From Kristina Logsdon, Morgantown; Outing Location: Dolly Sods, Rohrbaugh Trail, April 1, 2000: The destination of our hike was the Rohrbaugh Trail of the Dolly Sods wilderness area. We weren't looking for a long hike, just one that would fill a few hours of the day and provide a change of scenery for us Morgantownies. Unfortunately the beginning of April is still early in the year for buds and blooms in the Wilderness area. However, there was a plentitude of rhododendron which added color to the bleak, brown of winter. We did not encounter anyone on our trip, which made the hike a silent, solitary hike, one we were looking for. The trail bypasses an outcropping of rocks, I believe they are called Bear Rocks, which overlook Red Creek and parallel the ridge line containing Lion's Head. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky and the wind helped us cool off from our hike. The view is one of trees, valleys, and, well, "nature." A great trip if you want to forget the city including the people (since we never encountered anyone).

From Ruth Blackwell Rogers, Kerens; Outing Location: Blackwater Canyon Rim Trail, March 18, 2000: Hikers met at the Olson Tower parking lot and introduced ourselves to each other as we looked at maps of the area. Most participants climbed the tower and took in the amazing view all around. Braving the cold wind above the trees, we could see the opposite rim of Blackwater Canyon, the tip of a ski slope in Canaan Valley, the Mt. Storm power station in Grant County, another in Maryland, another in Harrison County, the Dry Fork Canyon, Otter Creek Wilderness area, the Fernow Experimental Forest, Parsons, the Shavers Fork River and the Cheat River, and the long scalloped ridge of Laurel Mountain. Whew!

The hike leader had put up a sign, "March Madness Hike this way" at the beginning of Forest Road 117. A passerby, new to West Virginia, saw it and rushed to join the hike. He told us,"Madness! That's for me!" Larry Kaeser recently retired to the Weston area from New Jersey, and was a welcome addition to our group. One of the hikers was an 8-yr-old boy accompanying his uncle. Only a few yards into the hike, his uncle identified showshoe hare tracks in the snow under the hemlocks. An exciting way to begin a hike!

The trail proceeded gently downhill through mixed hardwoods to the canyon's rim where it joined an old logging railroad grade. Through the tree trunks we enjoyed views of the opposite side of Blackwater Canyon. Abundant rhododendron and mountain laurel line the trail and create a fairyland garden in summer. Cherry and yellow birch stand above large carpets of club moss. At one point several hikers noticed a small stand of pines, but were unable to identify the species. The trail ends at Big Run, which we crossed and walked another .2 mile to the overlook just off FS 18.

The 8-yr-old, Ian, kept himself going by periodically describing each item in his uncle's pack. "There's a donut in Uncle's pack." Later, "We bought subs." Later, "How far is lunch?" Later, "There's chocolate on the donut." By the time we reached the large stone slab at the overlook, we were all ready for lunch. Lunchtime gave us the opportunity to get to know each other a bit. Most hikers had brought peanut butter sandwiches, gorp, and fruit, but one couple, Young and Chung Moon of Huttonsville unpacked chopsticks and containers filled with rice and beans and sauteed vegetables. From a large thermos they poured hot herb tea which they passed around. Chung said this particular tea reduces the salt content of the blood. The Moons moved to the Tygart Valley a year ago to raise green tea.

The overlook gave us a good view of part of the south side of Blackwater Canyon, including some of Allegheny Wood Products' logging roads. The largest logging road was clearly spilling silt downhill at one spot. Several hikers had not anticipated this view and were shocked. Hike leader Ruth Blackwell Rogers had announced she would put her feet in Big Run, which she happily did. Seeing the pleasure and stimulation it caused, Tom Rodd and Jack Slocomb removed their boots and put their feet in the stream. The water was not numbing, only revivingly cold!