Gorge Guide SUMMER 2012
new river
adventure
FREE!
YOUR RESOURCE FOR ADVENTURE IN THE NEW AND GAULEY RIVERS AREA
Event Calendar inside!
two wheel
revolution
How Biking Finally Arrived in the New River Gorge
’sup? a primer on
7Get
to
Beautiful Places
Wet
WWW.NRGORGEGUIDE.COM
The newest watersport craze
CAMPING WITH THE KIDS
A SURVIVAL GUIDE
H A N D C R A F T E D P I Z Z A & P R E M I UM B E E R
GOUR MET PIZZ A S , GA R DEN FR ESH SAL ADS , OV EN TOA STED SANDWICHES
Fayetteville
& LOTS OF COLD BEER
219 W. Maple Ave.
Charleston 222 Capitol St.
304.342.7437 304.574.2200 www.piesandpints.net
open daily / lunch & dinner Happy hour / Mon - Fri / 3pm - 6pm
Dining-Shopping-Events
Imagine.
Shopping for things created in neighboring counties. Not neighboring countries.
OPEN
DAILY
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EXIT 45
I -7 7 / I - 6 4
BECKLEY
t a m a r a c k w v . c o m | 1- 8 8 - T A M A R A C K
Enjoy a relaxing cabin stay with adventure filled activities
located near the WV New River Gorge area
888-712-2246 WVCABINS.COM
Active Fitness Center & Active Recovery Physical Therapy Get Active! Be Active! Stay Active!
Here for just the summer season? Join Active Fitness for 99 days for only $99 each . Mention this ad to waive the $25 join fee. Some restrictions may apply, must be paid in full.
Day Passes also available. Physical Therapy Services Rehabilitation for sports & work injuries, utilizing manual therapy techniques and evidence based exercise prescription.
2 Locations -Oak Hill & Hico PT: 304-465-3654 Fitness: 304-465-0700
PhotoGraPh By martin unrue
UBS HOT T ED! D INCLU
New River Gorge Adventure Guide covers the beautiful natural playgrounds in and around the new river Gorge including the Gauley river and Summersville lake area, the meadow river, and more. it is located in south-central West Virginia near Fayetteville, West Virginia, and the new river Gorge Bridge. PuBliSher/editor Cristina Opdahl editorial conSultantS Maura Kistler, Christopher Danz coPy editor Martha Opdahl health editor Ginger Danz contriButinG WriterS Eric Autenreith, Katie Johnson, Maura Kistler, Kim Maxwell, Brian Vincent, Jay Young contriButinG PhotoGraPherS Colleen Laffey, Mike Turner
Christopher Danz,
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Jessica Holtzclaw Please send request for media kits to gorgeguide@gmail.com or call 304-573-8113 EDITORIAL CONTENT editorial and photo submissions are welcome. Send a brief description of your story idea or jpeg of the photo you are submitting to gorgeguide@gmail.com copyrightŠ 2011 by nickelville Press, llc. all rights reserved. reproduction in whole or part without written permission is expressly prohibited. New River Gorge Adventure Guide P.o. Box 372 Fayetteville, WV 25840 304-573-8113 outdoor activities are inherently risky, and participation can cause injury or loss of life. Please consult your doctor prior to beginning any workout program or sports activity, and seek out a qualified instructor. nickelville Press, llc will not be held responsible for your decision to play outdoors.
coVer: Jonathan danz begins a ride on the long Point trail. Photograph by christopher danz
w e N A , d r v e e v n i t R u r d l es, O M e m g ories n i t s a L
www.VisitFayettevilleWV.com *Check the website often for all that’s happen
ing in the ’Ville
❧ Fayette County Farmer’s Market Every Saturday June —October 7:30—11:30 AM; located in parking lo t between Diogi’s and CVB. ❧ Market Day First Saturday of ev ery month June—October; 8:00 AM—12:00PM Artisan’s Market, Fl ea Market, Yard Sale s throughout town. →St op by the Farmer’s Ma rket Stand to pick up your Mark et Day Guide! ❧ New River Gorge Heritage Festival June 29—July 4th “Fam ily Fun in Fayettevill e”
www.NewRiverGorgeCVB.com rmer’s Market
❦ Fayette County Fa PM —October 4:00—7:00 Every Thursday June . across from Wendy’s located at 137 Main St ❦ Ansted Hometown
stival
Mountain Heritage Fe June 15—17
Festival
❦ Oak Hill Oak Leaf er 2 August 22—Septemb
Don’t Miss Out On All The Fun!
Healing Body, Mind, & Spirit Heather M. Terrio WV LMT # 2006-2249
Modalities Include: Swedish Deep Tissue Pregnancy Hot Stone acupressure Shiatsu Cranio-sacral Intuitive & Integrative Therapies Couples massages & Out-calls may be available upon request. Upcharge for these services
Hours: Tues – Fri 10:00 am – 7:00 pm; Sat 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Additional Hours May Be Available Upon Request Rates: $40/30 min; $70/60 min; $105/90 min local resident discount available
Gift certificates available
304-923-8489 oceansmassagetherapywv.com
On Facebook at Ocean’s Massage Therapy
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16
201 New River
2
29
Train ®
EXCURSIONS EXCURSIONS Since 1966
From Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV and Return!
October 20, 21, 27 & 28, 2012 Take a 300 mile long, one day, train ride through the Majestic, 65-mile New River Gorge!
22
Coach: $149 each • Child Coach: $99 each (ages 3-12) Premium: $239 each • Dome: $269 each *Premium & Dome Service Include Breakfast & Dinner!*
866.639.7487 www.NewRiverTrain.com Sponsored by the... Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 393 • Huntington, WV 25708
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PhotoGraPh oF the cycliSt By miK e turner; Bottom PhotoGraPh By Photo earth
s!
Ocean’s Massage Therapy
new river
adventure
GorGe Guide
RIB
Summer 2012 Issue
PIT
9. million dollar man
Fayetteville’s Longest Running Family Owned Restaurant
9. Bicentennial Bateau
OPEN 7 Days a Week
by mary reed a Q&a with roger, formerly of rocky top retreat
250 epic miles, much of it upstream, reaches its crux in the new river Gorge
10. Stairway to heaven quirky and cool
sun—thur 4pm—9pm fri—sat 4pm—10pm
The newest playground in the trees is
304-574-4822
10. climber’s Paradise
Big plans are in the works for a campground with rock climbers in mind
ribs, steaks, seafood, pasta, kids menu, local beer and wine selections, homemade desserts
11. nuttallburg renewed
The most complete relic from the coal boom is restored and ready for visitors
13. What’s SuP?
by maura Kistler What’s up with this latest watersport craze? here’s everything you need to know to go check it out for yourself.
16. drop me in the Water
by Brian Vincent, Katie Johnson, eric autenreith, and Kim maxwell From relaxing to exciting, we give you the best places to get wet in the heat of summer
Check us out on Facebook!
310 Keller Avenue ~ Fayetteville, WV
Located 1/4 mile South of the New River Gorge Bridge
22. Sweet Spot
ends in kindling
by Jay young a historical reenactment
29. one trout night
by Katie Johnson The simplest outings make the best memories. Plus, what to bring when you go camping with the kids
30. adventure calendar
Three triathlons: one traditional, one extreme, one for beginners, and more
32. nature & culture calendar and a water festival
Birding, string bands,
33. road tripping
by Jim mccormac Searching for sundew and other wild things in the cranberry Glades
34. natural Wonders, renewable energy
by rory mcilmoil West Virginia is rich in sustainable natural resources, too
35. Be Well
by erin larsen eat your nettles. Who knew those stinging plants could be so nutritious?
36. restaurant Guide
Balancing healthy eats with sinful treats has never been so delicious
EAST COAST’S FASTEST DUAL ZIPLINE • GUIDED ATV & MULTI-SEAT
28. Broken Rose
UTV TOURS • OVER 100 MILES OF TRAILS • WHITEWATER
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RAFTING, SKIING & MORE • CABINS • CAMPING • RV SITES
a collection of articles celebrating mountain biking in the new river Gorge featuring: a cyclist is Born by Jonathan danz tips for the trail by andrew Forron Why i love the nrG by adam Stephens Where to ride by Staff
REV UP THE FUN ON YOUR ADVENTURE VACATION
We start making biscuits before dawn.
Tudor’s biscuit makers begin preparing our
delicious buttermilk biscuits before the sun comes up.
They’re hot, fresh and ready when you are, whether you’re running through the
drive-thru on the way to work or enjoying a leisurely breakfast in our dining room.
We’re proud to be a West Virginia Company. Ansted
Fayetteville
Fayetteville
SummeRSville
86 Fayette town Ctr. Rd.
304.574.2604
126 West Main St.
323 North Court St.
Oak Hill
1401 Main St. East
Smithers
173 Virginia Ave. East
Summersville 5329 Webster Rd.
mt. Hope
anSted
5329 Webster Rd.
901 main St.
129 West main St.
355 main St.
304.872.1001
304.877.5549
304.658.5234
304.632.1742
Gino’S pizza & SpaGHetti HouSe iS a WeSt viRGinia Company
Gauley BRidGe
Happenings
Million Dollar Man Roger calls it quits, closes campground
Q&A
By Mary Reed
The sign as you enter the campground reads Rocky Top Retreat, but everybody knows it simply as Roger’s. “Hi, I’m Roger,” were the first words you heard upon arrival, whether that was a few months or 10 years ago. Located near the top of Kaymoor crag, Roger’s campground has been the home base of thousands of climbers since 1993. To pretty much everyone’s dismay, Roger Fox (“That’s Foxxx with three Xs – did you get that?”) hung it up at the end of 2011, leaving a hole in the fabric of the New River Gorge climbing community. The New River Gorge Adventure Guide caught up with Roger as he shut down last fall to get the beta on what’s next.
Why did you decide to close? ’Cause of health reasons. Sick of workin’. What kind of reactions did you get when you told people you were closing? People don’t like it, but I can’t help it. If they try to bribe me, a million dollars would do it. Your four acres and house are for sale. Asking price? Million dollars. You’re the million dollar man. That’s it. What if you don’t sell? I’ll live here. In peace and harmony. The house suits me just fine. What are you going to do now? I’m goin’ on a two year vacation – and (won’t) leave the house. What else? A hobby. What? Shootin’ campers.
How would you describe yourself? That’s your job, you can describe me. Nicest guy at the New River Gorge? I doubt it. They haven’t seen me in the morning. How would you describe Roger’s campground? Rogers? It’s like livin’ in a park. It’s Roger’s neighborhood. I just don’t wear the sweater. Your hosting style? Unique … how’s that? I had 18 years to perfect it. I like everybody to have a good time. It’s what you come down here for. Just can’t keep the rain off of ya. I pay the weather bill but it gets stuck. When did you buy the property? About 30 years ago. I bought it from the land company. It used to be the coal company and then they changed it to a land company because they held so much land.
Photo By mary Reed
Do you remember the first day you opened for business? We had an accident. Somebody fell down the cliff. It took the park service four hours to get him. Today it would take probably 10 hours to get him. How many campers do you estimate you have hosted over the years? A million (laughs). How many on an average weekend? I don’t know. Sixty to 70. Why did you decide to close?
Have you ever kicked anybody out? About 40 people. Yeah, it’s pretty fun. Just go away. The road goes both ways, just don’t stop here. You get some jackasses every year. What does someone have to do to get kicked out? Shootin’ potato guns at climbers. That would do it. Thank you for kicking that person out. Yeah. What will you do when somebody shows up and pitches a tent in 2012? Get the squirrel gun out. It’s huntin’ season. All year long. I’m sensing a little burnout here, Roger. Yeah, that’s it. Where are people going to camp now? Anywhere they want to.
Bicentennial Bateau on May 23, a National Geographic Young Explorers–sponsored expedition passed its crux in the New River Gorge. Begun on April 5 of this year, the Marshall Expedition— six young explorers, two with whitewater expertise—retraced a route taken by Supreme Court Justice John Marshall 200 years ago from Richmond, Virginia, to Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. Their 250 mile trip began by ascending the James and Jackson Rivers by poling. It took them a month to reach the Greenbrier River, where they turned downstream. Their craft: a 47-foot long bateau made from white oak and steered by a bow and stern oar. It was modeled after those used during Marshall's time on the James River. Once in Thurmond, the crew waited for the New River to drop before running the Class IV Lower New Rapids at about 4 feet. The boat nearly filled with water at Keeney's Creek Rapid (it is not, like most rubber rafts, a self bailer), but recovered. The crew cleaned the remaining runs and reached Fayette Station unscathed.
summer 2012 NRGORGEGUIDE.com 9
New River Jetboats
“Best View of the Bridge”
• At Hawks Nest State Park • Scenic Tram Ride • Covered Jetboat Ride • Trips Run Rain or Shine • Voted “Best of the Road by Rand McNally”
Fun For All Ages! May–September June, July, Aug, Oct
Weekends 11am–6pm Weekends 11am–6pm Weekdays 11am–4pm CLOSED Wednesdays
NewRiverJetboats.com 304-640-0924 49 Hawks Nest Park Road, Ansted, WV 25812
We are on intimate terms with the New River Gorge.
Visit
NRGorgeGuide.com to plan your next adventure
guides roam the ground, ready to “rescue” anyone who needs help exiting the course. you can fall off, but not to the ground. instead you become what guides call an aG: airborne Guest, dangling a few feet below the course. Kids as young as 7 can do it. The best part is that they can do the yellow course over and over again without adult supervision, while the adults go scare themselves on Peregrine, the black diamond. Highest Point: 60 feet Number of Courses: 5
stairway to heaven thiS SPrinG the neWeSt activity since BridgeWalk opened, and it also involves walking a route way up high. timbertrek aerial Park is a series of obstacle courses in the sky that require you to cross narrow beams, log ends, and other assorted objects that require balance. in between the balance challenges, you negotiate nets; swing on log rope swings; and zipline from tree platform to tree platform. here’s the neat part: you’re on your own. you are outfitted with a full body harness. attached to that harness is a double carabiner leash system that ensures that you always stay clipped in to a safety wire. at the beginning of each course, your guide says Sayonara and sends you off to make your way. other
How rare? one of 8 in the u.S.
Difficulty: yellow (easiest), green (little bit harder), blue (harder still), black diamond (hardest) How to Get the Guide’s Attention: yell, “hey, trekkie!” Hardest Move: Stairway to Heaven on the black diamond. no handholds, moving wood steps, high steps, and an especially tricky move to get to the platform. here’s a hint: don’t try to jump for it. Coolest Invention: The tweezle, a weird looking plastic thingamabob that allows you to leapfrog with your leashes down the course while staying locked to the safety wire at all times. Annoying industry term: treekking. you know, trekking in the trees. Get it? Where to Go: The course is located at adventures on the Gorge (888-650-1932, adventurewestvirginia.com)
climber’s paradise “roGer’S haS cloSed. the timinG is perfect,” says Gene Kistler, co-owner of Waterstone outdoors and President of new river alliance of climbers. We are hiking through a 39 acre parcel of land on the north side of the new river Gorge just uphill of the national river boundary and Junkyard climbing area. The american alpine club (aac) has owned the land since december of 2010. it was purchased to create an aac campground—which will be one of only a handful in the u.S. “The aac was looking for areas with
which has been stabilized and made safe for visitors. a complete mining colliery is still at nuttallburg— everything that the coal workers needed to get a lump of coal from the four-foothigh Sewell coal seam 600 feet above the railroad tracks to the railroad The view from under nuttallburg coal tipple up the 1,385-foot conveyor cars. henry Ford had a hand in this. his company purchased the hiStory BuFFS haVe had amPle mine in the early 1920s in order to own the relics of the coal boom to hunt for in very coal and coal processing that made model the new river Gorge, but the search has ts. he sold the mine in 1928, but not before he required a fair amount of bushwacking. renovated and improved things. The 1,385-foot Those hoping to lay their eyes on coke long conveyor that curves up the steep slope of ovens, old tipples, bridge abuttments, the Gorge to the headhouse and mine opening building foundations, and old machinery could be called beautiful. The tipple at its lower have had to reckon with honeysuckle, wild end, where coal was sorted and loaded into rose, and other vegetation trying to reclaim railroad cars, is majestic in a rusty and industrial the Gorge. way and pretty cool, too. now there’s one former coal mine that doesn’t require indiana Jones skills. HOW TO GET THERE: Skinny, winding The national Park Service has cleared and backroads alert: don’t go without the detailed graveled paths past stone coke ovens and Park Service instructions found at nps.gov/neri/ through the old town of nuttallburg, where historyculture/nuttallburg.htm or by stopping by nearly 100 homes once sheltered the 400the canyon rim Visitor’s center (304-574-2115) some people who lived there. on u.S. 19 just north of the new river Gorge more significant is the coal mining Bridge. infrastructure for nuttallburg coal mine,
GUMBO’S Downtown Fayetteville
nuttallburg renewed
AWARD WINNING CAJUN & AMERICAN CUISINE FRESH SEAFOOD
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stellar rock climbing opportunities but lacking in stellar camping facilities, and the new river Gorge fit that description,” says Kistler, who was instrumental in the project and is now Project manager for the future campground. We walk through typical third generation hardwood forest—thick canopy, white oaks and poplar, jewel weed and ferns in the undergrowth. eventually there will be 60 campsites, including bathhouse with showers and laundry facilities, communal fire pits, and a caretaker's cabin. it will be designed with climbers in mind: tents only, no rVs, and a pavilion with a library. Kistler envisions it becoming more than a campground, a gathering place for climbers and a focal point
in the greater outdoor community. We crest a hill where the trees are older and the forest more open. Kistler grins and imagines the pavilion here. Farther south towards the border with national river property, we enter hemlock forest with rock outcroppings that will become boulder problems once the campground opens. a bit later we walk under three grand old american Beech trees. The possibilities are exciting for this climber’s paradiseto-be. “Just imagine,” says Kistler, standing under one of the beeches: “treehouses!”
SOUPS
& HOMEMADE DESSERTS HOURS: Lunch, Dinner, & Sunday Brunch
304-574-4704
BIPLANE RIDES «
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1.304.574.1150 Join Up! Fly the Gorge www.wildblueadventurecompany.com
What’s SUP?
Photo By photoearth (above) and christopher danz
They look like oversized surfboards, but we are 300 miles from the nearest ocean. They are Stand Up Paddleboards, called SUPs, and they are evidence that the hottest new sport to hit the outdoor world has made its way to West Virginia. By Maura Kistler It’s an unseasonably warm May evening and I am standing at the edge of Summersville Lake with a dozen or so things that look like oversized surfboards scattered about a patch of grass. With me is a group of about a dozen people, ranging in age from from 15 to 60, mostly women and a few fellas, some fit, some paunchy. We are here to learn a completely new sport. What’s more, we are here to learn a sport that has been described as the hottest, most exciting thing to hit the outdoor industry: SUPs, short for Stand Up Paddleboards. What is a SUP, you ask? Exactly my question when I first started seeing them strapped to the roof of cars driving through Fayetteville. Take a surfboard, make it bigger and more stable, add a very long paddle so you can propel yourself standing up. It’s a trend or the next generation of water adventure, depending on who you ask. A little web research turns up hyperbole. It’s “like walking on water,” says one website. “Intrinsically pleasurable on a deep level,” says another. “Anyone can do it!” Regardless, it has hit Fayetteville and the New River Gorge, and I have been eager to try it. Which brings me back to the beach where my classmates and I are wondering if this sport is in fact as easy as they say. Our instructor is Melanie Seiler—a very fit and psyched gal who’s been leading the local SUP charge. It is 6:00 p.m. and I settle in, prepared for a detailed talk about safety
summer 2012 NRGORGEGUIDE.com 13
Take Your Pick: Flatwater or Whitewater Flatwater: Explore the Lakes
Summersville Lake You’ll be
hard-pressed to find a more pleasant SUP playground: The uncrowded, clean and wildly scenic Summersville Lake has a myriad of quiet coves to explore replete with waterfalls and ducks and 2,700 acres of open water. Salmon Run put-in is the most convenient. Head North on Rt. 19 toward Summersville. One quarter mile south of Summersville, take a left on Airport Rd. It’s an immediate left to the put-in.
Hawks Nest Lake A wide, placid section of the New created by Hawks Nest Dam. Look for hawks, turkey vultures and, if you're lucky, bald and golden eagles. Located below Hawks Nest State Park, 304-658-5212, hawksnestsp.com. Boley Lake A small, beautiful
lake lined with rhododendrons and hardwoods in Babcock State Park. 304438-3004, babcocksp.com.
Whitewater: Easy becomes Hard Veteran kayakers who think nothing of paddling Class V runs suddenly find Class I and II to be thrilling again on a SUP. A word of advice from local Peter Iscaro, in his fourth season of SUP: head to the New. “It is deep and warm and not rocky,” says Iscaro.
Beginner Whitewater: The Upper New
Small waves and riffles broken up by long calm flatwater pools make this a perfect training ground for you to find your balance and get your whitewater feet under you.
Intermediate Whitewater: Fayette Station Rapid
Before attempting to tackle whitewater with any heft, look no farther than this easy test piece. It has everything you need to build your skills in one tidy package. 1. Giant eddies where you can work on the basics above and below Fayette Station Rapid. 2. Thread the Needle upstream, a gentle rapid with some giant boulders where you can practice ferrying across the current and entering and peeling out of eddies. 3. Fayette Station Rapid, a meaty, straightforward Class IV that provides some big waves but virtually no risk.
Advanced Park and Play: Gauley River Surfspots
The experienced SUP whitewater aficionado looking to surf waves will find some stellar “park and play” opportunities on the Gauley River, especially Perfect Wave right below Mason’s Branch. Recommended flows: beginner, 300-800 CFS (cubic feet per second); intermediate, 800-1,500 CFS; advanced, 1,500-2,500 CFS. (Read the Belva, WV gauge at www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wc/ whitewater.html). Looking for even more? Try the Lower Gauley’s Five Boat Hole and Diagonal Ledges.
14 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
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SUP Through the Years • 4000 years ago: Peruvian fisherman are credited with paddling flat boards while fishing. (They still do.) •18th Century: Captain Cook made notes in his journal about surfing and standup surfers while exploring Polynesia • 1940s: John Zapotocky, credited by the cognescenti as the true father of SUP, takes to standing up with a long paddle after observing Duke Kahanamoku, the Father of Surfing, do so in order to get a better vantage point for spotting incoming swells. Zapotocky is still paddling in his 90s. • 1950s and ’60s: The Beach Boys of Waikiki adopted the technique of standing on their hefty long boards and using long outrigger paddles in order to get shots of tourists as they learned to surf. Beach Boy Surfing, as it became known, fell out of practice in the following decades. • 1995: Big wave surfing icons Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama took to paddleboarding to maintain their fitness when the surf was flat, later discovering that it was a killer way to catch more waves. • 2000: Hawaiian surfer Rick Thomas introduces SUP to California. • 2005: A surf magazine published a photo of Laird Hamilton, the ultimate paragon of cool, catching big waves with a long paddle in his hand. • 2010s: Whitewater kayaking stars Dan Gavere, Coran Addison, and Jimmy Blakeney spearhead the new SUP application: running whitewater. • 2009: First SUP spotted in Fayetteville...
Photo By christopher danz
and technique. Not even. Seiler’s talk is over in eight minutes and includes succinct, step by step instructions on how to stand up and wield the long paddle without looking like a goober. We tote our unwieldy boards down to the shoreline and tentatively shove off on our knees. My board is surprisingly stable, and I’m not alone in this discovery. By 6:15 most of us have hopped up easily and are planted on our boards. At 6:20 I am confidently paddling along with Seiler’s advice ringing in my ears: “Don’t worry about it, just paddle.” By 6:30 I am feeling some glide. By 6:45 I am mulling over what kind of board to buy. By 7:00 my shoulders are burning and I can feel my abs. There is some magic going on here. No doubt it has to do with being on water alone with the breeze and the birds. I feel a bit liberated, it is so easy. Easy and exciting. Standing up on a surfboard-like craft and paddling about, I feel like the door to adventure is wide open. I am not even thinking about getting hurt, or breathing deeply to calm my nerves. I did not wrangle with a bunch of complicated gear. I just relaxed while I steadily wore myself out.
PT: 304-465-3654 Fitness: 304-465-0700
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Gear Up
Boards Brace yourself for a bit of sticker shock: boards range from
$500-$5000, with the average price coming in around $1000. Newbies should look for a multi-purpose design that will allow you to experiment across the spectrum. Here are a few guidelines: The longer the board, the faster and easier the glide. Shorter, thicker boards (7’-10’) are more maneuverable and are well suited for running whitewater.
Paddles SUP paddles have an elbow between the shaft and the blade to
increase stroke efficiency. Choose one that is roughly 8” taller than you. If you are sharing it, consider an adjustable paddle. The cheaper paddles will be a combination of aluminum and plastic, making for a durable but heavy paddle. Lighter, higher performance paddles are made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. Prices start around $75 and head into the stratosphere.
PFDs A Personal Flotation Device is required because the Coast Guard
classifies paddleboards as vessels. Choose any Coast Guard–approved life jacket.
Fiberglass or Inflatable?
Like traditional surfboards, most paddleboards are made from a foam core with a fiberglass and epoxy resin skin. Recently, however, inflatable boards have entered the market and are increasingly popular. Disavow the notion that inflatable means squishy. These boards feel almost as rigid as the noninflatables. The advantages include durability and ease of transportation and storage. Inflatables lose a wee bit of performance in glide and speed.
Photo By chris emerick
Where to Try It:
Adventures on the Gorge offers a ½ day intro to SUP at Summersville Lake for $79. 888-650-1932; adventurewestvirginia.com. Ace Adventure Resort offers a number of SUP adventures from $35-$99 800-787-3982 aceraft. com. Ace Adventure Gear has a limited selection of demo boards available for $20 a day. Reserve in advance, 304-574-1900.
Where to Find the Gear:
SUP retailers: Our area is fortunate to have three SUP retailers: Ace Adventure Gear, located on Fayette station Rd., Adventures on the Gorge in Ames Heights, and Water Stone Outdoors in downtown Fayetteville.
SUMMER SPECIAL $150.00
Drop Me in the Water Swimming holes, whitewater runs, float trips, park and play, lake cruising: Take your pick to cool off in the heat of summer.
16 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
100% recycled paper
WATER and arched back, trying to avoid the spray. But like the bar patron trapped by a spit-spraying local drunk, we were going to get wet! We dropped into the hole, flipped, and swam after a futile attempt to roll up. i sat back into my PFd with my feet up, laughing and enjoying the scenery as our borrowed boat took off down river. The driver of the Wednesday night free shuttle had called our craft a marriage breaker, but we had been confident in our ability to keep it laid back, upright and fun. after all, it is hard to embrace trite relationship battles when immersed in such grandeur. my wife and i met in the eddy after Greyhound hole, got back in our boat and kissed before the river’s cascading green backdrop. a prehistoric canyon, the gorge is a steep, forested guardian to a more primitive time. it is wild, runs fast, and is the perfect place to get wet. So get out there. Float the river with your significant other or just grab a friend. i’ve seen more relationships forged in this beautiful gorge than not and that is part of the magic.
#1
CLASSIC RUN: Paddling the Lower New
deeP in the neW riVer GorGe careening down the chute above the big hole at hook 99 rapid, my wife yelled: “Paddle hard!”
#2
her frantic tone caught my attention. We had agreed early on in our relationship to never scream at each other. But it was too late. “uh oh,” was the only response i could muster. our tandem kayak skirted a large boulder on the downstream side pausing on a watery precipice. The boat began to lean into the hole. i thrust my paddle in
hoW to Get there: The lower new river is wild whitewater. Seek experience, either learned or bought (guide) before embarking on a river run. a number of area outfitters offer kayak clinics and lower new rafting trips. The new river Gorge convention and Visitors Bureau (800-927-0263; newrivergorgecvb.com/newrivergorge-rafting) has a full list of outfitters. —Brian Vincent the neW riVer drieS is called the dries because most of the new river is diverted around hawksnest dam. What’s left is a shallow playground. a steep, treacherous trail with loose rocks guards the river from the weak-kneed. Biting flies in the heat of summer keep the delicate away. overcoming these obstacles is worth it: an entire riverbed of flat rocks and a natural waterslide that rivals anything man-made awaits.
HIDDEN SPOT: Swimming the Meadow
the meadoW riVer iS Well known for smallmouth bass and tiger muskie fishing, for climbing (the rehab Wall is just uphill from the water), and for class iii to Vi kayak runs. But at summer levels, the water is clear and the current in the middle Section slows to meandering. in between rapids are calm pools deep enough to jump in from a rope swing. hoW to Get there: The meadow flows can rise significantly after a good rainfall so check the river gauge before going at www.lrhwc.usace.army.mil/wc/whitewater.html. look for flows around 50 cFS on the meadow river (mount lookout, WV) reading. The section with the best swimming opportunities is found by taking u.S. 19 north from the new river Gorge Bridge, east on route 60, then north on route 41, which eventually follows the river.
#3
hoW to Get there: take route 16 West from Fayetteville. after several miles, you’ll reach cotton hill Bridge, which crosses the dries. a half a dozen pull-offs can be found on the left. Steep scramble to the river bank.
NATURAL WATERPARK: The Dries at Low Water summer 2012
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ins x campin gx b o at r e n ta l S SCENIC VIEWS
forget the box . . .
Just think Outsid e Summersvil
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80 72.55 888.8Coordina0tes GPS 38.1995 N 0.8660 W -8
canyon doorS iS the cooleSt place that i know of on a hot day. canyon doors is the name of the rapid that lies beneath towering, copper colored cliffs on the lower Gauley river. When the river levels are right—between 400 and 900 cFS—a wave hole forms that is perfect for the whole family to surf. Kayaks are okay in the hole but the real magic is experienced more simply: just a boogie board and a lifejacket. This fish eye view while the water rushes under you provides endless fascination plus a total body massage. When you wash out of the hole it’s a short swim back into the eddy, and you can do it all over again. it’s the perfect swimmers treadmill with a thrill. When the hole is in, the river is low enough that you can wade your coolers and gear out to a flat rock, island perch upstream of the action. The water in the Gauley is always crisp so cold blooded folks may like a piece of neoprene to keep their core warm. also, just like any river play spot you have to be aware of dangers. rocks on the bottom of the river form the hole, so if you’re like doing tricks a helmet is a good idea. i like snorkeling goggles to keep the water out of my nose and to look at the underwater world when swimming. also, keep an eye out for each other. higher levels make the eddy harder to catch. Scout out the river downstream and give newbies a few lessons on river swimming and catching eddies before they try surfing. There are also plenty of calm pools around for anyone wanting a milder experience. hoW to Get there: From Fayetteville, head north on u.S. 19. take the route 60 exit towards hawks nest State Park. Just off the exit take Sunday road to the right. Sunday road turns into Saturday road. From there take lucas road (you’re on the right road if you pass liberty Baptist church). Follow this for one mile and take a right at the horseshoe creek road sign. Pass two gates and take your second right. Find the access trail from the parking area next to the pavilion. This is private property, owned by adventures on the Gorge, who shares it with the community all year except during Gauley Season in September and october. —Katie Johnson
PhotoS By Katie JohnSon
cab
EXTREME FUN: Boogie Boarding Canyon Doors
priority attention "office girl! office girl!!" Barber, grinning with the spectacle of it all swooped over in his kayak and saved her. everyone got back in the raft— there were no injuries and it was more fun than a barrel of monkeys! For commercial summer Gauley trips, sometimes you can luck out on being here for a perfect mix of water, weather, people, but for local river rats, these trips are LUCKY CATCH: what make us rich Summer Upper Gauley Run beyond money. The rest of the run was just the same old it muSt haVe Been a hiGh Water day beautiful, amazing whirl down the river, with on the new river because we were done with our good friends. daily commercial rafting trip around noon. We had lunch at base camp and then there was plenty hoW to Get there: The Gauley river of time for a staff run on the Gauley. Though a flows out of Summersville lake, 18 miles storm front was near and flow was a little high— north of the new river Gorge Bridge. in 2,900 cFS (cubic feet per second)—we included cute reservationist, Peggy, and forever friend and mom of two of our guides, Stephanie. These were not the types of rafters who want to swim. The light was beautiful with the afternoon sun shining between the sharp storm clouds and fresh greens of the forest. We were one raft of six and several kayaks. our raft was a slightly twisted diB Slipper our company had bought on the cheap as a “second”: a self-bailer, tapered tubes, pretty nice raft but with that extra twist for fun. We got on the water pretty quick and felt pretty darn good. This was summer, not fall Gauley season, and we had the upper Gauley, a national treasure, all to ourselves! our first runs were relaxed over cool, green water, and then the breeze started to pick up September and october, Gauley Season offers when we arrived at Pillow rock, the second of the guaranteed water flows as the army corps of five big class V rapids on this stretch of river. i engineers draws down the lake to its winter figured the pillow at Pillow rock rapid would be level. Gauley Season isn’t the only time the just a bit extra big with this extra water. We had Gauley runs, though: if your timing is right, it two non-guides with us, but the day was beautiful runs after unusually heavy summer rains. and we took a perfect line up high on the pillow. The Gauley is class V whitewater: choose maybe it was that twist, maybe it was meant to guided trips unless you have expert level be—but the raft went over and we all went into whitewater skills. Both adventures on the the swirl over, under and around Volkswagon Gorge (888-650-1932, adventurewestvirginia. rock and those big boulders on the right. When i com) and ace adventure resort (800-787came up, one of my flip flops was floating in front 3982, aceraft.com) offer summer upper Gauley of me and one was somehow still on. Sweet Peggy rafting trips when the water is flowing. the reservationist was swirling nearby, trying —eric autenreith to remain calm, calling in her sweet voice, for
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#5
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DEEP BLUE: Cruising Summersville Lake
laSt Summer, We rented a pontoon boat from the marina for my husband’s birthday. The excitement of the adventure built as we all piled onto the sturdy craft, slathered each other in sunscreen and secured the kiddos in their PFd’s. Safety first, right? and then we were off. idling through the wake zone, we spotted another pontoon boat filled with friends and chatted as we cruised toward the open water. We kept the caravan together as we sped across the lake, enjoying the wind and the sun and the peals of laughter from the front of the boat. The kids took turns driving on dad’s lap as we approached
a quiet cove, perfect for swimming. We dropped anchor and abandoned ship. The biggest kids (a.k.a. dads) cannonballed off the deck and dared the rest of us to join them. With a little coaxing and a lot of shrieking, all the kids (big and small) wound up in the water. We splashed and swam, snorkeled and climbed, and then eventually made our way back to the boat to feast. Between the two boats, we laid out gin and tonics with blueberries, locally brewed beer, lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, and sweet potato, black bean, and cream cheese burritos. We ate to our heart’s content and then baked in the sun until we couldn’t take it any longer, and back into the water we went. and so went the day. Play, eat, bask, laugh and repeat.
Play Wild.
hoW to Get there: Summersville lake is located 18 miles north of the new river Gorge Bridge. access points to Summersville lake are found off u.S. 19 and off rt. 129, a left off the highway. Summersville lake retreat (888872-5580, summersvillelakeretreat.com) rents pontoon boats as well as canoes and kayaks. —Kim maxwell
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New & Gauley Rivers
PhotoS By (leFt to riGht: Ken thomaS, KirK mulcahy
#6
PhotoS By (leFt to riGht: chriS Smith, miKe turner
Prince. They all offer the same kind of bliss: shallow class i and ii rapids, many floatable on your back with just a lifejacket to remind you you’re not a fish, toes in the air (keep your feet up!), arms out wide feathering the current that rushes past you, eyes on the clouds.
#7
hoW to Get there: a number of area outfitters offer upper new rafting trips. The new river Gorge convention and Visitors Bureau (800-927-0263; newrivergorgecvb.com/newrivergorgerafting) has a full list of outfitters.
LOW KEY: Floating the Upper New
PerFect For JuSt aBout everything low key you might want to do: first moving water kayak run, whitewater initiation on a SuP, giving the kids their first taste of whitewater, just floating. Several sections are called the upper new: Prince to Thurmond, Thurmond to cunard, even the upper upper new: Glade creek to
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Sweet Spot
Mountain Biking in the
New River Gorge
Photo by Mike Turner
Comes of Age
TRAILS FolKS thinK oF WhiteWater rafting or kayaking when they think of the new river Gorge—of the new river with its reliable whitewater that lasts all summer long. or the nearby Gauley river with its fall whitewater season. They think of rock climbing: the hard nuttall Sandstone in the new river Gorge is featured with cracks and ledges perfect for vertical routes that take you up above the trees. They don’t, however, think of mountain biking. heck, up until last fall, mountain biking wasn’t even officially allowed within the boundaries of the new river Gorge national river. take note: nrG’s bike reputation is changing. and the policy disallowing mountain biking on the new river
Gorge national river land? That changed last fall, opening up 65 miles of trails to bikes. up until then, only a smattering of u.S. national Parks allowed bicycles on a few of their trails—and these weren’t built with the cycling experience in mind. enter some local activists, members of the national Park Service who love to bike and who live near the new river, the international mountain Bike association (imBa), and the Boy Scouts. last summer, 1,400 Boy Scouts came during the month of July to move rocks, dig dirt, and chisel out 13 miles of new trails in the new river Gorge national river designed by imBa. The result has been well received: one local biker calls
the new arrowhead trails “ribbons of pure fun made from dirt and rocks.” and almost 40 more miles of singletrack have passed the planning stage and are ready to be built. of course we already had the Fayetteville town Park trails within a 5 minute pedal from court Street. and there are more than 25 miles of singletrack open to the public at nearby resorts, scenic trails that border Summersville lake, and almost 60 miles of trails just an hour from Fayetteville in the cranberry Backcountry. Which goes to say that the new river Gorge has arrived as a bona fide mountain bike destination. There’s never been a better time to give it a whirl.
• a cyclist is Born
discovering two-wheeled Bliss on dirt trails, the second time around For yearS i’d heard people talk about the joys of mountain biking. i’d seen the gleam in their eye as they peeled off sweaty socks, hosed down their bikes and basked in the sheer epicness of the experience. i nodded along and smiled, knowing they were delusional or had short memories or held some arcane secret to which i’d never be privy because i’d always associated mountain biking with suffering, always happy to have done it, but rarely enjoying the ride itself. in 1989 i bought a Schwinn mountain bike without any knowledge of mountain bikes beyond how to switch gears and pedal. heck, the rear brake was mounted low by the bottom bracket and i thought that was cool. i took that thing on actual trails maybe a dozen times. truth be told, it scared the hell out of me. Still, i hauled it wherever i went for 15 or so years just in case. around 2004, a 50-buck raleigh m80 and a new home near the Fayetteville trails encouraged me to give mountain biking another shot. The guys i rode with were way more skilled than i, though plenty tolerant of my ineptitude. i battered myself on the rooty,
By Jonathan danz
rocky tight trails (at least they seemed that way to me), and even though i kept at it, i began to dread the rides and the new ways to injure myself. By the summer of 2005, i was still waiting for the fun. i chalked up my struggles —flailing, stalling on rocky climbs, spinning out on smooth climbs—mostly to inexperience. With a baby on the way in december and starting a new job managing a whitewater rafting company, the mountain biking was an easy thing to sacrifice to my new responsibilities. The rides grew farther between, and i stopped riding all together. last year, a friend asked me if i wanted an old, second-hand mountain bike. he made it seem as if i would be doing him a favor getting the bike out of his yard. he was probably confused by my reticence, but remembering my previous struggles, i wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit. at last, i agreed to take the bike. next to my raleigh this new ride was about two inches taller, a bit longer, and possessed one more ring on the rear cassette. interesting. Still,
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knowing the difficulty of the local trails, the bike sat. Fast forward to September 7, 2011, the grand opening of the arrowhead trails, 13 miles of rolling goodness. my brother invited me to ride and, well, you can’t say no to family. created by a massive project (1,500 volunteers) spearheaded by the Boy Scouts of america, this system of nested loops of trails geared toward all skill levels was a revelation. i stuffed down my old fears and we cruised along the dips and turns, climbed the gradual, stepped climbs and put some miles behind us, finishing in the twilight. it was a good ride, pleasantly tiring. We loaded up and headed home and on the way an unfamiliar feeling came over me that night, a sensation i
Dawson Trail, Arrowhead Trail System approach the trail with trepidation, balance point is found. pedal, Pedal, pedal around the turn down the hill loopdie loop. Whee!!!!! Pure awesomeness.
— casey Gioeli
summer 2012
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recognized as anticipation. later that night, i found myself hoping i could get back out on the trails. Soon. The arrowhead trails are more forgiving than what i was used to, providing time and space to consciously work on more productive pursuits than frustration and flailing. my climbing improved. i didn’t fear the crux moves so much as anticipate and learn from them. i rode faster and more efficiently. Being on a better sized bike helped increase my confidence as well. i began to recognize how i moved my weight as i rode and felt more stable in the saddle. i was able to concentrate on what was ahead of me instead of what was under me. i continued to ride through the fall and winter and the rediscovery was complete. This February, i pulled the
trigger on a brand new 29er. if you had asked me a year ago if i’d be mountain biking a couple of times a week, i would have laughed and said no way. a couple of days ago i hit the trails for a ten mile ride. along the way i managed to crash twice at a rocky stream crossing, on my way out and on my way back. Both times i got wet and muddy, even turtled on my back a little. in between, though? heaven. i cleared a log i had dismounted for on previous rides and cleaned a rocky climb that had long frustrated me. Those moments are what keep me coming back and make the lapses in concentration tolerable, merely a facet of the ride rather than its entire nature. and now, those rock strewn, rootinfested trails i avoided for so long? i head out my front door and ride them to get to the arrowhead trails. and you know what? They’re fun. — J.d.
nrG, how do i love thee? let me count the ways. By adam Stephens
Best trail to build technical skills: The trails at little Beaver State Park. here you learn that your bike (and you) can roll over more rocks than you thought you could before. Best trails to build lung capacity: Fire road. if you can make it up the last hill without falling off you get a gold star.
GET INVOLVED! Art In Sight First Fridays Artist Cooperative Music and Art Festival Art Classes for all ages
Best trails in the heat of the summer: Summersville lake trail. Jump in the lake mid-ride. Get lost and enjoy it. Best trails to incorporate jumps: adena trail at arrowhead trail System. Build up enough speed that you scare yourself mid-jump. Get excited that you actually landed it!
Fayettevilleartscoalition. org
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NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
— Jessica toth 100% recycled paper
When i thinK oF ridinG in the new river Gorge what i think of most is diversity. right from the town of Fayetteville i can get to several trail heads in literally seconds. From these trail heads i can connect to rides that will take me through all types of landscapes, forests, and past beautiful overlooks. When you are in moab, utah, you ride rock and sandy terrain. When in the rockies it seems you mostly ride the same dirt and tree landscape. But when in the new river Gorge you are treated to several types of terrain ranging from old winding rail road beds to tight twisty singletrack with amazing vistas spotted along the whole trail. The soil has a lot of sandstone which allows for great drainage. no matter what the storm brings it is sure to dry quickly and leave some beautiful fast trail behind. Adam Stephens rides competitively on the West Virginia Mountain Bike circuit. He owns and runs Marathon Bicycle Company (marathonbikes.com, 304-574-2337) on East Maple Avenue in Fayetteville, which sells and rents bikes.
tips for the trail
feeling wobbly? read on for steps that will bring By andrew Forron you up to speed. 1. Keep your head up. look as far ahead as you can. look where you want to go. don’t look at things you don’t want to hit. 2. Focus on being smooth. look for transitions on and off obstacles. avoid things that force you to brake or slow you down. Smooth is fast.
3. momentum is your friend. it will carry you over most things. 4. Keep your arms and legs loose. Float above the bike. your body is by far better than the finest suspension on the market. relax and let the bike float over the terrain. 5. try and hit roots, downed trees, and other somewhat rounded objects as close to perpendicular as possible. right angles allow you to roll right over them.
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6. Brake before turns and accelerate out of them. Braking requires traction. turning requires traction. Slow down early and use your traction for the turn. 7. let some air out of your tires. it’s amazing what a softer tire will do. let it PhotoS By douG arBoGaSt (Bottom leFt), chriStoPher danz (remaininG)
out slowly and get used to it. Soft tires pinch easier so be careful. an accurate digital gauge helps.
8. learn to pump speed from trail obstacles. it’s amazing how much free speed you can gain from the trail. Plus, it’s really fun. The new arrowhead trails are an excellent place to learn this wonderful skill. it’s a lot like swinging on a swing set: pull up as you go up the obstacle and push down as you go over. This one takes some practice getting used to. check out pump track videos on youtube for examples. 9. don’t avoid mud, sand, or other soft areas. maintain your momentum and go through them. a little speed goes along way. it’s also much better for the trail. 10. if something is a challenge try it anyway. you will get a little better each time and eventually clean it.
Photos, clockwise from opposite page: ribbon cutting at the arrowhead trailhead, a biker on the clovis trail, a connecting link to the dalton trail, and a snake stops for a snack on an arrowhead trail
11. ride new lines on your home trails. The main line is usually the easy one. look for challenges as you improve. you can find new lines on trails you have been riding for years. This helps when you go somewhere new and don’t know the trails. 12. learn to bunny hop. it’s a great skill and you can practice it anywhere. Andrew Forron has been mountain biking for 24 years. He owns and runs New River Bikes (newriverbikes.com; 304-574-2453) on Court Street in Fayetteville, which sells and rents bikes and offers mountain bike tours.
summer 2012
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North
CALL AND RESERVE YOUR ORB RIDE TODAY!
Rapids
Ranger station
Unpaved road
The degree of difficulty will vary from rapid to rapid and with water level. River users should consult with an experienced river runner or ranger before attempting river running.
Much of the land within the National Park Service areas remains private property; please respect the owners’ rights.
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Gauley Bridge
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A UNIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FEATURING ONE-OF-A-KIND STAINED GLASS CREATIONS
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where to find a Bike Creek
Bluestone Dam
marathon Bicycle company (304-574-2337, www.marathonbikes.com) rents Ghent 26” bikes ($25 half day, $35 full day) and 29” bikes ($35 half day, $45 full BL U day); bike demos cost $55 per day. new river Bikes (304-574-2453, www. newriverbikes.com) rentals are $35 for full day/$25 half day, and can include BLUESTONE an intro to mountain Biking package forNATIONAL $50 for 2 hours. demo bikes, $25 SCENIC RIVER per day. ace adventure resort (800-787-3982) rents mountain bikes for $39 half day, $59 full day. tle Lit
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Log on to NRGorgeGuide.com by July 15 and enter to win a free Lower New Rafting Trip for 2!
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Thayer Dowdy
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Like to go Whitewater Rafting?
ACE trails, 25 miles of mixed trails
In di an
Located at Dove’s Outlet Village, Route 19 and Hinkle Road. Other gift items are available. There’s always something new!
Danese
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Piney Cre
Hours: Wed — Sat 12-5 and by appointment 304-574-1859
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“Dedicated to promoting a lifestyle of cycling through education and encouragement.”
i want to ride my Bicycle where to find those ribbons of dirt Arrowhead Trails: 13 miles of singletrack at new river Gorge
national river designed by the international mountain Bike association specifically for biking pleasure. clovis trail, just 1 mile of smooth and twisty trail without much technical demand or uphills, is a perfect one to try for first singletrack. Three other loops—adena, lecroy, and dalton— get a bit trickier in the technical department, and are quite a bit longer. a downloadable map can be found at nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm Intermediate to Advanced
“if the adena trail was a woman, i’d marry it!” —tiny elliott
ACE Trails: 25 miles of mixed singletrack and old logging roads moderate to advanced in difficulty. open to the public. Stop at the welcome center to get a car pass before you ride. aceraft.com for directions. Intermediate
Fayetteville Town Park Trails: a network of of singletrack trails
that follow ridgelines and drop down into several creekbeds including picturesque Wolf creek canyon. Begins with the 1.1 easy Park “i start my day by dropping in loop. trails that branch off from on the Fayetteville trail, cross the loop step it up in difficulty Wolf creek Bridge and head and length. Bonus: you can link up timber ridge to the long up to the timber ridge trail and Point parking lot where you can arrowhead trails from town. cross the road and hit a short Beginner to Intermediate connector trail to Kaymoor road. From there you can access Little Beaver State Park: the lecroy trail to enter the 18 miles of singletrack, much arrowhead hike and Bike trails. of which is rooty, rocky, and lecroy connects to dalton, then very technical with few smooth adena to ride the pump track sections for relief. located in a then down the gravel road to get scenic state park near Beckley, back on dalton and loop back to West Virginia, with an 180lecroy to get back to Kaymoor acre fishable lake and hiking road and long Point parking lot path circumnavigating it. and finish it off bombing down littlebeaverstatepark.com, 304timber ridge and back home in 763-2494 Advanced time to kiss the kids as they head off to school.” New River Gorge National —doug arbogast River: 65 miles of varied riding opportunities ranging from gently sloping gravel roads to heart pumping singletrack. Formerly illegal to ride but recently opened to bicycles. check out nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm for a list of nrG biking trails. Beginner to Advanced
BBI certified mechanics; custom work and routine maintenance Hours: Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm Saturday 10am – 4pm Closed Sunday www.marathonbikes.com
104 East Maple Avenue Fayetteville, WV Free Trail Maps (304) 574-2337 Ask for Adam, Thom, or Chris
Rental Bikes
Funky, Upscale & Delicious 312 North Court St. Fayetteville Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11:30 AM – 9 PM
(304) 574-3647
Friday – Saturday 11:30 AM – 10 PM Bar open ’til midnight
Summersville Lake: 7 miles of mostly flat out and back trails, all
ending near the lake. downloadable map can be found at lrh.usace.army. mil/projects/lakes/sum Beginner to Intermediate
“i refuse to tell you how good the 25 miles of bike trail are at ace. no, there aren’t incredible views. it’s totally overcrowded. you should go elsewhere.” —reid Williams
800-582-0256 OpossumCreek.com
Excerpt
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Holistic Health Coach &Yoga Instructor Personal and Group Yoga Instruction and Individualized Health Coaching 970-708-7947 eelarsen@hotmail.com www.thevitalchange.com
Yoga on the Gorge Sundays, 8—9AM at Adventures on the Gorge
Broken rose By Jay young the Bateau roSe oF nelSon WaS in trouble. Broached as she was against the rocks in the middle of a class-iV rapid called dudley’s dip in the lower Gorge of the new river, she took on water about as quickly as one might expect of a 43-and-a-half foot long wooden bucket. her crew tried valiantly to bail her. They heaved water from the rose’s hull into the river like a bucket brigade dowsing a fire, but to no avail. Within moments, the bateau tipped upstream and exposed her innards to the rushing torrent. Pinned and swamped, she flexed around the rocks. She held for a brief second, which to her crew, must have seemed like an hour, and then finally fell apart, sending splintered wood and her crew into the drink. The year was 2004. in 2003, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the new river Gorge national river, the Park Service organized a reenactment of c.P. huntington’s 1869 voyage. at the time of the reenactment, however, the new ran at flood levels. The water gauge at Fayette Station read 20 feet. contrary to popular belief, neither the nPS nor the industry as a whole dictates a “cut-off ” level past which no commercial rafting will occur, but a relatively low 12 feet, which is itself a huge volume of water, is the unofficial guideline. Before she even reached the lower Gorge, the rose of nelson braved standing waves up to seven feet tall with little to protect her but a six-inch bulkhead her builders installed to help her shed water. against waves that large, though, the bulkheads did little and the boat swamped regularly. every night and often throughout each day, the rose eddied out for repairs. her crew pounded cotton into the spaces between planks in a futile effort to keep the river out of the boat. When camping at night they purposely swamped the bateau to keep her boards swollen and tight. But as she approached the town of Thurmond, everybody aboard her had the same thought: “There’s no way we’ll make it through the lower Gorge.” Prudence won the day, and instead of trying, the team removed the rose from the water and dried her out for a rain date with the new.
That day finally arrived a year later, when the rose again put in at Thurmond and headed into the Gorge. The first half of the journey from Thurmond to Fayette Station is relatively calm. There is only one significant rapid, a class iii called Surprise, and the rose of nelson made it through easily to the delight of everybody aboard her. Though they had to stop often to affect repairs, the crew of the rose watched rapid after rapid disappear around the bends behind them. one of those is a rapid called lower Keeney. together with upper and middle, lower Keeney forms one of two class-V drops, but only at higher water levels when they blend into one long flume. That day the new flowed low enough to give it a go. deftly, the crew maneuvered the rose of nelson to river left (the left side of the river as a boater faces downstream) in the calm pool above lower Keeney. once lined up for the rapid, they paused to let the river push them where they needed to be. They hovered over the entrance to the drop and took in the roiling path stretched out below. Both banks were lined with spectators cheering her on. The rose dove into the first waves and the bateau flexed and bent to absorb the rise and fall of the river. in a moment that passed all too quickly, they were through. The crowd erupted in cheers. next up they knew would be dudley’s dip, a rocky dogleg left. dudley’s is a wide-open green highway at some water levels, but would be steeper and more difficult that day, so the crew eddied out once again for repairs. They spent hours plugging leaks, sometimes with people in the water with masks and snorkels trying to locate the many tiny gaps that had developed throughout the day. Finally, with the boat as plugged as she could be, they pushed off and headed downstream. cliff Bobinski, a ranger working out of the Glen Jean Park headquarters, rowed up along side the bateau, running safety for the crew in case the worst happened. Bobinski recommended a clean line to them. “enter right of center,” he advised. “and then turn back left with the current to split the difference between two rocks.” he watched in horror, however, as the boat floated exactly the opposite way, entering too far left. instead of turning left with the current, the panicked crew forced the bateau right—broadside to the current, which swept her against the rocks. The event marked the sudden end of the reenactment, which was itself historic. Bobinski spent the rest of the afternoon and much of the next day picking up pieces of the rose of nelson. “Broken Rose” is an excerpt from Whitewater Rafting on West Virginia’s New & Gauley Rivers, published last year by The history Press. it is available at Waterstone, cathedral cafe, and Ironarchmedia.com.
Camping
one trout night By Katie Johnson We had tWenty-Four hourS: 3pm to 3pm and we needed to get out of the house. The falling leaves were whispering to our woodsy souls. “escape,” they said. “now while you can. Go!” So we packed. “Simple” was our theme: a few potatoes and an onion, some apples and nuts. We had a couple of fishing poles. a couple of backpacks. a water filter and one pan. We had a lighter, knife, rope and a tent fly, no tent. We loaded the dog, canon, and bikes. When i signed the kids out early from school they asked, “Why are you here now, mom?” There was some tension at the trailhead, figuring out how to strap everything onto our bikes and selves. “Wear all of your clothes,” i told one of the kids. We rode the gentle grade on a gated road along the cranberry river. in less than an hour we found a spot. logan and i gathered firewood. BJ and laurel cut poles and built our shelter. They used the rope to tie the fly to three poles balanced on each end which supported a head beam. We had our shelter. We went fishing. trout was the planned staple. Between the four of us we caught one. We cooked our potatoes, onion and our fish on a fire. We drooled around our little pan. i made the kids sit still, nervous that someone would dump it or fling dirt into it. it was dark now and we divvied up the goods into four piles and ate with our fingers by firelight. Food never tasted so good, even without salt. The trout was big and we sucked every bit of meat off the bones. our little fire died and we went to bed. With fleece jackets for pillows we snuggled while i told stories. The four of us shared two sleeping pads and two sleeping bags. it was raining in the morning so we played uno. The dog’s big body stayed outside in the drizzle, but his head was on my lap under the fly. i’ve never enjoyed uno so much as then, in our little home by the river. time stretched out in our favor. For brunch we enjoyed each other and our apples and almonds. When the rain stopped we designed a bike course through little half-pipes made by the river at higher water. We did laps trying to better our time until it was time to go home. i had to be at work. on our way back, with the truck in sight, a small bear ran out in front of us. canon treed it. That was it, short and simple. Barely remarkable except that it is one of our most memorable camping trips. “remember that tent we made?” remember the best trout ever? remember the rain and playing uno? remember that bike course? remember the bear?” i think of all of the days that zoom past and are lost even to my kids’ elephant memories. i wonder why this short trip stays with us? it was nearly five years ago and when i asked them which camping trip i should write
Sunrise at Plum orchard lake about they both agreed that the one trout night on the cranberry was one of the best ever.
pack smart let your mode of transportation dictate what you can bring along. Got a raft? Bring the kitchen sink. Biking? aim for nearly nothing. adding kids doesn't change the essentials. you still need a med kit, food, water, shelter and smores. room permitting, here are a few more ideas: 1. Headlamps. Great for flashlight tag, nighttime trips to the bathroom, finding night crawlers and your toothbrush. 2. Tarp or extra tent fly. Keep the kitchen out of the rain. if it’s not raining, makes a great fort. 3. Hammock. always a hit. turns into a swing and provides hours of entertainment. 4. Doormat-sized piece of outdoor carpet. Keeping the dirt out of the tent is extra hard with little feet coming and going.
where to camp →New River Gorge National River has several primitive camping areas including Glade creek and Grandview Sandbar alongside the river— free, on a first come, first serve basis. nps.gov/ neri/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm →Babcock State Park, home of the muchphotographed gristmill, has reservable and first-come-first serve sites. babcocksp.com →Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area has sites right next to this picturesque fishing lake. plumorchardlakewma.com →Got to the New River Gorge Adventure Guide website for a complete list of new river Gorge area camping options: nrgorgeguide.com.
5. An extra tent. two total means one playhouse for the kids, one sand free sleeping zone. 6. A frisbee. also makes a great plate, shovel, fan, cutting board, water bowl for the dog. 7. Plant and animal identification cards. Find out who you're living with. 8. A notebook and pencils. We’re always finding inspiration to write while we’re outside. also good for hangman when you're holed up during a storm. 9. Goggles. one small item that opens up a big underwater world. 10. Glow sticks. tiny, cheap, and locating your wandering four year old after dark is priceless.
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Adventure Calendar
July
June 15-17 Space Race Cyclocross Where: Green Bank, WV What: Cyclocross In case you didn’t know, cyclocross is kind of like ninja mountain biking. Courses are short circuits with pavement, dirt trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles that require you to dismount and carry. This particular cyclocross race course circles the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a 140 foot telescope so powerful it picks up residual tremors from the Big Bang. www.gb.nrao. edu/rumpus/cyclocross.shtml
Photos (top to bottom): Runners follow old bison and Native American trails duringt the Kanawha Trace Trail Run; swimmers churn up Summit Lake in the Scenic Mountain Triathlon
30 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
July 15 Scenic Mountain Triathlon Where: Richwood, WV What: 23.8 miles Run, Bike, Swim A traditional swim, bike, run triathlon in one of the most beautiful areas of West Virginia. You’ll swim 0.5 miles in chilly Summit Lake, cycle 17.1 miles over 4,000– foot Kennison Mountain to the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, then run 6.2 miles of rolling terrain to the Cranberry Glades and back. www.scenicmountaintriathlon.com
July 21 Cycle to Tamarack Where: Oak Hill, WV What: 50-plus miles of Road Cycling Take the best way to Tamarack—a circuitous route along the mountainous backroads from Oak Hill through the tiny towns of Whipple and Mossy, over Haystack Mountain, and past Paint Creek. Shop for West Virginia-made crafts and art, eat at the Greenbrier–run food court, and then haul home a slightly different but equally scenic route. Total elevation gain: 3,700. This is an unsupported ride, so make sure you’ve got someone who can come rescue you if you can’t finish. For more information on this and other rides, go to New River Bicycle Union’s page on Facebook.
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Riders can choose from assorted routes ranging from 20 to 83 miles through the lush and rolling hill countryside of the Greenbrier River Valley. Whichever route you choose, you’ll feel good about riding: proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and local residents fighting cancer. lewisburg.org/hope
July 28 Kanawha Trace Trail Runs Where: Ona, WV What: 10K & 50K run The longer run crosses three West Virginia counties using old bison and Native American trails for part of the course. Run through meadows, over creeks, past waterfalls, and over ridges in this beautiful countryside. wvmtr.org
July 29 Little Beaver Chainring Challenge Where: Little Beaver State Park What: 7, 14, or 21–mile Mountain Bike Race Locally famous for its techically demanding trails, the Little Beaver singletrack is a perfect place to test how well you can negotiate rocks and roots. Add a hundred other bikers out there, and it becomes fun. rcccrides.com
PhotoS courtesy kanawha trace trail run (top), rob McKenzie photography (bottom)
June
July 21 Wheels of Hope Ride Where: Lewisburg, WV What: Assorted Distances Road Cycling
Adventure Calendar
August
PhotoS courtesy New river gorge cvb (top left), Raleigh County Cycle Club (bottom)
August 5 Thurmond Triathlon Where: Thurmond, WV What: Beginner Triathlon It’s a perfect length for a first triathlon: bike 2 miles from the Thurmond Train Depot to Stonecliff beach, paddle flat moving water 1.5 miles (inflatable duckies are available if you pre-register), then run a 2 mile loop around Thurmond, a former coal-mining hub, now a picturesque historical landmark. Kids as young as 7 may enter; suitable for grownups wanting a mellow triathlon experience as well. www.thurmondwv.org
August 18 Cycle to Tamarack Where: Oak Hill, WV What: 50-plus miles of Road Cycling If you missed the July ride–or had a great time and want to do it again–join the New River Bicycle Union for its monthly ride to Tamarack from Oak Hill. You'll travel on (mostly) backroads over mountains and past beautiful scenery to share some great food. It's what cycling is all about. For more information, see New River Bicycle Union's page on Facebook.
August 18 The Good Bowl Where: Fayetteville, WV What: Skateboard Contest August 4 The New River Gorge Challenge Where: Fayetteville, WV What: 28.5 mile Extreme Triathlon
Begin at the Fayette County Courthouse with a 15–mile bike ride that follows the ridgelines of the New River Gorge. You’ll descend to riverside at Cunard, then get in your kayak or raft for 7 miles of big water rapids on the Lower New River to Fayette Station. From Fayette Station, it’s a steep 6.5 miles back to the finish line in front of the courthouse in Fayetteville. newrivergorgechallenge.com
The second annual skateboard contest at Fayetteville Skate Park will have contests for different age and skill brackets, and a “masters" skateboarder demonstration. Come to watch or come to show off your inverts, aerials and grinds for an audience. Afterparty and free camping for volunteers and participants at Cantrell’s Ultimate Rafting. For more information, go to Fayetteville Skate Park’s Facebook page.
Photos (clockwise from top left): The women’s winner of the 2011 New River Gorge Challenge crosses the finish line; a first triathlon is logged; a biker tackles the Chainring Challenge
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Nature & Culture Calendar
August August 3-7
Appalachian String Band Festival
Where: Camp Washington Carver, Clifftop, WV
June June 2, July 7, August 4 Market Days Where: Fayetteville, WV
The first Saturday of every month June though October features open air markets all over town in historic Fayetteville, WV. Start at the Farmer’s Market in front of Diogi’s for fresh tomatoes, and work your way to pottery and jewelry at the artisan’s market. Continue on to the flea market and assorted yard sales. 8am to 12 noon. visitfayettevillewv.com
July July 12 + assorted dates Hatfield & McCoys
Where: Theatre West Virginia, Grandview State Park A classic West Virginia tale of a feud between two families, the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky, at a cliffside amphitheater. theatrewestvirginia.com
July 27-August 5
Clumsy Custard Horror Show
June 24 Blackwater Mojo Where: Tamarack Beckley, WV
Primitive acoustic rock describes the sound of this band from Elkins, WV. www.tamarackwv.com
Where: Historic Fayette Theater Fayetteville, WV
The Clumsy Custard Horror Show is based in the land of Zob, which is being terrorized by an evil ruler— enough said? This community theater production contains equal measure of Rocky Horror Picture show and spoof. historicfayettetheatre.com
A five-day gathering of stringed instruments, the musicians who play them, and the people who love to hear them. Fiddling contests and other assorted competitions are held, as well as workshops and square dancing. wvculture.org/stringband
August 10-12
New River Festival
Where: Fayette Station Road Fayetteville, WV This first annual event kicks off with a Wild and Scenic Film Festival before moving on to a fly-fishing clinic, rain-barrel demonstration, and live music. Proceeds to benefit the New River Clean Water Alliance. www.npca.org/newrivercleanwater
August 12 Hummingbird Festival
Where: Ace Adventure Resort Minden, WV Only one kind of hummingbird darts around the Eastern U.S. forests—the ruby throated hummingbird—which can be found from Canada to Costa Rica. Find out more about this bird and more from experts invited by the New River Birding & Nature Center. birding-wv.com
Nature
Road Tripping
Searching for sundew and other wild things in the Cranberry Glades
Photos by jim mcCormac
By Jim McCormac
Just a short, beautiful one hour drive from Fayetteville is one of the premier natural areas in the eastern United States. The 750-acre Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is nestled in a bowl-shaped mountaintop valley high in the Monongahela National Forest. Just drive north on U.S. 19 to Summersville, and head east on State Route 39/55 for about 25 miles and you’ll be in a world utterly different than the forest communities found along the New River Gorge. The drive up to Cranberry Glades illustrates the rich diversity of West Virginia’s mountains. After leaving the town of Richwood, route 39/55 begins an ascent up the mountains that offers vistas of mountain streams and high altitude flora. Once the road climbs to about 3,200 feet, you’ll be in a zone of fabulous plant diversity. Naming this special site a “botanical area” was quite apropos. North meets south on this special mountaintop. As soon as visitors jig onto the quiet road leading to Cranberry Glades, they’ll be greeted by the most conspicuous plant from up north, the red spruce. These stately conifers migrated south along the crests of the Appalachian Mountains when conditions were much cooler, and Cranberry Glades is near their southern limits. The red spruce rub shoulders with another conifer of the north, the eastern hemlock, and these plants create a boreal-like habitat that provides nesting conditions for bird species that normally breed far to the north. Birders will notice birds not found around Fayetteville, other than in migration. Dark-eyed juncos are common summertime residents, as are blue-headed vireos and red-breasted nuthatches. Living amongst the Canadian transplants is classic Appalachian flora such as great rhododendron and Fraser magnolia.
People go ape over the colorful little songbirds known as warblers, and Cranberry Glades supports a bundle of rare West Virginia nesters in this tribe. The aptly named Canada warbler is here – this site is nearly as far south as they breed. Stunning Blackburnian warblers, their chests emblazoned with flame-orange, sing from the hemlocks, and loud chanting songs of Northern waterthrushes echo from the wetlands. It may take an avid birder a few hours to work down the road to ground zero—the fabulous boardwalk. Eventually all guests reach the parking area and the boardwalk’s entrance, and this is where the real fun begins. The planked walkway loops through the best of Cranberry Glade’s habitats. Even though the trail is but one-half mile in length, the diversity of flora, fauna, and scenery that buffers the walk is staggering. Wispy fumaroles of cloud often spiral off the surrounding mountains, which rise to over 4,000 feet and provide a jagged backdrop carpeted in timber. Hit the trail early, and you might share the boardwalk with a black bear! These burly mammals are not rare, and often enter the glades to feast on abundant berries. Perhaps the most notable natural feature is the vast cranberry glade that is the namesake of this place. This big open meadow is actually a bog, and its turf is primarily Sphagnum moss. Sphagnum keeps the substrate damp and acidic, which fosters a luxuriant growth of small cranberry, and a bit of its sister species, the large cranberry. The latter is the source of commercial cranberries. High-flying common ravens often
croak overhead, and broad-winged hawks give teapot whistles, providing aural ambience to plant-questers. Neat as these birds are, it’s hard to tear one’s eyes from the interesting plant life. Early spring brings the blooms of beautiful Bartram’s serviceberry, a small shrub found no farther south than this spot. Golden-yellow carpets of marsh-marigolds cannot be missed, and long-stemmed marsh blue violets hold their violet flowers high on spindly stalks. Plasticlooking clumps of leaves courtesy of the green hellebore, a strange species of lily, help create the look of a gargantuan outdoors terrarium. Summertime visitors become orchid-seekers. Brilliant pink jots of color dot the cranberry glade: the blooms of grass-pink and rose pogonia orchids. Hiding in the gloom of swampy thickets are spectacular spires of magenta flowers attached to a truly spectacular orchid, the greater purple fringed orchid. In July, the meadows are covered with the strange beige tufts of tawny cottongrass, an odd sedge of northern bogs. Look a bit deeper into the meadow, and you may be rewarded by spotting a true carnivorous plant, the roundleaved sundew. The hairs that adorn its tiny leaves glisten with false dewdrops, and this sticky liquid snares inquisitive insects which are eventually absorbed by the plant. There is never a dull season at Cranberry Glades, and it is well worth the trip up the mountain to visit this crown jewel of West Virginia’s natural heritage. Be sure and stop at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, which is just down the road at the junction of routes 39/55 and route 150. You’ll find a wealth of interpretive displays, and the helpful staff often has a line on interesting animal and plants sightings. For more information, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/mnf or call 304-653-4826.
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Natural Wonders, Renewable Energy
1 million people visit the New River Gorge National River every year. Some come to look at the Bridge. Some come to paddle whitewater. Others come to climb the rocks. And others come to commune with the barred owls and cedar waxwings. All of them want to know about your business. To advertise in the New River Gorge Adventure Guide, contact gorgeguide @gmail.com or 304-573-8113.
www.nrgorgeguide.com
By Rory McIlmoil
West Virginia is known for its many natural wonders, including the New River Gorge, the Gauley River, the Dolly Sods Wilderness, and Cranberry Wilderness areas. For those living and working in the state, West Virginia is best known for its traditional energy resources: coal and natural gas. Few think of the energy opportunities provided by the state’s wealth of renewable energy resources. Part of the reason for this is because the state has a long history of being a coal producer. For over a century, our state has been one of the top producers of coal in the United States. This coal fueled the Industrial Revolution and until recently provided nearly half of the nation’s electricity needs. Demand for West Virginia coal is now on the decline, but demand for our natural gas resources is starting to boom. Energy development has now shifted toward natural gas, once again leaving renewable energy out of the conversation. However, there is a rich diversity of renewable energy opportunities in West Virginia that, if developed, could provide a substantial amount of clean electricity and a sustainable source of jobs and tax revenues for current and future generations. Here are some of our resources and energy potential for each: Hydroelectric Power. Existing infrastructure and wealth of waterways makes new hydropower generation an attractive source of renewable energy. Most of the resource available is suitable for small-scale and low-power hydro development—which has a lower environmental impact— rather than for the construction of large-scale hydroelectric dams. In 2006, the Idaho National Laboratory estimated that West Virginia’s feasible hydropower potential amounted to 484 megawatts of actual electricity generation, all from small and low-power resources. In 2010 existing hydroelectric plants provided 156 megawatts of electricity, accounting for 1.7% of total generation. If fully developed, the remaining resources could increase hydro’s share of state generation to as much as 7%, more than a four-fold increase. Wind Power. As of 2010, wind energy in West Virginia was providing 107 megawatts of electricity and accounted for only 1.2% of total electricity generation. This represents only a small portion of the state’s wind energy potential. In 2010, the US Department of Energy estimated that West Virginia’s total large-scale wind energy potential amounted to 664 megawatts of actual
generation. If the wind resource were fully developed, large-scale wind farms alone could provide up to 7.2% of all electricity generated in West Virginia. Developing small wind turbines throughout the state where the wind does not blow as strongly could generate a substantial amount of electricity as well. Solar Power. There are two ways that solar energy can be currently developed in West Virginia. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert energy from the sun directly into electricity. Solar hot water systems heat up a liquid which transfers the heat through convection to the water used in a home or business. West Virginia has a far better solar energy resource (i.e. sunlight) than Germany, which leads the world in solar PV development. Through 2010, only one-tenth of a megawatt of solar PV capacity had been developed in West Virginia. The New Rules Project estimates that roof-mounted solar PV alone could provide 11% of West Virginia’s electricity needs if all solar-accessible roof space had solar panels installed, equal to just over 1,000 megawatts of electricity generation. Sustainable Forest Biomass. Another great and underutilized renewable energy resource in West Virginia is the vast amount of woody logging ‘waste’ or ‘residue’ that is left in the forest following timber operations. When a timber company logs a tract of forest, it leaves behind the treetops and limbs of the trees and normally only remove the thick trunk. Leaving some of the remaining residue is beneficial for reforestation; excessive residue can inhibit new growth. Removing much of this residue and using it to fuel distributed electricity generators or to substitute for a portion of the coal burned at coal-fired power plants can help provide a source of ‘renewable’ electricity. Researchers at Downstream Strategies and West Virginia University estimate that logging residues can be used to provide 4.5% of the state’s electricity needs. Combined Heat and Power. Combined heat and power (CHP) is better understood as an energy efficiency practice rather than a source of renewable energy. CHP systems recover and re-use the heat that would normally be wasted while generating power onsite at the facility. A total of 381 MW of CHP capacity is installed in West Virginia, and the US Department of Energy estimates that between 1,000 and 3,000 megawatts of additional capacity can be installed at existing commercial and industrial facilities. At full development, CHP could account for over 15% of total electricity demand in West Virginia. Estimates suggest that renewable energy (plus CHP) could eventually provide up to 45% of the state’s current demand for electricity. The benefits of doing so would be substantial, both economically and environmentally. Rory McIlmoil is Project Manager of the Energy program at Downstream Strategies, a West Virginia–based environmental consulting firm. Photo above: Solar panels at a Virginia winery
304-574-1300
Be Well
Photo by mike turner
By Erin Larsen As soon as Spring arrives I start salivating for wild foods. Spring and summer greens can add variety to your diet, boost your health and protect against allergens and sickness that flourish this time of the year. You can find wild greens such as purslane, violet leaves, cat briar tips, dandelion greens, fiddleheads, poke weed, ramps and stinging nettles all right here in the New River Gorge. Once you learn a few easily identifiable wild plants you will begin to notice them everywhere. Stinging nettles are easy to spot, freeze well and are one of the most nutritious wild greens. High levels of vitamins A and C, potassium, iron, calcium, manganese and protein make this wild food a powerhouse. This dark leafy green helps to stimulate the blood and kidneys, as well as boost the immune system. This year I made nettle pesto and froze a couple of containers. Nettles can be substituted for spinach, especially in frittatas for breakfast. Nettles will grow in the same spot year after year and they like a moist, cool environment. The places I have found them are around large rock outcroppings and near streams. The spines of nettles contain formic acid, which causes the sting and inflammation when you touch them. Stinging nettles have been used to treat rheumatism and arthritis because of this
inflammation reaction. They have also been used to prevent hay fever, control dandruff and make hair shine, as well as prevent anemia. Incorporating stinging nettles into your diet will nourish the body like no store-bought green can.
Health To use nettles you must deactivate the stingers first. Pour boiling water over the nettles and let them sit for 3-5 minutes. You can then use them to make pesto, freeze or add to recipes. If you are using them right away, toss them in stir-fries and the heat will do the trick. Baked Shitake Mushroom and Nettle Frittata ¼ c Shitake mushrooms ¼ c Onion, chopped 1 clove of garlic, minced Handful of blanched stinging nettles, chopped butter for sauteeing 2 eggs Fresh grated Parmesan cheese salt and pepper
Guidelines for picking nettles: • Pick nettles when the plants are young. They become tough later in the season and the stingers can be an irritant to the urinary tract. • Pick only the top four leaves, these are the most tender and best for eating. • Do not pull the plant up by the root, you want to make sure you have a nice patch year after year to return to. • Protect your skin: use gloves and scissors if desired, wear closed toed shoes, and long pants and sleeves.
Sautee shitakes, garlic and onions in a small cast iron pan with butter. Whip eggs with a little water to make them fluffy and pour into the pan. Distribute nettles throughout and add cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 350°F until the frittata is cooked in the middle. Serve with fresh bread and nettle pesto if you have it! Interested in learning more about finding and preparing wild foods? Join Erin next spring, May 10-12, 2013 at River Rock Retreat in Fayetteville for a weekend of spring cleansing. Contact eelarsen@hotmail.com for more information or visit riverrockretreatandhostel.com.
River Rock Retreat and Hostel Quality Affordable Lodging on the New River Gorge! 2012 Healthy Immersion Retreats • July 20-22 • September 14-16 yoga, healthy cooking courses, and plenty of time for rest and relaxation
riverrockretreatandhostel.com
summer 2012 NRGORGEGUIDE.com 35
Food
The New River Gorge Adventure Guide’s Restaurant Guide
Restaurant
Address
Cathedral Cafe 304-574-0202
134 South Court Street Fayetteville
Chetty’s Pub 888-650-1932
Clockwise from top: Bread pudding at Diogi’s, stained glass windows at Cathedral Cafe, places to digest at Gumbo’s, the chocolate peanut butter brownie terrine at Pies & Pints, jukebox at Dirty Ernie’s, and the Eleanor salad at Secret Sandwich Society
36 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
100% recycled paper
Ames Heights Road, Lansing
Diogi’s 304-574-3647
312 North Court Street Fayetteville
Dirty Ernie’s Rib Pit 304-574-4822
310 Keller Ave. Fayetteville
Gumbo’s Cajun Restaurant 304-574-4704
103 South Court Street Fayetteville
Pies and Pints Pizzeria 304-574-2200
219 West Maple Ave. Fayetteville
Secret Sandwich Society 304-574-4777
103 1/2 Keller Ave. Fayetteville
Smokies on the Gorge 888-650-1932
Ames Heights Road, Lansing
Vandalian 304-574-6912
101 South Court Street Fayetteville
Wild Flour Bakery 304-574-0001
105 West Maple Fayetteville
Where To Eat What You Should Get
Fare
Hours
American
breakfast & lunch
Egg, spinach and bacon bagel with homemade veggie cream cheese, $5.25
Teriyaki chicken salad with fresh strawberries, raspberries, and cashews, $8
American
lunch & dinner
Cardiac burger, with bacon and portobellos, cheddar cheese and chili, $10
Crabcake sandwich with sesame Asian slaw, $12
Latin American food
lunch & dinner
Bread pudding with sweet lechera cream and caramel, $6
Veggie Liberty—a burrito with the whole garden plus refried beans, served with a salad, $12
BBQ, steaks, and sandwiches
dinner
Full rack of baby back ribs, $20
Grilled fresh Atlantic salmon, $16
Cajun cuisine
lunch & dinner; brunch on Sun; closed Mondays
Taste of Bridge Day “best entree,“ shrimp and grits, $18
Salad with local, organic greens and blackened chicken, $8
Pizza and beer
lunch & dinner
The very rich chocolate peanut butter brownie terrine, $4.50
A spinach salad with gorgonzola and red grapes. We recommend trying both dressings, $7
Sandwiches, burgers, and homemade soups
breakfast, lunch & dinner; closed Tuesdays
A burger called the Lark with 1,000 island and a fried egg on top, $11
The Eleanor salad with homemade Green Goddess dressing, cucumbers, and (don’t tell) crumbled bacon, $9
Gourmet Buffet
breakfast & dinner
The menu varies, but cross your fingers for blackened pork tenderloin with pineapple salsa, $27 buffet
The edamame salad with sesame seeds and rice wine vinegar, $15 salad bar buffet
Contemporary American
breakfast & lunch; dinner Fri.–Mon.
Cheesecake with brandied pecans and bacon, $7
Quinoa salad with romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes, $8.50
Bakery
breakfast & lunch; closed Sundays and Mondays
Strawberry shortcake with local organic strawberries, $3.50
Spinach and feta roll (think pepperoni roll, but a shade healthier), $3
Truly Decadent
Healthy Treats
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Gallery
a mild winter and wet spring made for a great creeking season in the new river Gorge area this year. here, cameron hall makes mill creek Falls on mill creek look easy. Photograph by mike turner.