Andy Thompson - Hiking Waterfalls Virginia: A Guide to the States Best Waterfall Hikes

Andy Thompson first experienced the splendor of a Virginia waterfall in the mid-1990s when he leapt off a rock next to Panther Falls into the achingly cold Blue Ridge Mountain headwaters of the Pedlar River. Between that college rite of passage and today, Andy has crisscrossed the state by foot, boat, and two wheels in search of adventure. From 2007 to 2013 he was the Outdoors Columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where he covered everything from snakehead fishing in Northern Virginia to rabbit hunting in the Piedmont, from 100-mile mountain bike races near Harrisonburg (he didnt come in last) to hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Andy and a business partner founded Terrain360.com, for which they created the first-ever 360-degree, surface-level image map of an entire river in the summer of 2014 when they floated the 348-mile James River in a custom pontoon raft, taking 360-degree pictures along the way. Hes also a part owner of Richmond river adventure company Riverside Outfitters and Truetimber Backyard, which promotes a return to natural play.

Andy and his wife, Jess, live in Richmond, a burgeoning outdoors town, with their son, Sam, daughter, Ellie, and dog Luna. They live a stones throw from the James, where bald eagles and osprey battle for turf, shad and striped bass run in the spring to spawn, and trails are filled with runners, bikers, birders, and every other stripe of outdoors lover.

When standing nose to nose with a mountain lion, youre probably not too concerned with the issue of ethical behavior in the wild. No doubt youre just terrified. But lets be honest. How often are you nose to nose with a mountain lion? For most of us, a hike into the wild means loading up the SUV with expensive gear and driving to a toileted trailhead. Sure, you can mourn how civilized weve becomehow GPS units have replaced natural instinct and Gore-Tex stands in for true-gritbut the silly gadgets of civilization aside, we have plenty of reason to take pride in how weve matured. With survival now on the back burner, weve begun to understand that we have a responsibility to protect, no longer just conquer, our wild places: that they, not we, are at risk. So please, do what you can. The following section will help you understand better what it means to do what you can while still making the most of your hiking experience. Anyone can take a hike, but hiking safely and well is an art requiring preparation and proper equipment.

Trail Etiquette

Leave no trace. Always leave an area just like you found itif not better than you found it. Avoid camping in fragile, alpine meadows and along the banks of streams and lakes. Use a camp stove versus building a wood fire. Pack up all of your trash and extra food. Bury human waste at least 100 feet from water sources under 6 to 8 inches of topsoil. Dont bathe with soap in a lake or streamuse prepackaged moistened towels to wipe off sweat and dirt, or bathe in the water without soap.

Stay on the trail. Its true, a path anywhere leads nowhere new, but purists will just have to get over it. Paths serve an important purpose; they limit impact on natural areas. Straying from a designated trail may seem innocent but it can cause damage to sensitive areasdamage that may take years to recover, if it can recover at all. Even simple shortcuts can be destructive. So, please, stay on the trail.

Leave no weeds. Noxious weeds tend to overtake other plants, which in turn affects animals and birds that depend on them for food. To minimize the spread of noxious weeds, hikers should regularly clean their boots, tents, packs, and hiking poles of mud and seeds. Also brush your dog to remove any weed seeds before heading off into a new area.

Keep your dog under control. You can buy a flexi-lead that allows your dog to go exploring along the trail, while allowing you the ability to reel him in should another hiker approach or should he decide to chase a rabbit. Always obey leash laws and be sure to bury your dogs waste or pack it in resealable plastic bags.

Respect other trail users. Often youre not the only one on the trail. With the rise in popularity of multiuse trails, youll have to learn a new kind of respect, beyond the nod and hello approach you may be used to. First investigate whether youre on a multiuse trail, and assume the appropriate precautions. When you encounter motorized vehicles (ATVs, motorcycles, and 4WDs), be alert. Though they should always yield to the hiker, often theyre going too fast or are too lost in the buzz of their engine to react to your presence. If you hear activity ahead, step off the trail just to be safe. Note that youre not likely to hear a mountain biker coming, so be prepared and know ahead of time whether you share the trail with them. Cyclists should always yield to hikers, but thats little comfort to the hiker. Be aware. When you approach horses or pack animals on the trail, always step quietly off the trail, preferably on the downhill side, and let them pass. If youre wearing a large backpack, its often a good idea to sit down. To some animals, a hiker wearing a large backpack might appear threatening. Many national forests allow domesticated grazing, usually for sheep and cattle. Make sure your dog doesnt harass these animals, and respect ranchers rights while youre enjoying yours.

Getting into Shape

Unless you want to be soreand possibly have to shorten your trip or vacationbe sure to get in shape before a big hike. If youre terribly out of shape, start a walking program early, preferably eight weeks in advance. Start with a 15-minute walk during your lunch hour or after work and gradually increase your walking time to an hour. You should also increase your elevation gain. Walking briskly up hills really strengthens your leg muscles and gets your heart rate up. If you work in a storied office building, take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you prefer going to a gym, walk the treadmill or use a stair machine. You can further increase your strength and endurance by walking with a loaded backpack. Stationary exercises you might consider are squats, leg lifts, sit-ups, and push-ups. Other good ways to get in shape include biking, running, aerobics, and, of course, short hikes. Stretching before and after a hike keeps muscles flexible and helps avoid injuries.

Preparedness

Its been said that failing to plan means planning to fail. So do take the necessary time to plan your trip. Whether going on a short day hike or an extended backpack trip, always prepare for the worst. Simply remembering to pack a copy of the U.S. Army Survival Manual is not preparedness. Although its not a bad idea if you plan on entering truly wild places, its merely the tourniquet answer to a problem. You need to do your best to prevent the problem from arising in the first place. In order to surviveand to stay reasonably comfortableyou need to concern yourself with the basics: water, food, and shelter. Dont go on a hike without having these bases covered. And dont go on a hike expecting to find these items in the woods.

Water. Even in frigid conditions, you need at least two quarts of water a day to function efficiently. Add heat and taxing terrain and you can bump that figure up to one gallon. Thats simply a base to work fromyour metabolism and your level of conditioning can raise or lower that amount. Unless you know your level, assume that you need one gallon of water a day. Now, where do you plan on getting the water?

Preferably not from natural water sources. These sources can be loaded with intestinal disturbers, such as bacteria, viruses, and fertilizers. Giardia lamblia, the most common of these disturbers, is a protozoan parasite that lives part of its life cycle as a cyst in water sources. The parasite spreads when mammals defecate in water sources. Once ingested, Giardia can induce cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, and fatigue within two days to two weeks after ingestion. Giardiasis is treatable with prescription drugs. If you believe youve contracted giardiasis, see a doctor immediately.