Join a Mon-athon 2000 Outing in Your Wonderful Monongahela National Forest!
This is a list of "everyone invited" public outings in the Monongahela National Forest, sponsored by the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and cooperating groups. Please contact the listed outing leader directly for more information on participating in an outing. This list is updated every two weeks or so. This version of the list is as of April 9, 2000. You can visit <http://www.wvhighlands.org> for the current list. See the end of this list for lots more information on Mon-Athon 2000, including how you can win fabulous outdoor recreation prizes when you recreate in the Mon!
Saturday, April 15, 2000
-- "Pedaling to Escape the IRS" Mountain Bike Day Trip, Cranberry Wilderness Area, Pocahontas/Nicholas Counties. Easy, single track. Leader: Dave McMahon, 1624 Kenwood Rd., Charleston WV 25314, (304) 344-3620, <wvdavid@access.mountain.net>. Don’t have a bike? Dave can probably steer you to a rental or loaner (and give you an idea of how muddy you’ll be getting.)Friday - Sunday, April 28-30, 2000 -- "Spring Fling" -- the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Spring Review, Cheat Mountain Club, Randolph County. A three-day outdoor recreation ex-travaganza. For more information on the Spring Review, places to stay, meals, programs, contact Dave Saville, (304) 284-9548, <daves@labs.net>.
Saturday, April 29 – There will be several day outings in the Mon, including: a kayak/canoe trip (easy level) (BYO boat, contact Tom Rodd, <thomasrodd@hotmail.com>, (304) 265-0018); and field trips in the Cheat Mountain Back Country, the Upper Shavers Fork Watershed, Gaudineer Knob; and more!
Saturday, April 29 –The 14th Annual Great Greenbrier River Race at Marlinton. Attending/participating in this Race (bikes, canoes, and running) is also a feasible day outing from the Spring Review location (about an hour). Contact Leslee McCarty, HC 64 Box 135, Hillsboro,WV 24946, (304) 653-4722, <current@inetone.net> for more information about the Race.
Saturday, May 6, 2000 -- "Cherish the Cheat" Day Canoe Trip, Cheat River, Tucker County. Easy Class 1-2 -- Parsons to St. George. Leader: Tom Rodd, Rte 2 Box 78, Moatsville, WV 26405, (304) 265-0018, < thomasrodd@hotmail.com>. This is a beautiful ancient river. The trip is suitable for novices. Canoe/paddle/life jacket rentals and shuttle service (package, about $50.00 per Old Town Canoe -- reserve ahead, deposit not required, mention WVHC) from Blackwater Outdoor Adventures (Marion and Jim Browning), Rte 1 Box 239, St. George, WV, (304) 478-6260; <browning@iolinc.net>; <www.raftboc.com>.
Saturday, May 13, 2000 -- "Cranberry Backcountry" Day Hike, Pocahontas/Nicholas Counties. Easy to moderate level. Leader: Carter Zerbe, 16 Arlington Court, Charleston, WV 25301, (304) 345-2728 (H), (304) 345-3175 (O). This should be a good trip for wildflowers. Carter is a long-time Highlands Conservancy stalwart, a prodigious hiker, and many other good things. The Cranberry is the fruit of a generous creation -- including the good people who fought to protect it.
Saturday, June 3, 2000 -- Celebrate National Trails Day. "In The Heart of the Mon" Day Hike, East Fork of the Greenbrier River, Pocahontas County. Easy to moderate. Leader: Peter Shoenfeld (the WVHC Webmaster), 713 Chesapeake Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 587-6197; <peter@cais.net>. Allen DeHart, co-editor of the WVHC’s Mon National Forest Hiking Guide, listed this as a favorite trail. Find out why.
Saturday, June 10, 2000 -- "You Oughter Be in Otter" (Otter Creek, that is) Day Hike, Tucker County. Easy to moderate. Leader: Susan Bly, PO Box 207, Great Cacapon, WV 25422, (304) 258-3319, <sbly@shepherd.edu>. Susan lives within a stone’s throw of the Potomac in the Eastern Panhandle, but she’s a-headin’ over the mountains to lead this outing in the fabulous OC Wilderness. Join her for a hike amidst the stunning forest and crashing waters of this pristine wilderness area!
Saturday, June 24, 2000 -- "Into the Earth" Day Cave Trip, Sinks of Gandy, Pendleton County. Moderate exertion level, wet. Leader: Barnes Nugent, 1978 Smithtown Road, Morgantown, WV 26508; (304) 284-9548; <barnes@geosrv.wvnet.edu>. A guided trip through a unique high mountain cave in the middle of a remote section of the Mon -- suitable for caving novices.
Saturday, July 15, 2000 -- "The Peak Experience" -- or, "A Simultaneous Summit Celebration!" This outing will be several day excursions -- all on the same day -- on several prominent peaks in the Mon, including (naturally) the highest point in the Mon, Spruce Knob, in Pendleton County. At least one outing will be entirely car-friendly, for mountain lovers who can’t quite hack a hike. We will commune with the wind and sky, picnic, release seeds, flowers and balloons, wave flags, blow horns, etc. -- from several different peaks -- all at the same time of day. Mountain lovers in Scotland do this every year from their favorite peaks -- they call them "munros" and ascending a special peak is called "munro-bagging!" Yes, it does sound a little like the Harmonic Convergence, doesn’t it? However, we don’t expect the world to end -- we just plan to change it for the better!
Leader/Coordinator: Ruth Blackwell Rogers, Moon Run Farm, Kerens WV 26276, (304) 636-2662, <ruthbr@wvhighlands.org>. If you have a particular peak in mind, and would like an outing there, contact Ruth soon!
Monday-Wednesday, July 17, 18, 19, 2000 –"Backpack Extravaganza." Middle Fork of the Williams River, Cranberry Wilderness. Moderate level. Leader: Jack Slocomb, (301) 777-8810;< JSLOCOMB@prodigy.net>. Jack does great outdoor writing for the Voice. Dehart and Sundquist give this one an exceptional rating for scenery -- pure wilderness feel. Meet midafternoon on July 17 at the W trailhead and hike 2 or 3 miles to set up a base camp. On July 18, hike the many trails nearby or laze or meditate in the sun and turquoise waters of the Middle Fork.
"Mon-Athon 2000" is a West Virginia Highlands Conservancy project (cooperating with others) to celebrate and enjoy our wonder-full Monongahela National Forest. Mon-Athon 2000 includes all types of outdoor recreational activity -- hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, birding, hunting, boating, skiing, etc. -- in or adjoining the Monongahela National Forest Proclamation Area (green on state road maps.) Join a Mon-Athon 2000 "everyone invited" public outing in the Mon, like the ones listed above -- and/or report on your own private outing in the Mon. (It’s easy to make an outing report at <http://www.wvhighlands.org>). All outing participants, public and private, will be entered in drawings for fabulous outdoor recreation prizes. We send a free MON-ATHON 2000 T-SHIRT to everyone who submits a report! (They are cool shirts!) If you’re looking for a good excuse to get out and enjoy an excursion in the Mon this year, we’d love to have YOU lead an outing. It’s easy -- call, write, or e-mail for more information. Looking for ideas about recreational activities in your Monongahela National Forest? We can connect you with an experienced volunteer to talk about trip planning, destinations, gear, accommodations, etc. For more contact: Tom Rodd, c/o WVHC, PO Box 306, Charleston, WV, 25321. E-mail: <thomasrodd@hotmail.com>. Phone: (304) 345-7663 (WVHC Charleston Office); (304) 265-0018 (Rodd home). Or go to <http://www.wvhighlands.org>.