Travel Guide 2017

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

FREE!

ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER BLACKWATER, SMOKE HOLE, AND CHEAT CANYON AREAS

Taking Flight

Paragliding in the Highlands

Micro Hikes for Lil’ Tykes EVENTS CALENDAR INSIDE

Rise of the Phoenix

Cheat River Revival

FISHING

RUNNING

PADDLING

CLIMBING

Kayak Fishing Spruce Knob Lake

Mountain Trail Runners

Paddling Blackwater Canyon

Smoke Hole Climbing

Welcome to summer in the big, blue sky.

Where hiking-boot-mornings turn to bikini-afternoons, fishing flies are chosen as wisely as swinging clubs, and the thirst for gravity and velocity never goes unquenched.

Where a perfectly banked downhill mountain bike line is worshiped as much as a perfectly seared scallop.

And where every day, without a doubt, is an invitation for more adventure, and more sticky memories.

Welcome to summer on The Mountain.

snowshoemtn.com/mountainrules

2 HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

THE PIES & PINTS PROMISE •Products sourced as locally as possible •Simple, fresh, high quality ingredients free of preservatives •In-house, made from scratch dough, sauces, marinades, salad dressings & desserts •Earth conscious take-out packaging that is compostable or 100% recyclable

Morgantown, WV 1002 Suncrest Towne Centre 304-777-4749

Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner! www.PIESandPINTS.net

SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

3

Letter from the Editor The change of seasons is once again upon us; spring perhaps the most rejuvenating of them all. The trails are free of snow, the rivers are flowing, and the Highlands are exploding into a verdant playground. We all change with the seasons, and spring couldn’t be more symbolic for Highland Outdoors. We’ve reflected on 2016 and are out of hibernation with more energy than ever for our mission—celebrating the people and places of outdoor recreation in West Virginia.

Last year was big for us. We added the Gorge Guide to our family of publications, added writers to our family of contributors, and even had our own stage at the Deep Roots Mountaintop Revival. Between the colorful pages of the Canyon Guide, Gorge Guide and Snow Guide, we now cover the Mountain State from the Cheat Watershed and the Potomac Highlands to Summersville Lake and the New River Gorge.

This issue of the Canyon Guide kicks off our 2017 season, and I’m excited for what we have in store. We’ll be bringing you stories of West Virginia’s adventurous people and spectacular places—unique stories that engage locals and visitors alike. We’ll be featuring content from local writers, photographers, and outdoor professionals to provide the authentic voice that you deserve.

I welcome you to join us this year as we continue covering all we’ve got to be proud of in the Highlands. Tell us your thoughts: drop us a comment on social media, send us an article idea, or find us at one of our many events. You’ve now got West Virginia’s premier recreation resource in your hands. Flip through, get inspired, and get outside to see why so many world-class adventurers choose to make the Mountain State their home.

Dylan Jones Managing Editor dylan@highland-outdoors.com

Publisher & Editor: Eric Lee Managing Editor: Dylan Jones Business Manager: Kayley Lee Copy Editor: Nick Gaudio Business Dev. Ryan Kuehn Design: M. Alauddin CONTRIBUTORS: Juniper Rose, Art Barket, Owen Mulkeen, Joel Wolpert, Steve Lee, Dylan Jones, Jesse Shimrock, Eric Lee, Dwayne McCourt, Ed Rehbein, Mike Gray, Adadm Polinski, Allison Eckman, Gabe DeWitt ADVERTISING: Request a media kit by emailing info@highland-outdoors.com SUBMISSIONS: Please send query letters to editor@highland-outdoors.com.

Copyright © 2016 by Highland Outdoors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is expressly prohibited.

DISCLAIMER: Outdoor activities are inherently risky, and participation can cause injury or loss of life. Please consult your doctor prior to begining any workout program or sports activity, and seek out a qualified instructor. Highland Outdoors and the Gorge Guide will not be held responsible for your decision to play outdoors.

COVER: Photo of paraglider flying over Canaan Valley by Eric Lee

4

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

Super Gardening Supply Store

Spring / Summer 2017 6. The Bold & The Brave

Paddling Balckwater Canyon - Juniper Rose

8. Rise of the Phoenix

Cheat River Revival - Owen Mulkeen

10. Blood, Sweat, & Tears Mountain Trail Runners - Joel Wolpert

12. Kayak Fishing

Spruce Knob Lake - Steve Lee

56104 National Rd Bridgeport, OH 740-738-0578 3476 University Ave Morgantown, WV 304-588-5911

From the Beginner Gardener to the Expert Gardener, we have what you are looking for.

Come Grow With Us!

14. Taking Flight

Paragliding in the Highlands - Dylan Jones

17. Paragliding Launch Site Canaan Valley Resort - Eric Lee

18. Smoke Hole Rock Climbing Mobile Apps & Digital Guidebooks - Eric Lee

20. Micro Hikes

for Lil’ Tykes - Adam Polinski

22. Cathedral in the Highlands

Hiking WV’s Oldest Timber Tract - Allison Eckman

24. From GRUSK ‘till Dawn Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob - Eric Lee

26. The First Day at Coopers A poem by Dylan Jones

27. Restaurant Guide 28. Events Calendar 30. Locator Map SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

5

New

←

The Bold & the Brave

By Juniper Rose

A

mong the throngs of visitors who have explored the trails and vistas of Blackwater Falls State Park, only a select few have ventured below the base of West Virginia’s highest waterfall to the tumultuous section of whitewater that rumbles beyond. These bold, brave souls are the kayakers, who come one by one to test their mettle when high water calls. While others are drawn to the picturesque 60-foot waterfall cascading over the sandstone cliff, kayakers wait until it becomes a thundering wall of root beer-colored water sending frothy waves pulsating through the canyon below; they come to paddle one of the most challenging and renowned sections of river in Appalachia.

While Blackwater Falls State Park is known as a tourist destination, kayakers view the Blackwater as more than just a pretty face. The three sections of worldclass whitewater—the Upper Blackwater, Lower Blackwater, and North Fork of the Blackwater—combine to provide an array of options for elite kayakers at various water levels. The river’s continuous disposition and high consequences mean all three Class V sections require tremendous technical skills and mental prowess.

The Upper Blackwater begins below Blackwater Falls—which is illegal to run—and stacks back-to-back rapids in the steep canyon below. The Lower Blackwater is the more manageable little brother of the Upper. Next door (and flowing into the Lower Blackwater) is the North Fork of the Blackwater, less than a mile long and packed with waterfalls and slides around every bend. The notoriety of all three sections puts the river on the bucket list of many paddlers.

While the reputation of the river keeps it nagging at the corners of many a paddler’s dream, for others it litters their nightmares.

“The noise when you’re walking down to that put-in, you can hear the falls upstream, that was the most scared I’ve ever been at any put-in,” says Nick “Nugget” Parsons when he described his first time kayaking the Upper Blackwater. “I always thought it was something I couldn’t do.”

A whitewater raft guide turned kayaker, Parsons quickly excelled at kayaking. From his home base near the adventure town of Fayetteville, he took on tough runs such as the Lower Meadow and Manns Creek, but the Blackwater always loomed on the horizon of his paddling progression.

6

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

“There is something about West Virginia being your home state that makes you really want to do all the runs here,” Parsons says. “I don’t know why but that river just really stood out to me.”

The Blackwater is nestled in a rural area of the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, just outside the sleepy town of Davis. The notorious river was far enough from Fayetteville to make it off the beaten path for Parsons, but close enough that he had heard its horror stories. As he prepared to run the Upper Blackwater for the first time, Parsons scoured the web for information in a way he had never done for previous outings.

“I looked up all the accident reports and read through all that,” he said.

Between the research, watching videos of the section, and the stories he’d heard, Parsons’s nerves began to build in a way that was unfamiliar to the gung-ho paddler. “My mental game was ruined by all that Youtube scouting,” Parsons says.

It was Jay Moffatt, a kayaker who once lived right on the Blackwater canyon rim and paddled across the globe, who encouraged Parsons to join a crew for his inaugural run.

“I should have spent more time scouting that first rapid,” Parsons says. “But my legs were shaking real bad so I got in my boat real quick so they wouldn’t see it.”

While the Upper B beat Parsons down his first time, he went back for a second lap that day and has since returned to paddle the river many times.

“I think it’s really a hell of a benchmark for somebody’s mental game, if you can get into something like that and keep your cool, you definitely have a stability and a confidence,” Parsons says. ”That’s something you work for, on the Blackwater a mistake in one rapid puts you right into the next.”

Because of the Upper’s high consequences, Moffatt, who led Parsons down for the first time, says while he has paddled the section countless times, he’s selective about who he takes into the canyon.

“I really only want to lead people down that have far more than enough skill to do the run,” Moffatt says. “The Upper Blackwater is no ‘step-up’ run.”

The Lower Blackwater can be paddled by those with less skill at normal flows, but is still a risky Class V run. According to Moffatt, the Blackwater has had a number of fatalities and plenty of close calls, noting he prefers to paddle with those who share his motto: know your limit and stay within it.

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT: ART BARKET

Paddling Blackwater Canyon

PHOTO CREDIT: ART BARKET

PADDLE Moffatt learned this lesson firsthand on the Blackwater at the ripe age of 21 and vividly remembers his first encounter with the dark, tannin-stained water.

Fresh out of college where he learned to roll in a pool in Missoula, Montana, Moffatt quickly progressed as he paddled across Montana and Idaho. The summer of ‘96 brought him to West Virginia, where he was paddling every day on the New and Gauley Rivers. When fall came, he decided to join a crew of paddlers on a trip to the storied Blackwater.

“We get up there, it’s a good medium level, I put in at 100 Yard Dash and immediately flip over,” Moffatt recalls. “I roll up, pinball, and beater the rest of the way down the rapid.”

Moffatt hiked out at the bottom of the rapid—the first of 10 on the Upper.

“I realized I was way in over my head,” he says. He had less than a year of experience at the time. “This was a place where you have to be on your A-game and you better have some skills.”

It would take a few seasons of experience before Moffatt returned to the canyon to complete the Upper. Now 20 years and thousands of river miles later, Moffatt considers the Blackwater to be a “bread and butter run.” But he doesn’t take paddling the notorious river lightly.

“Mindset is paramount but preparation and conditioning are key as well,” he says. “I personally need to do push-ups and pull-ups in order to keep in shape, as well as mountain biking as much as possible.” In addition to being mentally and physically prepared, Moffatt prioritizes paddling with others who have a similar safety standard, carrying rescue and emergency equipment at all times— especially on remote runs.

For those who aren’t kayakers, it can be difficult to understand what drives people to descend into remote canyons and put their lives on the line for an adrenaline rush. Whether it be a section of the Blackwater or another Class V river, paddlers agree that while this level of whitewater is not to be taken lightly, it doesn’t mean ambitious boaters shouldn’t give it a shot.

“It’s that risk and reward, you could have the same exact line in a rapid that had class II consequences and it’s not as fun,” Parsons says. ”When there’s something at stake, it’s feeling alive, feeling in the moment.”

For Parsons, it’s all about the fine line between feeling alive and staying alive.

Parsons portages around the Sticky Fingers rapid on the Blackwater every time he runs the section because of the potentially deadly consequences of making one wrong move.

“A lot of my buddies fire up that Sticky Fingers rapid, but it’s one move, it’s not a good boof, there’s nothing fun about it,” Parsons says. “I just look at something like that and I’m just like, ‘You know man, that ain’t fair to Mom and Dad.’” Parsons’s philosophy is that risk needs to be evaluated based on one’s skill level. “You know our lifestyle, it’s a selfish lifestyle, but there just comes a level of selfishness that I’m not OK with,” he says. “Those other guys that run it, they’re better than me so it’s more of a risk for me to do it. If my parents weren’t alive I’d fire that shit right up, but I don’t want to do that to them.”

Despite consideration of his parents, Parsons doesn’t plan to scale back his kayaking anytime soon.

“People just have a preconceived notion that kayaking is so dangerous, but if you really line your skill level up with what you are paddling, it is pretty safe,” Parsons says. “Half the time, maybe more, when something bad happens, it’s because you’re paddling outside of your skill level. Every time I’ve been hurt it’s because of that.”

West Virginia’s Blakwater River has claimed enough lives to prove the points of Parsons and Moffatt. Their stories and relationship with the Backwater go to show that consistency in paddling is about as reliable as the water of a free-flowing mountain river. But while skill levels, water levels, and even rapids change over time, one thing does remain consistent—the vibrant spirit of those who paddle the Blackwater.

Juniper Rose is a freelance journalist, kayaker and raft guide covering all things whitewater for Highland Outdoors.

DAVIS,WV

SALES * SERVICE * RENTALS www.blackwaterbikes.com 304.259.5286 @blackwaterbikes

Eagle’s Nest Outfitters You’re resource for paddling Smoke Hole Canyon!

WV 26847 PO Box 731, Petersburg, 257-2570 Fax 4) (30 ce Voi 3 39 (304) 257-2

tters.com

www.eaglesnestoutfi SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

7

Rise of the Phoenix

By Owen Mulkeen

A

phoenix has risen from the fly ashes. A river once rife with extractive industry is alive again thanks to decades of dedicated revivalism by local watershed groups and other stakeholders. The day has finally come where the Cheat Canyon’s scars have become the stuff of legend; stories best told over campfires and drams of whiskey. Water quality has improved so much that all 26 miles of the Cheat mainstem—including the length of the Canyon—are slated for long-awaited removal from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s list of impaired streams.

Before widespread efforts to restore water quality, untreated water dishcharging from defunct coal mines caused pH readings in the 4–5 range— much too low to sustain aquatic life. Old raft guides share stories of the water “cauterizing” their wounds and stinging their eyes. Now, pH hovers in the 6.5–7 range. Macroinvertabrates and fish have rebounded, solidifying the presence of other charismatic canyon creatures: bald eagles, osprey, beavers, and the iconic hellbender. Protected since a victorious land acquisition in 2015, the Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area plays host to the rarest of West Virginia fauna like the Indiana bat the flat-spired three-toothed snail.

That’s exactly what makes this area so great—exploring Mother Earth’s natural protections of steep canyon walls and wild water. The Cheat’s image is morphing from a dilapidated mining region into a destination for outdoor recreation. The methods leading to the phoenix’s first death have ceased—no more coal mines, no more logging in the Canyon. The major metro areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, D. C. are on the doorstep. Come now while it’s still a secret. The prime vehicle for exploring this stretch of wilderness, of course, is the tube of a raft or the cockpit of a kayak.

The Cheat Canyon trip has all the facets of the true West Virginia experience. We begin on the shuttle drive: rough 4WD roads that snake down the walls of the Canyon to the fabled Jenkinsburg Bridge. Present here are other types of fauna endemic to the area: collegiate revelers, local ATV clubs on poker runs, and river rats. It’s not unprecedented for there to be several

8 HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

hundred people lining the rocky river banks, creating an Appalachian spring break scene in one of the region’s truly interesting melting pots.

On to the small town of Albright, home to several put-ins for the Cheat.

The Friends of Cheat Festival Grounds is the best river access, located just off Route 26 alongside Muddy Creek and accessed through Teter’s Campground.

Bathrooms and a peaceful setting provide a nice backdrop to prep for your trip.

We rig to flip, perform mental kayak rolls, wipe sweaty palms, and exhale deep breaths. When the gear is ready, the mind will soon follow.

Slipping out of sight of Albright, life’s anxieties and to-do lists quickly fall out of perspective. Decision Rapid is first: can’t hit that roll, feeling tense in the bowels, nervous to the point of silence, last chance to walk out. The belly of the beast awaits, deep within the canyon: the Miracle Mile. But wait, Big Nasty is first, better get right before the hole at the end. Don’t forget to get your playboating on at Typewriter Rapid and drink the day’s first beer.

Cruise through Even Nastier, play some more at Cue Ball, drink your second beer, eat the gas station pepperoni roll. Onto Highfalls: soak in the view before you hit the horizon line. Find your line through Maze, the prize for making it through is your place in the Coliseum. Gladiator this thing, miss the bus-sized hole aptly named The Recylotron, keep left, witness the Particle Accelerator and churning power of the Cheat.

It is here where the power of water can be witnessed most forthright. Don’t fall into an existential wormhole yet; Pete Morgan’s is up, the last big rapid. Drop in, keep left angle to miss those rocks on the right. Boom; we made it, alive and exuberant. All smiles and high fives as the last beer is shared by all. We float on and come full circle at Jenkinsburg, the subjects of inquisitive looks from the local fauna.

“Where did you come from? What’s it like up there? Man, you guys smell funny.”

Sound enticing? You should try it sometime. Hire a local guide or go with friends and experience what’s in your backyard. It’s wild in there, quiet and noisy at the same time; a place left to return into its former self. Go see it for yourself—you might love it as much as we do.

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT: ERIC LEE

Cheat River Revival

5th Annual Tucker County Meet the Cheat

Visit cheatriverwatertrail.org for event information

C W

AT

ER TRA

I

L

June 3rd in Rowlesburg, WV June 10th in Parsons, WV

AT RIVE

R

Come Meet the Cheat River

HE

WORKING TO RESTORE, PRESERVE, & PROMOTE THE OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF THE CHEAT RIVER WATERSHED Visit www.cheat.org for more information

眀栀椀琀攀眀愀琀攀爀

⠀㌀ 㐀⤀ 㐀㜀㠀ⴀ㌀㜀㜀㔀 爀愀愀戀漀愀䀀昀爀漀渀琀椀攀爀渀攀琀⸀渀攀琀

䈀氀愀挀欀眀愀琀攀爀伀甀琀搀漀漀爀猀⸀挀漀洀 SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

9

Trailhead Coffee Shop 438 William Ave, Suite #3 Davis, WV 26260-0204

(681) 435-9025

www.trailheadcoffeeshop.com

Blood, Sweat, & Tears

Mountain Trail Runners

By Joel Wolpert

Morgantown Running 10

709 Beechurst Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-241-5223 morgantownrunning.com

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT: HIGHLAND OUTDOORS

T

here are four of us in the middle of the woods. We’ve just biked down a soggy old railroad grade into the womb of Seneca Creek Backcountry, the prized jewel of the Monongahela National Forest. To a squirrel, we’re camping. Loud and American, having a joyful time cutting wood for the campfire, setting up tents, getting food ready, telling bad jokes, hauling water from the spring. In this bowl of a mountain, the October sun shines off the changing leaves. The frost is all but gone and we settle in to camp.

There are just four of us in this wild, safe place. We are alone. But that solitude changes with the pattering of leaves as a few runners filter through.

We offer sustenance. “Getcha’ some water? Quesadilla?”

Friends come to call at our potluck in the woods. They run through every few minutes in a steady stream into the late afternoon. They pick at M&Ms and potatoes; nobody stays too long. We discourage that out of concern, since they’re only halfway there. We’ll see them all again, today and tomorrow, and that’s comforting to everybody.

The four of us are at an aid station on the first day of the West Virginia Trilogy—a trio of trail running races around Spruce Knob, West Virginia’s highest peak. These aid stations, more resembling jovial picnics, pop up at each one of the dozen or so West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners (WVMTR) events across the state. This race happens to give its runners more of what they want: a 50k, 50-mile, and half-marathon race on consecutive days, and more time together enjoying the tight-knit trail running community over three nights at The Mountain Institute, an international organization that conserves mountain culture and ecosystems.

Right around the halfway mark of the 50-mile, runner Sarah Bee is

PHOTO CREDIT: HIGHLAND OUTDOORS

Life‘s a Journey...

Enjoy the Ride!“

T椀mb攀爀l椀n攀 STABLES

108 idleman run road davis, wv 26260

304-866-6326

Just off of Timberline Road in Canaan Valley, WV

Moun琀愀椀n T爀愀椀l R椀d攀s

“You can see what man has made from the back of and automobile, but the best way to see what God has made is from the back of a horse.”

—Charles M. Russell

ready to drop out. “The aid station crew was convinced otherwise,” says Bee. The crew feeds her crucial calories to keep going. “I move on to the next aid station and, much to my surprise, the crew from the previous aid station was there awaiting my arrival!” The same had occurred at the previous aid station.

“As I neared the finish line, I realized all of the volunteers and fellow runners who offered me help and encouragement throughout the day were there in the rain and darkness waiting for me to cross that line,” Bee says. “I am tearing up…because that moment, that feeling, it’s something I will never forget.”

WVMTR events are all about sharing: sharing this landscape with friends; sharing a passion for running; sharing the suffering of ultra-distance races. Dan and Jody Lehmann started WVMTR fourteen years ago to encourage runners to share their hometown of Helvetia, a culturally-rich town in the wilderness of Randolph County that embraces its Swiss settlement roots. Since then, the club has expanded, adding members and races. WVMTR prides itself on serving up heaping helpings of high-quality events.

“Feeling welcome at club events is an understatement,” says Bee. “The faces you see are

familiar from the beginning. Kind smiles, genuine conversation, and a camaraderie that makes you feel as if you’ve known them your entire life. It’s not uncommon to be welcomed into their homes prior to events, or to spend time after events sharing a meal and cold beers.”

Adam Casseday, race director and WVMTR board member, says, “West Virginia is a very diverse and geographically isolated state. Our club pulls together folks across the state who enjoy running trails. We are a tight-knit group that comes together for various races, runs, and events across the year and across our great state.”

This unique club gives runners a reason to gather. Races have come and gone over the years with new ones cropping up to replace ones that fade away. The races get under your skin, too, with challenging terrain and warm friendships. While the distances are long and the physical hurdles daunting, that special community keeps bringing people back each year.

Year ‘round Guided Horseback Riding Trips Adventure Cave l Petting Zoo l Gem Mining Winter Sleigh Rides l Gift Shop

304.866.4652. mountaintrailrides.com Discover Hooves... Hard Work... American Heritage 

 PETTING ZOO WITH FRIENDLY AHIMALS INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS  ANTIQUE FARM RELICS  HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES  FUN FOR EVERYONE!

R FA M Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Sunday 10am-5pm l Spring through Fall l l

AT BLACKWATER FALLS STATE PARK

1003 Blackwater Lodge Rd. l Davis, WV

Joel Wolpert is a storyteller for The Wolpertinger, a reclusive, borderline-mythical production company based somewhere in the United States. He’s an active WVMTR member, racer and supporter.

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

㌀ 㐀ⴀ2㔀9ⴀ㔀611

www.farmdiscoverycenter.com HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

11

Kayak Fishing Spruce Knob Lake

By Steve Lee

I

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE: HO; OPPOSITE PAGE: STEVE LEE

t was overcast with temps in the mid-50s and a light wind. The recently receded lake ice meant conditions were perfect. Spruce Knob Lake was about to be invaded by a foreign species: an Old Town kayak.

The Trip10AnglerDLX was unloaded lakeside amid varying degrees of intrigue and skepticism. Neighboring fishermen were aloof. This was not a 10- or 12-foot skiff typically used on trout lakes in West Virginia. Kayaks and

canoes, to a lesser extent, were rarely seen. Recent design changes like square sterns and a wide variety of motor mounts have allowed each craft to support an electric trolling motor. Such sightings are expected to increase as these innovations appeal to more enthusiasts. Ignoring the cold greeting, supplies were loaded. Passing cynics examined the craft as I parked the vehicle.

Upon return, a pair of trout rods was placed into two CastMate rod holders, front mount, one on each side. Traditionally, kayak rod holders are imbedded into the hulls behind the seat, as not to impede legroom; but a trout angler

12

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE: HO; OPPOSITE PAGE: STEVE LEE

FISH must maintain a continuous line of site on the rod tip to govern the most effective speed—dependent on bait selection—when trolling. The thump of a trout rod cannot be determined without visuals. Front mount rod holders are essential.

I donned a lifejacket, climbed aboard, and shoved off. Note: Novices might want to consider aligning the kayak parallel to the bank—shallow water is best— with a third of the craft resting on the bottom before stepping on board. With sleeves rolled up, hands or paddle may be used to secure buoyancy. Although there are a number of ways to board a kayak, this method will help assure you don’t tip into the cold water to the delight of skeptic fans lining the bank.

Three deep thrusts from a Quest Chute paddle sent the kayak into full throttle. Lines were cast and set; trolling was initiated. Incidentally, a kayak paddle—including a pair of foam Yakgrips—should be matched to the individual.

Proper lengths vary but are not inclusive to an individual’s height, reach, torso size, width and type of kayak. I picked mine up with help from a sales person who is a kayak instructor on the New River Gorge. His experience and expertise was invaluable. Trolling with paddle power proved successful—the afternoon was filled with multiple hookups.

At the day’s end, the Old Town and I returned to the dock. Fishermen gathered, admiring the invasive species. Questions abound: “Is it safe? Does it tip easily?” one asked. “How much does it weigh?” another chimed, as he raised the front end of the craft. Another said, “I see the rod holders. Did you really troll in that thing?” My replies were succinct: “Yes, no, 44 pounds, and of course I trolled in that thing!” I hoisted a stringer of brook trout as proof.

My suggestion to apprehensive enthusiasts: Go ahead. Ignore the cynics.

Immerse in the freedom of kayaking, with or without a rolling motor.

Tee It Up! Come play our

Signature 10th hole

on the lake!

700 West Alpine Drive • Terra Alta, WV (304)789-2481 • www.alpinelake.com

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

13

Taking Flight

By Dylan Jones

T

he Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is an avian paradise. Look around and you’ll see hawks, geese, vultures, and many migratory species flourishing in the young forests and wetlands that characterize the distinct landscape. Recently, a new species has been spotted soaring above the Valley. This creature can be seen when conditions are just right, riding thermals on a single wing.

This new species is the paraglider—a specialized member of the flightless mammal Homo sapiens.

From ancient cave paintings of winged stick figures and mythical figures to absurd steam-powered machines, humans have long dreamed of taking to the skies in envy of our feathered friends. Although we’ve been piloting aviation machines for well over one hundred years, humans have only been masters of nonmotorized flight via paragliding since the 1970s.

Paragliding is the adventure sport of flying a large fabric wing secured to a seated harness with various cords used to control the craft. Unlike a typical parachute, a paragliding wing is designed to gain altitude by catching updrafts and to coast long distances without quickly losing altitude.

Jesse Shimrock claims that paragliding is the definition of pure flight. “We fly with the birds using the same thermals and same air patterns that birds use,” Shimrock says. “It’s raw, free flight; the closest you can get to actually flying as a human.”

Shimrock would know. The 35-year-old paragliding

14

guide has flown clients around the world in trips covering the skies of South America, Mexico, and Europe.

Shimrock has quite the adventurous résumé to back up his current exploits. Residing in Preston County, he’s an avid kayaker, rock climber, and mountaineer. He’s also a musician and woodworker.

In 2016, he set the state paragliding distance record with a 65–70 kilometer flight from Spruce Knob to Mount Storm via North Fork Mountain.

Shimrock is best known for his 2011 Alaskan epic in which he and a team of adventurers climbed Denali, North America’s tallest peak, and upon reaching the first navigable river from glaciers on the descent, kayaked the source waters through the Cook Inlet to the Pacific Ocean. “The real challenge was avoiding getting eaten by a grizzly,” Shimrock says.

The 31-day expedition was the first recorded summit-to-sea on Denali, and also marked Shimrock’s first dreams of flight. “That expedition is what spring boarded my desire to paraglide,” Shimrock says. “Spending the last few years climbing mountains, my knees were taking a beating coming down. I thought, ‘There’s gotta be a better way to get off these things.’”

Not long after Denali, a binge of paragliding videos on Youtube gave Shimrock the lofty idea to paraglide off Mount Everest. When someone beat him to it the following year, his desire to fly off the world’s biggest mountains inspired him to act quickly. Shimrock immediately packed up and spent

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

a month learning to fly in southern California under the tutelage of a friend who was an instructor in Colorado. Shimrock’s first flight had a hangtime of about 20 minutes, and he was hooked. “I thought, ‘What’s next,’ and we went down to Mexico for my first cross-country flight,” he says.

Paragliders use different wings—types A, B, C, and D—that handle differently to achieve specific types of flights. An A wing is a larger, safer wing used for “sled runs” from the top of a mountain to the bottom, while a D wing is an active, dynamic wing that can be flown for more aggressive aerial maneuvers.

Pilots typically learn to fly on a gentle slope where they can enjoy a coasting descent and get the hang of the craft. With plenty of large hills and west-facing cliffs that drop right into the ocean, California is a typical learning destination. Crosscountry flights involve launching off a mountain with specific air flows that allow the pilot to take advantage of thermals—rising columns of heated air—and coast from air current to air current while flying the contours of the terrain. “You start linking thermals, just surfing back and forth across air currents, and next thing you know, you’re 20 kilometers away from where you started,” Shimrock says. “It’s a real journey.”

But Shimrock is quick to point out that it’s not all smooth sailing—inattentive pilots can quickly get in trouble. “It doesn’t take an athlete to learn to fly a paraglider, but it takes an athlete to learn to survive paragliding,” he says. Dynamic air patterns

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: JESSE SHIMROCK

Paragliding in the Highlands

FLY

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: JESSE SHIMROCK

and sudden changes in weather conditions mean it’s easy to quickly end up off the beaten path. “You can easily end up miles off route into unknown areas. Where’s your food? Your water? What’s your landing and escape route?”

For Shimrock, an adventure athlete in top physical shape, the real challenge lies in the mental game. “You’ve gotta be an amateur meteorologist and be aware of what’s going on,” he says. “When I land, I’m not physically tired, but I’m mentally exhausted after a six-hour cross-country flight.”

But don’t be fooled—cross-country paragliding still requires a certain amount of strength and endurance. For Shimrock, it’s similar to the physical challenges posed in whitewater kayaking. “The sky is like a river you can’t see—holes, eddies, drafts, it can collapse your wing,” Shimrock says. “If it starts to get too good, tons of thermals mean something is shaping up—a storm is brewing—you’re just a little leaf up there compared to all the power the sky has. People die doing this; it’s about being athletic, about having strength and spatial orientation to be able to get yourself out of a tense situation.”

Pioneering paragliding couple Ben and LE Herrick laid an egg nearly 12 years ago—one that would hatch to become the new launch site at Canaan Valley Resort. Although Shimrock had a hand in developing the site, the Herricks did the heavy lifting to make the dream a reality. “I just did the little stuff when asked, they were the locals that ran the whole course of that project,” Shimrock says.

Perched atop Cabin Mountain above Canaan Valley Resort’s chairlift, the site is operated by the Mountaineer Hang Gliding Association. Ben Herrick became the wind beneath the wings when he sent a letter inquiring about establishing a launch site. That letter spawned a long—and at times contentious— journey that ended with smooth sailing.

.

But why Canaan Valley? Shimrock claims southwest aspect of Cabin Mountain was the missing piece needed to complete the region’s flying puzzle.

“Most flyable days are out of the southwest aspect,” says Shimrock. Prior to the Canaan site, the only option was Bald Knob—a north-facing peak on Cabin Mountain most people know from skiing at White Grass. “It’s rare to get good north-facing flight conditions; it never ended up being a very viable launch site.”

Hungry to satisfy the need for flight, paragliders were able to get permission to launch from Spruce Knob. The flock migrated away from the dream in Canaan Valley. Not quick to be grounded, the Herricks and Shimrock started working directly with Canaan Valley State Park, keeping the Canaan dream alive. From selective cutting of trees and construction of a salamander bridge to working out an agreement for a bailout landing zone with a landowner in Laneville, the journey to paragliding in Canaan, like the journey of birds in the Refuge, was long and arduous. “It ended up being an incredible process,” Shimrock says. “But in the end, we did everything, and that was that.”

Shimrock couldn’t be more excited. With a few early season flights under his belt, he’s got his eye to the sky. “It’s Appalachia, it’s dynamic air, and it can be strong with so many thermal triggers. It’s gonna be incredible in the summer for cross-country flights.”

Although paragliding does not require a license, flyers launching from Canaan need to be registered under the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) and sign a waiver with the Mountaineer Hang Gliding Association.

Currently, flights launching from Canaan are private, but Shimrock hopes to offer tandem and commercially guided trips in the future. More info is available at http://www.mountaineerflyers.org/ Canaan_Valley_Resort.htm.

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

15

International Fusion Gastropub lunch (11-2) & dinner (4-9)

20 Shaner Dr., Suite 104, Bridgeport, WV 26330 1 (304) 842-4200

www.codysrestaurant.com

16

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

Paragliding Launch Site Canaan Valley Resort

By Eric Lee

T

he Approval and development process of the paragliding launch site at Canaan Valley State Park was years in the making. A cooperative effort between stakeholders, including the Foundation for Free Flight, Canaan Valley State Park, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, turned the concept into reality. Paragliding clubs across the region are taking notice, and with Canaan’s chairlift making quick work of mountaintop access, paragliding is sure to bring more visitors to the spectacular area.

What Makes this Site Special?

The launch site is located atop Weis Knob, the individual summit of Cabin Mountain home to Canaan’s downhill ski slopes. The site itself faces southwest and provides an excellent view of Mount Porte Crayon, Bald Knob, and Red Creek Valley. It’s a scenic panorama that brings the Highland’s portion of the Allegheny Front within view.

With chairlift rides to the launch site, friends and family are no longer left behind at remote sites far from landing zones. Spectators can watch paragliders from the launch, ride the chairlift back to the lodge, grab a beer, and follow the wings from the comfort of Canaan Valley Resort.

PHOTO CREDIT: DWAYNE MCCOURT

Getting the Site Approved While paragliding in W.V. State Parks has always been allowed, cutting trees for a launch site was not. The Canaan Valley State Park superintendent was instrumental in facilitating the request to build the site. The park worked with the state and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine how to move the project forward.

Canaan Valley is home to the Cheat Mountain Salamander, a threatened species endemic to the Potomac Highlands. Successive surveys were needed to determine if tree clearing would affect the woodland salamander’s habitat.

Although the additional survey was costly and there was no guarantee for a launch site, the Foundation for Free Flight, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of hang gliding and paragliding in the United States, agreed to foot the $1,500 bill. Fortunately for the launch site’s proponents and the

Foundation’s pocketbook, there was no local population found near the proposed launch sites. The only stipulation was the construction of a raised boardwalk over a designated area to allow for safe passage for potential future populations.

Local paraglider Ben Herrick continued to push site development by acquiring an additional grant from the Foundation for Free Flight, which, combined with funds from the Canaan Valley State Park, paid to cut selected trees and build the salamander boardwalk. The project culminated with the Mountaineer Hang Gliding Association, a local paragliding club, providing protocols for flying and managing insurance policies for the landing zones.

The sign at the launch site commemorates the Foundation for Free Flight and Mountaineer Flyers for this important contribution.

Build it and They Will Come Today, paragliding is blossoming much like whitewater kayaking did in the 1980s. With better equipment, safer gliders, and a growing number of launch sites, the sport is expecting to see more pilots in the skies.

Paragliding clubs from around the region are hungry to visit of the new site because of its easy access, quick shuttle from the landing zone, and resort amenities. It stands to bring in visitors from the Capital Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association out of D.C., the Skywacker Club out of Roanoke, Virginia, and the Hyner View Hang Gliding Club out of central PA. It’s likely to attract new enthusiasts to the local Mountaineer Hang Gliding Association, as well.

While the process for gaining a new paragliding launch site in Canaan Valley may not have been easy, it’s a new resource that will augment a variety of other recreation opportunities in the area. Views over the valley are spectacular, and support from the community continues take these views to new heights.

The Mountaineer Hang Gliding Association provides the protocol for flying at the Canaan Valley launch site. You can find guidelines and waiver forms online at http://www.mountaineerflyers.org. You must recieve a site briefing before flying, have a class P3 certification, and pay $30 to help offset insurance and other costs.

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

17

Smoke Hole Rock Climbing

by Eric Lee

T

he South Branch Potomac River carves Smoke Hole Canyon out of the Allegheny Highlands. It’s a spectacular part of the Monongahela National Forest where outdoors enthusiasts relish in fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. It’s also a unique destination for climbers seeking new crags in the West Virginia Highlands. Smoke Hole is remote, so you’ve got to be resourceful when rock climbing in this less-frequented neck of the woods.

18 HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

Rakkup is changing the game with apps that help climbers locate crags and select new lines. New guidebooks by local experts have recently been adapted to Rakkup’s digital format. Below are profiles of Rakkup and a short review of two areas where Rakkup provides digital guidebooks that make climbing more accessible in Smoke Hole Canyon.

Rakkup Mobile Applications Rakkup Mobile Apps make it easy to pinpoint locations and climbing routes by using your cell phone—no 4G needed. Rich content can be downloaded and

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE: ED REHBEIN PHOTO OF EAGLE ROCKS AT TOP; MOBLE SCREENSHOTS BY MIKE GRAY

Mobile Apps & Digital Guidebooks

PHOTO CREDIT THIS PAGE: ED REHBEIN PHOTO OF EAGLE ROCKS AT TOP; MOBLE SCREENSHOTS BY MIKE GRAY

CLIMB viewed offline and used in concert with your device’s GPS. The apps are easy to use and provide authors the ability to make regular updates about route development, trail changes, and conditions.

Mike Gray’s new guidebooks provide some of the most recent information available on new route identification in the Smoke Hole Canyon area. The guides were printed in limited editions, and half the proceeds were dedicated to maintaining access and developing new routes. Mike and his colleagues have now taken the guidebook digital. Rakkup provides access to this new information with their mobile applications. The Long Branch & Guide Walls guidebook, as well as the Reed’s Creek guidebook, are solid digital resources available just in time for the start of the spring climbing season.

Long Branch & Guide Walls Two of the most notable crags in Smoke Hole Canyon, Long Branch and Guide Wall, are found just a couple miles downstream from Shreve’s Store in Smoke Hole Canyon. On the south side of the creek, Long Branch is home to some of the tallest faces and most technical lines found in the canyon.

Mike Gray sums up Long Branch in his Long Branch & Guide Walls guidebook.

“No bushwhacking, no epics, no ‘scene’, just 64 lines of all levels on great stone, a Zen garden in which to find peace and quiet, in the beat of your heart, in the heart of the canyon.”

Reed’s Creek Just south of Smoke Hole is Reed’s Creek, where another series of south-facing cliffs offers dozens of additional sport and trad climbs, all within a reasonable hike of State Route 220. The crags are public and the Forest Service recently surveyed the boundaries along private property lines, making it easier for climbers to avoid trespassing.

Gray, author of the Reed’s Creek guidebook, makes a subtle characterization.

“Sunny winter days and shady summer mornings, easy access, great lines and an incredible setting, just off the beaten path; Reed’s Creek has something for every climber.”

Long Branch and Guide Wall offer great lines and no crowds. Reed’s Creek has new sport routes with identifiable access. Mike Gray’s digital guidebooks published on Rakkup’s digital apps remove all excuses when looking for new crags in the West Virginia Highlands.

DIGITAL GUIDEBOOKS & MOBILE APPS Long Branch & Guide Walls Rock Climbing Guidebook

by Mike Gray, Edited by Mike Gray and Tyrel Johnson Published by Rakkup The crags that sit on either side of Long Branch, two miles downstream from Shreve’s little store in the heart of Smoke Hole Canyon, are the perfect setting for this dualistic pursuit of peace and adventure. www.rakkup.com/guidebooks/smoke-hole-canyon-long-branch-and-guidewalls-rock-climbing Reed’s Creek Rock Climbing Guidebook

by Mike Gray, Edited by Tyrel Johnson Published by Rakkup Smoke Hole Canyon: Reed’s Creek rock climbing guidebook, is newlyupdated insider’s guide to dozens of single pitch trad, sport, and top-rope climbs from 5.6 to 5.13+, most created by the author and friends since the fall of 2008. www.rakkup.com/guidebooks/smoke-hole-canyon-reeds-creek-rock-climbing

SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

19

Micro Hikes for Lil’ Tykes W

hat happens when outdoorsy dudes meet nature-loving ladies? They go hiking or bouldering or skiing together, and after sharing good times and vibes, they fall for each other. Well, I got news for you. Sometimes, believe it or not, they proceed to make little teeny tiny human beings! Maybe a similar thing happened to your parents. Perhaps this exact scenario, which at one point in your life was completely unimaginable, even happened to you!

If it does, you will love your little tiny being like nothing ever before, but because “your house just grew by two feet,” your time outdoors will plummet like a rock dropped off the New River Gorge Bridge. You’ve entered the era of life during which “expedition” means the unbelievable amounts of time and effort needed for two adults to travel with one baby just to go grocery shopping and visit a friend; the preparation and stress rival that of a three-day big wall aid climb.

You’re now on a trip called Parenthood, and while it can be the best thing ever, regaining that outdoorsy life can seem impossible at times. Now you’re going to be bringing company with you, and the logistics just became much more complicated. But relax and climb back down outta that tree, because that rumor you may have heard is true—it is indeed possible to slowly regain the great outdoors and build a love for it in Junior at the same time. The following Tiny Hikes start you on that trail, and with luck cultivation, these small outings will grow into bigger adventures.

Upper Core Arboretum, Morgantown, WV Talk about convenient! Park right next to the WVU Coliseum, and suddenly you’re at the top of a two-acre lawn planted full of beautiful specimen trees from Appalachian ecosystems, some even from the Orient. The arboretum is a great place to take toddlers who can attempt to navigate the terrain and even topple over in relative safety on the gentle landscape. An easy, wide perimeter trail over 300 yards long winds around this lovely tree gallery. If less than a quarter mile is your distance du jour, this topmost part of the Core Arboretum warrants a space on your calendar.

Underlook Trail, Coopers Rock, WV Are the kids old enough and motivated for the challenge of steep hiking and even steeper scrambling? This trail loses and regains about 100 feet in vertical relief. Most of the uphill is near the end of this spectacular loop. You can preview that steepest part just 200 feet from Pavilion #1 by following red blazes and a

20

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

sign until you can look down the rocky gully to the trail sign at the bottom. If this finish looks reasonable, then you can do the whole hike.

Start your hike at the Coopers Rock Trading Post. From the flagpole, follow the blue-blazed Rattlesnake Trail for 300 feet to its intersection with the redblazed Underlook Trail. Take a left on to Underlook, and keep the red blazes in sight. As the name suggests, this trail goes beneath the Coopers Rock Overlook.

On its way, it meanders through rocks up to 45-feet high and alongside the overhanging north face of Piton Block, with ¼ inch bolt stubs from 1970s-era aid climbs still visible. Pass underneath the 70-foot high Coopers Rock Overlook and feel the rough texture of the gritstone. At the signed and blazed 90-degree left turn, the uphill challenge begins. Partway up, take a seat inside The Amphitheatre—a large rock overhang that is about the best spot ever to take a break. A rocky gully with various routes leads to the very end of the trail, and in 50 more feet, Pavilion #1. This gully takes hiking a step farther, and adds elements of rock scrambling. Be warned—your tyke’s enjoyment of this trail could lead to an early desire for rock climbing!

Bruceton Mills Dam, WV Close to I-68 yet surprisingly tranquil and picturesque, the dam at Bruceton Mills is another convenient pull-up-and-play spot. This site isn’t a trailhead and has no trails—it’s more about playing in the water, throwing or skipping stones, and turning over rocks to find critters. It’s also an easy place for beginner anglers to cast a few. The water above the dam is calm and quiet, and below it is frothy and white, but quickly calms down into riffles. The fishing and the playing is best 30- to 40-feet downstream of the dam. With any luck, the close-by ice cream place in Bruceton will be open when you’re done playing on the river.

Seneca Rocks Swimming Hole / Roy Gap What a classic swimming hole! Fortunately for parents, it’s close to parking and restrooms and it’s free. Oh, and how about that really wonderful view? I’ll take this place over a $25 water park any day! This swimming hole is a quarter-mile downstream from the footbridge that rock climbers and hikers use to access Seneca Rocks. Park by the pit toilets and hike the perfectly flat, easy trail 300 feet to the river. Check the current, depth of the river, and other parental considerations. If all meets your standards, let the fun begin. Water shoes might help—there are plenty of rocks and pebbles. You might have to travel far and wide to find a prettier natural swimming hole than this.

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT: HIGHLAND OUTDOORS

By Adam Polinski

PHOTO CREDIT: HIGHLAND OUTDOORS

HIKE But you won’t have to travel far to hike into Roy Gap, the passage between the main formation of Seneca Rocks and The Southern Pillar. Walk across the footbridge a quarter-mile upstream from the swimming hole and follow the well-marked trail up and to the right. Close-up views of a creek can be had on your way to the area in the middle of Roy Gap from a dirt road mostly used by climbers hiking to the rocks. From the dirt road, you can have great views of cliff faces up to 300-feet tall. With any luck, you might spot a party climbing the classic route Ecstasy (5.7), on the South Face of Seneca’s South Peak. This is probably far enough if your kids are on the small side. Any farther and the trails get real steep real fast.

surrounded by old yellow birch trees and shady rhododendrons. The tannic waters of Red Creek are always close by, one of the joys of this hike. Ample parking is found at the Red Creek trailhead, and from there the trail heads upstream. Hike as far upstream as “the will of the party” determines (or until tough terrain or a river crossing loom too large to conquer).

Bushwhack down to the Red Creek, skip some rocks, eat a snack, and turn back. The sights and sounds of the river will be nourishing to your little ones’ eyes and ears.

Freeland Trail, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

This spectacular vista is in my ‘Frontcountry’ Top Ten as one of the most easily-accessible natural spots in West Virginia. It may take a long drive, but the hike to the overlooking rocks is short at around 200 yards. Once at the rocks, watch the kids as there are no railings and plenty of steep dropoffs. It’s safe if you stay alert. The clifty view to the east is top shelf of North Fork Mountain in all its textured beauty, and to the west, the tundraesque Sods, originally settled by the Dahle Family (pronounced “Dolly”).

You may be inspired to explore up and down the rocks, above and below, squirming and scrambling. After enough rock time (is there ever enough?) you may also be inspired to head west across the plain, as you can see across the open country all the way to Cabin Mountain. Backcountry travelers get to places like this far more frequently than frontcountry folks, which ranks Bear Rocks rank that much higher for providing such a spectacular spot reached by such an easy hike.

If you’ve ever skied at Whitegrass, or just eaten dinner there after snowboarding at Timberline, you’ve driven past this trailhead, which is in the middle of the Valley right off Freeland Road. Next time, stop there and take a look. This boardwalk trail is under half a mile in length, and is stroller-friendly. Check out some wetlands, watch for birds, witness the flora of northerly climes in this miniature pocket of Canada. Make sure to stop and enjoy the natural wonder of the beaver pond. Very toddler-friendly.

Red Creek Trail, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Monongahela National Forest Take your little ones up one of the most pristine watersheds in the Mountain State. The first two miles of Red Creek Trail (#514) are flat,

Bear Rocks Preserve, Dolly Sods Scenic Area, Monongahela National Forest

MAKE YOUR

NEXT ADVENTURE A

MOUNTAINRAIL ADVENTURE!

Six trains, three depots. Trains depart from Elkins, Cass and Durbin.

866.779.1437 • MTN-RAIL.COM SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

21

Cathedral in the Highlands

By Allison Eckman

V

isiting Cathedral State Park in Preston County is akin to stepping in a time machine. The story is in the ancient virgin hemlock stand that evaded West Virginia’s timber boom in the early 1900s. Mr. Branson Haas, the original landowner, sold the 133-acre property to the state in 1942 with the contingency that the timber was never to be touched by axe or saw.

Today, Cathedral State Park is home to West Virginia’s largest remaining virgin timber tract. Towering hemlocks and dense rhododendron thickets shade the dense forest floor, making for a fairytale trip through a landscape of the past.

Cathedral State Park offers six miles of gentle trails that wind through the park. Rhine Creek, stocked with trout during colder months, offers scenic opportunities for anglers. Move your eyes toward the sky for some staggering sights—the hemlocks’ heights are dizzying, with some specimens standing over 100-feet tall. But this species isn’t notable only for its sheer size—the USDA lists the eastern hemlock as a foundation species that plays a significant role in the health of forest and freshwater ecosystems.

Park Ranger Ben Leedom shared the must-do hikes at Cathedral. He recommends the Cathedral Trail and Giant Hemlock Trail for some of the best views of the ancient timber.

“The Cathedral Trail is neat because when you hike that trail, you get to see the majority of the largest hemlocks in the park,” Leedom said. “Rhine Creek, the creek that flows through the park, actually runs parallel to that trail You get some nice views of the trees and also have the creek running along.”

While hiking, picnicking, and fishing are the park’s primary activities, Leedom said Cathedral offers cross-county skiing opportunities when enough snow makes it through the thick canopoy. The park offers a quiet experience

22

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

compared to nearby hiking hotspots like Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley.

Every fairytale, however, has an antagonist. In the story of Cathedral State Park, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) poses an existential threat.

An invasive species, the adelgid is an insect barely visible to the naked eye. It feeds on starches in the sap crucial to a hemlock’s health, leaving it perceptible to disease and decay. Infected hemlocks have the appearance of being dusted with light snow—the fluffy hairs of the insects that allow them to be transported by air currents between stands.

The hemlock woolly adlegid’s effect is felt not only in Cathedral State Park, but throughout many forests in the eastern U.S. In Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, the National Park System recorded that over 80% of hemlocks have died due to hemlock woolly adelgid infestation. Cold, hard winters, Leedom explained, offset the insect’s impact—the aberrations of increasingly warmer winters will not be favorable for the survival of Cathedral’s ancient hemlocks.

In the story of Cathedral, the protagonists are scientists—forests, biologist, and entomologists battling the invaders. Observant hikers may notice that some of Cathedral’s hemlocks are marked with metal tags. These hemlocks have been treated with insecticide spray or soil injection—short-term solutions to a longterm challenge. Despite the risk posed by the antagonist, the fairytale beauty of Cathedral remains, hinging on the work of those dedicated to a happy ending.

Melanie’s Family Restaurant serves home-cooked meals directly across the street from Cathedral’s parking lot. The park offers plenty of tables for picnicking and shelters that can be reserved for events. Trail maps can be found at the parking lot, located directly on U.S. Route 50 near the WV-MD border. The nearby quaint town of Aurora is perfect for folks looking for peaceful trails and a piece of the past. Take a detour and step into the fairytale nestled inside West Virginia’s oldest virgin timber tract.

100% RECYCLED PAPER

PHOTO CREDIT: DYLAN JONES

Hiking WV’s Oldest Timber Tract

PADDLEBOARD YOGA LAKESIDE YOGA

.jo w

w

w jo Joelle Cameron

a

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

og .y

PHOTO CREDIT: DYLAN JONES

CHEAT LAKE YOGA

PASSIONATE CRAFT BEER PURVEYORS HOMEBREW SUPPLY & TAVERN 16 Taps, over 190 beers Growler Fills

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Untappd

You love the view.

Join us to keep it public.

350 E Brockway Ave. Morgantown, WV 26501 304-241-4603 www.beertopiawv.com

©Kent Mason

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

23

From GRUSK till Dawn

By Eric Lee

T

he inaugural Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob (GRUSK) was held last year at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center over a perfect July weekend. Turnout was great for the first-time event, and the Spruce Knob Mountain Center was ideal for race logistics, camping and postrace revelries.

GRUSK isn’t your daddy’s traditional road race.

It’s a gritty 72-mile bike race through some of the most scenic terrain in the Potomac Highlands.

The course pumps around Spruce Knob, West Virginia’s highest peak at 4,863 feet, and speeds over everything from smooth pavement to rugged gravel roads and pockmarked dirt sections.

Three categories of varying difficulty allowed riders to choose their level of self-destruction: the 72-mile Epic course, 53-mile Classic course, and the non-competitive 24-mile Spruce Experience.

24

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

There were cash awards for the top three riders of each category, and handcrafted wooden trophies for the top four men and women riders. Over one hundred participants rose to the challenge.

Riders received shirts, dinner and a pint glass for sipping the Wild Trail Pale Ale and Mothman Black IPA from event sponsor Greenbrier Valley Brewing. Other sponsors included Stone Tower Joe, Mt Top Realty, Smoke on the Water BBQ, Blackwater Bikes, Pro Mountain Outfitters, Joey’s Bike Shop, and the friendly staff at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center.

With the nearest hospital and grocery store over an hour away, the Spruce Knob Mountain Center epitomizes self-sufficiency and remote living in Appalachia. The venue is part of the global non-profit Mountain Institute that works to “conserve mountain ecosystems and empower the people in mountain communities.” The sense of

PHOTO CREDIT: ERIC LEE

Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob

PHOTO CREDIT: ERIC LEE

community and remoteness is reminiscent of alpine communities in the Alps or the Andes.

The Mountain Center is 400-acre property bordering the Spruce Knob— Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. It’s a great resource for workshops, conferences, camps, and events like GRUSK. Their staff can help with everything from event programming to home-cooked meals. You can rent the entire facility by contacting the Mountain Center Online, or book individual yurts on Airbnb.

The large yurt at the center of the property that houses the kitchen, offices, and library hosted the GRUSK afterparty that featured dinner, the awards ceremony, and massages by Chrissy Zeltner of Haven of Healing Arts Massage Therapy. Live music from the Chaga Tea Project dialed up the fun that lasted well into the night. A bonfire and campsite music rounded out the night under clear skies.

The inaugural GRUSK was a success, and the event is sure to grow in the coming years. Travis Olson, the Mountain Center, and all of the sponsors came together to produce a new West Virginia race that left us wanting more.

The second annual GRUSK, presented by Mountain Rides, LLC, is slated for July 8, 2017. Visit www.spruceknobcycling.blogspot.com for more info. To register, visit www.bikereg.com.

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

25

The First Day at Coopers ‘Twas the first day at Coopers, and all through the woods, The climbers were out trying to bag up the goods.

Spotters huddled round the crash pads with care, In hopes that success would ring through the air.

The toes were nestled all snug in their shoes, While visions of moves in their heads they would cruise.

My friends in their beanies, and I in my cap, Had just reawakened from the long winter’s nap.

From the top of the rocks there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the pad to see what was the matter.

I danced up the crux of the route in a flash, And mantled the top out to avoid a big crash.

The send train was chuggin’ along this hard route, Another climber topped out with a shout.

The sun hit the rocks with a bright yellow gold, Gave energy to all climbers, new young and old.

When what to my wondering eyes did appear, A puffy-clad crusher with a six pack of beer.

He tossed up a can of cold IPA, And showed up with plenty of beta to spray.

“This crimp, that nubbin, a high foot and lock off!

Mono pocket, grab the jug and stay tight or you’ll pop off!

Through the thin crux, to the top of the wall!

Now send it, my bro, and go crush them all!”

The wind picked up fiercely, it was somewhat surprising, The drop in temps meant the friction was rising.

The camera came out; we didn’t have to barter, Hopes of a sick pic meant we’d try a little harder.

We donned our bright layers and chalked up our hands, A took some deep breaths before the vertical dance.

With sore feet and raw tips we ended our play, And faces with smiles closed out Coopers opening day.

They say the best climber is the one having fun, The psych of our group let us know we had won.

While everyone desires to tick off some sends, The most important thing is to have fun with your friends!

26

PHOTO CREDITS: GABE DEWITT

Poem by Dylan Jones

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

Proof Quality. Not suitable for printing.

Restaurant Guide Atomic Grill Address/Phone: 595 Greenbag Rd. Morgantown, WV 26501 304-241-1170 Hours of Operation: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Type of Food: Southern cuisine. BBQ restaurant. Fried pickles to pulled chicken platters.

Delivery available. All food comes from local farmers. Freshness and level of meat quality is important to their customers.

Black Bear Burritos Address/Phone: 2 locations.

Downtown location: 132 Pleasant St., Morgantown, WV 26501 304296-8696. Evansdale location: 3119 University Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-777-4876 Hours of Operation: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Local beers. Wide range of ethnic cuisines. Burritos to quesadillas with an Appalachian twist.

Additional Information: Live music.

Local art for sale.

Cheat Mountain Pizza Address/Phone: Snowshoe Dr. Snowshoe, WV 26209. 304-572-5949.

Pizza, salads and subs located in the village at Snowshoe Mountain Resort Hellbender Burritos Address/Phone: 457 William Ave. Davis, WV 26260 304-259-5557 Hours of Operation: Wed., Thurs., & Sun. 11:30am-9pm. Fri. & Sat. 11:30am - 10pm Type of Food: Meal-sized burritos filled with homemade ingredients. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Lakehouse Address/Phone: 165 Sunset Beach Rd. Morgantown, WV 26508 304-594-0088 Hours of Operation: 11 a.m. -11 p.m.

Type of Food: American cuisine. Seafood and steak to burger and salad Additional Information: Boatside parking. Outside seating on the lake.

Lakeside bar. Live music. Best spot on Cheat Lake for fine dining with a casual feel.

Morgantown Brewing Company Address/Phone: 1291 University Ave., Morgantown, WV 26505 304-292-6959 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Sat- 11 a.m.

-2 a.m., Sun.-12 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Type of Food: Sandwiches and subs to burgers and salads.

Outdoor seating available. A unique dining and micro-brewing experience.

Mountain State Brewing Co. Address/Phone: 54 Clay St. Morgantown, WV 26501 304-241-1976.

1 Nelson Blvd. Thomas, WV 26292 304-464-4500 Hours of Operation: Morgantown location: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m. -9 p.m., Fri.& Sat.- 11 a.m. -10 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. - 9pm. Thomas location: Thurs. & Fri. 6 p.m. - 12 a.m., Sat. 3 p.m. - 12

a.m., and Sun. 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Type of Food: Flat breads, pizza, and bar food. Morgantown location: Outdoor seating along rail trail and Monongahela River. Thomas location: Live music on select nights.

Pies & Pints Pizzeria Address/Phone: 1002 Suncrest Town Centre Dr. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-777-4749 Hours of Operation: Mon-Thurs. 11 a.m.- 11 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. - 12 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Type of Food: Pizzeria with craft beers and a selection of specialty pizzas, sandwiches, and salads.

Vote Most d One of t Uniq ue P he 101 la Eat I n WV ces To !

304-636-9669 36 96 36-966 669

www.smokewaterbbq.com

• Ribs • Pulled Pork • Beef Brisket • Seafood • Chicken • Pasta • Pizza • Wings • Craft Beers • Daily Specials

Sabarton Station Address/Phone: 1632 Decker’s Creek Blvd., 304-381-4225 Great food & drinks! Thursday night 50 cent wings. Friday Karaoke. Saturday Bike Night and live entertainment.

Sargasso Address/Phone: 215 Don Knotts Blvd., 304-554-0100 Open every day until 9 p.m., 10p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s. World fusion cuisine. A chic eatery known for the vast wine collection & open kitchen.

• Also Available for Catering

1455 Allegheny Hwy., Elkins, WV (at Rt. 33 East and Isner Creek Rd.)

Sirianni’s Address/Phone: Davis, West Virginia 304-259-5454, Canaan Valley, West Virginia 304-866-3388 Open every day until 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday’s.

Local mainstay serving a variety of pizzas & Italian bites in old-school digs lined with photos.

Smoke on the Water Address/Phone: 1455 Allegheny Hwy. Rt. 33 East Elkins, WV 26241. 304636-9669.

Hours of Operation: Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday: 11am-10pm; Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. -11 p.m.

Closed Monday and Tuesday Great BBQ food with a unique flavor in traditional BBQ favorites.

TERRA CAFE

Terra Cafe Address/Phone: 425 Industrial Ave, Morgantown, WV 26501, 304-554-2233 Open every day until 8 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sunday’s. Relaxed eatery with a patio for local sandwiches & salads, with espresso drinks & local beer.

Tip Top Address/Phone: East Ave. Thomas, WV 26292 304-463-4455 Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. -10 p.m.

Type of Food: Coffee shop, bar, and bakery Additional Information : Located in historic Thomas, West Virginia. Within walking distance to stores and close to bike trails.

Fresh. Local. Made from Scratch.

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

27

MAY 10

Full Moon Via Ferrata at NROCKS

Ascend the Via Ferrata by the light of the moon with NROCKS. Take advantage of this awesome experience that happens once a month during the full moon. Find more information and additional dates at www. nrocks.com

Full Moon Hikes at Cass Scenic Railroad

Yoga at Palantine Park

MAY 12

Join WV Yoga Girl every Tuesday at 7pm at Palantine Park for an outdoor community yoga flow. This class is open to all levels.

Bring your yoga mat, towel, and water bottle! Find more information at www. wvyogagirl.com

Birthplace of Rivers Weekend

Explore some of the best West Virginia’s public lands have to offer during WV Rivers’ Best of Birthplace Weekend in the Monongahela National Forest. This weekend is designed to get you outside enjoying and learning about public lands. Find more information at www.wvrivers.org

Spring Tour of Seneca Rocks State Park

Come join us for a scenic drive through the hills of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This drive is designed for those who like scenic side roads with lots of twists and turns! Find more information at www. facebook.com

Blackwater Classic Mountain Bike Race

Tucker County Trails presents their cross country mountain bike race. There are awesome trails outside of Davis, and this race highlights many of them. The race is based off Camp 70 Road next to Davis, WV. Preregister at www.bikereg.com

Appalachian Film Fest

Located at the Historic Fayette Theatre.

8 p.m. – 10 p.m. This isn’t just a fundraiser.

It’s a love raiser. It’s about honoring the human spirit in the outdoors through short films. It’s about honoring the human spirit in the outdoors through short films. There will be films of the air, the land, the water and any other element you can think of.

Strength in diversity! Find more at www.newriverclimbing.net

28 HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

100% RECYCLED PAPER

MAY 26 MAY 27 JUNE 3

Opening Day at Snowshoe Bike Park

Get ready to sling some mud as Snowshoe Mountain starts spinning the lifts and kicks off another awesome downhill mountain biking season. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

Mountain Reopens at Timberline Four Seasons Resort The mountain will reopen for biking and hiking. It will be open on weekends and holidays through the season. Find more information at www.timberlineresort.com

Deckers Creek Trail Half Marathon

The half-marathon begins in Masontown, WV (participants are bused to the start) and finishes at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park in Morgantown. Find more information at www.iplayoutside.com

Henry Clay 30k at Cooper Rock

JUNE 4

MAY 14

Meet at the Visitor’s Center at Cass, WV at 9 p.m. There is no charge to participate.

All hikes are led by a guide. Find more information and additional dates at www. cassrailroad.com

An exciting 3-day, 100-mile rail-to-trail mountain bike adventure on the Greenbrier River Trail. Cyclists with varying levels of experience are invited. All meals, lodging and transportation included, as well as sag service, medics and mechanics. Find more information at www.iplayoutside.com

West Virginia Mountain Bike Association is hosting their 30k cross country mountain bike race at Coopers Rock State Forest.

Registration starts at 9 a.m., NOON START for all WVMBA Classes. Find more at www. gshogren.freeshell.org/Coops/

Full Moon Via Ferrata at NROCKS

JUNE 9

Guided 8-mile hike through Canaan Mountain beginning at Blackwater Falls State Park and ending at Canaan Valley Resort. Find more information at www. canaanresort.com

2017 Greenbrier River Trail Bike Trek

JUNE 9

MAY 10

MAY 6

Family Trail Days

WVMBA Enduro #2 is located at Coopers Rock State Forest. Try your skills on a number of timed downhill sections of trail, and a number of uphill transfer stages which are not timed, but have overall time limits to complete. Find more at www.wvmba.com

JUNE 9-11

Cheat Fest 5k

The Cheat River Music Festival starts with a 5K run on a flat to rolling loop course that begins and ends at the Preston County Country Club. Find more information at www.iplayoutside.com

MAY 18-21

The Cheat River Festival weekend kicks off with one of the largest, if not the largest, mass start downriver races in the country known as the Cheat River “Massacreence.” The race course traverses about 10 miles through Cheat Canyon. Find more information at www.cheatfest.org

Located at West Virginia Botanic Garden, Join Jen-Osha Buysse and Hannah Spencer with the non-profit Aurora Lights for an introductory workshop on medicinal herbs.

Find more information at www.wvbg.org

JUNE 10-11

MAY 6

MAY 5

Cheat Downriver Race

MAY 20-21

Located at Blackwater Falls State Park.

The Wildflower Pilgrimage event identifies plants and birds, and discoveries of interesting flora and fauna. Find more information at www.canaanvalley.org

Medicinal Plants Workshop

Coopers Rock Enduro Race

MAY 20

56th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage

MAY 21

Join Joelle Cameron on Cheat Lake starting in May for SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) yoga and lakeside yoga.

All levels are welcome, just bring an adventurous spirit! Find the full schedule and book online at http://jojo.yoga

MAY 20

MAY 4-7

MAY 1

SUP Yoga on Cheat Lake

MAY 13

Events Calendar Spring/Summer 2017

Ascend the Via Ferrata by the light of the moon with NROCKS. Take advantage of this awesome experience that happens once a month during the full moon. Find more information and additional dates at www.nrocks.com

Full Moon Hike at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

Meet at the Visitor’s Center at Cass, WV at 9 p.m. There is no charge to participate. All hikes are led by a guide. Find more information and additional dates at www.cassrailroad.com

Wanderlust

An all-out celebration of mindful living. A remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for a transformational retreat. Find more information at www. snowshoemtn.com

Free Fishing Days

Dates where West Virginia anglers can fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license. If you already have a fishing license, consider taking a friend or family member who has never been fishing.

Please check with the WV DNR for terms and restrictions. www.wvdnr.gov

Women’s Weekend at Elk River Touring Center

Sharpen your mountain bike skills, gain confidence and ride legendary East Coast singletrack, all in the company of other women riders. Enjoy backcountry trails during the day and gourmet dining in the evenings. Find more information at www.ertc.com

Grand National Cross Country Series Thunder on the Mountain! America’s premier off-road racing series returns to Snowshoe. Get ready for two full days of ATV and bike races all across the Mountain. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

Live Bluegrass at the High Falls of the Cheat

Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

Live bluegrass music at High Falls of the Cheat, featuring Hardly Ever, and on board the train on the way to Elkins. Ticket price includes on-board cold-cut sandwich buffet. www.mountainrailwv.com

Morgantown Running 4 on the 4th The four-mile course will begin on the trail behind Morgantown Running going towards Star City. Register online and find more information at www.morgantownrunning.com

JULY 15 JULY 15

JUNE 17 JUNE 23 JUNE 24-25 JULY 2

The West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners (WVMTR) is hosting the 15th annual Highlands Sky Trail Run at Canaan Valley Resort State Park with most of the course in the surrounding Monongahela National Forest. Find more information at www.iplayoutside.com

This is an adventure-cycling race on and around the highest peak in the West Virginia, Spruce Knob! The race will traverse gravel and dirt roads through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the East. Proceeds from the race will help support the work of the Mountain Institute’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center. Find more at www.bikereg.com

WVU Mountaineer Adventure Camp

Mountaineer Adventure Camp is four adrenaline-filled days of pure adventuring – WVU style. It’s all about filling your lungs, testing your limits and seeing just how much fun you can string together in the name of unbridled Mountaineer pride. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

Speeders on the Rail Weekend

JULY 15-16

This is a fun recreational event to promote mountain biking, trail advocacy and a healthy community in the Canaan Valley area. Events includes group rides, Super D, trials, bike hash, ladies skills and lunch ride and a VIP Fundraiser for the Trails party. Find more at www.www.bikereg.com/canaan-mtb-festival

JULY 17

9th Annual Canaan Mountain Bike Festival

JULY 22

The Big Bear Lake Duo Team Relay (2x12) is a relay style event racing on a 12-mile course.

Expert divisions race 3 laps each, Sport classes race 2 laps each, and the 2forFUN class does 1 lap each. Bands and free camping. Find more at www.bigbearwv.com

JULY 13

Big Bear Duo Team Relay (2x12) & Mountaintop Festival

Highlands Sky Trail Run

JULY 4

JULY 8

This Ultimate Hike is more than a hike it’s a weekend adventure and a chance to find cures for cancer’s youngest fighters.

Register online and find more information at www.curesearchevents.org

Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob (GRUSK)

JULY 29

JUNE 10 JUNE 10 JUNE 15-18

Dolly Sods Wilderness Cure Search Ultimate Hike

Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

Take a trip to Spruce to watch Steam and Diesel vie for the position of Most Powerful Mountain Climbing train in West Virginia.

Departs at 10:30 a.m. from Cass Depot or 11:30 a.m. from Cheat Bridge. Find more at www.mountainrailwv.com

Bottles and Barrels Festival at Snowshoe Mountain Resort Enjoy finely crafted beers for the hopheads, an array of local wines for the festive, and a Village full of talented musicians. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

Mountain Bike Camp Women’s Weekend at Snowshoe Mountain Resort Learn to ride like a girl as women riders of all ability levels come together for a weekend of personal progression and skill building. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

2017 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships The country’s best mountain bikers will meet during this year’s championship ride at Snowshoe Mountain. Find more information at www.snowshoemtn.com

Watoga State Park Mushroom Foray

A presentation on edible mushrooms, and mushrooms to avoid, that are commonly found in Pocahontas County in the summer months. Also includes guided hikes, live music, vendor booths, and more! Find more information at www.pocahontascountywv.com

Wake the World Cheat Canyon

Join boaters as they descend on Cheat Lake to provide wakeboarding, tubing, and lake swimming for kids in the Morgantown area.

Find more at www.waketheworld.org

SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

29

Canyon Guide Locator Map Canyon Guide Locator Map Point Marion

857

43

8

13

33

24

14

Point Marion 79

Cheat Lake 43 10

8

13

Granville

14

26

79Morgantown

16

Brookhaven

27a

7

5

Bruceton Mills

Coppers Rock State Forest

16

19

7

26b

Afton

Kingwood

Westover

19

Afton1a

6

Morgantown

26

26

Rowlesburg 72 Tunnelton 23

Aurora Eglon

50

Rowlesburg

Aurora 50

4 Hannahsville St George

38

219

Cathedral State Park

Monongahela National Forest

Eglon

22

219

90 Eagles Nest Outfitters

Monongahela 18 National ForestThomas 3

72

4

29

21

Douglas Davis

9

Canaan Valley 90 22 Blackwater 18a National Eagles Nest Outfitters 29 Wildlife Falls State Park 21 18 Refuge 16

St George Parsons

Thomas26a3 12 Douglas Davis

Hendricks 9

72

Parsons Hendricks

Canaan Valley 1718a National Blackwater State ParkPark Wildlife Falls State Refuge 16 26a Red Creek Dolly Sods 12 Wilderness 28 Area

72

Bowden

32

Canaan Valley State Park

Red Creek Harman Dryfork

33

28

32 Canaan 32 Valley

Dryfork

Bowden

7

32

17

Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Harman 33 Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

30 HIGHLAND OUTDOORS - CANYON GUIDE

1a. Alpine Lake Resort 1. Atomic Grill 2. Black Bear Burritos 3. Blackwater Bikes 1a. Alpine Lake Resort 4. Blackwater Outdoor Adventures 1.

Atomic Grill 5. Big Bear Lake & Trail Center 2. Black Bear Burritos 6. Cheat Canyon Campground 3. Blackwater Bikes 7. Cheat River Outfitters 4. Blackwater Outdoor Adventures 8. Chestnut Ridge Park & Campground 5. Big Bear Lake & Trail Center 9. CJ’s Pizzeria 6. Cheat Canyon Campground 10. Coach’s Crab Shack on Cheat Lake 7. Cheat Rock RiverClimbing OutfittersGuides 11. Coopers 8.

Chestnut Ridge Park & Campground 12. Deerfield Restaurant & Pub 9.

CJ’s Pizzeria 13. Lake Manor Bed & Breakfast 10. Coach’s at Crab Shack on Cheat Lake 14. Lakehouse Cheat Lake 11.

Coopers Rock Climbing Guides 15. Morgantown Brew Pub 12.

Deerfield Restaurant & Pub 16. Mountain Creek Cabins 13. Lake Manor Bed & Breakfast 17. Mountain Trail Rides Lakehouse Cheat Lake 18. 14.

Mountain StateatBrew Pub 18a.15.

MtMorgantown Top Realty Brew Pub 19. Pies & Pints Creek Cabins 16. Mountain 20.17.

Pathfinder Mountain Trail Rides 21. 18.

Purple FiddleState Brew Pub Mountain 22.18a.

Riverside Mt TopAntiques Realty 23.19.

Riverview Lounge Pies & Pints 24.20.

Ruby & Ketchy’s Pathfinder 25.21.

RSA FlightFiddle Training Purple 26.22.

Sabraton Station Riverside Antiques 26a.

Sirianni’s Cafe 23.

Riverview Lounge 26b. Sargasso 24. Ruby & Ketchy’s 27. Sportsman’s Emporium 25. RSA Flight Training 27a. Terra Cafe 26. Sabraton Station 28. Timberline Resort 26a. Sirianni’s Cafe 29. Tip Top Coffee House 26b. Sargasso 30. Tortoni’s Restaurant 27. Sportsman’s Emporium 31. Wamsley Cycles 27a. Terra Cafe 32. Whitegrass Cross Country Skiing & Cafe 28. Timberline Resort 33. WVU Adventure Outdoor Ed Center 29. Tip Top Coffee House 30. Tortoni’s Restaurant 31. Wamsley Cycles 32. Whitegrass Cross Country Skiing & Cafe 33. WVU Adventure Outdoor Ed Center

Business Locations:

Cathedral State Park

23

38

Brookhaven

119

Terra Alta

Hannahsville

27 119

Business Locations: Morgantown

1a

72

72

Morgantown Municipal Airport Brookhaven 1 7

Terra Alta

Albright

26

2

857

Kingwood

92 26

29857 20 27

26b

7

26 7

Morgantown Municipal Airport

1 25

15

Cheat Albright Canyon WMA

Tunnelton 26

19

31

19

7

92

29 20 2705

Westover

Big Bear Lake

6

Arthurdale

15

27a

5

Canyon WMA

Masontown 7 Arthurdale

119

25

31

68

Big Bear Lake

Snake Hill WMA Masontown Cheat

7

68

705

Snake Hill WMA 7

119

Bruceton Mills Clifton Mills

33

24

Coppers Rock 11 10 Cheat State Lake Forest

Brookhaven Granville 26

Morgantown

Clifton Mills

857

11

100% RECYCLED PAPER

J U LY 2 0 -2 2 , 2 0 1 7

M A S O N TOWN WE S T V I R G I N I A

T I C K E T S O N S A L E N OW ! 3 -DAY + V I P + C A M PI N G

D E E PR O OT S M O U N TA I N R E V I VA L .CO M SPRING / SUMMER 2017 HIGHLAND-OUTDOORS.COM

31