After an accident left her husband disabled, a girl got here to the Blue Ridge to search out accessible locations for them to discover the outside.
WHEN YOU FIRST ENTER THE big black tunnel within the facet of the mountain, you can’t see the opposite facet, the place it as soon as once more enters the sunshine of day, about three quarters of a mile away. You may hear operating water, which is somewhat disconcerting at first, however the crushed gravel path appears to be like promising. The gaping elliptical gap we enter is known as the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel. It’s 4,273 ft in size and within the mid-1800s when it was constructed, it was the longest practice tunnel in North America.
I’m about to push my husband in his handbook wheelchair into its darkness. At 2.3 miles lengthy, the Tunnel Path is situated beneath Rockfish Hole close to Waynesboro and Afton, Va. At first this didn’t appear to be the everyday vacation spot for the disabled, however we discovered the trailbed simple to navigate.
A number of years in the past, my very athletic and adventurous husband Todd suffered a devastating fall, which broke his neck and resulted in an incomplete spinal wire damage. Since then, we determined we wouldn’t be content material with a life indoors, away from the fantastic thing about nature, with its calming peace and plenty of well being advantages. So lately we traveled from our Pennsylvania dwelling to Virginia’s stretch of the Blue Ridge to see what the world has to supply in the best way of accessible trails.
We had been thrilled to search out a number of trails that make exploring the pure world potential for gradual walkers and wheelers. Getting Todd to a trailhead isn’t all the time simple, however it’s value it once I see the best way being outdoors elevates his temper. Minor challenges like ruts or roots, or puddles of water makes issues tough, however total, with somewhat vitality, there are numerous trails we will navigate simply positive.
We entry the tunnel path from the east entrance, (215 Afton Depot Lane in Afton), as it’s a pretty flat .5-mile method path versus a really steep hill on the west facet. Inside, the damp coolness is reassuring on a sizzling summer season day, whereas the looming rock partitions and the darkness assist us think about what it was like for the Irish immigrants to blast this large tunnel. Then the welcoming gentle of day greets us on the opposite facet.
We quickly hear laughter echoing out of the tunnel and are stunned to come across a jubilant group of younger individuals, gathered round a lady with cerebral palsy in an influence chair. Kaili Webster is together with her church group, having a enjoyable day outdoor. Stephanie, her mom, says the children selected this path as a result of they know it’s accessible and the way a lot it means to Kaili to affix in actions on fellowship outings. “It means a lot to her to be part of the group and really feel no totally different than anybody else.”
Later, we in a single day within the historic Large Meadows Lodge within the central part of Shenandoah Nationwide Park. It affords very snug accessible lodging, with our room’s personal personal entrance. Todd’s wheelchair can get by way of the door, match beneath the sink, and get into the bathe. There’s a lot appeal at this rustic mountaintop lodge, with far-reaching vistas from the lodge deck, and its restaurant serves scrumptious meals, providing some Southern favorites, like fried inexperienced tomatoes, Virginia peanut soup, and hush puppies made with Virginia candy corn, served with native sizzling honey. After an evening of relaxation, we spent the remainder of our journey discovering extra accessible trails within the space.
- One other favourite is the 1.3-mile circuit Limberlost Path within the Shenandoah Nationwide Park. It’s a state-of-the-art accessible path with very light grades and a easy, finely crushed stone trailbed. The path is large sufficient for side-by-side strolling, with benches sprinkled all through for handy resting, and variety within the panorama because it winds by way of thick groves of mountain laurel, tall oaks, fascinating rock formations, and lacy ferns. Right here we did a combo of my husband strolling along with his walker, then using in his handbook chair when he grew fatigued. This path has some grades, though light.
- From the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway in Luray spot bucolic cows munching away contained in the fence that the path circles round. This fully black-topped path is a cinch to navigate throughout with an accessible rest room half manner around the .8-mile loop path (Path is a Lolli-pop configuration).
- The .8-mile Augusta Springs Wetland Path in George Washington Nationwide Forest outdoors Augusta is a candy circuit path. It’s an getting old path that would use some repairs, however the boardwalk throughout the swampy marshland is especially scenic and residential to a number of waterfowl. It took us somewhat extra effort than ordinary to push throughout some spots, because it goes from boardwalk to grime path, however it’s value a go to, with white pine forest that’s pretty in the summertime and an important accessible rest room.
- The .5-mile interpretive Massanutten Storybook Path outdoors New Market is a wonderful paved accessible path, resulting in a spectacular view of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains however sadly among the boardwalk burned within the spring 2024 Shenandoah hearth and is quickly closed, awaiting restore.
Many different accessible trails will be discovered by looking out wheelchair and stroller-friendly trails at AllTrails.com and TrailLink.com of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The Nationwide Park Service additionally affords a free lifetime Interagency Entry move to completely disabled of us. You may receive your move on the park entrance station, or on-line at nps.gov/topics/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm.
Cowl picture by the writer
