ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 6, 1995                   TAG: 9506060102
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


SUMMERTIME IS A GREAT HIKING TIME IN THE VALLEY

Summer is a wonderful time to walk around the New River Valley. If that's what you want to do, then the Blacksburg YMCA has a program for you: the weekly Y-Hikes.

Hikers depart from the parking lot of the Blacksburg YMCA (403 Washington St.) and return there by 5 p.m. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes, dress appropriately, bring water and snacks or lunch and be ready to carpool or help pay for gas.

For information, call the YMCA office at 231-6860, or the hike leader. The schedule for the summer hikes is listed below (subject to change because of weather).

Sunday: Little Wolf Creek - a moderate hike on the Appalachian Trail. Meet at 9 a.m. Hike leader is DAVID JENKINS (552-3747).

June 18: Mountain Lake Scenic Trail - a 3-mile loop through virgin hemlocks to a rocky lookout. Meet at 1:30 p.m. Hike leader is NORM EISS (951-4015).

June 24: Tinker Cliffs - a 10-mile loop trail with steep stretches to an overlook of Catawba Valley. Meet at 9 a.m. Hike leader is BARRY ANDERSON (639-1018).

July 2: Bald Knob - a trek from Mountain Lake to the highest scenic view of the area: 4,363 feet. Hike leader is JOHN ROACH (951-1965).

July 8: The Cranberry Glades - a trip to an unusual Appalachian habitat that includes a bog forest. Meet at 8 a.m. Please note that it is a 21/2-hour drive to the four-hour hike. Hike leader is KEN STEIN (552-4392).

July 15: Hay Rock - a moderate hike up Tinker Mountain and along a ridge to Hay Rock, overlooking Carvins Cove north of Roanoke. Meet at 9 a.m. Please note there is a one-hour drive to this hike. Hike leader is BARRY ANDERSON (639-1018).

July 23: Sawtooth Ridge - a moderate 6-mile loop with rock outcroppings and a view of Bradshaw Valley. After the hike, there will be an optional dinner at the Home Place in Catawba (bring $10 if you wish to eat dinner). Hike leader is SU CLAUSON-WICKER (552-6331).

July 30: Cascades and Beyond - a hike along the improved trail to the falls and then further along the upper creek. Hike leader is BILL RICHARDSON (951-1061).

Aug. 6: Alta Mons - an easy trek on Methodist Camp land near Shawsville along and across Purgatory Creek to Styles Falls. Hike leader is KEN STEIN (552-4392).

DEADLINES APPROACHING: The deadline to sign up for youth baseball camps in Christiansburg has been extended until Wednesday.

The camp for rising fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders is June 12-16. The camp for rising seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders is June 19-23.

The cost is $50 for town residents and $55 for nonresidents.

For information, call the recreation department at 382-2349.

Friday is the last day to sign up for youth wrestling camps in Christiansburg. The camp is for youths ages 6-18 (and not out of high school).

CAMP NEWS: Concord College in Athens, W.Va., will be the site of a volleyball camp this summer for girls in grades 7-12.

The camp will be July 18-21. It will include drills on basic game situations and instruction on skill development. Evening league games during the camp will be overseen by registered officials.

The cost is $145 for overnight camps or $90 for commuting campers.

For information, contact PAT HARDIN, the Concord College volleyball coach, at (304) 384-5342 or (304) 384-5347. Or, you can write the coach at Concord College, Box 20, Athens, W.Va. 24712.

There are still openings in the other summer youth sports camps at Concord College - football, boys' basketball (both the regular and ``Small Fry'' camps) and girls' basketball. For information, call the college athletic department at (304) 384-5347.

GOLF GATHERING: The 22nd Annual First National Bank Greater Blacksburg Open is almost here.

The GBO is one of Southwest Virginia's most prestigious golf tournaments. It will be held June 24-25 at the Blacksburg Country Club.

Proceeds from the tournament help fund community projects of the Blacksburg Jaycees. The money raised in this tournament is used primarily to send mentally and physically challenged youths and young adults from the New River Valley to Camp Virginia Jaycee in Bedford.

The entry fee for the tournament is $110. It includes cart fee and 36 holes of golf. For information, call KEMP FANT at 382-5379.

M.J. Dougherty covers commuity sports and racing for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.



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