West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Mountain Odyssey 2001 Schedule

Almost Anytime. Visit Kayford Mountain south of Charleston to see mountain top removal (MTR) up close and hear Larry Gibson’s story about how he saved his mountain, now almost totally surrounded by MTR. Bring a lunch -- there is a picnic area on Larry’s mountain. Just call Larry or Julian Martin. Leaders: Julian Martin, (304) 342-8989, Martinjul@aol.com; and Larry Gibson, (304) 586-3287 or (304) 549-3287 cellular.

April 1 (Sun) Spruce Mountain-Seneca Creek area. Scout trails for the AmeriCorps*NCCC youth trail maintenance/improvement project coming up later in the spring. Leader: Peter Shoenfeld, (301) 587-6197, mailto:peter@cais.net.

April 21 (Sat) Bringing back the Spruce. Join the Mountaineer Chapter of Trout Unlimited in its long-term effort to help restore the red spruce ecosystem and the native trout fishery on the upper Shavers Fork. Families with children able to walk 2-3 miles are welcome. Bring a shovel and work gloves. Leader: Ruth Blackwell Rogers, (304) 636-2662, ruthbr@wvhighlands.org.

April 27-29 (Fri-Mon) WVHC Spring Review at Canaan Valley. Outings planned include Dolly Sods North, Otter Creek, a bike trip in Blackwater Canyon and a canoe trip.

May 5 (Sat) Fastwater Canoe Trip. Location depends on water levels and attendees, but present plan is to go down Smoke Hole Canyon from Upper Track to Petersburg. Leader: Carter Zerbe, (304) 343-3175.

May 6 (Sun) North Fork Mountain day hike. See the gorgeous and little visited part of North Fork Mountain south of US 33. Leader: Peter Shoenfeld, (301) 587-6197, peter@cais.net.

May 12 (Sat) Dolly Sods North. Easy 6 hr. day hike from Bear Rocks west across the 6000 acre proposed addition to the wilderness. We will ground-proof cover types mapped from satellite images. Meet 11 AM at Bear Rocks. Leader: Don Gasper, (304) 472-3704.

May 13 (Sun) Day hike into spectacular, little known Laurel Fork Canyon. Leader: David Powell, (202) 387-1680, WDP320@aol.com.

May 19-20 (Sat-Sun) Seneca Creek Backcountry backpack trip. Leader: Peter Shoenfeld, (301) 587-6197, peter@cais.net.

June 2-3 (Sat-Sun) Northern Canaan Valley overnight. Leader: Dave Saville, (304) 284-9548, daves@labyrith.net.

June 9 (Sat) Cacapon State Park to Paw Paw -- a "good long day hike." Leader: Rich McGervey, mcgervey@hotmail.com, (304) 235-0541 (Mon.-Fri.)

June 9 (Sat) EarthWalk outdoor educational activity based upon Hugh and Ruth Blackwell Rogers’ beautiful Four Worlds So Far program and scroll. We will round the day off with a picnic, campfire, and music. This outing is designed as a family experience. Children should be 10 years old and above. Limited to 15 people. Leaders: Ruth Blackwell Rogers, (304) 636-2662, ruthbr@wvhighlands.org, and Jack Slocomb, Home (301) 777-8810, Work (301) 777-1084, JSLOCOMB@prodigy.net.

June 9-11 (Sat-Mon) Roaring-Flatrock-Red Creek Plains backpack with Mon. Forest Hiking Guide author Bruce Sundquist. Approximately 15 miles. Prior backpacking experience required. Leader: Bruce Sundquist, (724) 327-8737, bsundquist1@juno.com.

June 23 (Sat.) Simultaneous Summit Celebration. Several day hikes of varying difficulty on prominent peaks in the highlands. All the hiking groups will unite in spirit to celebrate these high points, and by extension the entire highland region, with flags, horns, rattles, songs, and flowers! Leader, Ruth Blackwell Rogers, (304) 636-2662, ruthbr@wvhighlands.org.

June 29-July 1 (Fri-Sun) Enjoy a backpacking trip along the Otter Creek Trail during the rhododendron season. Group limit 7. Leader, Susan Bly, (304) 876-5177 day or (304) 258-3319 evening, sbly@shepherd.edu.

July 15 (Sun) Sinks of Gandy. Follow Gandy Creek 3/4 mile underground through the Sinks of Gandy cave. Safe for beginners. Leader, Barnes Nugent, (304) 284-9548, barnes@geosrv.wvnet.edu.

July 21 (Sat) Easy 4 hr. Buckhannon River flatwater canoe trip above town through the 5-mile reservoir pool. Meet at Sheetz off Corridor H (US 33) at the Buckhannon-Phillipi exit at 11 AM. Leader: Don Gasper, (304) 472-3704.

July 27-29 (Fri.-Sun) Dolly Sods Stem to Stern Backpack. Leader: Jack Slocomb, Home (301) 777-8810, Work (301) 777-1084, JSLOCOMB@prodigy.net.

August 3-5 (Fri.-Mon) Car camping trip to Dolly Sods to do stream hiking along Red Creek and Big Stonecoal Creek. Unlike x-stream hiking (normal trails) this type of hiking involves travel in the stream, using hiking poles and beach shoes. Leader: Susan Bly, (304) 876-5177 day or (304) 258-3319 evening, sbly@shepherd.edu.

August 4 (Sat) Easy 5 hr. day hike on Spruce Mountain Meet at Spruce Knob parking lot 11 AM. Leader: Don Gasper, (304) 472-3704.

August 11(Sat) Northern Canaan Valley day hike. Leader: Linda Cooper, (304) 296-0565, cooper@hsc.wvu.edu.

August 12 (Sun) EarthWalk environmental education experience at Bear Rocks (Dolly Sods North). Leader: Jack Slocomb, Home (301) 777-8810, Work (301) 777-1084, JSLOCOMB@prodigy.net.

August 25 (Sat) Otter Creek Wilderness (downstream half) and tour of the USFS Fernow Experimental Forest. The tour is by car to the trail head. The hike is an easy 7 miles to the mouth, but involves a moderate stream crossing. Meet at Sheetz in Parsons at 11 AM. Leader: Don Gasper, (304) 472-3704.

September 1-3 (Sat-Sun/Mon) North Fork Mountain backpack Sat-Sun with Mon. Forest Hiking Guide author Bruce Sundquist. Prior backpacking experience required, carry your own water, 12 miles total. An optional third day will be spent exploring Dolly Sods North. Leader: Bruce Sundquist, ( 724) 327-8737, bsundquist1@juno.com.

September 7-9 (Fri-Sun) Enjoy early fall hiking in the Shavers Fork area. We’ll follow the West Fork trail and visit the High Falls of the Cheat. Car camping is available at the Laurel Fork campground. For more information contact Susan Bly at (304) 876-5177 day or (304) 258-3319 evening, sbly@shepherd.edu.

September 29 (Sat) Bickle Knob, Bear Heaven Rocks, Stewart Park, Bowden Cave, Bowden Trout Hatchery. Meet at Hatchery at 11 AM. Bring a flashlight if you care to cave for 1 hour. Caving is pretty easy and very safe, and as it can be a little muddy, it will be the last activity of the day. This is mostly a tour with short walks. 6 hours. Leader: Don Gasper, (304) 472-3704.

Oct. 5-8 (Fri-Mon) Otter Creek wilderness backpack trip. Group limited to 6. Leader: Nathan Anderson, stgmnobpf@yahoo.com, or call Peter Shoenfeld at (301) 587-6197.

Oct. 12-14 (Fri-Sun) WVHC Fall Review. Outings will be planned.