"Mon-Athon 2000" is a corny name for a new West Virginia Highlands Conservancy (WVHC) project. The purpose of Mon-Athon 2000 is to: a) celebrate and enjoy our Monongahela National Forest (affectionately known as "The Mon") in the year 2000, and b) to stimulate, coordinate, and celebrate outdoor recreation in The Mon.

Mon-Athon 2000 is a good project for the WVHC, for several reasons: (1) we publish the esteemed Hiking Guide to the Monongahela National Forest (deHart and Sundquist, editors); (2) our organization has its deepest roots in the fight to protect The Mon; (3) The Mon is one of the great public resources of our State and Nation; -- and (4), IT’S A WAY TO HAVE FUN! [let’s not go overboard, Tom! Ed.]

And, of course, there will be fabulous prizes for all participants!

In Mon-Athon 2000, WVHC members and friends -- and other outdoor groups and individuals -- will make a special effort, in the year 2000, to get out and hike, bike, bird, botanize, camp, paddle, ski, and otherwise enjoy the Mon. There will be a number of outings that are especially organized for Mon-Athon 2000. And we want to include and promote outings organized by other groups, besides the WVHC.

Additionally, anyone who does any sort of outdoor recreational activity in the Mon can report it, and have it included as part of Mon-Athon 2000. All Mon-Athon 2000 activity participants will be entered in drawings for cool prizes like outdoor gear, meals and tours in the Mon, and more. T-Shirts with the Mon-Athon 2000 outdoor recreation silhouette logo (shown above, and created by Brad Basil of the Art Medium in Elkins) will be distributed to Mon-Athon 2000 participants.

Mon-Athon 2000 participants will be asked to report on trail and other Forest conditions, and otherwise on their experiences (especially the funny parts!), and to submit photos of their activity. There’s a good chance that reports and photos will be excerpted in the Highlands Voice. And again, they may be a resource for updating the WVHC’s Hiking Guide!

Tom Rodd is currently acting as overall coordinator for Mon-Athon 2000 -- and many others have agreed to help out. Look for more information on Mon-Athon 2000 as it progresses in each subsequent issue of the Highlands Voice. See You in the Mon!

1. Go Ahead and Sign Up for An Outing, or Start Planning Your Own!

The proof is in the pudding! Let’s get off our duffs! There are already a number of Mon-Athon 2000 Outings scheduled for this Spring, with enthu- siastic leaders and splendid locations. (See dates and locations below). These are "public" outings and all are welcome -- this means YOU! So pick out one or more, and call, write, or e-mail the outing leader. You’re on your way to a good time!

Or, get out that hiking guide, and start planning your own private excursion in the Mon. If you'd like some assistance in planning your own outing in the Mon, we can offer expert, free, consultation and advice. Call, write, or e-mail us (current contact is Tom Rodd, addresses and number below), and you'll be referred to a Mon-Athon 2000 volunteer, who has experience in planning outings in the Mon in your areas of interest -- be they hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, birding, or whatever.

2. Think About Leading A "Public" Outing in the Mon In 2000.

Coordinating and leading an outing is easy – a couple of people can work on it together. You have to be available for people to call you, advise them about conditions, arrange a meeting place, etc. We will publicize the outing and help it participants. If you think you might be able to do this, call, write, or e-mail Tom Rodd (address and numbers below). There’s no commitment necessary -- we’ll discuss the possibilities. Maybe someone else will have called in, and they will lead an outing, if you'll help!

3. Get Your Mon-Athon 2000 Activity Reporting Forms Now, So You Can Report on Your Own Outdoor Recreational Activities in the Mon.

We want everyone (who we can reach) who does any sort of outdoor recreational activity in the Mon Forest in 2000, to have a chance to complete a Mon-Athon 2000 Activity Reporting Form. (It’s a very simple form). And in an fit of promotional excess, (some may call it genius), we have created incentives for completing the forms.

Incentive number one is: everyone who is listed on the form as participating in the Mon-Athon 2000 activity will be entered in drawings for fabulous prizes -- gear, meals, trips in the Mon, all provided by cooperating businesses).

Incentive number two is: we give a free Mon-Athon 2000 T-shirt to the person submitting the form (and we give an extra shirt for photos!)

All this, plus having your activity on a roster of enjoyment and celebration, to honor our great natural treasure -- the Mon!

So -- if you have any idea at all -- about hiking, biking, paddling, birding, camping, skiing, fishing, hunting, leisurely strolling, or whatever, in the Mon Forest area, this year -- GET OUR MON-ATHON 2000 REPORTING FORMS! (Maybe you've already been out cross-country skiing -- we want to include your activity and report in Mon-Athon 2000, and get you in the hopper for the fabulous prizes.

To get your reporting forms, write, call, or e-mail Tom Rodd (addresses and numbers below). Leave a message if you like and give your address, phone, and e-mail. We'll send the forms pronto.

4. Help Network, Develop, and Spread the Word about Mon-Athon 2000.

We want to develop this project in all possible ways. We want to get materials about Mon-Athon 2000 in the hands of outdoor recreational and related busin- esses around the Mon. We want to net- work with other groups – scouts, camps, schools, outdoor recreation businesses, advocacy and other groups, who might be interested in having their activity be included as a part of Mon-Athon 2000. What are your ideas, suggestions, offer, ideas, and other notions? Call, write, or e-mail Tom Rodd (address and number below).

For more information, and to request Mon-Athon 2000 activity reporting forms, 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 (home). [Whew, Tom, I’m all outta breath! Ed.]