Hike at Poor Mountain Nature Preserve

Our BRFAL chapter is very fortunate to have Dr. Ryan Klopf as our Chapter Advisor.  Ryan is also the DCR Mountain Region Steward for our part of Virginia.  Ryan offered to take us on a hike at the PoorMountain Natural Area Preserve.  The PoorMountain NAP is comprised of 925 acres in a most beautiful spot.  The moniker “poor mountain” is derived from the fact that the soil on Poor Mountain is notoriously infertile and acidic.  Even so, flora and fauna flourish on Poor Mountain.

          Rewarding view from the top

The pictures below show just a few of nature’s work on Poor Mountain.  Ryan’s extensive knowledge helped educate us Master Naturalists.  The single most interesting thing we learned about was the piratebush (buckleya distichophylla).  This bush is indigenous only in 4 areas of the world and only in Virginia and primarily on Poor Mountain!  These bushes are male and female and are a somewhat pale green in the summer but turn distinctively yellow in the fall.  For more info see:  

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/buckleya_distichophylla.shtml

If you like to hike, and you like nature, I would highly recommend Poor Mountain NAP.  The trail system is relatively short, but be prepared for some very steep terrain.  Our hike was limited to the shorter inner loop, but the outer loop is much more challenging.

Our thanks go out to Ryan for arranging an informative and enjoyable afternoon.

                                                                  Troup BRFAL

                                                                       Piratebush

                                                                Tabletop Pinecone

                                                                     American Chestnut

                                                                 Mountain Laurel