CAS Astronomy Weekend Retreat 2007

For CAS Members, Family and Friends
Friday Evening, September 7, Through Sunday Afternoon, September 9

Location / Observing Areas / Camping / Cabins and Facilities / Staying in Monterey / Costs / Directions

The Location
Bear Mountain Farm and Retreat, www.mountain-retreat.com, is 2-1/2 hours driving time from downtown Charlottesville and 25 minutes west of Monterey, VA. About half the driving time is on mountainous, winding roads, but it is basically on Route 250 all the way. Only the last 3 miles is gravel/dirt road (Route 601) going south from Route 250.

The excellent hosts are Tom Brody and Patti Reum.
Phone: 540-468-2700.

Send your intentions to attend to Larry Saunders (treasurer@cvilleastro.org) or Richard Drumm (vp@cvilleastro.org) as soon as possible so we can decide on what facilities to reserve.

(All photos by Dave Miller)
The South Entrance to the Upper Field
View Looking North
The Observing Area
The Retreat is truly on a mountain top. It is at over 4,000 feet. The upper field is very large and has views to the horizon to the North and West, and some trees on the East and South sides. The field is large enough so that you can set up on the northern end to get fairly good southern views.
Looking West from the Upper Field
With Host Tom Brody

Camping Sites
You have the option of parking your campers or setting up your tents in the upper field. It is a short drive or hike down to the lodge, cabins and bath house. If it were to get too windy on top, we could also set up in the lower fields near the lodge and cabins, which is better protected by trees. Tom indicated that the winds are calm in the Summer and others have set up telescopes in the upper field with no problems.

 
One of the Lower Fields
Viewed from the Front Porch of the Lodge
Looking North

Cabins and Bath House
The cabins are rustic on the outside, but are beautifully maintained on the inside. There are no "facilities" in the cabins, but the bath house is just a few steps away and quite roomy and very clean. There are two nice clean stalls and two good showers with hot water in both the men's and ladies' rooms.

Two standard cabins have a queen bed plus two bunks. One cabin has three bunks. The fourth is a log cabin with a queen bed and three twins.  The log cabin has a loft, wood-burning stove and jacuzzi on its porch. It smells like a wood-burning stove, but it is very cool.

The kitchen/dining room has enough table space for about 20 people and has room for indoor games and a study area. Patti, one of the hosts, was a science teacher at Saint Anne's Belfield and has lots of nature-related books and things set up in there.


Nicely Appointed Cabin Interiors
Spacious Bath House
Staying in Monterey
Monterey is a very nice, quaint town. There are a couple of Bed and Breakfasts, a motel and hotel. If you would rather not stay up on the mountain, check out these places in Monterey: http://www.highlandcounty.org/Dir-pages/bd-lodgi.htm.

Costs:

For Lodging:
Campsites
$25.00 per person per night.
Cabin Bunk Beds
$35.00 per person per night.

For breakfasts:
$12.00 per person per day for exquisite Saturday and Sunday morning brunches.

Dinners Friday and Saturday nights will be pot luck.

Driving Directions

In General
I-64 West to I-81 North
I-81 North to US-275 West (Woodrow Wilson Parkway)
US-275 West to US-250 West
US-250 West to Route 601 South, almost at the WV border.

Head Towards Staunton
Take the I-64 WEST towards STAUNTON - go about 30 mi
Take the I-81 NORTH exit towards STAUNTON/WINCHESTER, exit #87 - go about 4 mi

Take Woodrow Wilson Parkway Around Staunton
Take the US-275 WEST Woodrow Wilson Parkway exit #225 - go about 6 mi
Make a Right Turn on CHURCHVILLE AVE, US-250 WEST

Head Towards Monterey
Continue on US-250 WEST - go 36 mi to Monterey

Head Toward the West Virginia Border
You will pass through Monterey towards Hightown - go 5 mi
From Hightown, continue on US-250 WEST - go 7 mi

Take Route 601 to the Farm
You will pass Route 600
Continue uphill to Route 601
Turn left on Route 601 and travel 2 miles along the crest of the mountains.
Follow the "Bear Silhouette" signs.
When Route 601 county road maintenance ends, continue 1 mile. Close the gate behind you.
Turn left into Bear Mountain Farm. The top observing field will be on your left.
Drive around the field and then down a hill 400 yards to reach the lodge and cabin areas.