Dealing with Winter Weather

Mountain Lake Looks Like Winter Wonderland

Trail Rehab Project Underway

The Mountain Lake Conservancy is very fortunate to be working with the Midweek Trail Crew this month on relocating a section of trail at Bear Cliffs.  The proposed reroute will take hikers down a safer path to access the overlook instead of the current trail which can plunge you into a crevasse if you're not careful.  Today I hiked up with Bill Gordge, the coordinator for the trail crew and with Tom, Facilities Manager of the UVA Biological Station -- Bear Cliffs overlook actually falls on Bio Station property. 

To read more about the Midweek Crew:

Guardians of the Greenways

Huckleberry Bike Loop Underway

Pack 702 Tackles Orienteering Course

Scout Pack 702 from Prices Fork came to Mountain Lake this past Saturday to try out our new Orienteering Course.  They brought up about 20 boys and families and found points A, B, C, Q, R, S and T - the most challenging!!  Great job!

Read "Finding your way:  Mountain Lake Orientation course challenges mind and body" featured in the Roanoke Times.

First Snow at Mountain Lake

What a beautiful morning on the mountain!  Snowy weather is visiting us earlier than usual, we hope that we have another heavy winter like last year.  Check out the photos...

Weather Forecast for Weekend

Lake Levels Drop Dramatically

Our lake level is now lower than it was at this point last year.  Check out the photos we took today of the lake bed.  We've had an incredibly dry summer, it's hard to believe we actually had boating this past July! 

view from extended boat dock

we found animal remains in the mud

view of Rest Rock and Newport House

view from left shoreline

Now here is a photo taken from July 2010!

Summer Photo Contest Winners

We apologize for our long hiatus from blogging, I have been making more Facebook posts than blog entries this past summer.  To become our fan on Facebook, click here. 

Congratulations to our summer photo contest winners!

June 2010: 
Martha Cox from Dublin, VA

July 2010:
Kevin Lang from Mars PA:  “It had just rained and we were on our way back from a hike around the lake.  This shot is one of my favorites, as it captures the lush green foliage and the inviting peacefulness of Mountain Lake.” -Lang

August 2010:
Missy Bennett from Mooresville, NC

Stories, Songs and Walks Elderhostel

Story by the Roanoke Times on XC-Skiing at Mt. Lake!

Lake Level Update

http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/water_continues_to_fill_mountain_lake/83529/

Mountain Lake recognized for Green Efforts

Go Green NRV is happy to recognize the following new Participating Businesses as members of the Go Green NRV initiative:

East Coasters
Environmental Services and Consulting, LLC
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
Mountain Lake Conservancy & Hotel
Radford Auto Center
ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning
Tuck Chiropractic Clinic
Wall Residences

Managing Principals of these businesses have joined the growing "go green" community in the New River Valley and committed to "utilizing their influence to support the principles of good environmental practices by setting an example and encouraging employees, customers, and vendors to follow their lead".

Go Green NRV was established in Fall 2008 to promote a Green Business Program for businesses in the New River Valley and is currently represented by companies in Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties, and the City of Radford. For more information on participating in the Go Green NRV initiative please visit www.gogreenrv.com.



Mountain Lake has recently implemented a Sustainability Plan to help further expand their green initatives.  Click here to read the Mountain Lake Green Statement.  

XC-Skiing

It's becoming more common to see cross country skiers at Mountain Lake on the weekends. We still have 18+ inches of snow blanketing the mountaintop and the snow conditions were ideal this past Saturday. We started off skiing to to the Old Golf Course then down Upper Doe Run. We then headed down Upper Jungle Trail (which I thought was the most exciting run) and then back up White Pine Road. We then headed to the Horsebarn and down Old Turnpike - this popped us out on Bald Knob road where we ended the day with a fast downhill run.

We hope the white stuff stays around all winter! If you're interested in trying it out, visit BackCountry Ski and Sports and rent a pair, it's only $25/day. You can also pick up a waterproof trail map of the MLC trails at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, East Coasters and Tangent Outdoors. We hope to see you up on the mountain!