We headed south to Staunton today and then east to the West Virginia line via RT250. This road is the old Staunton/Parkersburg Turnpike and take you through the Virginia Alleghenies ( I live in the PA Alleghenies).
It is quite a road and there are a few spots where you meet yourself coming around a curve! The switchbacks are incredible. We stopped at any VA Civil War Trails marker that we saw. A lot of our tripping is following "In the Footsteps of Jackson". Our destination was "Camp Allegheny". My husband and I visited the place in late November, but the road was snowed in and we wisely chose not to go up it then. The road is actually the remains of the original Turnpike. It is one lane unpaved road that goes two miles up the mountain ( to about 4100 feet). 
It is quite a road and there are a few spots where you meet yourself coming around a curve! The switchbacks are incredible. We stopped at any VA Civil War Trails marker that we saw. A lot of our tripping is following "In the Footsteps of Jackson". Our destination was "Camp Allegheny". My husband and I visited the place in late November, but the road was snowed in and we wisely chose not to go up it then. The road is actually the remains of the original Turnpike. It is one lane unpaved road that goes two miles up the mountain ( to about 4100 feet). In the winter of 1861/62 the Confederates camped up there and protected the road.
Today there are ruins of the camp, and the site is well preserved. (as if anyone would really want to be up there!!!) 
Once we made it to the top (quite a ride) we found out that the road continues in two directions another 6-7 miles. So we took the left fork. As it turned out it was the road "less traveled". One lane, on the ridge, hugging the mountain, gravel, rocks and ruts, at tree top level in some spots, had to go forward, couldn't turn around, prayed that no one was coming up as we had no clue of what we would do. All three of us had quite an adventure!!!! The road came out in West Virginia, about 10 miles from where we started. We had no idea that there was such a road up there. My friend has since done some research and found out that we should have taken the right fork. It went to places! So next year we can adventure again!!!!!
Today there are ruins of the camp, and the site is well preserved. (as if anyone would really want to be up there!!!) Once we made it to the top (quite a ride) we found out that the road continues in two directions another 6-7 miles. So we took the left fork. As it turned out it was the road "less traveled". One lane, on the ridge, hugging the mountain, gravel, rocks and ruts, at tree top level in some spots, had to go forward, couldn't turn around, prayed that no one was coming up as we had no clue of what we would do. All three of us had quite an adventure!!!! The road came out in West Virginia, about 10 miles from where we started. We had no idea that there was such a road up there. My friend has since done some research and found out that we should have taken the right fork. It went to places! So next year we can adventure again!!!!!After we made it back to Staunton, we had dinner at "Mrs. Rowes", one of my favorite restaurants.
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