Credit: Rex Springston

Any time I write about state parks in my T-D column, it draws a lot of reader response. It’s not surprising: Over 8 million people visited one of Virginia’s 35 state parks last year. As a unit, Virginia state parks are some of the most diverse, best run state parks I’ve been to. True, that’s a limited sample, but I’ve been to parks in Maine, New York, Utah, Colorado and a few other states, and Virginia has them all beat.

Today I wrote about the parcels around the state owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation that are in various stages of becoming state parks. The good news for Central Virginians is that the next state park will almost certainly be Powhatan SP, on the banks of the James in Powhatan County. Director Joe Elton told me that construction is ongoing on the 1,500 acres next to Beaumont Juvenile Correction Center. He said that if funding comes through in the next General Assembly session, the park should be open for day use by this time next year. It should be a great place to boat and fish, among other pursuits.

Click here to read about the other parks in the works.

It looks like Wintergreen doesn’t want to let Tough Mudder have all the fun — and profits — on their mountain. You may remember back in October, the national obstacle race series called Tough Mudder sold out two days of races on Wintergreen. Nine thousand people participated, including many, many Central Virginians. Well, now, apparently, Wintergreen wants to keep that momentum going. And, let’s be honest, Wintergreen needs the money.

This June 30 and July 1 the resort is putting on the first-ever Wintergreen Adventure Challenge. According to a press release: “…the Wintergreen Adventure Challenge takes place on a seven-mile course with over a mile of elevation change along the way. Twenty obstacles will test physical and mental performance in a grueling test for participants 18 years and older. The event will begin at 8 a.m. each morning with waves of 200 people starting the course every 20 minutes. This is a great ‘team’ opportunity and groups of friends may register together to get the same start time.”

Registration is open for the event, and, through May 20, the entry fee is $79 per person for Saturday and $69 for Sunday. From May 21 until June 15 the fees are $89 (Saturday) and $79 (Sunday); from June 16-24 fees are $109 (Saturday) and $99 (Sunday). Spectator tickets are $10 per day.

If paddling the length of the James River — 340 miles from Iron Gate to the Chesapeake Bay — has ever occurred to you, even just for a fleeting moment, you might enjoy Patrick Griffin’s story. The 27-year-old VCU grad recently returned from making the trip in a mind-blowingly fast 11 days (10 paddling, 1 rest). Gabe Silver, of the James River Association, said that’s the fastest he’s ever heard of someone doing it, though there is no official record for the feat. Griffin said the weather was dry almost the entire trip, which means the river flows weren’t all that high for this time of year. If he had had higher water levels, he might have done it even faster.

There’s a surprising amount of news in Michael Martz’s piece in today’s T-D on Earth Day in Richmond.

Trail on Williams Island

First was the announcement, made by Mayor Dwight Jones at the Earth Day Festival in Manchester, that 6 acres along the floodwall will be added to the James River Park System. I spoke with Ralph White earlier in the week about the impending addition, and he was very excited. It’s always good to add parkland to the city register, especially parkland close to the river, but it’ll be interesting to see how this parcel fits in with the rest of the JRPS units. The JRPS has always been managed as a “wilderness” park. Things like disc-golf, dog parks and playgrounds all have their place in Richmond city parks, but the JRPS has never been one of them. The problem with the future Retention Basin Park is that it still needs to serve as a retention basin. From what White told me, the Department of Public Utilities will retain ownership of the parcel. It’s proximity to the floodwall means no trees can be planted in it. It can’t really be a wilderness unit the way the others in the park are. That’s okay, of course, I’m just curious see what becomes of Retention Basin Park.

When I spoke with White on Wednesday, he said Williams Island was to officially become part of the James River Park System yesterday, too. That didn’t happen, but it should soon. Like with Retention Basin Park, the Dept. of Public Utilities owns the island and would maintain ownership under the new relationship with the park. But they would officially hand over control of the island to the parks department, to be managed as a JRPS parcel. Of course, anyone who’s been out to Williams Island or is familiar with its story, knows the island has effectively been part of the park for years. So, whenever an announcement is made, it won’t change the Williams Island experience much, if at all.

A creek on the U of R campus

Martz also mentioned Earth Day events at the University of Richmond, where students “cleared a historic but neglected trail along the campus’ southeastern border.” The Gambles Mill Trail runs from Westhampton Way to River Road.  “The trail hopefully at some point will be a link to the James,” said Todd Lookingbill, an assistant professor who teaches geography of the river’s watershed. The trail runs along the creek that comes out of Westhampton Lake on the UR campus. It’s a trail and area I wrote about a few years ago for a T-D column, a really neat area. It’d be a great to see it connect to the James near the Huguenot Bridge someday.

I found this at RideRichmond.net as I was checking out the upcoming Richmond Bike Week offerings. It’s from the good folks at collegeathome.com. Some amazing factoids here:

If you’re the kind of runner who tires of pounding the pavement in weekend 5Ks — especially in the heat of summer — here are two races to put on your calendar: the Henricus Dauber Dash and the James River Splash and Dash.

First the Dauber Dash: This 5-mile mud race and obstacle course, now in its fourth year, takes you through Henricus Historical Park and the Dutch Gap Conservation Area and, according to the Sports Backers,  “is packed with plenty of mud, dirt, and obstacles along the way to keep you challenged while having the filthiest time of your life!” Last year 635 people participated. There is also a 1-mile Mud Guppies Kids Run, for kids ages 8–14 at 11 a.m. This course features its own engaging obstacles and finishes through the same grimy mud pit as the adults.

Registration just opened for the Henricus Dauber Dash. Online registration is available through June 21 at 11:59 p.m. The current entry fee is $30. The entry fee for the Mud Guppies Kids Run is $10. Both prices are set to increase May 21. For more information, visit www.sportsbackers.org or call (804) 285-9495.

Now the James River Splash and Dash: This second-year event is a fund raiser for the James River Association. Held on July 14th, “the James River Splash & Dash is a competitive tube race which takes place on Belle Isle. Participants run a 5k trail course, grab a tube, paddle (with their hands) across a stretch of the James, and run their tube to the finish line. After the race, JRA hosts an after party that includes a band, food, beer and more!” Click here for more.

The Richmond Tree Stewards have been hard at work putting on programs every Saturday in April in honor of Arbor Day. Today’s “Tree Academy” is no longer taking any more registrants. But there’s still plenty for tree-lovers to experience on April 21st and 28th. On the 21st there will be a tree walk at 2:15 at the Carillon in Byrd Park as well as one in Bryan Park from 10 a.m. to noon. On the 28th, meet the trees of Capitol Square. Learn about the rain gardens and green street renovations that will reduce stormwater runoff and keep our waters clean. The walk will begin promptly at 10 a.m. at the Bell Tower.

Giant tulip poplar near James River

The Friends of the James River Park have two volunteer opportunities for those with the time and inclination. As usual appropriate shoes, clothing and gloves are recommended:

Sat 4/14 10 am North Bank Park

• One team sweeps and paints the access tower
• One team goes along the river to get trash and graffiti

Sat 4/14 2 pm Pony Pasture Rapids

• One team drills holes in fallen logs along entrance road and hammers in dowels with mushroom spores

(Bring your own battery powered electric drill —- each battery only lasts for 20 or 30 minutes~one inch deep holes)

• One team helps Ralph install a bench beside the river access steps 

Ralph’s cell 432-1832. If interested, please contact ElaineMarolla@yahoo.com to register.

• Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit.
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
• Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

• Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.

• Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
• Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
• Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.

In pristine areas:

• Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY

• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
• Deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cat hole when finished.
• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
• Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
• Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises