PLT OF IFR PA34 ENCOUNTERS TURB AND MOUNTAIN WAVE OVER THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS. LOSES 1500 FT WHILE RECOVERING.

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WE WERE CRUISING WITH NO PROBS AT 8000 FT WITH LIGHT TURB. THEN GND SPD STARTED TO INCREASE WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN AIRSPD. SUDDENLY WE WERE IN MODERATE/SEVERE TURB AND A VERY POWERFUL MOUNTAIN WAVE; PUSHING US DOWN INTO THE MOUNTAINS. IN SPITE OF BEST EFFORTS AND FULL PWR; WE LOST 1500 FT VERY RAPIDLY; CAUSING THE ALTDEV. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CLR THE FIRST RIDGE (ESTIMATE 300-400 FT CLRNC). THEN I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN ASSIGNED ALT; AND THE OFFENDING RIDGES WERE BEHIND US. ATC WAS HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDING; AND I GAVE THEM A PIREP AFTER THINGS HAD CALMED DOWN. I WAS UNABLE; HOWEVER; TO TALK TO THEM DURING THE MOST INTENSE TIME. THEY WERE UNDERSTANDABLY AND JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. NEXT TIME I WILL SLOW TO MANEUVERING SPD SOONER; TURN OFF THE AUTOPLT SOONER; AND WATCH GND SPD AND OUTSIDE AIR TEMP FOR VARIATIONS TO TRY TO GET SOME WARNING. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO REMAIN CALM; FOR WHICH I AM PROUD AND THANKFUL; BUT STILL WOULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME; AS ABOVE STATED. I FLY THIS RTE OFTEN; AND WILL PROBABLY ASK FOR 10000 FT OVER THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE DURING THE WINTER; EVEN IF IT MEANS 60 KT HEADWINDS.