SATURDAY, March 18, 2000 -- "March Madness Mon-Athon 2000 Kickoff" Day Hike, Blackwater Canyon Rim Trail, Tucker County. Easy to moderate level. Leader: Ruth Blackwell Rogers, Moon Run Farm, Kerens, WV 26276, 304-636-2662, ruthbr@wvhighlands.org. This stunning trail is at risk from Corridor H. Ruth and her husband Hugh have been active in Corridor H Alternatives, and they love this trail.

Saturday, April 1, 2000 -- "April Fool Frolic" Day Hike, Otter Creek Wilderness, Tucker/Randolph Counties. Moderate level. Leader: Rich McGervey, 2181 Grafton Rd., Morgantown, WV 26508, 304-291-8149, mcgervey@hotmail.com. Rich McGervey is the Vice-Chair of the Morgantown Sierra Club group. This is also a Sierra Club outing. Rich is a law student and worked on the mountaintop removal case. Otter Creek is one of the gems of your Mon -- check it out!

Saturday, April 8, 2000 -- "Down by the Riverside" Day Hike, Greenbrier River near Hosterman, Pocahontas County. Easy to moderate level. Leader: Leslee McCarty, HC 64, Box 135, Hillsboro WV 24946, 304-653-4722, current@inetone.net. Leslee runs the Current, a bed and breakfast. She is active in protecting the deep, green, sensuous Greenbrier River . This trip is co-sponsored with the Greenbrier River Trail Association.

Saturday, April 15, 2000 -- "Pedaling to Escape the IRS" Mountain Bike Day Trip, Cranberry 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.)

Saturday, April 29, 2000 -- "Spring Fling" West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Spring Review, Cheat Mountain Club, Randolph County. There will be several day outings in the Mon at the Spring Review, including a possible canoe trip (easy level) on, say, the Greenbrier from Cass to Clover Lick. If interested, contact Dave Saville soon re canoe rental. This is also the day of the 14th Annual Great Greenbrier River Race, which begins at Marlinton. Attending/participating in this Race (bikes, canoes, and running) is also a feasible day outing from the WVHC Review location (about an hour). Contact Leslee McCarty, above, for more information about the race. For information on the Spring Review, contact Dave Saville, 304-284-9548, daves@labs.net 

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 other good things. The Cranberry Backcountry is the fruit of a generous creation, including the people who fought to protect it.

Saturday, June 3, 2000 -- "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 one of his favorite trails. Find out why.

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, suitable for novices.

Monday-Wednesday, July 17, 18, 19 -- "Backpack Extravaganza." Middle Fork of the Williams River, Cranberry Wilderness (Tr. # 271) Moderate level. Leader: Jack Slocomb, 301-777- 8810; JSLOCOMB@prodigy.net. Jack does great outdoor writing for the Voice. Jack says: Dehart and Sundquist give this one an exceptional rating for scenery -- pure wilderness feel. Easy access (barring heavy rains and flooding). Meet midafternoon on July 17 at the W trailhead and hike 2 or 3 miles to set up a base camp. Trail follows Middle Fork. On July 18 we can hike the many trails nearby or laze or meditate in the sun and turqoise waters of the Middle Fork (this is the purest looking water I have ever seen) - or whatever. Evenings we can enjoy various campfire entertainments. Bring poems, stories, songs, Instruments (if you can pack one in), or just practice up on BS-ing (a talent well worth cultivating if your like to backpack). Bring your own eats, but folks are encouraged to bring goodies to share.

More Outings to Come -- Stay Tuned!