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By BILL LYNE
Rafpafcannock News Contrtbutin* Writer
Twenty-four Ridge Riders left last Friday for Mount Rogers, located in the Jefferson National Forest near Marion, Va.
The group assembled at a truck stop on Rt. 29 near Ruckersville. We left at 9:30 a.m., arriving at our destination about 3 p.m. Everyone busied themselves, seeing first to their mounts, then pitching camp, and finally saddling up for a muscle-loosening ride mounted on an array of seven varieties of horses, one pony and a mule.
What a precursor of the natural beauty to come this short ride proved to be! Most of the group had never been on the race (trails) before and had no idea of what our guide had planned for us.
And let’s mention now, lest it be overlooked, the tasty food planned and executed for the group by several of the lady ridgeriders. Cooking over open wood fires, everyone lent a hand in preparing and cleaning up at least one of the six meals served during the three-day outing.
By 9 p.m., all were bedded down in anticipation of the great ride on tap for the morning.
The summit of Mt. Rogers, at 5,729 feet the highest elevation in Virginia, is well above the tree line and spectacular to say the least. There are overlooks which offer views into North Carolina, southwestward toward Wytheville and Marion, and, on a clear day, possibly into West Virginia.
With our mounts fed, our companions fed and the camp put into order, we headed up the trail toward Mt. Rogers about 9 a.m. Enroute topside we rode through beautiful forests along an old railroad bed. The groundcover consisted mainly of ferns and a trailing vine with foliage similar to shamrock.
Once we left the railroad bed the trail became steep, narrow and rocky. All the riders had been asked to make sure their mounts had been shod recently and to bring along extra shoes as well. A ferrier riding with us also had sufficient gear should any horses throw a shoe.
Though not long, negotiating this section of the trail was excellent training for both riders and mounts, since for the sake of the other each had to be alert continuously. Three horses did go down, although fortunately there were no serious injuries.
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