historic freight station located at Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia, US. It was built in 1868–1869, and is a wood-framed, one-story, U-shaped structure with a shallow hipped roof and deeply overhanging eaves in the Italianate style. A portion of the center section rises to form a tower-like second-story room, covered with an even shallower hipped roof. A long, one-story freight section extending eastward from the rear. The building also served as a passenger station, until Christiansburg station was built nearby in 1906. The building houses a local history museum known as the Cambria Depot Museum.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It is located in the Cambria Historic District." (Wikipedia)

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

Brush Mountain,
Montgomery County, Virginia

A nice colorful show over the trees in the backyard.

"The Brush Mountain Wilderness is an area protected by Act of Congress (Eastern Wilderness Act) to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the wilderness system, it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. The wilderness is adjacent to Brush Mountain East Wilderness.

Although it is located next to the suburbs of Blacksburg, Virginia, Brush Mountain is unexpectedly secluded. The area looks out to the northwest across Craig Creek to the slopes of Sinking Creek Mountain.

The area is part of the Craig Creek Cluster.

The wilderness lies north of and in close proximity to Blacksburg, Virginia. It extends for about 8 miles along the northwest slope of Brush Mountain, bounded to the east by a power line, to the northwest by Craig Creek and private property, and to the southeast by Forest road 188.1 along the crest of the mountain. There are no trails in the area.

Good access is gained from Craig Creek Rd. (Va 621) which follows Craig Creek with several pullouts for parking. Access roads are shown on National Geographic-Trails Illustrated Map #787 (Blacksburg-New River Valley)." (Wikipedia)

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

118 charges towards Roanoke as it flies out of Slate Hill Tunnel under blankets of fresh powder.

Unfortunately, we are no longer visited by Old Man Winter in our part of Southwest Virginia. We have not had a winter here in fifteen years - something spiritually sorrowful, for someone used to four seasons. At 2'100 feet in the Appalachians, Winter isn't expected to be like in the Rockies, but since 2009 it snows perhaps twice a year, 1" to 3". The next day temperatures spike to 50 degrees or so. Anything in the sunlight melts immediately. Anything like the wooded area I live in only gets direct sunlight for perhaps an hour. It begins to melt, then freezes into a sheet of solid ice at night, which melts ever so slowly for the next few weeks.

When I moved here twenty-five years ago, there were no more huge blizzards, but Winter still gave about three months of cold weather. That did not last long, as climate change came roaring in. For the past decade, at least half of February has hovered in the low 70s, with the rest of the month being at least 60 degrees. The little wetland frogs we colloquially call Spring Peepers have been emerging from whatever stasis amphibians do, in the dead middle of Winter. This image is from three weeks ago. Today it was 60 degrees shortly after noon, and the honeybees are buzzing about, albeit confused. The rest of the week is expected to maintain similar temperatures.

In a bittersweet way, this completes the set of the four seasons I've been wanting to photograph on my little county lane, the view from the mailbox.


"Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,721. Its county seat is Christiansburg, and Blacksburg is the largest town. Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area. It is dominated economically by the presence of Virginia Tech, Virginia's third largest public university, which is the county's largest employer." (wikipedia).

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

An Autumn view from the mailbox, looking up the road.

"Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,721. Its county seat is Christiansburg, and Blacksburg is the largest town. Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area. It is dominated economically by the presence of Virginia Tech, Virginia's third largest public university, which is the county's largest employer." (wikipedia).

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

822 storms up the 0.6% Merrimac Grade at the Westernmost Tunnel on the Whitethorne District, New River Tunnel. Prior to the N&W-VGN Merger of 1959, this tunnel was referred to by the VGN as Pepper Tunnel. The N&W renamed it to avoid confusion with their Pepper Tunnel located a few miles West of the Virginian's across the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. The SD70ACe second out was to thank for the Large Smoke show here.

822 storms up Merrimac Grade at the Westernmost Tunnel on the Whitethorne District, New River Tunnel. Prior to the N&W-VGN Merger of 1959, this tunnel was referred to by the VGN as Pepper Tunnel. The N&W renamed it to avoid confusion with their Pepper Tunnel located a few miles West of the Virginian's across the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.

40N coasts down the Mountain from Merrimac at the Fagg Signal.

Safety Train 974 climbs Charleston Grade after delays leaving Roanoke from a couple Eastbounds.