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The Grateful Boomers spent part of April once again hiking in the mountains. This time, they chose a hike with wildflowers, company, and history. They went south, starting at Long Mountain Wayside and descending four miles to Pedlar Creek fire road. Following Brown Mountain Creek most of the way, this easy trail offered the peaceful sound of little waterfalls and one challenging crossing. Instead of summit views, the forest floor provided most of the beauty. 

Dwarf crested irises, wild geraniums, star chickweeds, showy orchids, perfoliate bellworts, and even yellow lady slippers were some of the wildflowers decorating the trail, Spring also means more section and thru hikers to interact with during the trip, some eager this time to chat about experiences. Along one section were remnants of farm houses and rock flood walls constructed by tenant farmers, families who were evacuated in the early 1900s by the Forest Service. 

The next day the Boomers and others had a Zoom interview with Kathleen Grissom, author of The Kitchen House. Having enjoyed her first novel, the local book club learned about her writing journey and inspiration. 

WHO ARE THE GRATEFUL BOOMERS? 

And if you’re wondering who the Grateful Boomers are, they’re a group of friends from Buckingham County, all over the age of 60, who want to enrich their lives through both meaningful friendships and challenging outdoor adventures. 

They believe that aging gratefully with a high level of curiosity about everything, will create the best environment to remain mentally and physically active. Collectively, the group’s interests run from biking to hiking, kayaking and photography to reading, knitting, gardening and travel. They hope that by sharing their adventures, the group will inspire others to do the same.