Really get outta here with a little time travel

An interesting phenomenon takes place at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm: Nothing plugs in, but everything recharges.

Hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head for milepost 5.8 near Afton to find the farm, which includes a variety of structures relocated from nearby spots to illustrate what pioneer life on a mountain spread in the late 1800s would have been like.

Simply wandering around and gazing at the home and its collection of outbuildings offer an escape from contemporary stressors. From spring through about mid-October, a variety of free activities await to complete the feeling of getting swept back to a time when self-reliance and resourcefulness were the order of the day, before malls, pharmacies, home improvement stores and electronic entertainment.

“We really bring the 1890s to life up there,” Ranger Ted Hughes said.

Visitors can learn how mountain residents grew their own foods, gathered herbs for medicines, spun fibers for fabrics and came together to cut loose with spirited live music.

Rangers invest a lot of research into the folkways that kept such farms running smoothly, and they’ll be on hand in costume to share how settlers dipped candles and how they coaxed gentle string sounds out of the dulcimers after the dinner dishes were done.

The demonstrations of plowing with draft horses are a hit with visitors, Hughes said. “The children love to pet the big horses on the nose,” he said.

Even grown-ups, who have forgotten just how tall these solidly built steeds are can be, can come away with a childlike sense of wonder.

“Before this thing called gasoline began to run our lives, this is how we plowed the fields,” Hughes said.

The horses aren’t the only busy ones. There’s always something that needs doing on a farm, and visitors are encouraged to pitch in, if they’d like.

The rangers don’t collect the eggs from the henhouse first thing in the morning because children enjoy that task, Hughes said. If you’re tempted to help tend the garden or fetch some water, just ask.

Of the spinning demonstrations, Hughes said, “Children are amazed, both boys and girls, by how much work went into making clothing.”

And they prove to be adept at spinning when they try.

Hughes said that spending so much time with computers and hand-held devices seems to give them exceptional hand-eye coordination.

Young guests also enjoy playing in the barn and stepping into what Hughes calls “Grandma’s refrigerator:” the spring house, through which a trough brings cool water to keep fresh foods from spoiling in summer’s heat.

“Children love coming in and feeling the coolness of the spring house on a hot day,” he said.

The farm’s setting near the top of the mountain can offer some relief, too.

“We’re about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Charlottesville most days,” Hughes said.

Other activities at the farm include a full schedule of bluegrass, mountain and old-time music from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays. If hearing the traditional harmonies in a breathtaking mountain setting doesn’t stir up a goose bump or two, well, it’s time to check your pulse.

On a gorgeous day, don’t be surprised if the nearby trails beckon you. After all, Humpback Rocks is known for its glorious views.

At milepost 6.0, hikers can choose between a short trail that offers a closer look at the geological formations and flora and a longer, more demanding trek up Humpback Mountain. The second trail has access to the Appalachian Trail.

If it’s a full-scale nature hike you’re after, just head to milepost 8.8 to Greenstone Parking Overlook to find a self-guided sojourn.

If you’re going
WHAT: Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm
WHERE: Milepost 5.8 on Blue Ridge Parkway
COST: Free
INFO: Water sold on site, although there’s no concession; bring your own picnic and non-alcoholic beverages. Well-behaved dogs on 6-foot leashes welcome. Call (540) 943-4716 or visit www.nps.gov/blri

Norris, who writes for The Daily Progress, can be reached at jnorris@dailyprogress.com.