#Pandapas Pond

[ultralowoxygen]

Dawn patrol at Pandapas Pond by Ray Meese Via Flickr: Created with RNI Films app. Preset 'Agfa Optima 200'

[northwestofinsanity]

I know most of the trees here in western VA haven’t gotten their leaves back yet (the flowering trees are going off though).  But today was a very rare March day, where not only was in sunny when it’s rained 5/7 days for the last two weeks, but it was 77 degrees (F) (when we’ve literally had snow that stuck on the first week of April before).

So today I went out alone to the trails around Pandapas Pond and the Poverty Creek in Jefferson National Forest.  Here are some photos for those who don’t have access to open areas to safely get outdoors, if you’d like to virtually come along.

[newriverartist]

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist is Pleased to Sell Another Print of Huckleberry Line Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist is Pleased to Sell Another Print of Huckleberry Line Trail

I thought the old dog was learning new tricks on WordPress today when I lost the whole post. I decided to use the copy feature so I would already have the blocks up and not have to add each one. Well, when I tried to delete the painting so I could put up a different one, the whole post vanished. Anyway I am pleased to sell another print of Huckleberry Line Trail Pond to a great Virginia patron!…

[starrynight-onpennylane]

The hidden treasures of yesterday :) #nature #mushrooms #fungusamongus #love (at Pandapas Pond) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBoN9mgJef6/?igshid=1upy024hk1hf5

[th3thrilld3m0n]

A husky loves to explore in any weather. #dogs #dogsofinstagram #husky #virginiatech #hokies #blacksburg #canon #canonusa #huskies #doggo #hike #hiking #adventuretime #adventure #beautiful #animals #animal #flower #flowers #pup #freshair #walk (at Pandapas Pond)

[redheadrunner92]

Maiden voyage on my new Remedy was a success! She climbs and descends better than the Bandit, plus she flys over rough terrain with ease #remedy8 (at Pandapas Pond)

[lynnrmitchell]

31 Days of October, Day 24

31 Days of October, Day 24

It’s October 24, the full Hunter’s Moon, and we finally found the colors of fall in Blacksburg where maple trees in maroon, red, and gold are showing off all around town. The colors are spectacular!

Fall leaf colors line Route 460 west of Blacksburg.

A girl and her dad looking for sunning turtles at Pandapas Pond west of Blacksburg.

Lane Stadium one day before a big Thursday night football…

[hollycromer]

Pandapas Pond Family Photos | Blacksburg, Virginia Family Portrait Photographer Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Stock Photos  

[davey-davey-doo]

One of my favorite places for walks #spring2018 (at Pandapas Pond)

[sending-the-message]

Something terrifying happened to me today in the Jefferson National Forest by MakroYianni

Jefferson National Forest lies just north of Blacksburg, Virginia. My absolute favorite part of the forest is Pandapas Pond. The pond itself is scenic and beautiful but the best part is the miles and miles of hiking trails accessible from the pond. I try to hike between 3-6 miles per week, I do this for two reasons, firstly because its great exercise and secondly because it helps keep me sane. Today however, the sanity part changed.

Today, just like I do every week, I packed a few bottles of water and a collapsible water bowl for my dog Lana, and headed for the pond. When I parked, I noted 6 or 7 cars in the parking lot and thought about how I'd for sure need to keep Lana close to me so she wouldn't bother any of the other hikers or pond goers. I always turn on a hiking app on my phone as soon as I get out of the car, the app helps me gauge the distance I've hiked and most importantly it helps ensure I don't get lost. For any of you that may have knowledge of the area, you know its borderline impossible to get lost on these trails but I like to have the security. I got out of the car, shouldered my bag, grabbed the dog leash and turned on the app. I was greeted with the familiar "Start workout" and I began walking towards the pond. Everything seemed perfect, the temperature was cool, the sky was overcast and for the first half mile I was completely alone. As Lana and I rounded a bend, we saw another hiker. This hiker was a man in his early to mid twenties and he was moving, his eyes were wide and unblinking and he looked nervous. He wasn't running, but I doubted I would have been able to keep up with him. Lana and I stepped to the side to let him pass and I offered a friendly "Good morning!" This guy never stopped looking ahead, he never even acknowledged my existence. As he passed, I pulled out my phone to get a video of his odd behavior and noticed I had absolutely no service. My hiking app's GPS showed me standing still on a blank map, my "minute per mile" tracker had sky rocketed to 2 hours per mile and was steadily climbing. I turned the app off to save battery and decided I would just stick to trails I already knew.

When I finally reached the pond it was a ghost town, usually there are older couples and moms pushing jogging strollers around the pond loop, but today there wasn't a soul in sight. The combination of the deserted pond and the strange wide eyed hiker was giving me an uneasy feeling and for a moment I considered turning around and heading home. As I was standing there contemplating what to do next I felt Lana pulling enthusiastically on her leash, "Ok, ok, let's go Lana Bear," I said as we moved forward. There's a section of the pond loop that forces you to cross a wooden bridge, the bridge separates the pond and a small section of marshland. Usually when you cross it you can hear bullfrogs bellowing and see ducks swimming around lazily, today though, there was nothing, no sound, no movement, nothing. I found it a little unnerving, but as we were so close to the trail head I decided to push on.

We took our usual route, Lady Slipper Trail to Joe Pye Trail to Poverty Creek Trail. Usually once we hit Poverty Creek we take a right and head back to the car, but today was such perfect hiking weather that I decided to take a left and try a new trail I'd never been on before. I double checked my location on a posted trail map and decided I would follow Poverty Creek to Royale Trail, then loop back towards the parking lot about half way down Royale.

As soon as I turned left on Poverty Creek I experienced the worst case of vertigo I've ever experienced. I leaned on a low hanging branch for a few minutes trying to regain my composure. When I finally felt normal again I decided to snap off that branch and use it as a walking stick just in case the vertigo came back. The branch gave me a ton of resistance before finally coming off, however it didn't make a sound. I stopped and stared at the branch that should have come off with an ear shattering crack and realized I couldn't hear anything other than my own breath. I looked up at the sky, barely visible through the canopy of the trees. The sky was a lot darker than when I first stepped on to the trails. I felt my heart start racing, "Calm down, it just looks like its gonna rain, that's why you don't hear any animals," I thought to myself. For some stupid reason I decided to keep going, I could have and most definitely should have turned around, but I kept going and turned onto Royale Trail.

After about 15 minutes of walking, and hearing only the sound of Lana panting, I figured I should be close to the point where I could loop back around and get out of the woods. Another minute or two of walking presented me with a trail that headed in the general direction I needed to go. This trail was unmarked, unlike all the other trails, "whatever, just get out of these woods before you get stuck out here in the rain," this I said out loud, mostly just to break the silence. This unmarked trail looked pretty well traveled so I assumed I was ok. I assumed so very wrong.

The trail quickly narrowed to nothing more than a deer trail, but as it was going the way I needed to go I decided to follow it. The vegetation started to get really thick and I had to duck my head so I didn't get hit in the face by stray branches. Barreling through the brush like I was should have been loud enough to wake the dead, but instead I heard nothing but my own heavy breathing. Suddenly I fell through the brush and into a clearing. On my hands and knees I started to laugh at how shitty this hike was going and looked over at Lana. She was frozen in place, all of her hair was raised and her teeth were bared, she looked straight ahead and let out a low growl. I slowly looked up, hoping it was just a deer or a rabbit. Instead I saw something that made my blood run cold. In the center of the clearing stood a man clad in camouflage. He was facing away from me with his head down. Lana growled again and I saw the man's head perk up "Run" he said in a low gruff voice.

I ran, faster than I thought my feet could carry me, little Lana somehow matching my stride. As I silently crashed through the brush I turned to see if the man was following us. He was, he wasn't running but he still seemed to be gaining on me. Every time I looked over my shoulder he was a little closer. I couldn't see his eyes but he flashed an unnervingly white smile as he gained on us. I knew I had to be close to 460, the highway that runs through the forest and I knew if I could just make it to the pavement that I'd have a chance of making it home. "Run little piggy," the man taunted just behind me.

I saw the highway and changed direction. My legs screamed for me to stop and every breath I took felt like broken glass was filling my lungs. I dove through the tree line and heard the man laugh as I crash landed on the shoulder of 460. I scrambled to my feet and turned around just in time to see the man melt back into the woods, the last part of him I saw was that white smile. As that too disappeared the silence I had been in for the better part of an hour stopped. The sound of passing cars and semi trucks suddenly blasted me, and I realized I was safe. I looked around and got my bearings and realized I was still at least 2 miles from my car. I started walking back towards the parking lot, making sure to keep ample distance between myself and the tree line. During breaks in the passing cars I could hear twigs snapping and couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I finally made it back to my car, I was shaking so bad I dropped my keys twice trying to unlock the door. As I was closing my car door I heard the man's eerie taunt again, "Run little piggy."

I've come to the decision that I will never hike there again.

[newriverartist]

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist is Plugging Along with the new Wordpress Format

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist is Plugging Along with the new WordPress Format

Well, here I am again and I think I am gaining on this new WordPress stuff. Maybe one of these days I will stop wanting the old format. Hope so. Anyway, I still haven’t started my new shore painting but that will happen soon. Lots of other things in the way right now. I hope we can get to the shore in the future but I am still too concerned about this pandemic to think about that right now.…

[starrynight-onpennylane]

The critters!!! We spotted a #ringnecksnake , a #paintedturtle , and a #cicada of sorts :) there was also a bunch of #cedarwaxwing but I couldn’t get a pic ;( this is Sean’s (and my) first time seeing a ring neck!! Great day for #herping 🐍🐢 #lovemyherpetologist #nature (at Pandapas Pond) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBmdH3bpb7p/?igshid=14y4he6d95dkp

[th3thrilld3m0n]

It's official! Bella has joined @thexploress for the next chapter of her adventures! Happy doggo = happy hooman #husky #doggo #dogs #dog #happy #hokienation #hokies #blacksburg #naturephotography #nature #saturday #saturdays #walk #canon #canonusa (at Pandapas Pond)

[vaamateurnaturalist]

Found this little gem purely by chance!  Want a little bit of inside info on visiting Pandapas? This might help.

[hollycromer]

Pandapas Pond Family Photos | Blacksburg, Virginia Family Portrait Photographer Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Stock Photos  

[fatchance]

Slide Show: Running cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum), near Pandapas Pond in the Jefferson National Forest, Montgomery County, Virginia. January 1981.

Transfer from Kodachrome 64 slide film.