Hey Gang!! Join a Mon-Athon 2000 Outing in Your Wonder-full 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. Outings can be canceled due to weather, etc., so be sure to do a last-minute check!

This list is updated every two weeks or so. This version of the list is as of May 15, 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!

May 27 through June 3, 2000. "Sprucing Up The Trails" Trail Maintenance Workshops, Tucker County. In conjunction with National Trails day (June 3), the Tucker County Gateway Environment and Recreation Committee, along with the West Virginia Trails Coalition and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, will be sponsoring daily hands-on workshops on trail maintenance procedures. These workshops are free for interested individuals or groups, with advance registration required. The workshops will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. in the Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods, and Blackwater Canyon areas of Tucker County. Groups will be traveling into the National Forests for "real work" time and experience. Bring packed lunches for the days’ outings. Topics to be covered are: safety considerations; proper cutting and pruning techniques; ditch drainage and channel improvements; and correct use of pulaskis, mclouds, and cross-cut saws. Call 304-259-5889 or 304-755-4878, Jesse Gandee, for more information and advance registration. Or e-mail <jesganther88@hotmail.com>.

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 a favorite trail. Find out why. This is National Trails Day!

Saturday, June 10, 2000 -- "You Oughter Be in Otter" (Otter Creek, that is) [groan! Ed.] Day Hike, Tucker County. Moderate. Leader: Susan Bly, PO Box 207, Great Cacapon WV 25422, 304-258-3319, <sbly@shepherd.edu>. Car camping overnight Friday at Bear Heaven Campground at edge of Otter Creek. Susan lives within a stone's throw of the Potomac in the Eastern Panhandle, but she's a-headin' over the mountains [answer me this, Tom -- will she be comin’ ‘round the mountain when she comes? Ed.] to lead this outing (about 9 miles of hiking) in the fabulous OC Wilderness. Join her for a hike amidst the stunning forest and crashing waters of this pristine wilderness area! Co-sponsored with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

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.

Sunday, June 25, 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 nearby bed and breakfast, where one can stay the night before or after, $50$/couple/night. She is active in protecting the deep, green, sensuous Greenbrier River . This trip is co-sponsored with the Greenbrier River Trail Association.

Saturday, July 15, 2000 -- "The Peak Experience" -- or, "A Simultaneous Summit Celebration!" -- or "Hob-nobbing Among the Knobs!" Day Hikes, various locations in the Mon. 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, fand flowers, 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, 303-636-2662, <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.

Saturday, August 12, 2000 -- "Earth Walk" Outdoor Education experience - day outing. Leader: Jack Slocomb, 301-777-8810; Jslocumb@prodigy.net. Easy to moderate. Jack is putting together a program of holistic nature education in a stunning outdoor setting, probably around Dolly Sods. This will be good for all ages, but especially younger people. Call him for more info on an inspiring outing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 info, 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>. _