Along rural roads in the Shenandoah Valley, you’ll see low meandering rock walls, perhaps two feet high, flowing with the curve of the roads, arcing over streams and cutting through fields. These are remnants of “Hog Walls,” which were built in the early 1800’s around plantations and more lowly farms, “to control the wanderings of half-wild hogs that foraged for acorns and chestnuts.” (United States National Park Service).
I find them intriguing, and some of my favorite parts of the countryside around my home. They define and adorn perimeters, but they don’t shut you out. Like a rabbit fence around the flowers or vegetables, they welcome and invite. However, I offer here a word from the wise: they also house snakes and other critters, no doubt.
An Unexpected Encounter on Humpback Rock
It was a beautiful day; the kids had just gotten home from school, and we had a few hours to enjoy the weather together. We decided upon a familiar hike a few miles up the Blue Ridge Parkway called Humpback Rock. It’s a challenging but short hike, with a very rewarding view. Arriving in the parking lot at the trailhead, we got Claire, our dog, harnessed and leashed, shouldered our water bottles, and started up the trail.
We hadn’t gone very far when we met a family coming back down. “There’s a bear!” A little boy told us with wonder in his eyes. We smiled and continued up, though I did keep an eye out for any sign of black bears. I knew what they looked like, of course, but had never seen one up close. How tall were they on all fours? Would I be able to see it above the undergrowth? We turned the next corner and… welp, now I know.
There, not 50 yards away, on a course to intercept the path, were two fuzzy black, round backs, poking a couple of feet above the grasses. So, they were likely 3 or 4 feet tall at the shoulder. One was slightly smaller than the other. Perhaps a mother and a cub? I had stopped in my tracks, and the line of kids behind bumped together as they poked their heads around me. “What is it, mom? What. Whoa!” They stood still with their mouths open.
Claire was looking back to see why I had stopped and hadn’t noticed the bears yet. Thank goodness! I needed to turn us around before she started barking. “Umm… let’s walk backward really quietly until we round that corner. Don’t get Claire excited.” I offered in a low voice. Were you supposed to walk backward? Is that a thing? Did I watch that on Animal Planet? We’ll find out, I guess. Luckily, Claire picked up on the change of direction before she picked up on a strange new scent, and we made it safely back to the parking lot.
The Mountain Farm Trail and the Warning Buzz of a Hog Wall
But we didn’t want to go home yet; we were out for an adventure! Remembering that there was an old pioneer farm trail just across the road, I suggested that as an alternative. Not as cool, but it was something. We entered on the far end of the property, the end of The Mountain Farm Trail, passing through “The Kissin’ Gate”. Along a log fence, a narrow opening with a sharp switchback prevented cattle from getting through, but easily allowed for people.
We passed a ramshackle cooling house, cabin, and hog house. Stopping here, my oldest son rested one foot on top of a low rock wall, one elbow on his knee. Buzz. We stopped our conversation and looked at each other. “Do you hear that?” Buzz, Buzz. Logan looked down. “I think it’s coming from the rocks.”
It was just dawning on me what that sound might be, and as I opened my mouth to tell him, a park ranger approached us and said cheerfully, “I missed you folks coming in! I need to warn you that there have been a lot of sightings of Copperheads and Rattlesnakes in this area today, so be careful, alright?” And off she went.
Logan and I locked eyes. His were huge. The rock buzzed again, and he hopped away, breathing hard. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s a rattler under there,” said Captain Obvious. “Uh, kids? I hate to do this, but I’m tapping out. Nature just doesn’t want us around today. Come on, back to the car.”
A Misadventure to Remember
We did enjoy the overlooks on the drive home and threw in a stop for ice cream. Our adventure became a misadventure, but one we’ll remember. We do that a lot.
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