October 1, 2009

Covington to VA 606 (Sulfur Spring Road) over Fore Mountain (10.8 miles)
 This section is on the proposed reroute of the Great Eastern Trail in Alleghany County (southern part of three).  It goes on the Fore Mountain Trail.  It is majority foot trail with some forest road.  It was a comfortable day.  With me were my hiking partner David, and my dog Sid. 
 Some observations:
� Fore Mountain is the ridge just north of Interstate 64 between Clifton Forge and Covington, coming closer to Covington.  The trail is well graded, but is more overgrown than the parts further north, as it has less slow-growing Mountain Laurel and Blueberry.  Along the top for about 3 miles is a grass road that goes through several fields cut for wildlife.  The rest is graded trail. 
� The north end of this section leaves Va. 606 (Sulphur Spring Road) about 100� west and opposite of the intersection with the side road.  There is also a pullover parking spot about 200� west of this trailhead on the opposite side of the road.  There is a sign designating the Fore Mountain Trail (but not in the other directions, but you can follow blazes north).  The trail switches back and goes above Va. 606 for a distance, then turns up a ridge, on an open trail.  There is a place where it is right beside FDR 337, where it may be a challenge to tell exactly where the trail goes.  Look for blazes and a signpost. 
� Above this the trail climbs the ridge with the hill on the right.  It gets into an area of a recent fire and Gypsy Moth damage, and the trail is very overgrown.  If not for the tread, it would be very hard to tell where the trail was.  After the switchback so the hill is to the left, the overgrowth gets even worse.  Included in this overgrowth are thorny plants like blackberry, black locust, and greenbrier.  David and I had our saws out to get through this area. 
� At the top of the hill, the trail emerges in a field, continue straight across and join the grass road for the next three miles, which is an easy walk. 
� After the road ends, the trail is fairly clear for a few miles.  There is a view north soon after the road ends, and several views south into Clifton Forge and Low Moor about 2 miles south of that.  Then the trail goes through an area overgrown with White Snakeroot and Crownbeard.  These aren�t noxious plants, but they cross the trail, with a tangling effect (we cleared some out of our way, cutting the worst offenders).  Along the way, it passes a communication tower, and continues in the overgrown part.  There is a little poison ivy in this section.  Then it emerges onto the gravel road to the tower.  It follows the road for about � mile, then leaves on the right.  From there it descends to Covington, mostly with the ridge crest to the left.  There are a couple big blowdowns in this area.  Near the bottom are some Paw Paw trees, including one blown down with many branches growing straight up from the fallen trunk.  There is a switchback where the trail bends left, but an old trail leads down to the Forest Service work center. 
� The end of the trail has a few signs, one indicating it is Fore Mountain Trail, and another saying it is maintained by the Bordernier Riding Club.  There is a parking area for the trail.  From here south are several miles of paved roads to follow. 
� There were lots of horse droppings at the south or west end of this trail, but very little in the northern half of Fore Mountain. 

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