BRUMLEY MOUNTAIN, VA. — The proposal to establish a lake-to-lake mountain biking and hiking trail from Hidden Valley Lake in Washington County to Laurel Bed Lake in Russell County took a giant step forward when the Brumley Cove Baptist Camp conveyed an easement along the crest of its 1800 acre Clinch Mountain tract to Mountain Heritage, a St. Paul, Virginia based conservation group that proposed the trail.
The trail will, when completed, stretch twenty-two miles along some of the most scenic surroundings in the eastern United States according to Frank Kilgore, volunteer legal counsel for Mountain Heritage. “Less than two years ago we proposed that the state of Virginia purchase a 5000 acre tract on Clinch Mountain from The Nature Conservancy and at least one third of those funds have been designated with the balance being pursued by local legislators, especially Senators William Wampler, Jr. and Phillip Puckett and Delegates Terry Kilgore and Joe Johnson. Congressman Rick Boucher has also advocated this project.”
Kilgore noted that with the easement from Brumley Cove Baptist Camp in hand and assuming the transaction with The Nature Conservancy goes through, it will then be a matter of raising the funds and volunteers to install the trail from Hidden Valley along the mountain’s crest to Hayter’s Gap on Route 80 for the first segment of the trail. “From there we hope to obtain additional easements across private land to complete the route to Laurel Bed Lake, and early indications are good that we can do that.”
Reverend Steve Collins, chairman of the Brumley Cove Baptist Camp, stated that his members and board looked forward to having a regulated and maintained trail that will benefit the camp, the community and the public along one of the biggest stretches of uninterrupted ridge top in Virginia. “We are glad to be a part of this. The easement we gave Mountain Heritage specifically allows it to be transferred to the Commonwealth of Virginia when the time is right to do so. Our land, we believe, will be better protected from illegal hunting and trespassing if we have the trail there and users help us monitor and protect it. We may establish additional campsites on our property for hikers and bikers that will allow them a handy rest stop. At the same time this would also enhance our outreach efforts of the camp that our churches have encouraged over the past three decades.”
Kilgore was quick to thank Reverend Collins and the other members of his board, including Fred Meade of Castlewood, who brought the parties
together. Kilgore also noted that his late friend, Charles Kennedy, who is credited with leading the movement to save the 5000 acre tract of land now being purchased by the state and the unique rock formation known as ‘The Channels’ would have been very happy to see the trail take this important step. “Charlie visualized a trail from Hidden Valley Lake to intersect with the Appalachian Trail at Burke’s Garden someday. Who knows, it could happen if enough landowners and the state of Virginia pulled together. It would be the most scenic ridge top trail one could imagine if it did occur. That would be a good way for us to honor Charlie, join in the goals of Brumley Cove Baptist Camp and provide a great source of exercise and relaxation for our citizens, especially our young people. This would be the dream trail of all time in far Southwest Virginia.”